Video production: a 7 point checklist

You have decided to make a film for your organisation. It might be to highlight a particular issue, to promote yourself, as a training aid, or to launch a campaign.

You’ve briefed a production company and the big day has arrived – the first day of filming.

So what can you do to make sure it goes smoothly? This seven-point checklist should help.

1 Access

The crew will probably have a lot of kit: at the very least a camera and tripod, probably lights as well. It’s heavy. So you need to make sure they can unload it as near to where you’ll be filming as possible and that your security team is aware they’re coming and will let them in.

2 Parking

The crew will probably have driven and it will cut down time if you have sorted out parking spaces for them in advance – the last thing you want is them driving the streets trying to find somewhere on your time.

3 Venue

Where are they going to film? Inside or out? In your offices or on location or in a meeting room. Wherever you have decided, make sure:

• there is plenty of space with no large bits of furniture that will need to be shifted to make room for camera and lights and the actual subjects being filmed
• that if there are windows these can be shuttered or curtained off to cut out light and glare
• if there is air conditioning, this can be switched off or turned down to cut out the noise
• that there are plenty of power points

4 Props

If you know you are going to need a company banner, telephones, your products, or stools, or chairs, or tables, have them all in the room ready and waiting. You don’t want to have to waste time going to find them – or even worse – buy them.

5 Supporting materials

If the films needs anything like logos, graphics to create the titles, make sure you have sent these to the editor in advance, as well as the company font and colours, so that when they start editing, they have all the tools they need ready.

6 Refreshments

Filming is long-winded and thirsty work. Tea, coffee, water, lunch, munchies. All these will help the day go smoothly as they keep energy levels up - and get the crew on your side.

7 A plan

The producer or director will know what they need to do to produce the film you’ve asked for, but make sure you know what that is.

And for goodness sake, don’t change your mind about what you want during the day. If you keep changing the goalposts of what you are looking for, then the filming day could become a disorganised muddle and the resulting film a mess.

Hopefully these seven tips will help your filming go smoothly. Any more that you can add?