Big Video Project on FCE HD

Question

Ok you pros, I need some help.
I'm creating promo video for a charity organization that I work with. It needs to be about 4-5 minutes long, look great, and energize people for the work we do. With that in mind, I have the following questions...
1. What is the best way to go about planning such a project, from filming to final production. Does anyone know of a good flow chart or something for me to conceptually wrap my mind around this thing?
2. This movie will have 4 different movements. Is it best to set it all up and edit it as one big sequence in FCE, or to make multiple sequences and put them together at the end? (E.G., title, interviews, etc.)
3. If I need to put together multiple sequences, how do I do that?
4. What are some good stock video sites out there?
5. Any other tips on doing a big project (at least big for me) would be welcomed.
Thanks!
MacBook Pro 2.33Ghz, 2 gig, 15inch   Mac OS X (10.4.9)  

Answer 1

have a look at one of the short films on recycling here:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3638.asp
(I know they're not specifically about your area but bear with me)
This shows a variety of basic techniques used to keep the viewer's attention - talking head interviews intercut with images, cross- cutting between interviewees, music bed, sound bridges (i.e where voiceover connects video items), illustrative cutaways (so that the viewer isn't bored by looking solely at a talking head interview).
On a sheet of A4, start with a short sentence describing the aims of the piece.
Then a paragraph including basic required elements, e.g interviews with x, y and z, voxpops, any voiceover (if you're not using a professional VO artiste, ensure you use someone with an intelligble and interesting voice)any statistics, graphics, stills, archive material that you wish to include.
Then on another sheet of A4, make a simple storyboard - on one side write video and the other side, audio and then list what images, shot for shot, you want, accompanied by what audio and the proposed duration.
Eg. Video - interview with x, intercut with shots of... Audio - Voiceover (VO) from interview with x, Duration - 30 secs.
Decide on appropriate locations for the interviews (appropriate and if possible visually interesting)
Decide what the interviewees are required to cover and make bullet points of any questions. Speak to the interviewees prior to shooting to let them know what's required, when and where.
Make a list of any props/equipment required and don't forget release forms if required or any permissions.
I'm sure you don't need to be reminded of the dreaded H&S requirements - don't film from a motorway hard shoulder or field with a ***** and aggressive bull for instance - don't laugh, I know people who've proposed it !
The secret is thorough preparation and competent technical knowledge.
Use a decent 3 CCD prosumer cam, using manual settings and an external mic. (IMHO, there's nothing worse than autofocus and crappy audio). Stick the cam on a decent tripod and pay attention to framing.
The reason is gave the link to the short recycling video is that you can reverse the process by analyzing the film and writing a storyboard from it which should help in writing your own.
In FCE, I would set-up a sequence for the 4 different 'movements' - do you mean chapters? - (file>new>sequence) and in the browser, I would put clips in separate bins (file>new>bin) i.e. a separate bin for interview, voxpops, cutaways - although in a short project this might not be necessary.