Step 0: limber up

• do some exercises with ‘found footage’

• learn to lipsynch with old student footage

• do a karaoke multi-angle version of a track for fun

• re-make an existing video frame by frame

Step 1: choose a track

• Can be a mistake to go for well-known artist/your favourite artist

• Make it short !

Step 2: write a treatment

• Pitch with a strong and simple idea- a clear and ‘doable’ concept

Step 3: Plan for everything

• storyboard

• people, places, props, costumes

• shoot it early

• rehearse performers

Step 4: set up a blog

• link to ideas

• Videos that influence you (YouTube)

• recce shots

• animatic

Step 5: know your equipment

• test shots

• camera quirks

• tripod

• edit program? -experiment

• music and an audible source?

Step 6: the shoot

• Shoot the performance at least ten times with different set-ups

• cutaways

• Experiment with extra angles

• lots of close-ups !

• Enthuse your performers

• Shoot more than you think you will need

Step 7: capture your footage

• Label and organise everything

• manageable chunks

Step 8: the edit

• Synch up performances first

• whole picture rather than tiny detail

• Cut and cut again

• dynamic work

• Do any effects work last

Step 9: screening

• Get feedback wherever you can