Behind the scenes at the Sex Hair Web series auditions

Prep

How well a project is prepped greatly influences the quality of the final cut. There are several crucial steps to prepping a video project. Take care of each one and your project will be off to a great start. Here is a list of many of the aspects in planning out a video project. Not all projects need all of these steps but most will need some of the steps listed.

 

Project Planning

From the initial brain storming session to final modifications and anything in between, we can help you organize your ideas into a solidly organized plan. By organizing thoughts and ideas into a timeline, we can create a basic scene framework. From here we would then discuss the format you want the project presented in.

While all video projects are unique, there are still a few basic categories that cover most projects. Narrative scripts, music video montage, interviews and voice over dubbing are some examples of common techniques used in video production. With a clear understanding of your goals, the time schedule and budget, we can help you create a plan that fits your needs.

Script Writing

With a solid plan in place, it can then be converted into a script. A script is really just another time line of events. Specific details such as scene layout, time of day, character actions and dialogue are added. Dialogue works best when short and to the point, quickly moving the plot forward. We have a few tricks to creating interesting dialog while maintaining character uniqueness.

The structure of the script will have a direct impact on the flow and timing of the project and this should be heavily considered at this phase. This is also the time to understand the main points of emphases (people, scenery ideas etc) and how they should be emphasized.

Story Boarding

With a script in hand we can then proceed with an understanding of the project plan. Now we can begin story boarding a taping plan. At this phase all camera angles and shots are planned out. Our story board technique lays out character positions, distance from camera and camera height as well as any camera and character movements. It is this systematic use of storyboards that allows the AD (or Camera Operator) to understand so me details of the Directors vision without having to be told all of the specifics beforehand. This step is the backbone to creating well composited shots again and again. Story Boards once completed are then co ordinated with the script and a shot list. This is a very creative and therefore crucial phase of any video project.

There are many different types of taping options to use. Dollies (rolling camera), Cranes (raising and lowering camera), Zooms, Pans and locked cameras (still) are just a few. Blocking is the co ordination of subjects (characters and props) placed in the shot as well as the movement of characters in the shot. This requires a lot of attention. Lighting can also range from very basic (natural) to very artistic and moody. This should also be thought of at this phase. Many nice shots can be created with the right combination of camera, blocking and lighting techniques. A well put together blocking and camera plan can make create a simple yet well composited story board. This helps greatly speed up the production time, while coming up with many good looking shots. This step will define how the finished piece will look and feel.

Casting

Under Story Productions works with several actors in the Eugene and Portland areas. We also have a message board for other actors and other talent throughout the Northwest that we have yet to work with but may be available. We are also connected with a web of other specialists in their fields. This would include make up artists, martial arts fight co ordination animation and many other niches. Also there are several Northwest bands we know that may be interested in providing music or scoring for our projects. You can checkout our list of actors and other talent and review passed productions made with them.

We can also hold and announce auditions for parts in up coming productions. Auditions consist of a mix of interviews, script readings, improv and skill demonstrations (fire breathing for example). We can both help assign roles for talent brought in by the customer as well as bring in our own or find someone new.

Crew Organization

Under Story Productions also has a good list of Production Crew members. Camera, Audio, Lighting, AD, Animation to name a few. We can manage a project with as little as one (for small simple projects), two (Director and Assistant) or up to an entire six member crew (Director, AD, Camera 1, Camera 2, Audio, Tech Assistant).

Location Scouting

You never want to find a fatal flaw to a project when arriving at the shooting location. Anytime we go out of the studio for a shoot, we need to get a location scouting report. We'll need to know if it meets the needs of the scene for blocking scale, proper terrain, shadows, audio concerns, lighting issues and so on. This a small but also major step. The better prep we have the better final product there will be.

If you are interested in contacting us about a video project, email us and we'll start talking.