6) Know the Difference between “cuts” and “dissolves.” Cuts and dissolves to a professional television director are like periods and commas to a writer. They are the visual grammar that makes the scene work. They express two completely different feelings and emotions, so don’t mix them up. Remember – cuts are sharp and make the scene move. Dissolves are softer, slower, and on the “warm and fuzzy” side. Understand how to use them effectively, and your programs will instantly make a giant leap forward.
7) Shoot at Least One Rehearsal. Do you want to avoid the Church Nightmare Before Christmas? During the performance, you can’t get the camera onstage and get the unique close-ups and angles you need. So I always suggest you shoot a dress rehearsal. That will allow you to put a camera onstage, backstage, or within a group of actors to get a unique angle or perspective. Don’t overdo it, but it’s a great way to find powerful shots you can intercut into your final edit.
8) Have a Debriefing. Don’t dare release the crew without a short meeting on what worked and didn’t work during the night’s presentation. You can learn a great deal by discussing the shoot with the crew, and find out helpful information for the next night.
9) Toss out the Normal Rules about Shooting a Church Service. A Christmas program completely differs from a Sunday service, so why aren’t you changing your camera positions? Set the camera angles for each project you shoot, and never leave them in the same place for everything. Those cameras are the gateway for thousands of people to understand that presentation, so use them effectively and in the right places.
Remember – the Christmas season is a time of joy, not tears. So start thinking now about a successful and effective way to tape this year’s Christmas play or musical presentation. Some churches spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their shows, and it’s the one time of the year when you’ll most likely get non-Christians into the building.
Give them something to remember during the program and something on video to download and enjoy for years to come–something other than the nightmare before Christmas!
This article on how to avoid the church nightmare before Christmas originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
