Every great production begins with a great plan.
1. Information Gathering & Concept Development – In order to ensure proper creative elements we start by digging deep for information; what is your audience? Who will benefit? Why? What is the hook? What are all the details of your product or service? What are you trying to promote or sell, teach or tell? What else can you come up with about this project? Before you begin to think creatively, we need to do a quick overview of the project. Determine what you hope to accomplish. Identify the intended viewer. Explain how you want your video to affect that viewer. Do you want to motivate, inform or just cause your viewers to relive a warm touchy-feely memory? Try to narrow down the project to a single sentence that entails everything you want to accomplish and write it down. Now, take a look at all the potential productions elements and then allow your time-line, budget, available resources and the appropriateness for the project to dictate what goes into your outline. Some elements may include, but are certainly not limited too: voice over talent, actors/actresses, specific locations, costumes, makeup, set design, use of a steady cam, jib arm or camera crane. Once you define your project, summarize it in a paragraph so that we can keep that paragraph in front of us as a reminder of what is crucial to having a successful project.
2. Choose a Technique and Format – A portion of the planning will involve selecting a format or combination of formats. There are a variety of formats and techniques to utilize, some include:
Interview – possibly onset with a host seated behind a desk or in a chair with the person being interviews seated opposite the host in a chair. The interviewer may be seen or unseen.
Documentary – a formal documentary can use a voiceover to explain or describe events or information. An informal documentary can be comprised of informal onsite interviews with actual participants that create real life comments.
Video Magazine – a host is behind a desk or newsroom platform but two hosts banter between themselves, the to
