The Producer’s Playbook: Real People on Camera

Description

The Producer’s Playbook: Real People on Camera
Directing and Working with Non-Actors
By Amy DeLouise

Producer’s Playbook: Real People on Camera is a no-nonsense guide for producers looking to get the best performances from “real people” to tell powerful stories on video. Director/producer Amy DeLouise brings years of experience to this resource for creating the best on-screen impact with non-actors for interviews, re-enactments, documentary and direct-to-camera messages. With useful case studies and tips on everything from managing locations and budgeting to strategies for managing crews and the expectations of executive producers and clients, this is an invaluable resource for professionals working in reality TV, documentary, corporate video, and more.

•         Ample case studies with perspectives from industry professionals interviewed by the author, as well as her own plentiful stories from the field
•         Tips are featured in sidebars throughout the text, so that readers can see how the information applies to real situations
•         Full-color photographs allow readers to visualize real world production situations
•         The appendix includes useful templates and checklists for working producers

Table of Contents

I. Introduction

    Motivation and goals for this book

    The opportunities inherent in using “real people,” not pro’s

    How to use the tools and case studies in this book for a wide range projects involving real people on camera– reality TV, documentary, podcasts, journalism, news magazine, and short-form non-fiction such as corporate, issue advocacy, education and training.

II. Preparation

Ch. 1 Getting to Know Your Subjects

    Researching Your Characters

    Validators and Character Foils

    Casting & Pre-Qualifying

    Casting Children

    Phone Pre-interviews

    Rounding up visual assets (photos, video, etc.)

    Knowing handlers

    When Pre-Interviews or Casting Aren’t Possible or Wise

Ch. 2 Preproduction Logistics

    Budgeting and Bidding

    Scheduling to allow creativity and spontaneity

    Location Scouting

    Locations for Interviews

    Locations for re-enactments and b-roll

    Location agreements

    Talent Releases

    Other rights to be aware of

    Music rights

    Copyrighted artwork/sculptures/architecture

Ch. 3 Planning Your Story

    Story Arc Planning

    When Reality Demands a Script

    Planning for Scenarios and Re-enactments

    Planning for B-roll

III. In the Field

Ch. 4 Tools and Strategies

    Tapping into the Inner Performer

    Introducing Your Team

    Using Hair & Makeup as a “Way In”

    Managing EP’s and Handlers

    Coaching without scaring

Ch. 5 Direct-to-Camera Delivery

    To Rehearse or Not to Rehearse?

    Working with VIP’s and Experts

    Working with Children

    Nervous or Worried Subjects

    Teleprompters

    From iPads and do-it-yourself to prompter operator systems

    Green-screen: When it works, when it doesn’t

    Camera Set-up Layouts and Recommendations

    Case Studies: from Justin Bieber to Annie Lennox

Ch. 6 Scenarios & Re-enactments

    Maximizing the Advantages of Real People in Scenes

    Scenario vs Re-enactment: Which Do You Need?

    Scenario Shot Planning

    Obstacles and How to Avoid Them

    Challenging Scenario Settings

    Directing Kids in Scenarios

    Planning in the Field that affects Your Edit

    Master Shots, Camera Set-ups and Alternates

    Coverage Options with Video Cameras and DSLRs

    Post Production Strategies

    Tips for keeping on schedule & budget

    Case Study: Operating room safety “right way” “wrong way”

    Case Study: Documentary re-enactment

Ch. 7 Beyond the Soundbite: Storytelling Through Interviews

    Preparing for Your Interview

    Camera setup and interviewer on or off-camera decisions

    Setting Your Subject at Ease

    Location considerations

    Crew positioning

    Creating a Story Arc with Interview Questions

    When to use Talking Points, When to Avoid Them

    Learning Styles and How They Impact Your Interview Strategy

    Getting B-roll of Interview Subjects

    Planning for Interview Post

    Transcriptions, Audio recognition, and making your editor happy

    Future-Proofing

    Edit Workflows for Multiple Deliverables

    Camera Set-up Recommendations (1-camera and 2-camera)

    Tips for keeping on schedule & budget

Ch. 8 Challenging Interviews

    Young children

    Traumatized Subject

    Nervous/inexperienced

    VIPs, Celebrities and Experts

    ESOL & When to Use a Translator

    Experienced Interviewees

    Case Study: Palestinian youth in outside location

    Case Study: Philanthropic women in studio

    Case Study: Appalachian families at home

    Case Study: Woman who lost a child to SIDS

IV Managing Executive Producer, Crew & Client Relationships

Ch. 9 Defining the Mission

    Connecting to Strategic Plans

    Knowing the Players

Ch. 10 Workflows and Planning

    Tools for Information-Sharing

    Creating Value and Multiple Deliverables

Ch. 11 Cultivating Your Crew Relationships

    Setting Expectations

    Selecting the Right Team

    Food Matters

    Thanking and Mentoring

Ch. 12 Getting Approvals: from Storyboards to Final Cuts

    Group Think and How to Avoid It

    Strategies for Silos and Management Styles

    Turning Challenging People into Team Players

    Button-Pushers, Non-Deciders and People with Other Agendas

    Big Personalities and Inexperienced Leaders

Conclusions & Final Tips

Biography

As an accomplished video director/producer with more than 400 productions to her credit, Amy is an expert at working with non-professionals on camera. Her more than 40 creative excellence awards include the Telly, Peer, New York Festivals, Aurora, and CINE Golden Eagle. She was also honored with the Woman of Vision Leadership Award from Women in Film & Video of Washington, D.C.

Amy is a sought-after speaker on a range of digital video topics at such industry conferences as the National Association of Broadcasters convention (NABShow). Her popular Lynda.com courses on Script Writing for Nonfiction Video, The Art of the Video Interview, and Video Editing: Moving from Production to Post can be found at www.lynda.com/AmyDeLouise. She has a B.A. in English from Yale University.

With Producer’s Playbook: Real People on Camera, Amy brings her no-nonsense style, real-world anecdotes, and passion for non-fiction storytelling to film students and experienced production professionals alike. Amy offers additional tips, resources and blog posts at www.amydelouise.com.