THE local video club may have resources like lights available for loan look in your local paper or try at the library for addresses. There are a number of video magazines available from which you can glean a wealth of information.
Local amateur dramatics companies will have access to decent props and costumes that they might lend/hire to the budding video producer. You could always offer your services to video a rehearsal or the final thing so that the actors can see how they look on stage in return for any help they can give you.
Mainstream theatres may also be willing to hire out bits and pieces from their collection of costumes and props. These kinds of contacts can prove very fruitful if you keep them on your side and try not to take too many liberties.
If you’re really stuck for props, there is a list of professional companies in an excellent book from The Spotlight called Contacts which is just that, a book full of names, addresses and phone numbers of loads of companies who provide professional services. It costs £6.50 (plus £1 postage and packing) and is available from the address listed below.
Local libraries can be an invaluable source of information, both in terms of local clubs and societies which may be able to help you out, but also for books on the subject of making videos.
If you really get into the idea of doing this kind of thing professionally, you will need to get some help and advice from the big boys like Channel 4. ItΓÇÖs always best to have a good idea of what you want to do before you talk to anyone. Samples of work, show-reels, scripts and a synopsis might be enough to get you in to chat to somebody about a commission. If youΓÇÖre serious, have put some time into planning a project and are enthusiastic enough to be able to sell the idea to other people, there is a potential way in through this route with the backing of this renowned financier of independent productions. If you think you could have the ideas to make the next Shallow Grave then they could well give you a break.
Another institution that has a particular interest in digital video as a medium in its own right is the Independent Film Workshop who recently had a seminar on the whole caboodle. They keep close contacts with people who are doing this kind of thing and are more than willing to be contacted by hopefuls with something to add to the medium.
Both of these should be able to help you if you are really serious about this kind of thing and are looking for some help in producing your first blockbuster.
If you know nothing about video production and want to find out more, going back to school could be a viable option. Most community colleges will run evening classes in simple camcorder style video production, and if you get on with this you could possibly go and study it properly at university. This will give you the opportunity get practical experience of film and television equipment and production, and put a show-reel (a video version of an artistΓÇÖs portfolio) together. UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admission Service, produces an annual guide to all the available courses and how to apply to them called University and College Entrance.
The BBC run their own internal training schemes which are also highly competitive, but you do get on the job training which is invaluable. Write to them for more information on this particular subject.
If you think youΓÇÖre good enough to dive straight in, you could talk to the experts. Alan Briggs is a digital film producer with his own production company Creative Outlet. He works specifically in the area of digital video, with a specific interest in multimedia and interactive movies. HeΓÇÖs more than happy to talk to people who want to get into this end of the business and look at samples, particularly those who are visually minded and work with both video and computer effects like 3-D Studio type rendering packages.
