Pre-Production Articles (Page 3)

• Equipment
• Location Scouting
• Logistics
• Production Planning
• Script/Outline

• 5 Tips for Travelling with your Gear
  September, 2006
  by Brian Peterson
  On business or on vacation, here's how to ensure your gear makes the roundtrip.
• Profitmaker: Hire Learning
  April, 1997
  by William Ronat
  Take care when selecting an employee to be sure you get the best person for your business.
• Profitmaker: Shooting on Location
  September, 1996
  by William Ronat
  Wherever you go, there you are. But are you prepared?
• A Production Value Primer: Big Looks for Small Bucks
  February, 1996
  by Mark Bosko
  Gaining production value on a project doesn't instantly mean spending money. Here's how to improve the quality of your videos with such simple tools as…
• Edit Suite: Plan for Better Editing
  July, 1996
  by Mike Loehr
  A stitch in time saves nine. An edit plan saves time.
• Getting Started: High Concept, Low Sweat
  January, 1997
  by Jim Stinson
  Organization can mean the difference between a confusing series of clips and a compelling, satisfying video. All it takes is a little forethought and a little…
• Desktop Video: Scripting, Logging and More
  October, 1994
  by Bob Doyle
• How to Write a Script: Putting Words to Work in Your Videos
  September, 1995
  by Wynn Ponder
  Even if you're just taping your family outings to the Grand Canyon, your video projects could benefit from a script of some sort. In this article, we'll take a…
• Honing Your Ideas: From Concept to Finished Treatment
  December, 1994
  by Wynn Ponder
  Without a plan, your video can flounder from lack of direction. In this article, we'll detail how to take your video idea from concept to finished treatment.
• The Art of the Edit
  November, 1994
  by Janis Lonnquist
  Editing is more than just sticking scenes together - it's a strange language, a discipline, an art. In this article, we'll show you how to master editing and…
• Narration Writing
  December, 1995
  by John B. Garrity
  The right words, effectively read, will round out your production in ways you may not have believed possible.
• How to Create a Storyboard
  October, 1995
  by Mark Steensland
  A storyboard is the most often used tool for getting a sense of how an idea will work before putting it down on tape. This article will guide you through the…
• Video Alfresco: A Guide to Easy Outdoor Shooting
  June, 1997
  by Bruce Barrett
  Neither sun, nor surf, nor wind, nor rain will spoil your videomaking excursions after you read these helpful pointers.
• Getting Started: The Great Balloon Video-A Case Study
  July, 1997
  by Jim Stinson
  If you're short on video equipment and expertise, go long on planning. It'll help your video take off.
• Profitmaker: Budget for Profit
  July, 1997
  by William Ronat
  Estimating the cost of a video for a client is a tricky but necessary part of doing business. Here's how to do it right.
• A Dabbler’s Guide to Computer Video
  October, 1999
  by Karen Director
  Many people think computer video is still too scary, with visions of SCSI drives, codecs and frame rates dancing in their heads. To many people, computer video…
• Treating Your Video Right: How to Create and Use a Video Treatment
  December, 1997
  by Janis Lonnquist
  If you care about making tapes that people want to watch -- you could use a treatment. Learn how this useful tool can work for you in every stage of production.
• Video and Film Script Writing
  November, 1997
  by Gene Bjerke
  Whether you are a professional working against a fast-running meter or make video for fun, everything goes a lot easier when you figure out what you're going…
• Back-pocket Video Production
  November, 1997
  by Larry Burke-Weiner
  Almost anyone can pull a video production out of his or her figurative back-pocket. We'll show you how to do it with a camcorder, some props from your…
• Steal from the Best
  April, 1998
  by Jim Stinson
  Compare the style and technique of eight great film makers as we demonstrate what you can learn from the masters.
• Back to School: A Video Project
  February, 1998
  by Loren Alldrin
  Shoot a fun, no-budget dream sequence about an all-too-familiar nightmare of being back in grade school.
• Audience Appreciation: Be Kind to Your Viewers
  March, 1998
  by Chuck Peters
  Four questions you should ask yourself before you hit that red record button.
• Desktop Video: If it's Out There It's In Here
  March, 1999
  by Larry Lemm
  Here it is--our yearly round-up of all the video bells and whistles you’d ever want for your home computer. Video producers at all levels of budget and…
• 30-Second Sensation
  April, 1998
  by Blaine Howeson
  Your camcorder, some creative ideas and an afternoon's work are all you need to create a 30-second "commercial" with this script and storyboard.
• Graduation Day
  June, 1998
  by Julie DeForest
  It's the official rite of passage for American teens--high school graduation--and parents want that moment captured on tape. By using our storyboard and…
• The Chase: Mini Movie Series
  August, 1998
  by Shane Calvert
  Her's a storyboard that you can shoot yourself. It's a one minute chase sequence that you can edit in your camera.
• Video Production Equipment to go Shopping on Location
  July, 1998
  by Philip Partridge
  Video production equipment for shooting on location: What you need to know.
• Videomaker Glossary of Terms
  August, 1998
  by Larry Lemm
  From A/B-roll to Zoom Ratio, we've got the definitions for you.This is the one reference of video terms that you will definitely want to keep at your…
• Sound Track: Narration Sensation
  January, 1999
  by Loren Alldrin
  Make your videos sit up and speak with crisp, intelligible narration.
• Quick Tips
  September, 1998
  by Chuck Peters
  Some helpful tidbits for camcorder users.