You can't use the tools if you didn't prep them.

I’m prepping for two video shoots in this week.  (These days, that’s pretty noteworthy in and of itself…but that’s not what I’m writing about.)  One of the shoots I’m prepping has a paid “prep day” one doesn’t.  But the reality is that I’ll probably put similar amounts of prep time into each project.  That’s the deal with directing a film or video production: Sometimes you get paid to prep, sometimes you don’t, but either way you have to do it.  You can’t show up on set without a plan.  That just ain’t gonna go well.  ”I didn’t have a paid prep day,” isn’t much of an excuse if everyone’s waiting around while you’re floundering on set. (continue reading…)