Video Project: Script and Video Production

I assume that everyone will say that shooting a scripted video is hard work, and I definitely agree with that. Between deciding which shot is better and how your actors should present themselves, your idea becomes somehow lost in the translation from paper to video, in a way: not that it necessarily becomes a bad thing, but your end result usually turns out differently than what you had imagined it to be in the first place, and becomes its own. The process takes more than just direction – mood has to be perceived, angles have to be just right, and it is definitely tricky. Probably one of the reasons I minor in film studies rather than get behind the camera: to understand why scenes were shot that way is one thing, but to be the one who decides when and where to place them is another.

My short, which only required one tilt, played out a lot better in my head than it did on screen for some reason. Maybe it was my execution on paper that made it blander than it really was, but even though my group did great acting in it, taking my idea and representing it in their own way. The finished product was great, but if I were to do this again, I would probably take more time to write in more detailed descriptions and movements.

As far as working with my group, they were really cooperative and helpful. Having worked on small video production shoots in High School, I understand how much "waiting" is involved in these processes -- either everyone's just messing around, or everything needs to be perfect and ready for scenes to be shot in one take – but in my group’s case, everyone seemed to have a set idea with set plans, so little to no extreme preparation was required. However, I will say that it’s harder to integrate into a group of friends than it is with a group of strangers, but they were as accommodating as possible.