The Portable Film School

?Portable Film School? - the title caught my eye while browsing a book store prior to our flight to Seattle. Thumbing through the book, I noticed numerous references to ?screenplays?, and my first thought was, ?This isn?t applicable to wedding videos.? But continued leafing through the book gradually changed my mind.

There are basically two kinds of videos you can make. A scientist doing experiments on lab rats wants, well..as Sgt Friday might say, ?Just the facts, ma?am.? But is that what we?re really doing as wedding videographers, just documenting the event as it happens? Even if you tried to do that while shooting, the fact that you edit your video colors the finished product in that you?re selecting what to show and what not to show.

But more than that, we are storytellers. We are telling the story of this couple?s wedding and it?s much more than ?Just the facts?. Once we realize that we are storytellers, it becomes a whole new ballgame because there is a history, art and even a science to telling stories, and this book covers these aspects quite well.

I?ve always preferred to shoot the preparations of both bride and groom as well as the rest of the wedding party as a way to introduce the ?characters? of the story and build a sense of empathy toward them. You may think that?s silly, since the viewers of a wedding video undoubtedly already know the characters, but shooting the preps scenes gets them to know who the characters were at this particular point in space and time.

Your wedding day is like no other, and even the bride and groom are not likely to realize or remember what mood and emotions where running through them that day. Shooting preps gives us a way to introduce our characters and get an introspective look, even a chance to share their emotions. What better way to build toward act 2 - the ceremony?

Before the characters are introduced, the scene should be set. In my ?Act 1" of wedding videos, I have an Opening sequence, then a Preps sequence. The Opening may or may not have an animated title screen, but always has exterior shots of the church or chapel, followed by interior shots. I try to make these a bit artsy by using slow pans, tilts or glidecam moves.

Act 2 is the ceremony, and we?re always careful to mic every participant who has something to say or sing or an instrument to play. Getting the audio crisp and clear is as important as having good exposure, white balance and focus.

Act 3 is the reception. Each act should have its own opening, introduction and ending. Sometimes, especially if I felt Act 3's ending wasn?t sufficent, I?ll add a montage that summarizes the day?s events with a music background. It?s important to end on a strong emotional note.

But back to the book - this was well written and I found it easy to parallel the ideas to wedding videography. Also, the sample screenplays were fun to read and worth the price of the book all by themselves!