It’s all too common to begin filming a video without any planning, pressing record and hoping that you’ll be able to get something decent out of it during the editing phase. This might happen every now and again but, more often than not, the footage seems to lack structure and purpose. The truth is, a cinematic video does not just happen: it’s a result of a series of planning decisions.
The great news is that you don’t have to be a filmmaker and you certainly don’t need fancy scripts for this; all you have to do is know what it is you are hoping to achieve before you start shooting!
Begin with an idea, not a concept. You don’t need a story that’s a mile long to make a good video, in fact, simple ideas tend to be the best. So instead of saying “I’m going to make a cinematic travel video” think “A walk through the city at dusk” or “A quiet afternoon at home.” When you are as clear as you can be with your idea, it makes the entire process a whole lot simpler, from location selection to deciding what shots to take. Simplicity provides direction.
Think of it in terms of individual moments Once you have a basic idea in mind, it’s time to think of your video as being made up of several visual moments. So what might make up a video about “A morning routine?” It might be shots of waking up, making coffee, light shining through the window, a walk outside, maybe even some little bits and pieces like a shot of your hands or of something you hold on to… These are the building blocks that you’ll be using to piece your story together.
Think of mood. This is the first thing you want to focus on. Forget about angles and lens choices and think about how your video is going to make your viewer feel. Are they going to feel calm, energetic, emotional, nostalgic? This is something that will have an impact on just about every decision you make going forward. Mood impacts lighting, camera movement, colour palette and editing style; it is a guiding light for every decision. So it’s worth getting it right first!
Choose your location with care. A location is never just a backdrop for a video, it is part of the story! A well chosen location will add to the mood and add visual interest, without drawing the eye away from what’s happening within the scene. Rather than shooting wherever it’s convenient, think about a location that matches your idea. An empty street at night or a sunny park or a coffee shop. Even a small interior room can look cinematic as long as you choose the right place to begin with.
Plan your shots (but don’t overplan). You don’t need to create storyboards and draw out each shot for the whole duration of the video, but if it helps you to think of some rough shot ideas ahead of time, that can be useful! Think about wide shots, close-ups and medium shots that might work. On the flip side, remember that you’ll probably capture some of your best footage by simply shooting without having a shot plan and going with your gut, so don’t feel like you’ve missed something if a particular idea isn’t there on the day! Planning helps structure, but you’ll always find that spontaneity is the best ingredient!
In short: cinematic videos happen before you begin shooting. The more time you spend planning your ideas and thinking through the mood, the more purposeful you’ll be while shooting. Planning doesn’t stifle creativity; it just gives it direction!