“Sony Z1 camera….check!” “Back-up camera…check!”

“Arri 650/300 light kit….check!”

“Passport…check!”

“Tripod, audio kit, HD monitor - Check, check, check!”

Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold on now…what about the Sunblock, some flip-flops, Ray-Bans, the Tommy Bahama shirts? Well yeah…that’s in the other bag…but business is business and when it comes to traveling on a video production shoot you have to be prepared - for everything!

One of the great misconceptions of our field is the glamour associated with our profession. Sure, going on a week-long cruise and producing instructional vignettes is a great job…but it’s also a great challenge. We’re not going to hobnob with Mr. Rourke or Tattoo or even shoot the breeze with Capt. Stubing and Gopher…our week will be full of 12 hour days and overcoming the inevitable challenges that will come about. Whether a project takes place in Nassau, Cozumel, or 5 minutes from home…every production company (every good one) has to be ready for whatever could arise. Obviously it’s easier working at home because it’s a simple call back to the office to bring in an additional piece of equipment if needed…opposed to say…hmmm, being on a ship in the middle of the Caribbean! That’s why thinking ahead is crucial…and trying to plan for just about any type of production scenario is smart. Because once you’re out on that ship…you’re not going to get a second chance, you better have absolutely everything you need with you. What it all comes down to is the end product. It has to be good.

“Videotape…check!”

“Batteries…check!” “Extra batteries…check!!!”

“Sleep….umm, sleep?” “Yeah…sleep, get plenty of sleep tonight because you’re not going to see a whole lot of it for the rest of the week!”

Ok…so you have a project that your company is producing and it needs a little finesse. No one is exactly volunteering to be on camera to be the lead person to drive this project and talk about the product at hand. Where to turn…where to turn???

Pssst…a talent agency, that’s where! Talent agencies are a great resource in finding local actors to be the spokesperson for your project. An actor can make a world of difference in providing credibility and giving your project the edge that it needs. Whether it’s a spokesperson that you require or two actors to play out a training scenario, talent agencies generally offer plenty of actors that you can choose from. It’s as simple as going to their website and starting to choose from the selections online.

Hmmm…but what if I need a woman say in her early 50s and the project is geared towards a more ethnic and diverse demographic? What are my options? These are questions producers face every day. Talent representatives often provide a myriad of actors that fit in the range you’re looking for…and they’ll go to every means to provide you with the right talent. Emailing links with headshots and pdf’s of their credits for you to peruse is just one of the first steps taken to get the job done.

Auditions are the only true evaluator though. Before deciding on talent, provide the agency with a “test script” and schedule an audition with three or four of your finalists. You can have them come out to your office or the audition can be scheduled at the agency. Videotape the audition so that you have something to reference later on in the selection process.

Speaking from experience, the auditions that Bright Circle conducts are thorough and extensive. Whether that means holding auditions at two or three agencies here in Orlando or conducting them simultaneously in South Florida as well…auditions are a must-have to provide your project the talent it needs.

Happy 2008! We thought this year we’d start right off the bat with a real winner…no, not another recipe for bread pudding, not even a recipe for our beloved Sun-Dried Tomato and Wasabi Dip. That dip kicks bread pudding’s butt! Instead our very favorite format for Audio/Video Scriptwriting. Let’s take a look.

There are 3 columns…one for the scene number, one for video, which is typically on the left side of the format, and one for audio, which is on the right side. The scene number is a crucial element in the script format. It’s the “map” for the client and the production company to refer to when they’re talking about various elements in the script. The scene number ensures that everyone is on the same page. Next is the video column. There we list all the visuals that you see. Those might include any talent or actors that are on camera, or the specific action that is taking place visually on the screen. On the corresponding audio side we list the audio that the viewer will hear when they see the visual. It’s all very simple…really!

So…that in a nutshell is the formula for a professional video script. It’s also the beginnings of a pretty effective HR video for Sexual Harassment…