PLANNING

BUILD AN OUTLINE
Start with a series of headings showing the main themes you are going to discuss e.g. creche facilities, enterprise centre, educational courses, who is involved, how the group got started, the benefits gained by those involved etc.

You now have a rough idea of how much programme time you can devote to each -section. Some may be brief, others relatively lengthy. You may also emphasis some and skip over others, to suit the purpose of the programme.

The next stage is to take each of these headings, and note down the various aspects you want to cover there, as a series of subheadings e.g. a demonstration of work being done in the enterprise centre. Now that you have a structure for the programme you can begin to see the form it is likely to take.

Next in your planning process, you will be deciding how you are going to approach each of the sub-headings in your outline. Remember, you are still thinking things through. At this stage you might decide to alter an idea, develop it, shorten it or even drop it altoghther.For example, if showing an enterprise centre do you want to show someone working right through the making of a product or perhaps you may want to show different people talking about a series of items they have made .... and so it goes on.

Note how one idea leads to another. If you decide on something, then you have to decide low you are going to follow i t up. Are there problems getting permission to film or is the centre only available to you at certain times. Will you need to light it etc. You may not have the answers at this stage so you will need to undertake some research.

THE `RECCE' (RECONNAISSANCE).
How much detail you need about a location site, varies with the nature of your production. Information that may seem trivial at the time, can prove valuable later in guiding others.

Finding sources of information on the subject (people, books, publications).
* Arranging to consult these.
* Accumulating data.
* Selecting matter that is relevant.to your idea.
* Forming a rough script or storyboard.
* Are the ideas and treatment you are developing, reasonable ones for your resources?
* What sort of things do you expect to need for each sequence (e.g. items, furnishings or props. etc.).
* Where will you shoot the action?
* Is access easy or restricted? Will you need permission (or keys) to enter the site?
* Are other people involved (e.g. an actor or demonstrator)?
* Do you know suitable people (for above)?
* Will you need to borrow, hire or buy anything?
* Ensure anyone assisting you knows necessary details of when/where you are shooting.
* Consider lighting (indoor/outdoor) and sound conditions.
* Consider the time to travel, set up and take down equipment.
* Remember KIS - Keep It Simple!Summary - you will now have developed a programme `scenario' i.e. The main subject of' the programme.
* The target audience.
* An outline with headings of- topics to be covered.
* Under each heading, you have sub-headings guiding you as to the main points you will cover.
* Carried out a `recce' to see if these ideas are viable.
* Assigned production roles.

Once you know the subject to be covered (in principle at least), what the programme is to be used for and whom, the next question is `how long will it run?'. You need to know what you can reasonably cover in the time available! To do this you need to develop a script - but first an understanding of some of the language used in video production is important.