Video content is king—but are you prepared to tell stories that stand out?
In a world where video content floods every platform, only those who can tell impactful stories efficiently will thrive.
These days it seems that everyone and their grandma is a “content creator”.
The competition is higher than ever.
The social media feeds are crowded with “cinematic” this and “shot guide” that.
Brands are more demanding with engagement metrics and quality expectations.
However, the budgets keep shrinking faster than you can call “cut”.
So how is a filmmaker supposed to thrive in an environment that is intentionally designed to bring you down?
Let me know if you relate to any of the following.
This challenge is for you if:
- You’re tired of going through a shoot feeling like you’re herding cats through a fireworks factory. (Talk about embarrassing.)
- You struggle to organize your ideas, leading to chaotic shoot days.
- You have a burning desire to tell meaningful stories through the visual art form of filmmaking.
- You’ve spent hours in pre-production, only to feel like something’s missing.
- You’re a filmmaker ready to elevate your storytelling without breaking the bank.
- You want a system that transforms your scattered process into a streamlined workflow.
- You’re ready to finally go from chaos to clarity.
I could go on for hours (likely 7 hours, haha!).
But by now you should know if learning to prep better, faster, stronger is worth it to you.
Especially if you want to execute projects smoother than a dolly on freshly waxed tracks.
I’m also known on the streets as the “Shot List Sherpa”. That may or may not be a self-prescribed nickname.
I’ve been obsessed with storytelling and systems since I was a little boy trying to fit into this world.
My story is unique. (Just like everyone else’s)
I had no idea what I was doing with camera movement, lighting fixtures, audio equipment, screenwriting, or any other piece of the filmmaking process you can imagine.
But from that experimentation, I learned 3 things:
1) Pre-production is the foundation for everything else.
Preparing for anything is crucial.
But especially in the world of filmmaking—there are a lot of moving parts that require readiness.
Sure, you can wing anything. But I guarantee that with proper prep, the results will be 10x more impactful.
Picture this: a house being constructed.
The land is the story.
The walls are the script.
The rooms are all the scenes.
The windows are the cinematography.
The wallpaper is the art direction.
The roof is post-production.
The tenants that eventually move in are your raving fans, the viewers.
What about the foundation? Keeping this whole story from collapsing?
That’s your pre-production.
What role does pre-pro play in film?
The story? Becomes better with pre-production.
The shoot? Better with prep.
The editing sessions? Definitely better with prep.
Your sanity? You guessed it, better with prep.
There’s a reason the most renowned directors are so meticulous with their prep that majority of the work is done in pre-production.
2) While the attention span is shrinking, the need for speed is growing.
Short-form video has stolen our attention.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to hold people’s interest with anything worth a deeper exploration of truth through long-form.
Volume of production has taken on a whole new meaning.
- People want a quick fix.
- A 3-second scroll.
- More. Faster. Better.
With that we need a way to iterate on the content, stories, videos, films we’re putting out there.
Enter volume. (Not the dial on your radio.)
The only way to create at scale is to create with speed. Speed allows for experimentation without wasting time on perfecting videos that won’t move the needle or even reach the right people.
Pre-production allows you to cut down on time during shooting AND editing.
If you already know how your story will be constructed—then all you’re doing is capturing (shoot), discovering (adapt), and putting it together (edit).
3) The future belongs to the storyteller.
87% of filmmakers just want to run around with a camera. That may or may not be an arbitrary statistic to illustrate my point.
The flashy visuals.
The hyper edits.
The overly exaggerated typography.
These trends are fleeting and so is their impact.
The story stands the test of time. (Just ask the Sumerians of Mesopotamia of 3500 BCE who invented the earliest known writing system.)
Pre-production allows us to make sense of the story, breaking it down into manageable pieces so that we can put it back together come shoot time.
We are problem solving before the stakes get too high. Before the crew is standing around waiting for us (as the filmmaker) to figure it out.
Knowing this fact alone will 10x your skill as a filmmaker.
Here is everything you will learn when you enroll in the 7-Hour Content Power challenge:
1) Efficient Prep Foundation
We’ll be going LIVE for 7 days straight (hence the 7 hours) with value bombs and impact drops.
I will hold you by the hand with step-by-step guidance of the principles in pre-production for each day of the challenge.
- Learn the principles being used today for storytelling in any film format (short films, corporate, music videos, Instagram reels etc.)
- Discover why you fell in love with filmmaking and reignite the passion for storytelling.
- Unlock the secrets to efficient preparation to set yourself up for success come shoot time.
- Access the LIVE replays to revisit important moments and hammer in the practical lessons to solidify the information in your mind.
2) Frameworks, Resources, Templates
Save weeks of your time with ready-to-use templates and fill-in-the-blank frameworks to streamline your pre-production process.
- Actionable daily exercises to complete and put your learnings to the test.
- The Content Power Playbook will systemize your learning by putting actionable tasks into a practical step-by-step guide.
- Resources gathered over years of filmmaking experience will serve as an endless support system for any roadblocks you may encounter.
Everything included are things I wish I had years ago when I was starting out to shortcut my filmmaking process.
3) The 7-Hour Content Framework
This is my secret.
Over the years of trial and error, I have developed a streamlined system to breeze through pre-production.
Most filmmakers approach pre-production like this:
- Scribble random notes on the script.
- Skip doing any kind of storyboards or overhead diagrams altogether.
- Slap in some ideas for mindless shots and call it a shot list.
- Waste hours of precious time trying to decipher this “shot list” on set and abandon it completely.
- Resort to the “spray and pray” method with coverage instead of intentional footage.
- Neglect building a detailed schedule.
- Lose their minds in post production trying to put together an impossible puzzle with 20% of the pieces missing.
That doesn’t sound like fun.
You know what sounds better? Having a framework to follow that gives you both a clear understanding of the step-by-step process AND the strategy behind the decisions.
No matter what happens on set or in post — you will have this high value skill in prep to adapt quickly and fix whatever problems come your way.
You only need 7 hours (over the course of this 7-day challenge) to solidify this skill and make it a permanent piece of your entire process.
Here is what you will get when you join the 7-Hour Content Power challenge with a commitment of 1 hour per day over 1 week of transformation:
Day 1: The 7-Hour Prep Framework
- The underestimated power of preparation.
- Build your personalized pre-production checklist using my proven system.
- Outcome: A structured, repeatable framework to organize your tasks and timelines like a pro.
Day 2: Crafting the Perfect Creative Brief
- Whether you’re pitching a potential client to win over the business, working on a passion project, or crafting a director’s treatment to communicate your ideas — you need to sell the message.
- Learning what to include, what to say, and how to say it in your creative brief is crucial to the successful launch of your project.
- Outcome: Walk away with a concise roadmap that will guide every decision moving forward.
Day 3: Budgeting Without Breaking The Bank
- How to prioritize resources for maximum impact (even on a shoestring budget).
- Create a realistic budget template that keeps you on track.
- Outcome: A crystal-clear budget that ensures no nasty surprises during production.
Day 4: Shot Lists & Storyboards Mastery
- You have your story (script) but what do you shoot? How do you structure your shot list? What details do you need to include? Storyboards?
- If you’re familiar with my Best Shot List Template, I’ll be release version 3.0 during this challenge. This template will make your shot list creation 10x faster and easier.
- Outcome: A ready-to-use visual roadmap for your shoot day that anyone on your crew can follow.
Day 5: Casting, Crew, and Logistics Simplified
- How to find the right people and keep them on the same page.
- Build a casting plan, crew list, and logistical calendar to avoid chaos.
- Outcome: A complete guide to assembling your dream team and managing schedules like a pro.
Day 6: Location Scouting & Gear Prep
- How to choose the perfect locations that elevate your story.
- A gear checklist that ensures you’re never unprepared.
- Outcome: A finalized list of locations and gear, so you’re fully ready to shoot.
Day 7: Your Project Pitch – Sell Your Vision to Anyone
- How to pitch your idea to investors, collaborators, or clients with confidence.
- Craft a one-page pitch deck that makes people excited to get involved.
- Outcome: A pitch-ready presentation to sell your project to stakeholders and collaborators.
Being prepared for your shoots in going to take you farther than any cinematography hacks.
This is coming from someone that started as a Director of Photography.
Having the skill of pre-production will catapult your productivity and allow you to test your creative chops beyond the limits you thought you had.
The whole process will become enjoyable. Something you look forward to at the start of every project.
That’s all fine and dandy but I’m a fan of overdelivering and giving you every single thing you need to succeed as a modern filmmaker.
Here are 4 bonuses that will help you conquer pre-production, launch your brand, and take action to apply the principles you learn without delay:
If you are reading this it is likely that you got here through my social media.
Whether it was a YouTube video, Instagram post, or a text post on Threads—you didn’t land here because of some hyper-persuasive ad that was served to your face.
I’m here to build trust. And I’m guessing…
There is intention behind your decision. You have a problem. You’re searching for a solution.
My job is to present the facts and show you a pathway towards that solution.
With that, there are no refunds for this challenge. No exceptions.
Why?
1) Taking responsibility for your actions is important. Don’t make a purchase thinking that alone will solve your problems. You have to put in the work to see results.
2) This challenge is technically a digital product. There is no way to return an intangible product. And so there have to be consequences for anyone trying to freeload. (I know that’s not you.)
I have full confidence in the effectiveness of this system. If it worked for me and countless other filmmakers, then it can work for you.
After competing in over 20 different film races, shooting 4 feature films, countless short films, 8 years of commercial experience and on-site recap edits (with 24 hour turnaround times)—I have learned one important thing:
You can’t fail if you don’t give up.
“Not giving up” simply means persistent action over a long enough time horizon.
I have also learned that creativity, logical reasoning, and authenticity cannot be replicated or automated.
So now the decision you have in front of you:
1) Keep doing the same thing you’ve always done and stay stuck.
OR
2) Take the leap of faith, have confidence in your commitment to your future as a filmmaker, and accept this challenge.
I hope to see you inside. The challenge starts soon.
Enter your first name and email address below to be notified when we launch the challenge.
© 2024 George V.K.