3. Field visit

The field visit is needed to correctly understand what will happen where, when and how. It will give you information on how to prepare content wise and practically for the recording. 

It’s also the perfect time to exchange information with the practitioners and everyone involved in an informal way. The location can vary from small workshops to large outdoor spaces; each context will bring practical and technical questions to think through before starting to film.

Consider the following elements when conducting a field visit: 

Tips and points to consider:

• Look at how the practitioners move in the location to evaluate where the camera or multiple cameras can be placed in order to film close and/or from further away without obstructing them. 
• Look out for the use of several places in the space for the action shots. This will mean that different camera setups are needed in order to clearly document the action. These changeovers can take a considerable amount of valuable time. They can slow down the filming process or get in the way of the making process. 
• If the lighting is inadequate: look at where you can add or mount lights.
• Bring your video camera and test how the lenses at your disposal cover the location. Use this as an opportunity for a first rehearsal for composing the camera frame and to make practitioners and maybe also others involved (partners, children, animals…) more comfortable in front of the camera. Such opportunities will be scarce once you start the filming process.
• Take pictures as a reference for later planning.

Examine the ambient sound of the location. Be sure there are no audio sources that can interfere with the needed sound for the filming. Nearby traffic, public transport, construction sites, the humming of electronic devices and airfields are common problems. 

Sometimes, tweaking your timing and planning (e.g. adapting the time schedule to the hustle and bustle of the traffic) can help to solve or mitigate some of these issues. 

Investigate the accessibility of the location and count this into the rough time schedule of the filming day:

• Start early enough to deal with unexpected things like traffic jams or parking problems.
• Include the trip from your location to the practitioners’ location. If you come with a car, factor in the time needed to find parking close by, to unload and transport the gear to the shooting location.
• After that, there is the time needed to set everything up. All in all, this can take a considerable amount of time!