Working as a Video Making Team
By leelefever on November 29, 2007 - 10:42am.
Last night we shot the video for the next Common Craft Show and, as usual, we came out of the experience completely exhausted. I've always been fascinated that it takes so much out of me. In thinking about why (other than the 500 watt lights), it has become clear that it may be the same thing that makes our videos work: iteration. Everything we do on video is rehashed, rewritten, repositioned and edited all the way to the point the camera rolls (and sometimes again after).
All these changes mean that we, as a couple, have to come to 100s of agreements over the course of the video's production. It's these agreements and disagreements that are a huge risk and our biggest asset. Sachi is not afraid to call me out and say that the way I want to do something doesn't make sense or could be better and I'm enormously thankful that.
We're both different people with different points of view. Sachi is the practical project manager type - we call her the Chief Party Pooper. I'm the big idea creative type - I need someone that can balance the concepts with moderation and practicality. It's these roles that push back and forth when we produce a video. Here's how the workflow breaks down:
- I create the first draft of the script and basic storyboard, we review it
- We both edit the script, often concurrently using Google docs.
- I create the illustrations
- We walk through the storyboard and script together
- In the studio, Sachi runs the camera and effects (animation/stop-action) and I direct the story
- Sachi does all the video editing/finishing
- I blog about it
I've never been more appreciative of the power of teamwork. The finished product that you see is often very different than we first envisioned - and some of the best changes come once the paper hits the whiteboard. Everything is always up for revision and we deal with it as a team.
In the end, I think it works because we're both focused on the product vs. trying to please one another. Capitulation comes with discussion and focus - and that's one thing that becomes exhausting during a video's production - agreement. That - and being so close to those lights - they suck the life right out of me.
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Timely Post, Heartfelt Thanks
Your posting was very revealing, and I'm compelled to thank you for it.
My partner and I are endeavoring to embark on a joint venture (about which I'll be doing the blogging :-) and your post touches on a few great points.
I suppose there's the point that this is all risk and reward. When a couple people with lots of good chemistry are working together, there's the risk, when stakes are high, that some fundamental disagreement will get out of hand. But the reward is there also, that a team with great chemistry can come up with something truly remarkable.
Congrats as usual and always on your good work.
complementary skills / talents
It's really great when you discover and mutually recognize your skills and talents and how they complement each other's. Then it's just more the art of keeping production rolling through each project and onto the next (and including not letting yourself or each other get too exhausted!).
inside look
Thanks for the look behind the camera at the struggles you've had in creating such great material. I share many of your "plain english" videos with teachers I support. Your post has made me appreciate these great resources even more. Thanks for all your time and effort.
Make Team
Convincing most people to change their working habits and their learning habits as adults is very difficult, even where they have some choice in the matter. Using technology as a way of forcing that change may help to lever the process but isn't the answer - as always, it's about starting with the people, their culture, needs and behaviours. By starting with very simple easy to use tools that don't ask people to make big changes in practice may be a better solution to ensuring real benefits from technology adoption.
Put into Perspective
Your videos always seem so simple and I'm sure this gives people the impression that they don't take a whole lot to put together. Once explained and really thought about, I can only image how tough it is to go through this day after day with the same person and as you stated above, all the "decisions" that have to be agreed upon. I can certainly see now where this would be a very mentally demanding role.
Thanks for putting things into perspective for us!
congratulations
At the age of 73 I have at last found a site where I can understand prectically everything.
Well done and thanks
Richard Goodwin
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