5 Steps Before You Hit Record
Photograph by Kimmy Schlafly
"He who controls the Spice controls the universe."
—Frank Herbert, Dune
A friend recently asked me:
"Everyone has a smartphone. Everyone can record a video. What do they need to prepare in advance before hitting record?"
In the process of distilling a pre-production process into a simple memorable acronym, I was psyched when I stumbled on SPICE!
Scout. Permission. Interview. Calendar. Equipment.
1. Scout
Visit the locations relevant to your story. Whether these are the places where you intend to capture B-roll or sit-down interviews they are the backdrops to your characters and will offer logistical and technical headaches IF you don't see them first. If I'm trying to capture an interview, for example, I try to be mindful of the major light sources (natural and artificial), noise levels, access to outlets, access to bathrooms, parking, crowd management, etc.
2. Permission
Do you need a permit? Does the property owner require a certificate of insurance or a property release form? Do you have personal release forms? A few years ago, I remember asking if I could capture broll of a subject of mine who happened to be attending a high school in LA, only to learn that I would need a filmLA permit as well as a fee of $5,000! That plan changed, obviously. Most important of all, have your subjects sign personal release forms. If your subjects are under 18, you'll need to make sure your release forms include sections for their parents or guardians. Consult your legal team as always. :)
3. Interview
Have a discussion with your potential subjects to gauge their interest and willingness to participate. I would treat this as phone conversation with some of the types of questions you might be asking. With no cameras rolling it's less pressure. Start drawing a narrative map of your subjects and establish a baseline of their comfort level and excitement around specific questions. For example, are there any landmines they would like to avoid? Or do they have any stories that excite them and don't want to forget to talk about? If they seem like a poor fit for the story you're trying to tell, move on.
4. Calendar
Add all of your shooting locations, your subjects, and your team members to a calendar everyone can access. I make a spreadsheet that breaks down, hour by hour, where everyone needs to be and why. Note: Even if you're just shooting on an iPhone, I do recommend getting help because it takes a lot of mental effort to juggle between different tasks. For example, if you can delegate someone to take care of lunch decisions and another person to press record while you focus on how to deliver your interview questions with empathy, the final video will be better.
5. Equipment
Do you have everything you need? This doesn't just include filming equipment such as cameras, microphones and lights, or even just an iPhone... is there anything else? This last step brings us back to the importance of step 1: Scout, when we're assessing any potential scenarios. For example, if there is a distracting poster or inappropriate disco ball in the interview background, do you need a ladder to get it down? Do you need extension cords to access power? Do you need utensils for lunch?
Well, I guess that wraps up the checklist for now.
Does it feel complete?
Is there anything you would add to spice it up?
Stay Grounded,
Reuben
