planning shots ahead of time

[coachgrd]

In a few weeks, my young family and I will be taking a horse drawn sleigh ride and after having some research, I hope to piece together a decent representation on DVD of our holiday fun. (It's actually a really nice deal...$12/person...1/2 hour sleigh ride through the woods, making our way to a quaint cabin in the forest where the kiddies can sit on Santa's lap, eat sweet rolls, drink hot chocolate, and sit by the fire. They stay with Santa for a half hour or so then we board the sleigh again for a short 15 minute ride back to the barn. All told, it's about a 1:15 of fun!)

Anyway, I am trying to piece together a game plan in advance of shots I hope to get that will eventually translate into a nice project that won't have the in-laws running for the door when I pop it in the DVD player!

I'm hoping some of you with more experience can take a look at my list of shots and give me some direction as to which ones might be worthwhile and offer some suggestions of others.

Here is a list of shots I have so far:
1. Getting ready to go (close ups of kids putting on boots, hats, gloves etc.)
2. Shots of the country side from the road.
3. Shot of farm sign (use this footage to set the scene.)
4. Close ups of horses.
5. Everyone boarding the sleigh.
6. Driver readying the horses.
7. Driver asking "is everyone ready?"
8. Shot of a sleigh leaving barn and returning (doesn't have to be "our" ride...could be group leaving before us...no one will know the difference after the edit.)
9. Shots of barn.
10. Shots of ride through the woods.
11. Kids on sleigh.
12. Approaching cabin in the woods.
13. Kids seeing Santa as the enter the cabin.
14. Eating sweet rolls & drinking hot choc.
15. Kids opening the small gift from Santa
16. Fireplace shots
17. Get Santa to say "Ho, Ho, Ho...Merry Christmas!" on camera.

Am I overlooking a potential shot here? I ask these questions of my wife and she just looks at me like I need professional help. So...to you professionals...help me!!!

Also, if you can offer any suggestions as to how I might edit the shots into a great project, I'd be grateful.

Thanks in advance,
Gary

[sjj1805]

Gary,
May I wish you success on your forthcoming production and it's nice to see someone planning ahead.
You may be interested in the following two links:

1. Home Videos - Filming Tips Good vs Bad Movies
2. How should I go about doing 6 tapes of editing?