Practical video

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Initial planning and preparation

This is crucial. You must know what you want to film, where, and when. Most videos will require:

A script, showing in written form what filming is required including camera angles and shot sizes
and/or
A storyboard, showing the intended shots in the form of drawings.

A recce of each location to check that it is suitable.

Is there enough light?
Is it quiet enough?
Is there enough space?
Do you need permission to film there?

A checklist of equipment you will need.

Do you need anything else (eg props and costumes for an acted scene)?
Will you need transport?

A shooting schedule indicating what will be filmed, where, and when.

Will the people, equipment and facilities you need will be available when you want to film?
Will you have enough time for scenes that need several takes? 1

Equipment checklist

You may not need all of these every time.

Check that each piece of equipment is working before you take it out on a shoot.

Name of project _________________________________________________________
Individuals involved _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Date of shoot _________________________________________________________
Location of shoot _________________________________________________________

Camera
Required Ready

Clapperboard
Required Ready

Tripod
Required Ready

Microphone
Required Ready

Lead
Required Ready

Stand or boom
Required Ready

Headphones
Required Ready

Tapes with blank labels* Required Ready

Batteries and spares, fully charged
Required Ready

Mains adaptor
Required Ready

Extension cable
Required Ready

Script
Required Ready

Storyboard
Required Ready

Notebook to log shots
Required Ready

Lights
Required Ready

Other: ______________________________ Required Ready
______________________________ Required Ready

* If you're reusing old tapes, check their condition and rewind them. 2

Filming checklist

Before you start recording

Check your camera isnÕt displaying the date and time
Check colour balance if necessary.
Avoid mixing light sources (eg daylight + fluorescent light)
Set exposure and focus to manual or automatic as required
Check for background sound and other distractions
Check sound levels if possible
Check there's enough light but not too much contrast
Record a short section and play it back to check everythingÕs working (including sound)
Film with the camera pointing away from the light source
Check the background - is it distracting, too light, too dark?
Check your framing
Make sure your shots don't 'cross the line'
Check focus and exposure
Rememer to record cutaways

When you're filming

Check that the REC symbol appears in the viewfinder when you start filming, and that PAUSE or
STANDBY appears when you have stopped filming

Record more than you need: start the camera running several seconds before things start
happening, and keep it running for a couple of seconds after things stop

After filming

Label each tape and make supporting notes of what you have filmed

Filming an acted scene or interview

Team:

Director
Production assistant
Camera operator
Sound recordist

(You could have one or two people filling all these functions)

1 When everything is set up and everyone is ready to do a take, the Director asks for quiet and says
Stand by.
2 The Director asks the Camera Operator to start recording by saying Turn over.
3 The Camera Operator presses the button to start recording. Once she can see the symbol REC in
the viewfinder, she signals that the recording has started.
4 The Director counts the actors/participants in silently using 3, 2, 1, fingers and a wave of the hand.
5 Once the action has finished, the Director silently counts to five and then calls out CUT.
6 The Camera Operator presses the button to stop filming and checks that the REC symbol has been
replaced by PAUSE
7 The Production Assistant ticks off the scene on the list.

Hints for shooting

When the shot includes a camera movement, hold on the still image for a couple of seconds before and after the movement
Try to include a complete movement
Don't cut while the camera/zoom is still moving
Zooms should only be used rarely if at all
Allow shots to run until a natural break occurs

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