Everyone’s got ideas. But how do you know if your idea will make a good video project? Well, there are some questions you can ask yourself to find out.
First, is the idea viable? I mean, can you actually do it? Do you have enough video either through archives or through events to shoot to tell your story? Do you have enough money? Do you have enough time? All of these questions must be answered to make sure your story is viable.
Is there a story? It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that you can just follow around a subject that’s quirky and somehow that will make a good story. But it doesn’t. Something has to actually happen. And there has to be a conflict. So before you jump in, look for the conflict and make sure that it can be successfully resolved.
Can you tell it? Do you have access to the participants involved to be able to tell the story? If not, it’s a no go.
Is it something you want to do? Filmmaking is a time consuming process. You’re going to be married to your subject for a long time. Make sure it’s something you really want to do.
Can you sell the idea to anyone else? In other words, “Is it marketable?” This means, does anyone want to watch your film other than your mother? If people aren’t interested, move on.
These are just some of the basic questions to ask yourself before committing to a film project. I hope these questions help you figure out whether or not your idea is more than just that. If you can answer them all honestly with a whole-hearted yes, than you’re on your way to making a great film.