TEXASTECHNOLOGY.COM

A successful video production class must begin with the understanding that the script comes first. Too often, young producers will try to shoot first and write later. Getting it backwards limits creativity and often leads to a confused end product. Whether writing the script themselves or overseeing a scriptwriter, the more ideas that are put on paper up front, the better the result.

This falls in line with a general rule of the production process; it’s 90 preproduction. That means by the time the first frame is taped there must be a clear vision of where it going. Video production is most often a team effort, and it’s essential to get everyone involved on the same page early in the process.

One classroom exercise to illustrate this point would be to take two scripts, one with extensive video description and one with no shots listed at all. Preparing a shot list and deciding on an editing style from each will show students the necessity of good planning. The more fully-written script can be envisioned from a thorough reading. The script with no shot details will be much harder to describe as a finished product. This contrast will show the importance of overall vision when beginning a video production.