Documentary Tip: Production Prep

There are times when shooting a documentary will take you far away from your base and to an unfamiliar area, and other times it will only take you down the road a couple of miles. Either way, traveling with your gear can be stressful. With so many things that could go wrong, such as equipment damage or theft, or simply not remembering to bring extra batteries, it's easy to be less than enthusiastic about taking your production on the road. One way to soothe those equipment jitters is to be prepared.

With so many things to do before taking a trip, it's easy to forget the obvious essentials. Often, travelers will forget to pack a toothbrush, which is a mistake easily remedied by visiting the nearest drugstore. In the case of production gear, forgetting an essential piece of equipment can mean a standstill in your production. An easy way to solve this problem is to make a checklist.
Checklists are a great way to keep track of what you've already packed and items that still need to be obtained. Be thorough in your list-making, making a point not to exclude even the most obvious items.

Some basic items you might include on your checklist are: a camcorder, camcorder batteries, a battery charger, videotape or flash memory cards, microphones (additional batteries, if you're using a wireless system), a tripod or monopod, lights, stands, cables, and gaffer's tape. If you're traveling to another country be sure to add to your checklist the proper adapter/voltage converter, otherwise you'll have dead batteries and no way to charge them.
Making a thorough checklist can reduce the worry of forgetting something important. If you make it well in advance, you'll have enough time to review and modify it as needed. Whether you're traveling by air, by car, in a boat or by foot, knowing what you're bringing and how to pack it will ease your worries, allowing you to focus on the task at hand.