Free Resource
Post Planning for Directors
Think through the edit while there is still time to change the shot list. This guide focuses on the performances, transitions, and coverage that can be difficult to replace once the crew has wrapped.
Know what the scene depends on
Some scenes need a reaction more than another angle on the action. Others need us to understand the room before a close-up makes sense. Walk through the intended sequence and ask what the audience needs to see at each turn.
Then identify where the film could change. If the opening gets shorter, can we still understand the relationship? If a line is removed, is there a look or action that carries the same information?
Prioritize coverage by what it gives the edit
- Performance: capture the response to a line or action, including the moment before and after it.
- Transitions: consider how we enter and leave the scene, particularly if the order changes.
- Orientation: give the audience enough geography to follow an exchange or product demonstration.
- Sound: discuss room tone, useful wild lines, and distinctive actions with the sound team while the location is available.
These are priorities to discuss, not a requirement to shoot every setup four ways. When time gets tight, the question is which missing piece would make the scene hardest to cut.
Plan the shorter films before the shoot
A long setup and delayed reveal may be right for the main film but leave little room in a short version. Decide whether that version needs its own opening, earlier product information, or a different ending. Check the required framing too: keeping a face in a vertical crop does not help if the important action falls outside it.
Leave useful notes for the editor
Explain your preferred takes and the reasons behind them. Flag anything you did not get, requests made on set, and promising departures from the boards. If a quieter take is the one you believe in, say why before it gets lost among the more obvious options.
Use this guide during prep and return to it when planning the editorial handoff. The Pre-Edit Alignment Guide covers the conversation with the agency and editor.