Specifications
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A Digital Video Primer
• Storyboards: You may also choose to do storyboards, which are sketches of key moments in
the action, like a comic strip. Storyboards can include notes about the action, sound, camera
angles, or movement. ey can even be translated into movies called animatics, using a tool
like Adobe Premiere Pro or Aer Eects. is step is called previsualization, and may be help-
ful for working out complicated sequences, sharing ideas with coworkers, or selling a concept
to a client.
• Budgeting: Whether you are doing a personal or a professional project, it is denitely a good
idea to add a budget to your production plan as early as possible. For professionals, you’ll need
a budget to secure nancing. Your budget should include wages for yourself, your co-workers,
actors, and other talent, such as eects specialists, graphic designers, musicians, a narrator, and
animal trainers. You should gure in costs for location fees, costumes, props, equipment rentals,
catering, and anything else you can think of, such as videotape or DV cassettes, lunch, and
miscellaneous expenses.
• Production details: Even a small production can include a million details, like casting, locations,
props, costumes, equipment rentals, and catering. Every project is dierent. Plan adequately
for yours. Pay attention to the details. It is far easier and less expensive to do it now than when
you’re in the middle of production. Here’s a very brief list of tips to get you started thinking
about some of those details:
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Get to know your cast to make sure they work well together. For example, a conver-
sation between a very tall and a very short person might not work well on camera.
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If you are shooting real people, be sure to give them guidance about what to wear.
For example, white shirts generally don’t photograph well, as they contrast poorly
with facial tones; stripes and small patterns may be problematic. On-camera talent
should be reminded to pay special attention to their grooming (hair and makeup)
or you can have professional help on hand.
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If necessary, secure permission to use locations.
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Be sure your costumes, sets, and props are ready when you need to shoot.
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Make sure you have all the rental and borrowed equipment you need, that it all
functions, and that you know how to use it well in advance of production.
Production
“Quiet on the set! Action! Roll ‘em!” Capturing live or animated action and sound on lm or
videotape, in other words, shooting the raw footage, is called production. During production,
your concerns include: lighting, working out the movements of the talent and camera or block-
ing, and nally shooting—getting the images and sound on tape or lm. ere are many good
references available regarding production, including books, websites, classes, and more.