Think 'edit' while filming

Any person with a video camcorder (and there are so many now) takes it on holiday or on a day trip, to record Christmas Day or a friend’s wedding. We all recognise the typical ‘hosepiper’! Well, we don’t do that of course, ‘WE THINK EDIT.’

This is what I try to do every time I use the video camera, but I must admit, it’s quite difficult sometimes and I still find I have missed an important cut away and have to resort to a still or look for a suitable shot from some other video!

Video Checklist

1.  Back light compensation
    (meaning aperture)

2.  Focus (automatic or manual)

3.  White balance (daylight,
    artificial, automatic etc.)

4.  Filter (if required)

5.  Check batteries

6.  Think edit.

7.  Remember cut aways!

So I thought about a prompt list, (a memory jogger), no matter how obvious they may seem. It might even be a good idea to print a list on a card and keep it in your pocket. It’s so easy to be distracted when one is enjoying oneself. Many moons ago, I had a little card which read:

Continuity is the main thing to have in mind. If for instance you are videoing a brass band, it is important to keep the camera running at least during the whole of one number. But, while doing so, take shots of different musicians and move around as necessary. The rubbish in the camera taken while moving to different positions can be covered by insert editing shots of the audience etc - mostly close ups. And don’t forget the conductor!

When I get home, I get down to making a shot list, which I find time consuming -but there is no quick way. I have made up various designs of forms for this purpose and have come up with the example below. The columns are:
 
 
 

Shot
It is useful to have sheets with shots 1 to 18.
Timing
Hours, minutes and seconds

Picture/Action
Description of the shot.

Sy. (Symbol)
This is to denote whether the shot is any good-eg:
x      bad
*      good,
**    very good,
***  excellent and
?      not sure
But some use numbers eg 1 to 5

Sketches
I like to make a little sketch to show the beginning and end of the shot. A story board in reverse!