Pre-production

IN THIS POST:

1: a list of pre-production steps by theme

2: a longer list of more individual steps 

Major (overlapping) elements you need to tackle, always remembering any work you do that isn't specifically evidenced on your blog effectively never happened!

Its important if in a group to keep a clear record of INDIVIDUAL contribution.

Keep video clips, pics for all this in 1 or more FCPX libraries, including a copy of all resources inside the same HDD folder as the library itself. (so you'll never have a problem with missing clip). Try to rename clips/pics before importing them so you can search for them (tagging/keywords also help).

Use pre-production as a major part of social media content.

THE IDEA + NARRATIVE + BRAND/PACKAGE ... LINKED TO APPLIED CONVENTIONS/AUDIENCE RESEARCH

An ongoing process - never stop looking for sharp creative ideas; always be prepared to make significant changes following teacher/audience feedback.

Keep a clear, very specific record of how your media language choices are linked to your research.

The lyric timing sheet is crucial for thinking about how scenes might fit in, ahead of a later storyboard, and ongoing during post-production.

Apply specific narrative concepts to your planning.

You're creating a promo package; social media + digipak + video which need to be clearly linked. 

CAST, COSTUME, PROPS, MAKE-UP

Research into + rehearsal of performer body language + look is crucial for verisimilitude

You need to get anyone filmed to sign a release form entitling you to use their image

If you're not strong on make-up find someone who is (evidence your directing them)

Consider a budget to spend on clothing, props, make-up and diegetic FX like coloured powder (possibly also FCPX plug-ins, equipment)

LOCATIONS

Sound isn't a great issue but lighting (including testing night shooting) is.

You need to assess what level of passing traffic (cars, walkers, dogs...) there are that might kill continuity.

You need to do a risk assessment

You need to link choices into research + brand image.

Test locations for any issues with limitations on camera placement - also looking for additional vantage points (eg above the location)

SAMPLE SCENES/SHOOTS + EQUIPMENT EXPERIMENTATION

Compare footage with your smartphone + a DSLR; your phone may be better.

Are there scenes where GoPro is ideal? Generally a good idea to plan some use of these.

Drone shots?

Gimbal, dolly?

Be experimenting with FCPX tools - consider free or paid-for plug-ins too.

Evidence of any main shoot planning should be posted before the shoot, with 'rushes' (some sample footage) within 24 hours - and where possible, sample scene/s from this.

SOCIAL MEDIA, DIGIPAK + EVIDENCING WORK

Use your ongoing pre-production (+ eventually the shoots + then post-production) as a major chunk of your social posting + ongoing audience engagement.

Plan photoshoots alongside or separate from shoots for digipak and (simulacra of) media interviews/appearances.

Plan a viral/web 2.0/audience participation competition before any main shoots start.

Be clear on how your 3 texts are linked as a single promo package.

Keep/post notes as you go, but crucially with filmed footage/clips/pics where appropriate + consistently reference links to research. Make individual contributions (evidence of fulfilling every role) clear within any group. Organise video/pics within 1 or more FCPX Libraries, publishing initial videos as you go (which can be combined + refined later).

KEY DOCS + ORGANISATION

storyboard

lyric timing sheet

image use permissions

risk assessment/H+S

production schedule - you could also use the google calendar from your blogger account for this (though as a practical point, do add dates into your own phone calendar)

call sheets for each shoot

moodboards or annotated collections of images:

- for audience (consider 1M, 1F + 1 for secondary audience)

- my artist's look

- comparable artists' looks

Typical pre-production list

 An overlapping list, eg costume/props etc need ordering asap...

Conventions research

-          Specific possible intertextualities/influences

Initial idea outline/pitch > ongoing development

Track/artist research > fed into idea

Brainstorm list of possible scenes

Lyric timing sheet, incl. denotation of significant elements of music: the drop; pace

Location scouting (making links to research)

Permissions from cast (image use), locations where appropriate

Casting/rehearsal > sample scene/s (test idea + cast)

Final idea/scene list

Audience definition/research

Lyric timing sheets with scenes written in

Storyboard

Props/costume/make-up list and gathering (needs to start early)

Sample scenes ongoing + from as early as possible 

Production schedule for shoots

Shoot planning – for each one: shot list, call sheet (clearly define individuals in charge of filming, directing, production [responsible for call sheets + organisation])

Share footage

Edit

Rough cut1