B.+Pre-production

** The Three Phases of Production **

Production is typically done in three phases, **pre-production**- the scriptwriting and planning phase, **production**- the actual capturing of the raw video and audio, and **post-production**- the editing and finishing of the media production. On this page and the next couple of pages, these phases are addressed in more depth, starting of course with pre-production.


 * Decide on the Audience and Purpose for your production: **

** Purpose **   Media can have several purposes: Persuade Inform/ Teach Entertain/ Engage Express a point of view The main purpose of most field trips will be to inform/teach. However they many times are told from a particular point of view. And every video must be engaging in order to hold it's audience's attention

When thinking about the purposes of educational video, we can go more deeply into subdividing purpose into many different categories in addition to the electronic field trip. If you would like to explore more ideas of how to use video production in education, check out this powerpoint from a site created by technology guru Tom Barrett. [] **If you want to check out the rest of Tom's site and the rest of his "Interesting Ways to Use Technology" collection then go here **: [] ** Audience **
 * For more ideas of how to use video production specifically in STEM categories then go to this page I. EFTs with a STEM Flavor and check out the powerpoint, videos, and links found there **. I. EFTs with a STEM Flavor

When deciding the audience for your video, take the following <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 127.8%;">into consideration: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 127.8%;">Age/experience <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 127.8%;">Background <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 127.8%;">Wants/Needs

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">** __Research__ ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> It is incredibly important to research your location and subject <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">matter before writing your script. Of course an internet search of <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">reliable sources is a good place to start. If circumstances permit, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">conduct an initial visit to make preliminary contacts and "scout out" <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">the location. Important information to collect during this visit would be: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">hours of operation <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">restrictions on taking photos or video <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">getting permission to go "behind the scenes" in certain areas <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">finding out the best person (s)persons to interview during your tour.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 126.36%;">__**Plan Your Website as You Plan Your Video and other Media**__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Since field trips are shot on location, it is very important to get as much of your raw material for all your media and the website itself while you are on your shoot. A good way to start planning is through a mind map style format. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Here is a link to an Inspiration doc. we used when planning the EFT to the //Belle of Louisville//. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Here is a example of a mind map format plan using a free webtool called the Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) created by Tufts University and located here: [] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 126.36%;">__**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Planning The Video **__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Remember that video is a visual medium so when planning it think in shots and scenes. A storyboard is a "comic strip" version of your story where you actually draw the shots you want to see. This allows you to visualize your video before you shoot it. Below is a link to a blank script/storyboard sheet you can print out and use in planning your production. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Like any piece of writing your script may go through several re-writes. You want your finished product to be clear and concise enough for all of your crew members to be able to know what the plan is.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Here is an example of a first draft of this storyboard sheet filled out. You don't have to be an artist to create one of these, you just want to get your idea across.

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">**__Planning for Interviews__** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">When writing a script for a field trip in which you will be doing on-site interviews, you of course do not know exactly what the person being interviewed will say. It is fine in your initial script to simply put placeholders such as (Interview with fireman here). Here is a pdf of one of the many drafts of the EFT to the //Belle of Louisville// script. Notice the edit notes, the placeholders for interviews and in some cases the interview questions: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">For more in-depth information about interviews check out this pdf: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">__**Collect/ create all costumes, props and materials**__ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Of course a field trip by definition takes place on location. So unless you are doing a tour to your school or something close, you are going to be away from your studio when collecting your raw photos, videos, and audio. If you are planning to use any kinds of props, costumes, or will need materials during any of your scenes, then you have to plan in advance to make sure you take them with you. Make a checklist to help you remember all needed items.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Before actually going on your shoot, always think specifically about what shots you need collect and who is responsible for getting them. To help with this process, here is a shot sheet.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">__Shot Sheet__ **

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 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">For more information, here is a link to two segments from KET EncycloMedia Video on pre-production from the series "Lights, Camera, Education" **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Go to Production