Current practices task

 Current practices tasks 

1) The equipment required to produce a corporate/promotional video consists of a digital video camera or camcorder, tripod, external microphone, extra batteries and recording media, video lights and light reflectors, computer and video editing software. These are all important pieces of equipment which can ensure you capture the best quality video and audio footage. However, these are only the basics and extra equipment can be acquired to help increase the quality of the production. For example, a dolly, jib arm or crane can be used to steady a camera and prevent movement whilst being held. The equipment required also depends on the weather and location (e.g. lots of artificial lighting won’t be needed if filming outside in summer).  

2) The distribution methods required to reach the intended audiences would likely be through conferences, in presentations (e.g. training videos) or online (usually on a website or on social media). 

3) One common shooting method/convention you would expect to see in a corporate/promotional video is the use of the rule of thirds, especially during shots of interviews. The interviewee will often be positioned on either of the intersecting vertical lines whilst facing towards the larger space next to them, which is long-sided composition. Close up and mid shots are often used when there’s an interviewee in the shot or to show the work the company does, whilst wide shots are frequently used to showcase locations.  

4) Regarding pre-production, all corporate/promotional videos should begin with the client brief. This contains the initial ideas the client wants to include in their corporate/promotional video.  

5) Client liaison is important because the filming company can then understand exactly what kind of content their client wants and any potential issues with their ideas can be brought up so a solution can be negotiated. The video that’s produced will then be satisfactory for the client and will promote the image that they want.  

6) The documentation that should/could be completed before production starts consists of talent/location releases, location recces, a shot list, risk assessments and a production schedule. Talent and location releases are needed so the filming company has permission to film a specific person/place. Location recces provide an assessment of the locations the crew want to film at, containing information such as the address, availability and contacts. Shot lists and production schedules provide a plan for what is going to happen in every shot and when each one is going to be filmed. Risk assessments allow the crew to consider any complications that could happen during filming and come up with solutions to prevent any injuries that could happen to themselves or others.  

7) The difference between a script and a shooting script is that the shooting script is more elaborate, precise, overwritten version of the screenplay. Unlike what common sense may suggest, the shooting script is not written by the screenwriter. It is written by the director alongside the cinematographer, while both discuss their ideas and shot plan desired for the movie. [1] 

[1] What is the shooting script? | Movie Directing (elementsofcinema.com)