Don’t Trust Your First Idea: The Importance of Exploring Plan B with a Shift in Perspective

A New Era for Visual Design

As a visual medium, creating films requires imagining every scene in terms of concrete “visuals” rather than abstract “concepts.”

Unlike novels or audio dramas, films don’t allow the audience the luxury of filling in the gaps with their imagination. This leaves no room for ambiguity or leniency in interpretation, and makes visual works prone to direct criticism—sometimes even nitpicking.

Critics often derive a sense of authority by pointing out flaws, which can result in your work being unfairly dismissed. However, remember that while criticism is easy, engaging in the far more challenging endeavor of creating something is uniquely your achievement—so don’t let it weigh you down.

Leveraging Modern Tools

With advancements in digital video technology, it’s easier than ever to bring your ideas to life.

In the past, filmmakers faced the question of “how to recreate this idea in front of the camera”. Today, digital tools allow us to digitize video, edit, and even composite entirely different elements into a cohesive whole.

You can now shoot footage that bears little resemblance to the final product, assembling everything into the desired form in post-production.

Some traditionalists may still value simplicity—praising projects that rely on minimal editing while dismissing composites as “lesser.” If conditions permit, they’re free to pursue these methods.

As someone who learned filmmaking before the era of advanced compositing, I understand the roots of that perspective. However, I see far greater potential in leveraging the freedom of modern tools to their fullest extent.

The Trap of Sticking to Plan A

Film production begins with a story, which is typically written as a script. From there, “storyboards” are created to visualize each scene and guide production.

Whether the script inspires the visuals or the imagery comes first, the earliest stages of development involve making those ideas concrete.

However, there’s a common trap, especially for less experienced creators: over-attachment to their initial idea, or what I call “the Plan A Trap.”

Realistic Limitations

It’s fine when your first idea is easy to execute. The problem arises when it isn’t—whether due to the difficulty of sourcing raw footage, the challenges of post-production, or both.

Sometimes obstacles lie between “impossible” and “too costly to justify”. My experience has taught me this hard truth: labor-intensive solutions rarely translate to better results.

In fact, overly complicated ideas often result in less appealing, more awkward visuals, ultimately diminishing your work’s overall impact.

Exploring Alternatives

The good news? You almost always have options.

First, recognize that even scenes you deem challenging may have alternative methods of expression. Let’s break down the process:

1. Identify the key elements or emotions you wish to retain.
2. Use techniques such as splitting scenes into smaller cuts or changing perspectives.

Splitting: Simplify Complexity

Trying to cram too much information into a single, elaborate cut often leads to confusion. Instead, splitting the scene into multiple shorter cuts can simplify production while maintaining coherence.

For example, imagine you’re depicting a bustling desert marketplace.

Key elements:

• Crowded feel
• Chaotic atmosphere

To capture this in one sweeping shot would require complex logistics. Instead:

1. Film a wide shot of the market—perhaps using simple composites and miniatures.
2. Pair it with close-ups of individuals interacting, like hands exchanging goods.

Together, these cuts convey a believable sense of busyness without overwhelming the production.

Changing Perspectives

Adjusting perspectives can also reduce complexity. Suppose you need to shoot a person standing beside a patrol car but lack access to a real vehicle.

Option 1: Film in front of the car. Option 2: Film behind the car.

From behind, it’s easier to composite a miniature seamlessly into the scene.

Conversely, sticking to Option 1 may demand green-screen techniques and result in a visibly artificial effect.

By remaining flexible and focusing on core storytelling elements, Plan B not only lowers production costs but often results in superior visuals.

Necessary Skills

Navigating these decisions requires:

• The ability to identify what’s truly essential.
• Knowledge of filmmaking techniques and imaginative problem-solving.

Even the simplest special effects open up vast creative possibilities. Keep experimenting!