Ironically, I'm actually the king of preparation. Lists? Got them. Schedules? Of course. Equipment check? Triple-checked. But as soon as I look through the viewfinder, my brain switches to single-task mode.
The irony is that our modern cameras make it easier than ever before. One push of a button and the video is rolling. But no, my head stubbornly refuses to accept this simple fact. "We're here to take photos," it strictly declares. "Everything else is a distraction."
If perfection is a crime, I'm guilty as charged. But this very trait will now be my salvation.
The solution is so obvious that I almost blush for not having found it earlier: a shot list specifically for filming. Systematic and well-thought-out, like everything else.
Wide shot of the shooting setup, medium shot of the interaction, close-up of details. Observe the 180-degree rule (always staying on one side of an imaginary line between viewer and protagonist), standardize pan directions (important for cutting clips together). Everything in proper sequence.
For this purpose, I've developed a small tool that takes care of exactly this planning for you. A few clicks and you have your perfectly structured shot list. No more excuses, no more forgotten shots.
Well, and now I stand here with my new list in hand and have to admit: organization can sometimes be damn sexy. My inner filmmaker has surrendered to the power of structure. He has realized that even behind-the-scenes material requires a certain choreography.
I hope the tool is of help for you, too.
And for the lazy ones among you, there's also my Shot List Creator Cheat with Presets.