Pre-production (planning)
Production (shooting)
Post-production (editing)
The key to success in a video production is organization. And I'm a rather disorganized person, so I'd like to skip that part and just keep all that information "in my head." But I've learned the hard way that a little organization during the planning and shooting stages makes life a lot easier when it comes time to edit.
In class, I always do a simple demonstration of logging an interview while taping it, to show students some techniques that make the whole process easier. It goes something like this:
Ed: "I need two students to help with this demo." And I grab a couple at random, asking them to come to the front of the class with me.
Ed: "All right, we're shooting an interview with Jenny. I'll have her stand in front of the camera, and Bret will be my gaffer." With this, I hand Bret a pencil and paper.
Ed: "Every videotape that I shoot needs a name. We'll label this tape as 'Jenny.' So I want Bret to write 'Jenny' at the top of his piece of paper. This is our Tape Log."
Bret writes this down and waits for further instructions.
"I'll start the camera rolling. Remember that we need 10 seconds of pre-roll before the action starts. While the camera is rolling, I'll ask Jenny to say and spell her full name."
Jenny looks at the camera and says, "Jenny Jones. J-e-n-n-y J-o-n-e-s."
Ed: "Very good. Jenny, I'd like you to hold up one finger, because this is Take One of the interview." Remember that the camera has been rolling during this.
Jenny holds up one finger for a minute. We're ready to start.
"All right, everyone 'stand by." This is Take One, coming in 5-4-3-2...."
And I don't say "one" because I want a moment of silence there before we begin.
I ask Jenny a couple of questions, and then I cough or clear my throat while she gives me her reply. Ah. A ruined take. I look at Jenny and say:
Ed: "I'm sorry. Guess I messed up that take. So Bret, would you write down 'Jenny interview Take 1, no good.'"
Bret does this and we continue.
Ed: "Note the camera is still rolling. Tape is cheap, so we don't bother stopping the camera or rewinding the tape between takes. Jenny, please hold up TWO fingers, so we know this is Take 2."
She does so. Bret writes down "Jenny interview Take 2" on his paper.
We do another take of the interview, and we successfully complete it. I look at Jenny and Bret.
Ed: "Were you happy with that take? Was that all right?"
They think it was fine.
Ed: "OK. The camera is still rolling, and we know it's been at least 10 seconds since Jenny finished. I'll turn the camera off, and I'd like Bret to mark 'OK' next to 'Take 2' on his log sheet."
Bret does so, and I thank both students as they go back to their desks.
Ed: "Class, when we've finished shooting everything, we'll take a big stack of tapes into the editing suite to begin putting this project together. At some point, we'll look at our script and want that interview of Jenny."
Ed: "Where do we find it?"
And the students reply, "On the tape labeled 'Jenny.'"
"What take do we want to use?"
Students: " Take 2."
Ed: "And how do we know that?"
Bret: "Because I wrote it down."
Ed: "How do we know which take is Take 2?"
Jenny : "Because I held up two fingers while you were taping to show it was Take 2."
If you use the technique of logging your takes and selecting the "good" take while you shoot it, you save a lot of effort and frustration when it's time to transfer the good stuff to your editor.
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