Define Your Final Project

One of the more practical things that you need to do at the very beginning of your film project is to describe exactly what it is you’re making. What do we mean?

• 3 – 5 minute short film?
• Music video?
• 45 second YouTube piece?
• Trailer for a proposed bigger project?

Sometimes, this is obvious. Sometimes, this is not. But it is very important that you describe exactly what it is you are making in clear and measurable terms so that those who are helping you can give you the best possible help, so that you are clear and focused, and so that you approach the planning of your project from the proper direction.

Unless it is perfectly obvious, make sure that your team knows exactly what you are producing. Being a collaborative medium, your direction to the crew needs to be somewhat generic nature for the most part, and more detailed in others. Consequently, you need to depend on the judgment of others in accomplishing certain tasks. Without an understanding of the final piece, you are less likely to get the proper decisions and priorities from those helping you. Make sure they know.

Secondly, it is good practice to define the end product for yourself. It is so easy for your project to creep from a test to a short film to an epic over the course of an afternoon. Once again, unless you are independently wealthy, you are wasting money if you start down one road and shift to another. Being flexible isn’t always the best way. Define your project and keep your focus.

Finally, having a clear understanding about the final product will dictate much about how you will plan the project. For example, if you are putting together a music video with a paying client, your ability to get inexpensive help will be more difficult than if you were doing a small film for personal reasons. There are so many different ways to achieve roughly the same thing that you have tons of options. The correct path will be easier to see if you have a focused vision of the final product.