First TV commercial - advice needed UK

Mike Beckett · June 5th, 2014, 11:58 AM

Have you used a C300 before, Clive?

I'd much prefer to have some time to practice before I bravely head out on a paying job with an unfamiliar camera....

Warren Kawamoto · June 5th, 2014, 04:00 PM

Is the script/storyboard done? Unlike weddings, you cannot simply show up on site and start shooting. Make certain that every second of the commercial is scripted/storyboarded. You need to know in advance EXACTLY how long each shot will appear on screen, and what the shot/dialog is. Everything must work out on paper before you can translate it to video. If it doesn't work on paper first, you're wasting everybody's time. In the example you posted, the dialog and music were interwoven. This did not happen by chance. It was planned in advance and was shot to fit the script. Remember that a commercial is usually 30 seconds long, but EVERY frame counts! On top of that, every delivered line must be clean, the inflection must be perfect, and every frame of every shot of video has perfect lighting edge to edge. Doing commercials of that calibre is not a one man band operation.

June 5th, 2014, 11:58 AM	#16
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Re: First TV commercial - advice needed UK Have you used a C300 before, Clive? I'd much prefer to have some time to practice before I bravely head out on a paying job with an unfamiliar camera.... __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

June 5th, 2014, 04:00 PM	#17
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: First TV commercial - advice needed UK Is the script/storyboard done? Unlike weddings, you cannot simply show up on site and start shooting. Make certain that every second of the commercial is scripted/storyboarded. You need to know in advance EXACTLY how long each shot will appear on screen, and what the shot/dialog is. Everything must work out on paper before you can translate it to video. If it doesn't work on paper first, you're wasting everybody's time. In the example you posted, the dialog and music were interwoven. This did not happen by chance. It was planned in advance and was shot to fit the script. Remember that a commercial is usually 30 seconds long, but EVERY frame counts! On top of that, every delivered line must be clean, the inflection must be perfect, and every frame of every shot of video has perfect lighting edge to edge. Doing commercials of that calibre is not a one man band operation.