This document provides guidance and templates for planning a practical project. It includes sections for researching ideas, developing potential approaches, assessing locations and equipment needs, and organizing a production schedule. The document emphasizes pre-visualizing the project through storyboards and shot lists to make filming more efficient. It also stresses contingency planning for technical, location, personnel or organizational issues that could arise.

1. GENERIC
PLANNING
DOC
YOUR NAME HERE

2. GUIDANC
E
This template PowerPoint presentation
includes all the relevant elements you
should cover for a practical project. It
is not exhaustive, but provides some
guidance on stages, types of planning
and documents you should be
assembling. This is not a one size fits
all document, you will need to amend,
rejig and add/subtract sections
depending on what you are making.
Add more pages to each section
where necessary [you should be doing
this!]
Add visuals as you see necessary.
This document will be added to as you
progress through the pre-production
phase.
Delete this slide when complete

3. TASK 1
Idea Generation and Research

4. RESEARCH & IDEA
GENERATION
Use section to track your process of of generating ideas.
List and discuss the styles, techniques and conventions
that you have identified in your research. Explore how
you could approach the project using different methods
You can add any extra info you think is relevant, images,
mind maps, etc
For quick mind maps you could use bubbl.us
Make sure you assess the viability of ideas as well as the
potential for them creatively.

5. RESEARCH
My research has showed me that a lot of fitness influencers
have a different approach with a similar goal. All the
sources I’ve looked at aim to teach the viewer and educate
them on how to get bigger in the gym. Joe Fazer takes a
very direct approach hitting you with lots of facts and
figures with interviews and science-based workouts. On the
other hand, people like Alex Eubank go for more of a
lifestyle approach showing ins and outs of daily life as not
only an influencer but a fitness guru. The technical aspect
of all these videos focus largely on montage type shots with
lots of music and high paced switches between shot to
translate the intensity and effort that goes into the gym in
video form. In some cases, the lighting a contrast of the
videos is tampered with in training montages as it makes
the subject look bigger. This technique is used
predominantly in Cbum’s videos with hard core training
with minimal music. Nearly all the examples I investigated
made use of images and text flashing up on screen when
going over large phases of talking or explanation. Nathaniel
Massiah in his “My Transformation” video did a lot of talking
and story telling which would have been boring if it was just
him talking so he added training footage and text to the

6. POTENTIAL APPROACHES
My initial approach will be an entertaining twist on a
Netflix style documentary mixed with the fast-paced
editing of YouTube videos. I want to take a more
informative approach for my project as I personally find
this kind of video an easier watch with fitness content.
People also enjoy seeing challenges in video, so I want to
try and push myself for the entertainment of other
people and myself.

7. POTENTIAL TECHNIQUES TO
USE
A lot of examples I researched used different techniques
and came out with very similar results. The more training
heavy videos with lots of lifting and minimal editing
made use of very high quality and low lighting to make
the subject look bigger. The videography focus will be
hard to achieve with the equipment I have available, but
the use of color correction should make me come out
with a higher overall quality. The information filled
videos such as Joe Fazer’s content focus on easy-to-
understand tips and tricks which are educational to not
only a fitness orientated audience. He uses flashing
images and text to make the video easy to watch and
digest instead of sitting in front of a camera and
explaining everything.

8. CONVENTIONS OF YOUR
CHOSEN FORMAT/GENRE
YOU ARE WORKING TO
Documentaries are meant to be informative and to the
point. They’re meant to provide the viewer with
information about a topic they didn’t understand before
or alternatively (in my case) challenge a topic or subject
and document my experiences and learnings in video
form to educate an audience about the good and the bad
side of the chosen topic.

9. MOOD BOARD

10. FINAL IDEA – RATIONALE
Why this idea? Why this format? What skills do you have
that support this and what are you looking forward to
exploring more.
For my idea I wanted to do something that I'm passionate
about and would have a lot of fun making. I know a
considerable amount about fitness as it’s a big hobby of
mine outside of college so combining my knowledge and
passion, I have the grounds to make a good
documentary. I chose to do a documentary as I feel the
other options don’t suit to my style as well. With my
current knowledge a documentary would just be
transferring my knowledge across in a fun and exiting
way which was another reason as to why I chose video.
Premiere Pro is one of my better skills inside of adobe
suite and my research combined with my experience
should make this project a fun learning curve.

11. FINAL IDEA – CREATIVE
CONCEPT
What do you want to make, reference the look, style and
type of project. This could be a synopsis of the piece and
some visual reference points. Reference content and the
themes you are wanting to explore and resources that
might help you to achieve your aims.
My aim is to make a fun yet factual documentary
challenge video training nothing but arms in the gym for
two weeks to see if the nucleus overload training method
works and share my overall experience. I want to keep a
very professional look by using high quality kit and
editing it in ways like a Netflix documentary while also
adding elements of humor and light heartedness making
use of images, text and editing style.

12. TASK 2 Pre-production
Assessment

13. INTERVIEW
James Ryder –
James started his fitness journey recently with a goal of getting
stronger and putting on muscle. Before he started training, I
asked him specific areas he’d like to get bigger and focus on, of
which is answer was arms and shoulders. His answer now
partially inspired me for this project so adding context to this
project in the form of a direct interview with him makes sense
and gives me a good reason to investigate my chosen theory.
My interview plans involve using the college studio with a dark
background to create a a blank backgrounded set. Getting it
done outside of college hours will be very difficult, so I’d like to
try and line it up with our free periods so were both available.
Drive to survive on Netflix has a similar style and I want to try
and recreate that in my own way.

14. INTERVIEW
How long have you been training?
Are you happy with your gym progress so far?
What areas are your strong and weak points?
When you started in the gym, what areas did you want to
grow the most?
What got you into the gym?

15. GUIDANCE:
PRE-PRODUCTION
ASSESSMENT
You need to assess the viability of your production and
investigate what is required to enable you to make it.
Much of this task is hypothetical, which means you will need
to investigate standard costings for such a production and
apply these to your planned production considering which
equipment you would need and resources, etc
My project doesn’t require much in excess costings as the
only real expense is my gym membership for the month
which is already paid. Access to cameras and people will be
free as college can provide the equipment on a loan and the
people I need are in college and wont need paying. The
equipment I’d need would be a camera for my interview
segment but other than that I wouldn’t require them any
other time as setting up a camera in the gym would be
hassle and risk of breaking. Standard costs for generic
fitness content is usually low as the focus is on the training
rather than anything else.

16. TITLE OF
PRODUCTION/PRODUCTION
OUTLINE
Summary of intended production:
Detail here what you are going to make and the intended outcome
and what will be delivered [duration, format[s], etc]
Specific outline your intended technical/equipment requirements
Include any details that you think [you could use material from a
pitch]
The Push To Pull
I’m going to make a gym documentary on exploring the science of
exercising by testing a theory from online. It will consist of not just
training footage, but diary segments, flashing images and other
generic b-role clips. The interview segment of the documentary is
important, so I’ll be interviewing someone I know who just started
going to the gym and getting his opinions from a beginner's point
of view. I plan on learning how to edit using aftereffects as a lot of
the fast-paced montage footage involves effects and transitions
unavailable to me when using PremierPro.

17. LOCATION – RECCE
You need to identify locations and plan a recce.
What are the limitations and risks, eg distance, access,
cost, weather? How will you manage this?
I plan to film a lot of footage in puregym Harrogate
which when carrying phones and filming could cause a
lot of issues. The gym is often very busy at peak time
meaning the risk of losing things and equipment
breaking is very high. Heavy weights can cause damage
to not only machines but myself if I’m not careful so not
pushing myself too much is the best approach. The entry
is the only fee and that has been paid for in advance.
Weather will not be a limiting factor as everything i’ll
filming will be inside.

18. FACILITIES
Where will you edit your video? Do you need any other
specialist facilities…?
I will edit my video on premier pro on my laptop which
gives me versatility as to where I can edit it. For filming I
don’t need any clearance or special permissions

19. PROPS/COSTUME/CONSUMAB
LES/ETC
I made sure that the cost of this project cost little to
nothing other than a gym membership to convey the
message that all you need to change your life is a gym
membership to begin changing your life x
Costume and consumables are not necessary as
everything is filmed on the day.

20. TASK 3.1 Creative or Visual
Planning

21. PRE-PRODUCTION: VISUAL
PLANNING
This section is concerned with the visual/creative
planning of your production. This is WHAT you want to
make
You should use this section to develop what is it going to
look/sound like and establish what the visual design is
and the desired sequence.
It is important that you ‘pre-visualise’ the project before
you make it; it will make filming and production a more
streamlined process.
The following tasks should be part of your visual
planning, including:
 Pre-visualisation and concept boards
 Storyboarding
 Shot list
 Flat plans
 Colour plans

22. PRE-
VISUALISATION/CONCEPT
BOARDS
Tool for exploring the direction and visuals
Provides inspiration and information for the “look & feel”
Presents key moments in your video
A means to sketch/plan ideas
Information on colour/lighting
Defining the “mise-en-scene”
Include as much here as you like, but keep it relevant to the
production, the following slides have been left blank for you
to approach in your own way, add more as you need to
Extension suggestion: edit a short sequence of clips that
have inspired or influenced your video [similar to this:
http://io9.com/5941145/this-directors-video-pitch-for-
hunger-games-might-be-better-than-the-real-movie]

23. MOVING IMAGE TEST/DRAFT
IMAGE TESTING

24. STRUCTURAL
BREAKDOWN/PLANNING
Intro – Sets the scene for my project giving a brief
background about my personal lifting career and my
thoughts regarding certain topics in the gym
Interview - Lead original point onto interview with James
who proposes the original question
Science explanation – talk about the science of the theory
and discuss my approach to the challenge
Montage – give shots of training with intense music to
evidence point
Finale – explain the results, if its worth it and my
opinions

25. STORYBOARDING - VIDEO

26. AUDIO AND OTHER PLANNING
Im going to need a
mixture of both fast
paced intense music
but also slow and
intriguing background
music as I want my
video t have a variety
of different paces.

27. TASK 3.2 Organisational
Planning

28. PRODUCTION GROUP INFO
Include names, contact info, and defined roles at
difference stages of production, using a table is
suggested
James Ryder – interviewee
Jamie Brown - camera operator (interview footage)
Greg King – camera operator (gym footage)

29. RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk Assess each separate filming location using the
table in the camera H&S PP on Teams kit booking as a
starting point.
Completing a generic filming assessment would be a
start, then you can add specialist/site specific risks as
you progress your production
Remember, a Risk Assessment is an ongoing document,
you should evaluate if anything changes in production
and when you put control measures in place
You should add the table to each call sheet for each
location

30. RISK ASSESSMENT
Risks during production are the highest in priority as
damaging kit in a busy working environment is very easy
so making sure cameras are safely away from people and
out of harms way is a priority. When using heavy weights
people can be in trouble as well so to limit that I intend
on training safely by not dropping or slamming weights
on the floor or near me. The studio has a lot of risks
including damage to not only equipment such as lights
and the screen but also personnel tripping or falling so
to prevent this we will keep all equipment safely
distanced and keep everywhere well lit to ensure nobody
trips.

31. CONTINGENCY PLANNING
Things go wrong
Your contingency plan is there to give you a backup or to
minimise the effect on production
You should consider the following areas: Technical,
Location, Personnel and Organisational areas [about 5
potential issues for each]
Use the form in pre-production folder on Blackboard

32. CONTINGENCY PLAN
Technical contingency – in the event phones or cameras
stop working other people will be on hand with theirs
and can distribute the footage through airdrop or other
methods
Location contingency – in the event the locations are
unavailable (most likely the studio), we will film either in
a quiet and well lit area or the studio area of the gym
where it is quiet and is lit well. This also poses some
benefits as having the interview in a gym setting maybe
more beneficial
Personnel contingency - personnel should be less of an
issue as I can sort nearly everything out myself with the
gym side of filming. For my interview, I would have to try
and interview another friend who just started which
would be harder but would still work.

33. PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
Your schedule should budget a total of 10 hours for
production, that is for the filming and editing of your
project.
You should plan when you’re filming and how you intend
to use the in class days on your timetable/class schedule

34. SCHEDULE
Hour 1 – 3 - initial editing to prepare for interview and
to create intro sequence to documentary
Hour 3 – 4 - Film interview with James in pre agreed
time slot
Hour 4 – 6. - gym filming time in pre agreed time slots
with friends
Hour 6 – 10 – editing final shots and pieces together

35. CLEARANCE AND
PERMISSIONS
Puregym Harrogate – no permissions needed
Home – no permissions needed
College studio - need to book out a slot or find available
time