Corporate Video/ Podcast / Event Video: Shoot Checklist

ACrew4U makes it easy to shoot a corporate video, photos, podcast or event anywhere on earth.

Even so, it can be made even easier if you ask yourself the below questions first !

1 What are you shooting?
Is it / will the project require:

• VIDEO INTERVIEWS
  An interview (if so how many people talking at any one time ?)
  One person speaking to camera (aka a Piece to Camera or Talking Head)
• NB – Will you need extra material shot to illustrate what’s being talked about ?
  (we call this B Roll or GV’s (stands for general views)
• A case study with interviews and “B-Roll” or “GV”s
• If it’s an interview, who will ask the questions?
• If it’s a video podcast, do we need to hire in podcast style mics to make it look more “podcasty”?

• EVENTS
  If Coverage of an event:
  Do you need to capture speakers making speeches?
  If so do you need to capture the whole speech(es)?
  Are there any things like round tables, or question and answer sessions that need to be covered?
  Does it need to be live coverage or pre recorded material that looks live, or a tighter edit?

• PODCAST
  Is it a video podcast ? (if yes, look at video interview questions above)
  If it’s an audio podcast how do you want to make it ?
  With all people in one place (like an office or studio etc)
  With people in multiple places and a professional sound recordist at each location
  With people joining the podcast from their laptops and someone remotely coordinating?

2 Where do you want to shoot/record it?
Have a think about the location:

• GENERAL LOCATION QUESTIONS
  What type of location is it? (Office, Hospital etc)
  Where will be shooting ? (Boardroom, meeting room, other)
  Can we control light in the location with blinds ?
  What are sound levels like? Is it near a lift/elevator or other source of noise?
  If there is air conditioning, can we turn it off it we want to ?
  Can we move furniture in the location?
  Do you need to get other shots in the location, and if so do we need special permission to do so?
• If shooting in an external, street, or third party owned location, what permits are needed and who will get them?

• DRONES
  If you have any intention of using a drone, is the location near a military facility or airport, or over any public non privately owned space?

• ACCESS/CONTACTS
  Who is a contact at location?
  Where can the crew park or drop off their gear?
  Is any protective equipment needed

• STUDIO LOCATIONS
  If you want to shoot in a studio, what do you want it to look like?
  Does it need to be soundproofed?

3 Who will be on the shoot from your side?

• Will you coordinate, or someone else?
  No one, we need someone to do it all remotely for us
  Someone will. If so, have they experience of shoots?
  We cannot get there, but we would like to be able to dial in and watch the shoot happen or even direct via a zoom call.

4 Shooting / Production style
How do you want it to look ?

• Have you got or seen/heard a reference video/podcast that you’d like yours to match?
  If not have you any thoughts on how you want shots to be lit or set up?
  How many cameras do you think will be needed ?
  Do you imagine cameras on tripods or on something else to add movement?
  Do you think you need a drone at all ?

4 Outputs and Uses
Resolution, etc:

• Does the material you want to shoot have to be edited alongside,or must the finished product be consistent with other material ? In which case, can you supply a reference?
  Do you have a preferred camera or camera manufacturer (Sony, Canon etc)
  Who will edit the footage?
  Do you or the editor have requirements in terms of frame rate, resolution (HD, 4K etc), or Colour space (very important, as one can shoot so the footage looks ready to edit (REC 709) or something that allows the editor maximum latitude to balance colours, generally play around with the image ( LOG ) )
  How do you want the footage delivered post shoot? (online, Hard disk in mail etc)