Getting Ready to Shoot Video: The First Steps

Pre-Production Checks for a Better Video

Testing one, two, three! Are you ready to make a video? Hold on a second! There are a few things you need to do before you pick up your camera. Can you handle this project by yourself or do you need a crew to help? Do you know how to finish your project under budget? Do you know where you can shoot your video? These little details might seem small, but you won't even get off the ground if you ignore them. Read on for some priceless pre-production notes from the people who know!

Who are these People? As a one-man-band, you wear many hats, but when your production gets bigger, you have to share the load. But who ya gonna call? Get ready for the name game, it's "Crew Call" time! Do you sit through the long list of people during the credit roll at the end of a movie and wonder what all those titles mean? Why does it take so many people, and do you need a Best Boy or a Gaffer for your video project? Learn the answers at "Decoding the Video Crew."

Blockbusters on the Cheap. Consumer video-making products have finally begun to approach the level of professional gear. Fifteen years ago, you had to shoot on 16mm and then have the film carefully blown up (transferred) to 35mm if you hoped for a major theater release. All of this cost thousands of dollars and put movie making well out of the range of nearly any single individual. That's not the case now! To learn more about cheap movie making, visit "How to Make a Movie: Low Budget, Big Bang."

Location Scouting for Video. Scouting locations ahead of time is a great way to avoid last-minute surprises and big headaches on the day of your shoot. Consider this: a scene in your short film takes place in a coffee shop. You know you could never pass off your living room as the local java joint, so you decide to shoot that scene on location. It's time to hit the road and find the right spot. There are several elements to keep in mind. To learn more, visit "The Right Place at the Right Time."

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