How I PLAN My TRAVEL VIDEOS - Pre-Production Process

Summary

This video script outlines the essential process of planning a travel film, emphasizing the importance of pre-production planning. It covers idea generation, creating detailed outlines, visual mood boards, location scouting, scheduling, shot lists, and storyboards. The speaker shares personal examples from 'The Blue Ridge' and offers tips for adapting to unexpected challenges on location.

Takeaways

• 😀 Planning is essential for creating travel films and should not be seen as an optional step.
• 📝 The process begins with an idea, which is then expanded into an outline using tools like Google Docs for easy access and collaboration.
• 🎬 A detailed outline helps visualize the film's structure, including transitions and sequences, and is crucial for storytelling.
• 🌅 Creating a visual mood board with screenshots from Instagram or movie frames serves as a reference for the visual style and cinematography inspiration.
• 🏞️ Location scouting is a critical part of planning, often involving finding specific locations to fit the story or shot ideas, and using resources like AllTrails for detailed information.
• 🔍 Finding hidden gems and lesser-known locations can make the video more unique and enjoyable to shoot, requiring extensive research and effort.
• ⏰ Scheduling the shoot is crucial, and it's recommended to allocate more time than anticipated for each task to account for potential delays and changes.
• 🗓️ Using a Google Calendar to plan and color-code the shoot schedule helps in visualizing and managing the timeline effectively.
• 📋 Detailed shot lists are essential for specific sequences where missing a shot could impact the story, and are formatted in a two-column table for clarity.
• 🎨 Storyboards, though not always used extensively, are helpful for visualizing crucial and technically specific shots, often sketched on index cards with notes.
• 🔄 Flexibility is key during the shoot, as plans may change due to weather, equipment issues, or unexpected events, requiring the ability to adjust and adapt.

Q & A

What is the importance of planning before shooting a travel film according to the video?

Planning before shooting a travel film is indispensable and necessary. It helps in organizing the entire process from idea generation to detailed outlines, shot lists, locations, scouting, and storyboards.

What is the first step in creating a travel film as mentioned in the video?

The first step in creating a travel film is coming up with an idea or concept that will inform every subsequent decision made throughout the project.

Why is Google Docs a useful tool for the initial stages of planning a travel film?

Google Docs is useful because it allows easy access to the document on various devices, and it facilitates sharing with collaborators if working with a team.

What is the purpose of creating a detailed outline for a travel film?

A detailed outline helps visualize the different sequences that make up the film, how they transition, and the events in each sequence, which is crucial for the overall structure and narrative flow.

How does the video creator use visual inspiration in the planning process?

The creator uses visual inspiration by creating a mood board with screenshots from Instagram, movie frames, and other sources to establish the visual style, cinematography, color scheme, and desired shooting locations.

What is the significance of location scouting in the planning of a travel film?

Location scouting is crucial as it helps find locations that fit specific shot ideas or parts of the story. It also involves finding hidden gems that are less known and not heavily trafficked, adding uniqueness to the film.

Why is it important to schedule the shoot in advance for a travel film?

Scheduling the shoot in advance is important to prevent wasting time on location and to ensure that all necessary shots can be captured within the available time, including unforeseen delays or changes in plans.

How does the video creator approach the creation of a shot list for a travel film?

The creator makes a detailed shot list for specific sequences where missing a shot would affect the story. The shot list is formatted in a two-column table, with the left column listing clips in video order and the right column in shooting order.

What is the role of storyboards in the planning process of a travel film?

Storyboards are used sparingly and mainly for shots that are crucial to the story and require specific execution. They help visualize complex scenes and ensure that all necessary elements are captured.

How should one prepare for potential challenges during the actual shoot of a travel film?

One should prepare by making documents available offline, being flexible to adjust the shoot based on weather or gear issues, and being comfortable with the fact that not everything will go as planned. Adaptability is key in the field.

What advice does the video creator give on how to approach the storytelling in a travel film?

The advice given is to not just show beautiful locations, but to tell a story that adds depth to the video. This approach makes the film more engaging and meaningful to the audience.