Video Planning

What kind of video do you want to make?

When doing video planning, where do you start?

I like to start by figuring out what kind of video I'm going to make.

There are lots of different answers to this question, but I put all video projects into one of four buckets:

• Recording Events
• Creating Content
• Shooting Shows
• Making Movies

Why these buckets? Each of these different kinds of video requires different planning, different preparation, slightly different equipment -- differences all around.

(Technically, movies and most shows don't use "video", but I'm using that term to mean any "moving pictures.")

Here's a quick little comparison of the four types:

	Event	Content	Show	Movie
Examples	wedding, vacation, parade, recital, concert, sports event, news story	music video, contest entry, advertisement, how-to video, training film, mini documentary	"TV" show, documentary	major motion picture, feature film
Finished Length	Varies	Under 15"	15-60"	60"+

In general, as you move from Event to Movie, you need more of everything (with a few exceptions).

Let's look a little closer at each area.

Record Events

When recording events, something is already happening, and you just want to get it on film (or tape or disc). Your goal with this video is to inform, to publicize, or to create a historical record.

Event records generally take the least amount of video planning (show up on time with a fresh battery and a new tape), filming (start when it starts; stop when it stops), and editing (add some titles and screen transitions, maybe some background music, and you’re done).

These also generally call for the least sophisticated equipment, and if they're made for family and friends, they have the most forgiving audiences. Overall, video planning for these types of videos is the easiest.

These types of videos include

• Family and community events -- weddings, local sports, concerts, plays, speeches, parades, recitals, vacations, parties
• News events -- all of the above, on a larger scale, as well as political gatherings, protests, accidents, etc.

Since whatever is happening was going to happen anyway, the videographer (you) has the least control over what is going on. You can't adjust the lights, stop the action, or usually even get the best possible sound. You do the best you can and get what you can get.

Even though you don't have much control, recorded events can be the start of something more involved, like a news show or documentary. "Events" can become "Content" with the addition of extra footage and careful editing.

Create Content

Created content is where you start to have more control. Usually, the end result is not very long (less than 15 minutes). The "content" might be a music video (amateur or professional), a mini-documentary, a short promo or ad for a business, a video for a contest, a "how-to" video or short training film, or just something interesting to post on YouTube.

You can do it with low-end equipment, but better equipment will get you better results.

This is where the amateur videographer can have the most fun. You don't necessarily need lots of equipment or cash, and training can be on location.

Shoot Shows

This is usually left to professionals with large crews and fancy equipment. Think of a 1/2 hour or 1 hour TV show, where the budgets are pretty big, but shooting has to take place relatively quickly.

"Content" can become a "show", and amateurs can certainly create them (and have fun doing it), but it's a much bigger commitment. Shows generally have a good-sized crew, a writing staff, and, most importantly, a deep-pocketed sponsor to cover expenses.

Make Movies

These are the mega-extravaganzas that often require millions of dollars (although they don't have to), the most equipment, the largest crews, and long schedules for planning, writing, filming, editing, and tweaking to get everything just right.

Although movies are more often the projects of the film-school and Hollywood crowd, as opposed to the Video Jester reader with a camcorder and a good idea, it's still useful to look at what they do and how they do it.

Video Planning Comparison

Key:	Minimal Minimal to Moderate Moderate Major Mega Etc.

	Event	Content	Show	Movie
Examples	wedding, vacation, etc.	music video, contest, etc.	"TV" show, documentary	major motion picture
Finished Length	Varies	Under 15"	15-60"	60"+
Prep & Planning
Equipment
Budget
Editing

How Does This Help You?

If you're reading this, I assume you're most interested in video planning for the first two areas -- recording events and creating content. To make the best videos possible, you'll want to move them up the scale.

That is, when recording events, think how you can make it more like creating content. What extra planning and equipment do you need? What extra content should you film? Can you spend more time editing, to get a more polished product? That sort of thing.

If you are creating content, what can you learn from the "showmakers" and movie makers? What will help set your project apart from the crowd?

At this point, you might want to consider what video equipment you'll need for the type of production you want to do. Go to the Top 10 Video Equipment List for some helpful information.

Return from "Video Planning" to the Video Jester home page.