Planning & scripts
One video, one central message
Turn a broad subject into a filmable brief: one viewer question, an answer you can demonstrate, and the pictures needed to support it.
20 articles
Planning & scripts
Find the message, prepare the shoot and make decisions before recording.
Planning & scripts
Who watches, and where?
Audience, prior knowledge and viewing conditions determine what the picture needs to explain.
Planning & scripts
A brief before the script
A short brief records the purpose, boundaries and deliverables before individual lines are written.
Planning & scripts
Writing a script that sounds spoken
Write for the ear: one thought at a time, clear references and room for the action.
Planning & scripts
When a storyboard helps
A storyboard earns its place when spatial relationships or the order of pictures need resolving before filming.
Planning & scripts
Building a usable shot list
A shot list describes required coverage briefly enough to remain useful during filming.
Planning & scripts
Interview questions beyond yes or no
Questions should reveal experiences and concrete events without supplying the answer you want to hear.
Planning & scripts
Planning B-roll before the shoot
Plan supporting footage around its storytelling job, rather than collecting attractive details at random.
Planning & scripts
Checking a location before filming
Check a location with a camera and headphones: light, noise, space and access need to work together.
Planning & scripts
Scheduling a realistic shoot day
A schedule must account for setup, checks, repeats and moves, not merely the length of the finished scenes.
Planning & scripts
Dividing roles in a small crew
Even with two people, every critical task needs a clear owner.
Planning & scripts
Keeping continuity notes
Continuity notes preserve visible states so separately recorded shots can depict the same action.
Planning & scripts
An equipment check before leaving
A complete signal path matters more than a long packing list: record, replay and transfer before closing the bag.
Planning & scripts
Rehearsing before recording
A rehearsal checks movement, clarity and equipment without scripting away the eventual answer.
Planning & scripts
Estimating spoken script duration
Word count gives a starting estimate. Measured delivery, action and pauses determine the actual duration.
Planning & scripts
Planning for vertical video
Vertical framing affects subject spacing, hand movements and text areas during recording.
Planning & scripts
Asking for actionable feedback
Feedback becomes useful when it identifies an observable problem and fits the current stage of work.
Planning & scripts
Prioritising a small production budget
Allocate a small budget around bottlenecks: clarity, recording conditions and necessary working time come first.
Planning & scripts
Preparing a weather fallback
A fallback plan establishes which shots remain useful and safe when the weather changes.
Planning & scripts
Planning multiple versions from one shoot
Multiple versions need shared foundations and deliberately separate coverage, text and approvals.