Filmmaking is a deceptively complex art form. It encompasses so many different disciplines that the average viewer takes for granted. Writing, cinematography, lighting, art design, acting, editing, music, color grading and animation all combine to produce an end result that can transcend each individual expression, creating something both transparent and transporting. Which is all another way to say that creating great video content is hard.
The best filmmakers in the business continue to learn and grow with every project they create.
The good news is that every video producer, director and cinematographer is on a journey--not one of them working today has officially "arrived." The best filmmakers in the business continue to learn and grow with every project they create.
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With that in mind, there are some basics that are central to crafting media content worth viewing. So what are some of those essentials that form the foundation of great video creation? Here are three critical elements necessary to produce videos that are effective and memorable.
1-A story worth telling
No matter what type of video a producer is creating, the ultimate goal should be to take the viewer on a journey that entertains, enlightens or provokes a reaction. Ideally it does all three simultaneously. To make these types of responses possible, smart filmmakers harness the power of narrative and storytelling to engage the viewer on a visceral level.
Good filmmaking begins with a command of the core elements of storytelling--things like character, setting, conflict, exposition, rising action, climax and resolution. Not all videos will incorporate every single component, but deploying the right ones for the project will go a long way towards ensuring success before the actual production phase even begins.
Whether a film team is creating an original scripted narrative, a documentary-style project story, an event recap, a promo or even a concept project, it’s crucial to identify ahead of time the protagonist’s perspective, the conflict, how the video climaxes, and whether a resolution is optimal.
A good litmus test for determining whether a video project is ready to get rolling is for the director to try to describe the story in a sentence or two. If that description sounds like it would make for a good story the chances of actually telling that story with your project jumps exponentially.
A good litmus test for determining whether a video project is ready to get rolling is for the director to try to describe the story in a sentence or two.
2-Solid planning
Video production has a whole lot of moving parts. Even the most experienced producers aren’t capable of keeping everything in the front of their minds when on set. It’s just too much, and things on a set move too fast for any one person to keep up with it all.
This is why experienced filmmakers take the time and energy to make a plan. It’s why they use scripts. And production schedules. And call sheets. And lighting plots. It’s why they invite collaborators and delegate responsibilities for distinct areas of the production process.
[Pre-production is] the part of the filmmaking process that ultimately determines so much of a project’s success or failure.
In the video world the term for this kind of planning is called pre-production, and it’s the part of the filmmaking process that ultimately determines so much of a project’s success or failure. Good pre-production can sometimes rescue mediocre production and post-production phases. Conversely, the lack of adequate pre-production can very often result in frustrations and long-term failure.
Fortunately, pre-production is a skill that can be learned with some investment of time and energy. And once a producer has command of this process, their chances of creating consistently great video content jumps exponentially.
The first essential step of pre-production is the writing phase. This may involve an outline, a text script, a shooting script or even storyboards. The primary goal in the writing phase is to set a cast and crew up for success, so taking into consideration the complexity of the unique project will allow directors to utilize the right type of script to suit the needs of the project.
For documentary storytelling, the filmmaker should develop a story outline and build a list of questions that craft the sequence of events into a story. If at all possible, talk to other people familiar with the story ahead of time to make sure you're crafting the right arc for the story.
The next step in pre-production is to assemble the right crew needed to capture the visual and audio assets for the story. This team can be as small as two people and as large as 100, depending on the complexity of the project. During this stage directors will also cast the project with the actors, interview subjects, hosts and/or pastors needed for the project.
Once the essential crew and cast is in place, a producer will begin developing the production schedule and scouting locations to film the project. They will also begin assembling the essential filmmaking gear, like a cinema camera, support rigs, lighting and audio capture equipment. It may also be necessary to find costumes and props ahead of time to ensure smooth sailing on the day of filming.
The final, and too often overlooked, aspect of pre-production is ensuring clear communication to all cast, crew and location managers before the start of production. A basic call sheet with the locations, schedule and emergency contact information can often make all the difference in the world between a strong kickoff and a rough start.
3-Finishing strong
The ugly truth of video production work is that not every project will turn out the way a producer dreams it will. In fact, very few of them will. The art of video production has way too many variables to be as predictable as one might wish. But professionals accept this reality and don’t let it stop them from finishing what they start. In fact, the willingness and dedication to see things through to the end is what separates the people who get to create video for a living with the people who just wish they could.
Don’t be afraid of the compromises and surprises–expect them, role with them, and look for ways to celebrate them. It’s all part of the process.
Filmmakers will experience lots of obstacles along the way, and this is especially true within the discipline of church filmmaking. Don’t be afraid of the compromises and surprises–expect them, role with them, and look for ways to celebrate them. It’s all part of the process.
On many projects, video producers will experience a "dark night of the post-production soul," a moment when it feels like everything was a waste of time and the project is hopeless. Just finish anyway. The project will almost always turn out better in the warm light of a new day than you feared in the pre-dawn hours of a late-night edit session.
In conclusion
Ultimately, successful filmmaking is about the willingness to put in the hours to tell a good story, and tell it well enough to allow the audience to forget about the edifice. It takes energy, it takes a willingness to fail forward, and most of tall it takes repetition. Don’t’ forget to celebrate the completion, reflect on what could be done better next time, and then move on to the next project with enthusiasm.
