the KNOW book – a glimpse of what we have in store for you

as we get closer to the KNOW tour we’re ramping up our preparations for it and it’s really starting to take shape. we are working on finalizing the content that will go into KNOW and the more we work on it the more excited we are with everything that we have planned. in reaching out to the community about what you guys want to come away with and getting the feedback on that we’ve really be able to get a better sense of not just what content to bring to the tour but also how to best present it in a way that will help bring a better understanding of filmmaking.

take the workbook for example. we are breaking down each storytelling element into its own section and filling it with loads of information on everything from background theory to diagrams to behind the scenes photos and gear write ups. there will be course content written in detail, but also interactive worksheets where you can apply what you’ve just learned as well as templates and case studies to see how we’ve approached certain shoots and projects.

now this is all still in the works so we’ll be tweaking the book, adding, removing and rearranging things around between now and when the books go to publication but we are so psyched about everything that’s going into it that we can hardly contain ourselves. here’s a little taste of what we are looking to share with everyone at KNOW.

// for the section on story and storytelling

1. story construction
- an exploration of basic story structure, what makes a strong story?
- different narrative methods, what they are, what they add and tips on employing them
- the 3/1 rule, shooting and speaking in sequences to build out your story
- threading, a big tool for making more compelling short pieces

2. story development- the process, how to make the most of any story
- creating a treatment
- location scouting
- storyboarding
- putting together a bid
- creating call sheets and staying organized
- roles on a commercial set, what to expect and what those can teach us about smaller shoots

3. a full case study
- Share: Old Skool Cafe

4. interactive activities
- on story development
- on the 3/1 rule

5. templates and samples
- treatments
- bids
- storyboards

// for the section on light and lighting

1. light theory
- properties of light, what are they, how does that relate to basic camera settings
- how does each property affect story
- interview lighting, basic interview template, what to consider in lighting design

2. how to work with light
- light modifiers, what the options are, what they do, how to use them effectively
- how to work with natural light
- how to make the most out of a light meter

3. types of light
- advantages, disadvantages, our recommendations
- product overviews

4. lighting kits / gear bag
- wedding lighting kit
- interview lighting kit
- travel lighting kit
- outdoor lighting kit

5. case studies
- various interviews
- scenes in different projects

6. interactive activities
- how you would approach the lighting design for a scene
- what you can do to modify light to achieve the look you are going for

and this is just a glimpse of a part of the book! there’s still whole other sections on topics like lenses, composition, camera movement and audio. each one with just as much, if not more, detail as what’s listed above. see every time we share something and go over it with someone else on the team we come up with more things we want to include so who knows how big this book will be when it’s all said and done.

oh and the best part? when you sign up for KNOW the book goes home with you so that you’ll always have something by your side to help you in telling the stories you want to tell. you’ll also get SMAPP (available in just a few weeks) so that you’ll have filmmaking tools  in the field with you when you need it most. we are so incredibly excited about the tour and look forward to seeing you at a KNOW tour stop this fall :)

- lil’j