Producing a media text can be the most fun part of any media course, whether it be a TV show opening, trailer or documentary there are a few procedures every aspiring film maker should and in my opinion MUST go through before pressing the red button on their camera...
1. Research
Research is often overlooked by young filmmakers or it is seen as something they have to do instead of something they NEED to do, research is crucial to any production and is an essential tool to any narrative ideas you may have.
A way of going about doing research is to firstly use REAL examples, if you want to make a comedy, start watching them, get a pad and pen and write down the key media conventions you see, this brings us on to my next point, evidence, make sure to keep evidence of all research you have done, take screen shots make notes do whatever aslong as you have evidence, having a strong archive of research about for example, how the narrative in comedy films change throughout time, can really help you feel more confident about making your own idea or about one you alredy have.
Examples of research techniques are;
Focus groups
Analysis on real productions
Questionaires on target audience
Focus groups
Analysis on real productions
Questionaires on target audience
2. Planning
Planning is a key step to all productions, without planning you will find your self going out on location and wasting alot of time, time which could be used editing which is always the longest process.
Planning should include storyboarding, a great way to visualise camera angles and types of shot, OTS, panning etc. Also a great way to work out shot timings and dialouge, doing this all beforehand will save an abundance of time on set.
It should also include a shot list, even though a storyboard gives you a general idea on what shots you will be getting on the day, a shot list allows you to plan for multiple shots of the same scene, this will help you out greatly in editing as a shot you thought would work can eaisily turn against you, luckily with a shot list you where able to plan extra shots to compensate!
Planning should include storyboarding, a great way to visualise camera angles and types of shot, OTS, panning etc. Also a great way to work out shot timings and dialouge, doing this all beforehand will save an abundance of time on set.
It should also include a shot list, even though a storyboard gives you a general idea on what shots you will be getting on the day, a shot list allows you to plan for multiple shots of the same scene, this will help you out greatly in editing as a shot you thought would work can eaisily turn against you, luckily with a shot list you where able to plan extra shots to compensate!
3. Evidence
As i said before evidence is important, it will allow you to show others your research, planning and this means feed back can be recieved.
4. Ideas
Keep it simple. Theres nothing worse then an idea with too many loose ends and certainly with too many characters.
Leave that for when more experience has come your way.
Imagine your in an elevator and you have till the time you get to your floor to tell someone your idea, if its over 25 words simplify it!
Leave that for when more experience has come your way.
Imagine your in an elevator and you have till the time you get to your floor to tell someone your idea, if its over 25 words simplify it!
5. Feedback
Get feedback through every step of your production, unsure about something, ask someone who knows, take their critisism and make your production better. This goes throughout the whole pre production, production and post. Constantly ask teachers friends other filmakers what you could do to improve, at the end of the day you are showing it to the audience.
6. Logistics
Bit of common sense here really, people places and props, get these all sorted a healthy amount of time before you film, a good place to ask may be your schools drama dept for both actors and props.
Get your production done as early as possible, this doesnt mean rush but dont leave filming too near to your dead line and sacrifice post production or reshoot time.
Rehearse and prepare to save time on set and also share contact details with all people invloved.
Get your production done as early as possible, this doesnt mean rush but dont leave filming too near to your dead line and sacrifice post production or reshoot time.
Rehearse and prepare to save time on set and also share contact details with all people invloved.
7. Equipment
Gather your eqiupment a fair amount of time before shooting, make sure its all working and you have all storage medium with you (sd cards, tapes).
Learn your gear inside and out to maximise your production value and to make sure your using it to the best of its ability, no point going out and buying the latest audio recorder but not knowing how to record in high quality format right?
Learn your gear inside and out to maximise your production value and to make sure your using it to the best of its ability, no point going out and buying the latest audio recorder but not knowing how to record in high quality format right?
8. Production
Film a base platform which includes your general idea (storyboard) and then start to add in fancy extras (shotlist) tick off your lists after shots have been completed and stay organised.
Film extra, if you see something on set that might look interesting, film it, theres no loss only a potential gain. Finally before editing in post organise your material before importing, this saves time instead of having to sift through files of your actors non stop giggle fit which seemed to occur everytime you hit record.
Film extra, if you see something on set that might look interesting, film it, theres no loss only a potential gain. Finally before editing in post organise your material before importing, this saves time instead of having to sift through files of your actors non stop giggle fit which seemed to occur everytime you hit record.
9. Reflection
Reflect upon your work use it as reference to see where you went right and most importantly where you went wrong, so this way for your next production you can learn from it and improve.
Stay posted and happy filming
-Harvey
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