There are times when serendipity plays a role in our productions but more often than not we need to be a bit more prepared when we want to create a quality production. Otherwise, we tend to overlook or forget something crucial. Having a plan more often than not works better than guerrilla-style run-and-gun, especially if you're taking your video beyond the "reality show" environment, into a more polished presentation.

Six steps will take you from inspiration to "it's a wrap" without interrupting your creative flow. You might in fact find yourself better able to take advantage of a "serendipitous or inspired moment" with a solid outline that guides you through your production day or days. Speaking of reality shows, I hear most of those productions take a planned path to capturing the moment.

1. Practical Inspiration vs Your Muse

In our minds we often "see the whole thing" from opening title to closing credits - creative inspiration. We play and replay the whole scenario like a Star Wars, Titanic or Avatar production and think we can keep all those wonderful shots in our minds - right there, when the camera starts rolling. In reality we need to be more practical. Taking the time to simply jot down, if nothing more, a list of inspired shots helps us as the practical part of our inspiration moves front and center.

So, you first need to establish what you want to do and separate that from what you can do. Being practical about the possibilities will avoid disappointment and carry you to a finished production of which you can be proud of.

Ask yourself key questions. Can I actually pull this off? Can I afford it? Do I have the level of inspiration and commitment necessary to carry it through? Can I find the right talent? Locations?

Think about your goals for this video production. Is it for fun? Will it be basically a learning tool? Do I want to create something that will go viral on YouTube? Is this going to be a commercial production? A film festival entry? Will this become my demo show-piece?

Knowing your project expectations, writing them down and making decisions at the beginning will give you a sense of purpose and direction, not to mention the confidence, to take it all the way. Yes, be inspired but force yourself to be practical as well. You will need both in the face of possible upcoming adversity - those Murphy's Law moments.

2. Establish Your Needs

You've outlined your production. You're focused. But you still need to do a few things before grabbing your camera and start shooting. It's easy for some of us, to remember "camera, tape, battery, tripod, light" but other needs play an important role in pursuit of your Great Video Production. When we read the more than occasional account of forgotten tapes, batteries running dry in the middle of things and malfunctioning buttons, focus rings or connections, we realize even the basics can be overlooked.

Yes, you need a camera and its essential components. You also need redundancy of backup, extras of the items essential to the success of your acquisition. Establish the length of your production and know how much tape, portable hard drives, blank disks or solid state cards you will need. Even a tripod might not be enough. Will some of your shots require a higher level of mobility or stability? Will you need a camera stabilizing unit or perhaps just a monopod? A beanbag support and flexible cords?

There's a lot of needs that are not always so obvious even when you do sit and write them all down, but taking the time to think about and establish your needs will help avoid overlooking the tools essential to your acquisition success. What you are going to shoot and where, the weather or location climate, the time of day all have a bearing on what you will need and how much of it to bring along. Make sure your ditty bag and grip box have the essentials before heading out for your first day or hour of shooting.