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CONTENTS

Introduction

  1.  A Cut Above

B-Roll: A Subtle Difference

A Director’s Command

The Power of Subtlety and Nuance

  2.  Sensibilities6

Empathy: The Key Ingredient

Other Influences

  3.  Program Inception: The Needs Analysis11

POTS? Say What?

Design: The Program Needs Analysis

What the PNA Provides

Client Contact Info/Dates

Got a Problem?

Audience

Objectives

Utilization

Content Caution

The Initial Client Meeting

p.viii

  4.  The Script

The Scriptwriter

Beware the Influence of Ego and Status

The Script

Dialogue/Monologue: Contractions

Pacing and Flow

Getting a Feel for It

Structure and Transitions

Tell ’Em!

Approval by Committee

Saved by a Single Point of Contact

And Finally . . .

  5.  Preproduction

The Virtual Walkthrough

Critical Choices

Script Breakdown and Scheduling

Location Scouting

Blocking

Casting

Client Handling in Preproduction

Working with the Producer

  6.  Talent

Role-Play Actors: Yes or No?

Number One and . . . One

Talent Times Three

Professional Actors

Casting and Auditions

Key Attributes

The Voice-Over Option

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  7.  Directing Actors on Location or in the Studio

Tradition Versus Corporate

The Director as Protector

Employee “Actors”

Employee Interviews

Executives

Executives on Teleprompter

So . . .

  8.  Production

The Director’s Role

Prep: The Key

Real World Versus Absolute Perfection

Quick Tips

Shoot to Cut on Action

Shoot for a Variety of Coverage

Consider Shooting Interviews with a Racked Out Background

Sound Can Make or Break You

Collaborating with the Crew

  9.  Postproduction

The Editor’s Role

From Pieces to a Whole

Fix It in Post?

Recognizing Performance Credibility

Clients and Producers: Pick Your Battles with Great Care

Cuts Only or “the Works”?

10.  Approvals and Client Meetings

Return of the PNA

Dealing with Client Changes

Leave Your Ego at the Door

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11.  Signing Off . . . for Now

A Bit of Parting Advice

Appendix 1  Shoot Breakdown in 4 Steps

Appendix 2  Elements Breakdown

Index