Tips for new self shooters and directors in factual

This is a hour-long session will give brief tips and advice to people in Factual television who have begun self-shooting and directing on location or expect to in the near future. 

The session covers typical scenarios and tasks that self-shooters face early in their career and gives tips for running an effective shoot, avoiding common mistakes, and getting the necessary footage. Illustrated by clips, demonstrations and real world examples from the trainer. 

Who it's for

For researchers and novice AP’s in Factual who have started to self-shoot on location and would like some practical tips.

What it covers

• Planning the shoot, identifying what will work for you and how to avoid typical hurdles on location.
• Putting together effective and efficient schedules, drawing up a list of shooting notes to guide you through the day.
• Self-shooting, directing and running a small-scale shoot. Tips for how to manage your multiple roles on location.
• Shooting interviews and packages. Talking heads, working with an presenter, getting covering shots.
• Shot choices. Shooting the most important elements of your story and getting pictures to cover in different scenarios and genres.
• Problem-solving on location. How to avoid common problems, and how to deal with unexpected issues.

There will also be scope for Q&A’s regarding how to shoot in specific situations.

Speaker:

Dan Donnelly is a camera-operator, presenter, and shooting director who mostly works on BBC1 projects. Dan also teaches and mentors BBC staff and other broadcast professionals in the early stages of their self-shooting and directing career.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

It is part of a ScreenSkills programme to support freelancers to upskill and stay connected, helping keep the industry resilient in these difficult times.

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply for ticket’ and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application

If you are no longer able to use your ticket, we ask you to please contact support@screenskills.com so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.