This week marks the start of my first professional video project: a montage that brings the unique charm of Thread By Thread Boutique to life. My goal is to create a warm and engaging portrayal that inspires potential customers to step inside and experience this for themselves.

To prepare, I spent time researching and exploring best practices in video production. These insights will guide me as I highlight the boutique’s one-of-a-kind shopping experience (trust me, it’s anything but ordinary).

Now, before diving into the details of my pre-production work, let me share some of the most valuable lessons from my research.

Reading & Writing

The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel

Chapter 1: Basics

In the first chapter of The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel, we learn about essential camera principles that will help me use my DSLR effectively for my project. The author explains how digital cameras capture and display images, emphasizing concepts like exposure, aperture, and depth of field. He also offers tips on managing lighting, selecting lenses, and achieving sharp focus with through-the-lens viewfinders.

Chapter 2: Composition

In Chapter 2, we learn that composition is about making deliberate choices to guide what viewers see and how they perceive it. The camera is selective, and tools like the rule of thirds, balance, angles, and framing create visually engaging shots. Tips include using a tripod for smoother shooting, leaving enough space around subjects (lead room), and balancing elements like mass, colors, and lines to direct the viewer’s attention. This chapter hammers home the importance of thoughtful preparation when crafting a scene.

Chapter 5: Camera Moves

In Chapter 5, we get into the fundamentals of camera movement, including zooms, pans, and tilts. Schroeppel states that all camera movements should contribute to the viewer’s understanding of what they’re seeing, and unnecessary motion should be avoided. Additionally, capturing plenty of static shots makes for a flexible editing process. My main takeaway is the intentionality that should be behind every shot.

Chapter 6: Montages

The last chapter I read this week was Chapter 6, where we discussed montages. The author describes them as a series of related shots designed to “condense time or distances, set a mood, or summarize information” (p. 79). To create an effective montage, each shot must differ from the last. This can be achieved by varying angles and image sizes.

Video Pre-Production Planning Check-list – 11 Steps to A Successful Project by Jimm Fox

In his article, Video Pre-Production Planning Check-list – 11 Steps to A Successful Project, Jimm Fox explains that successful video productions start with careful planning. Pre-production tasks like defining objectives, identifying the audience, setting a budget, and crafting key messages ensure the video is focused and aligned with project goals. Tools like creative briefs, storyboards, and distribution plans provide structure, while logistical details such as scheduling, location scouting, and shoot organization keep the project on track. By addressing creative direction, video length, and approval processes early, teams can avoid delays and unexpected issues.

Learn What is a Storyboard and How to Use it to Make Better Videos by Amanda Athuraliya

Learn What is a Storyboard and How to Use it to Make Better Videos by Amanda Athuraliya highlights storyboarding as a crucial step in video production. A storyboard visually outlines your video frame by frame, detailing characters, settings, dialogue, and graphics. This process helps refine ideas, establish the creative vision, and identify potential issues before filming begins. To create a storyboard, the author recommends that you first define your video’s objective, message, length, and channels, then map out scenes with notes on camera angles, dialogue, and effects.

Research to Inform

Tron: Legacy

The 2010 film, Tron: Legacy, is packed with examples of proper visual composition, but one that producers make exceptional use of is leading lines. This practice can be seen throughout the entire film, especially in scenes where our eyes are meant to follow a motorcyclist along a road or across “the grid.” In the clip below, we see this clearly with the main character, Sam, speeding down the highway at 0:19, and again at 1:23 where he is (again, speeding) down a path in the virtual Tron world.

Avengers: Endgame

In Avengers: Endgame, producers use the rule of thirds to convey significance. Often, they’ll place key characters at intersection points in the frame so the audience knows whose role is most important in that moment. This is commonly done when a character is experiencing strong emotions, and we, as viewers, are meant to feel it too. We see this at 0:35 in the clip below when Captain America appears somber, and again at 0:45 when Black Widow shares an anxious look with Hawkeye.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Is this just an excuse to talk about my favorite Harry Potter movie in the franchise? Maybe. But what I’d like to call attention to is the effective use of framing in this scene from Goblet of Fire. Below, at 1:05, you can see Dumbledore deposit a memory into his pensieve for safe keeping. The circular boundary of the pensieve allows you to focus on the subject in the middle of it, which is important for understanding the context of the scene.

Create

Scavenger Hunt

Building on my new knowledge, I jumped into my first pre-production task: applying visual composition guidelines to my subject. To put these techniques into action, I completed a scavenger hunt, capturing still photos of the boutique to illustrate each concept.

At first, I thought this would be simple because I know the boutique so well, but certain aspects, like isolating singular subjects, were more challenging than expected. With the boutique’s large inventory, it was tricky to focus on just one product. This made it all the more important to create clear visual separation between the subject and the background.

My favorite part of the exercise was experimenting with perspective shots. I loved using my creativity to capture unique angles.

Overall, this activity was both a fun challenge and a valuable learning experience. You can view my completed pre-production work below!

I chose this subject because I want to share TBT’s inspiring mission with as many people as possible. Since I work there, I don’t anticipate too many challenges beyond timing. The shop looks its best in natural daylight, so I have to plan carefully and make thoughtful use of lighting rigs. Also, with the holidays approaching and gift shopping in full swing, I’ll have to work around busy store hours.

Despite these considerations, I’m excited to bring this script to life, so stay tuned!