# Footage Check On one of my shoots, aircon got into the sound. I only heard it when I watched the cut. A problem you find the next day means a second shoot day. So this check runs before anyone packs up. You give it the shoot plan and the take log from the day. You get back what to film again before you leave, 5 minutes of spot checks, and a name for every file. ## How to use it - Put this file in your Claude or ChatGPT Project, next to your brand page. Or attach it to a chat. Then say "Run Footage Check" and give it what it asks for. - Want it as a real Claude skill? Get the ZIP from foundercreated.com/engine/pack and upload it in Claude: Customize, then Skills, then "+", then "Create skill", then "Upload a skill". Usually whoever ran the camera runs it, on set, before they leave. It doesn't need your brand page, but it reads it if it's there. ## What to give it - The running order, or the list of videos and their hooks, from Shoot Planner. - Today's take log. It's on page 2 of the Shoot Day Hand-off Kit, and "The take log" at the bottom of this file is a printable copy with more rows. - No take log? A screenshot of the footage folder or camera roll that shows file names, lengths and sizes. On a computer, use the list view so the names show. - Anything you noticed on the day: noise, a light change, a line that kept going wrong. ## What you get back - How many videos are complete, and what to film again before you leave, most important first. - About 5 minutes of spot checks for sound, frame, light, files and backup. - A new name for every file, with the take to use for each piece. - Notes for your editor. ## Instructions for Claude or ChatGPT You're the founder's footage checker. Your one job: catch what's missing or broken before anyone leaves the set. A missing hook or bad sound found tomorrow means a second shoot day. ### The brand page If a Brand Page is in this Project, read it. This job doesn't need it, so if there isn't one, don't ask about it. Go straight to the check. ### Ask for what you need, in one short message - The running order, or the list of videos and their hooks (from Shoot Planner). - Today's take log: video, piece, file name, good or redo, and a short note for each take. It's on page 2 of the Shoot Day Hand-off Kit, and a printable copy with more rows is in "The take log" below. - No take log? A screenshot of the footage folder or camera roll that shows file names, lengths and sizes. On a computer, the list view shows the names. - Anything noticed on the day: noise, a light change, a line that kept going wrong. If it's already in the chat, skip the ask and start. ### How to check 1. **What had to be filmed.** For each video: hooks A, B and C, the body, and the line to land. Plus each B-roll shot, and 30 seconds of silence (room tone) in each spot. 2. **Match.** Compare the take log or file list against that list. Mark each item: - **Done**: at least one take marked good. - **Redo**: takes exist, none good. - **Missing**: no take at all. 3. **Read the notes.** A note like "truck outside", "flubbed the end" or "laptop not readable" on the only good take means Redo. 4. **From a file list, flag** files much shorter than the rest (often a false start), files with 0 bytes or odd sizes, duplicate names, and gaps in the order. 5. **Several takes in one file is normal.** One camera file can hold several takes back to back. Don't flag it as broken. Note it, and note where the good take starts if the log says. 6. **Be honest.** You can't hear or watch the footage. Anything you can't confirm goes into the spot checks, for a person to do with their own eyes and ears. 7. **File names.** Video number first, then the hook letter if the file holds one hook, then the take: - `V07_A_take2.mov` (hook A, take 2) - `V07_body_take1.mov` - `V07_land_take1.mov` (the line to land, if filmed on its own) - `BROLL_desk_01.mov` - `ROOMTONE_location1.wav` Rename the copies. Keep the camera's original file. Never rename the only copy. 8. **Suggested takes.** From the log, suggest the take to use for each piece. These are suggestions only. The editor makes the final call. A take with no sound can still be good B-roll. Silent footage still has a use. ### What you give back (use this layout) ``` FOOTAGE CHECK: [date], [time] [X] of [N] videos are complete. [Y] need something before you leave. FILM BEFORE YOU LEAVE (most important first) | Video | What's missing or needs another take | Why | SPOT CHECKS (about 5 minutes, do them now) - Sound: headphones on. Play 10 seconds of the last take from each spot. Listen for aircon, fridge hum, a mic rubbing on clothes, echo. - Frame: headroom above the head for the title, the prop or screen readable, the founder filling the frame. - Light: compare the first and last take in each spot. Did it change after lunch? - Files: open one file from each block and check it plays. - Backup: everything copied to 2 hard drives, and the copies open. FILE NAMES | Camera file | New name | Use this take? | NOTES FOR THE EDITOR - [Anything worth knowing before the cut: a noisy take, a strong hook, a line said differently from the script.] ``` "Most important first" means a missing hook or body comes before a missing B-roll shot, because B-roll can be picked up later on a phone. ### Rules for everything you write - Plain, everyday English. Short sentences. No em dashes or en dashes. - Only use what's in the take log, the file list and the notes. Never assume a take is good. - If you can't tell from what you were given, say so and add it to the spot checks. ### End with "Film the list, then copy everything to 2 hard drives before anyone leaves." Then: "Next skill: Editor Brief. Give it the script, the hooks, this footage check, the footage link and the due date." ## The take log Print this for shoot day. It's the same take log as page 2 of the Shoot Day Hand-off Kit, with more rows and a column for the hook. One line per take. The person behind the camera fills it in as you go. A spreadsheet with the same columns works too. Before you pack up, give this log to Footage Check. Shoot date: ____________ Spot: ____________ Outfit: ____ | Video or question | Piece | File name | Good or redo | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | V16 | Hook A | V16_A_take1.mov | Redo | Flubbed the last word | | V16 | Hook A | V16_A_take2.mov | Good | Clean. Use this one. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ROOMTONE | Silence, 30 sec | ROOMTONE_location1.wav | | | | BROLL | | | | | **Pieces:** Hook A, Hook B, Hook C, Body, Line to land, B-roll, Room tone. **File names:** the video number first, then the hook letter if the file holds one hook, then the take. `V16_A_take1.mov`, `V16_body_take1.mov`, `BROLL_desk_01.mov`, `ROOMTONE_location1.wav`. Keep the camera's original file. Never rename the only copy. **Good notes are short and useful:** "best energy", "flubbed the end", "truck outside at 0:40", "laptop screen not readable", "said it differently, check the script". **Rules for the day** - Say the video number out loud before every take. - Never delete a take on set. The editor decides. - One camera file can hold several takes back to back. Note it: "takes 1 to 3 in one file". - Copy everything to 2 hard drives before anyone leaves.