3.
Research your material.
a. Once you are informed of the mission you can start your research. First
of all, familiarize yourself with the subject matter.
You may want to go to the
library, look up the subject, find out what it is, where it is at, how it is
played, how it works, how it is done, or how to operate it.
The more you know
about the subject, the more insight you will have in your filming.
It would be
difficult for you to film "Field Strip an M-16," if you did not know what an M-16
looked like.
It is the same with any assignment; an effective cameraman
understands the subject. Research makes the difference between a good product and
a poor one.
(1) There are many sources for material on any given subject. If it
is a
military subject, you may be able to obtain the information you need in
unit
publication files, technical orders, or regulations. You may have a unit on
your
base or post that does essentially the same job as your subject and you may be
able
to get the basic facts about the job there.
(2) Do not forget about the post library; it is an invaluable source of
facts and information.
b. After all of the necessary data has been assembled, it is time to write a
shooting outline. The outline is not a script one might use in a production. It
is a plan of what scenes you want to use to document a complete story.
The
shooting outline is one of the first steps to take in preparing to film a story.
c. Secondly, you will want to go to the various locations where you intend to
film, and locate the best shooting positions. Some things to check are: location
of the sun (try to keep it behind you); if indoors, is power available for lights
or will equipment such as portable sun guns be necessary; what areas would be best
for filming, and what angles will be best.
Learning Event 3: WRITE A SCRIPT OUTLINE FOR CONTROLLED ACTION
1.
Before you can shoot a controlled action scenario, you must have a plan. The
first part of planning is gathering the data necessary, then decide what script
format will be used, A or B.
a. The class A script, also called the Hollywood format, is a one-column
script used only when new or original footage is required.
Scene description
(visual) comes first and runs the full width of the page, margin to margin. The
narration or dialogue (audio) follows and is indented well back from each margin.
An example of a Hollywood "A" script follows:
INT. DAY. THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST SERGEANT, WHO IS SEATED AT HIS
DESK, WRITING A REPORT. THERE IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
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