After gathering a decent amount of footage, there are still considerable uncertainties regarding the final shape I would like my video to take. One thing I have learned is that unless you are a professional videographer with a hired cast of actors, rounding up enough able and willing people to help with a video can be a daunting task. There were several days when I tried to organize people together to complete the shots I wanted, but these plans often fell through. In my previous projects it was much easier to finish the projects since I only had to coordinate with at most one other person. Furthermore, I couldn’t even include all of the shots I wanted for this very reason. Some elements simply didn’t make it into the final product because I could not get enough people to help out. Also, I learned to always double check the microphone jack connection! I had to discard an entire interview scene due to problems with a poor connection. Lastly, I learned to double the estimated time you think it will take to complete a scene.
With respect to the footage I have, I want to make sure I use the shots I took for the introduction. Although I have yet to decide how I want to tie these in, I feel it is visually interesting and will make for a strong attention-getting opening. I also will be using all the interview footage since that has become essential to conveying my message. On the other hand, I will be discarding some of my b-roll that was meant for my personal interview because I feel that it will be distracting and does nothing to visually reinforce my message.
Up until this point I have been able to capture everything almost exactly as I have intended. The bigger question is whether I go out and film more or just to work with what I have. First, I have the option to keep the video shorter, using only the interview segments and introduction. Although brief, this may be the most powerful. Second, I could include previous footage I had from earlier in the year to suggest a slightly different message and narrative. However, upon showing this iteration to friends, I have received mixed responses, and therefore may scrap the idea. Lastly, I can include not only all the elements from my first option, but also add in my additional ideas for visually portraying my argument through exaggerated circumstances.
Depending on how I decide to organize my film, there is nothing else that I need to shoot. The only option would be to gather additional footage regarded my exaggerated circumstances.
In order to move forward, the best thing that I could do is assemble all of the footage I currently have and look for the amount of coherence it all has as a whole.
thoughtswithjames 