10 Questions to Answer Before You Film

Though you may be excited and feel ready to start filming and getting the content you want for your advocacy film, here are 10 key questions that you should answer before you even pick up a camera. 

1. Who has the power to create the change you want? (This is your primary audience.)
2. Do you have access to this primary audience?
3. If not, do you need to engage allies or an intermediary who has access (i.e.: someone who knows the person or organization you want to reach)?
4. What do you want your audience to do? 
5. What will convince them to take action?
6. What will be appealing, persuasive or interesting to your audience? (e.g.: factual information, potential people who can be interviewed or featured in your video, any experts you may want to include on the video or in accompanying material)
7. Who will your audience listen to – and why? (This should be the messenger(s) in your video.)
8. How will your video be integrated into your campaign or advocacy plan?
9. When should your audience see your video?
10. What is your distribution plan to ensure your audience sees your video? 

Be clear at the beginning of your advocacy plan to identify the primary audience for your video. Though you can have more than one audience, the primary audience should be the person or persons that have the power to create the change you want to see. While this is often an elected official or representative of an organization, it can also be citizens you are trying to engage to get involved to help strengthen your advocacy work.

For each audience, you will want to choose the best message and messengers to move your intended audience to action. Moreover, some of the most successful advocacy plans have multiple audiences at the same time. Or they target different audiences, one after the other, using a variety of materials for different settings. Analyze your situation carefully to design the best plan of action to support your advocacy. 

Next read, Know What’s Been Done.