From the idea to the finished film – All-in-One Software for Documentary Filmmaker by Mediaware

Feb. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- While feature films are meticulously planned in every detail, it seems that documentary films and TV-productions sometimes are produced “on the move”. However, this impression is misleading. Perhaps because until now there has been no software program supporting the documentary filmmaker in his planning stage, and consequently everything was solely discussed verbally. For documentary producers usually have very specific image and sound concepts in mind: be it that they envision a dynamic adaptation of the film, or a substituted POV or sometimes an epic direction with lots of scenes shot on tripod.

The various photographic styles have a significant influence on the way the message of the film gets transmitted to the audience and are therefore not randomly exchangeable.

Many documentary producers plan and prepare their productions by themselves and therefore have to be on top of every little detail. This includes the development of image and sound concepts along with the instructions for the lighting technician, but also the contents such as the questions for the interview, the duration of the film for broadcasting and furthermore the shooting and editing schedules. And last but not least, addresses of the shooting locations and deviating meeting points for the crew have to be established as well.

Smartphones and digital organizer are limited tools. Such a flood of information would simply go beyond their capacity. Consequently a professional film planning tool is needed to handle all those details a producer needs, in order to strategically plan his or her documentary film.

Sceneum Docu actively supports documentary filmmaker in the pre-production period of their films; from the initial idea via the concepts for shooting and sound, throughout the call-sheets for the film crew.

Instead of briefing the cameraman, sound engineer and sometimes the lighting technician with the film idea on the way to the shooting location (actually a quite common practice), with Sceneum Docu all necessary documents are already created in the planning stage and may be sent to the team via e-mail ahead of the actual shooting dates. In this manner, the filmmaker has much more freedom and valuable time to take care of the creative aspects for the shoot, as the crew already knows the details and does not need to be instructed on location.

Therefore, with Sceneum Docu the filmmaker’s digital workflow already begins during the planning period.

The software program is available for download as a 30-day Trial Version for Windows (XP, 7 and Windows 8) at www.mediaware.us. Currently, Sceneum Docu is available in English; the software is easy to use and does not require a complicated learning process, as it is structured as and leans on the typical workflow of a filmmaker.