pictures of similar events also may be helpful. Ask questions about the location of the subject, the type and direction of movement, and the sequence of actions to be  recorded. With this information, you can draft a rough plan. By  working  closely  with  the  project  officer,  you  should be kept reasonably well informed and can arrange your shooting in a logical order. Be careful, however, not to “plan  yourself  into  a  trap.”   Expect  last  minute  changes in your plan, and, therefore, keep alternative plans in mind and ways they can be put into effect quickly. Next, determine shooting requirements and the number  of  cameras  and  people  you  need.  Check probable camera locations for the long, medium, and closeup shots. Determine the amount of tape you require,  and  consider  the  possibility  of  some  unplanned requirements.   Determine  whether  you  will  need transportation  and  additional  equipment. A hypothetical assignment: The lab has received the following orders: “The Chief of Naval Operations and his party are expected to arrive aboard your ship tomorrow.  The  flag  requires  complete  photographic coverage of all official activities of the CNO and his party while on the ship.” The division chief has assigned you to cover the motion media. After you check with the officer in charge of the event, you find that the CNO and his party are expected to arrive by aircraft at 1300 hours. The party consists of the  Chief  of  Naval  Operations  and  three  aides.  The purpose of this visit is to inspect the ship and to present several awards. The CNO and his party plan to depart at 1700 the same day. With this information you can now plan your shooting outline. In an event of this kind, you cannot expect to stage or control many shots. The following shooting outline is an example of what you might come up with: Scene  1: Scene 2: Scene 3: Scene 4: Scene 5: Scene 6: Scene 7: Aircraft (A/C) with CNO landing. Side boys, flag officer, and CO on deck in front of island. A/C taxies to island. CNO’s  party  disembarks  A/C. Flag officer and CO greet CNO. CNO  inspects  side  boys. LS, MS, and CU of CNO presenting awards. Scene 8: CNO makes speech Scene 9: CNO and party tour ship. Scene 10: CNO and party return to A/C. Scene 11: A/C taxies to fantail for deck launch. Scene 12: A/C takes off. Now, how do you get the coverage? In scene 1, you could be in a high position for an establishing shot showing the flight deck with the A/C landing. After the A/C lands, you move down to the flight deck and shoot scene 2, MS, of the side boys, the flag officer, and the CO taking their positions on deck to greet the CNO. Scene 3 is an LS showing the A/C taxiing to the island. For scene 4, shoot an MS of the CNO and his party leaving the A/C. Scene 5 is a CU of the flag officer and CO greeting the CNO. Scene 6 starts with an LS of the CNO inspecting the side boys. Circumstances permitting, move in for an MS and CU of the inspection. Scenes 7 and 8 should be easy to shoot because of the time it takes to read citations, make awards, and give a speech. This should allow plenty of time for you to move about and get long shots, medium shots, close-ups, and cut shots. Follow your judgment and intuition for shooting scenes 9, 10, and 11. Scene 12 is your closing shot. Again, shoot from a high position to show the flight deck. Pan the A/C and follow it until it is out of sight. The shooting outline not only serves as a “program” for planning the sequence of coverage, but it also provides a basis for determining camera placement, movement,  and  shot  framing. RECORDING GRAPHICS Graphics have many applications, such as title cards, cast lists, maps, tables, charts, photographs, and inserts. Graphics should not be treated casually. Without precautions, graphics can become unsharp, confusing, tilted, distorted, and incomplete. Much of the graphics and text used in motion-video productions are created on a character generator. A character generator is an electronic device used to create words or graphics and electronically inserts them over a video picture. When a character generator is not available, graphics must be recorded by a camera When you are shooting graphics that will be viewed on a monitor, the camera lens must be centered and parallel the graphic. The graphic and camera must be level. Your framing must be correct. 13-22