How to prep for video curveballs

From the Arsenal: Prep buys you options.

Story Of The Day: I was ready to go prep the camera package today.

Before I left, I got the equipment list and looked it over.

My first thought was:
“Hmmm. That is not what I asked for...”

The lenses were not what I ordered.

I wasn't pissed.

I like playing with different lenses.

Now I had to figure out what that changed.

We have 11 setups on this project,
16hours to get it done,
and I had already built a 36-page lighting plan around them.

The director had also cut a few shots.

Normally, small changes like that can start
pulling the whole day apart.

But we had already organized every setup and
shot into an app that also updates the call
sheet.

I built it because well we didn't have an AD on this one.

So I could see exactly what belonged where.

Removing the cut shots took three seconds.

Changing the order around the new lenses
barely affected the day.

I could show the director what moved, what did
not, and where we would gain time back.

That is why you prep before a shoot.

Not because I think the plan will survive unchanged.

There's still makeup to figure out.
People are going into 1960s wardrobe.
Old vintage cars that might break down any second during the day.

Something will happen.
It always does...

Prep means the team is not making every decision for the first time...
while the clock is already ticking.

When someone says:
“We do not have time to prep.”

Do you have time to fix it later?

Takeaways: Prep is not over-planning. It is making the important decisions
before they become expensive.

How to Apply It Today:

1. Show Don't Tell: Give the team an example of what you mean. A mood board, clear brief, or reference, beats vague instructions.
2. Allocate Prep Time: If it's not on the calendar a lot of you skip it.
3. Test The Risk: Test the message, gear,logistics, or edit in a smaller way first.

Pro tip: The quickest way to speed up video delivery is not asking people to work faster. It is removing the decisions they cannot make yet.

As promised: dialing in your video workflows 1% at a time.
That’s what we do inside the Arsenal.

If you're struggling with video... we should talk.

Planing is derisking.
-David

P.S. If the plan keeps growing but nothing gets tested, you are not prepping you're dragging.

David Yang
​Co-Founder & CCO
DenimStitch Creative
7486 La Jolla Blvd #1012, La Jolla, CA 92037