Production packets for video / film
Different types of productions require different types of preparation. Students are producing 30 second
PSA’s, hype videos, short documentaries, short fiction films, and television productions. The goal
is the same: be as prepared as possible. Know what you are shooting, what you need to shoot it
(equipment), assemble everything that appears in front of the cameras (costumes/props/locations/
actors), and rehearse. Sometimes, the hardest part is getting the whole crew and cast together at
one time in on place; you want to take full advantage of this time.
Below are the expectations for the production packet for different types of productions:
PSA’s, hype videos, short documentaries, short fiction films, and television productions. The goal
is the same: be as prepared as possible. Know what you are shooting, what you need to shoot it
(equipment), assemble everything that appears in front of the cameras (costumes/props/locations/
actors), and rehearse. Sometimes, the hardest part is getting the whole crew and cast together at
one time in on place; you want to take full advantage of this time.
Below are the expectations for the production packet for different types of productions:
Fiction Film
Non-Fiction Film (documentary)
PSA (Public Service Announcement)
- Treatment: a paragraph or two describing your film from start to end. Your treatment should
- describe the theme, characters (and their motivations), the story (where are we? What
- happens?), and style.
- 5 point story outline (see template link)
- -Storyboard. Draw your film, shot for shot. (see template link)
- Shotlist (a list of shots, typed)
- List of locations
- List of actors
- List of props
- Equipment list
- Shooting schedule (which scenes are you shooting when; start by breaking down your script into
- scenes–each new location is a scene)
- Contact information for all cast and crew
Non-Fiction Film (documentary)
- Treatment: a paragraph or two describing your film from start to end. Your treatment should describe the theme, subjects (and their motivations), the story (place, time frame, events), and style.
- List of interviewees with questions for each.
- Shotlist (a list of shots, typed)
- List of locations
- List of actors
- List of props
- Equipment list
- Shooting schedule (which scenes are you shooting when; start by breaking down your script into scenes–each new location is a scene)
- Contact information for all cast and crew
PSA (Public Service Announcement)
- If making a PSA, you should come up with more than one (2-3 separate ideas to convince your audience).
- Treatment: a paragraph describing your PSA from start to end. Your treatment should describe the theme, characters, the story (where are we? What happens?), style, and message (what is the tag line or “call to action”).
- Storyboard. Draw your film, shot for shot.
- Shotlist (a list of shots, typed)
- List of locations
- List of actors
- List of props
- Equipment list
- Shooting schedule (which scenes are you shooting when; start by breaking down your script into scenes–each new location is a scene)
- Contact information for all cast and crew