walking with camera kit
Assess the total time available, then look at how it is structured. Is it a block of time or are you meeting for a short session each week? Longer blocks are usually better, but if you are working with a group for short periods once a week, the time in between is useful to absorb information and prepare other work for the film.
Make a timetable of when you think each production stage will begin and end
ideal project structure:
- Initial meetings once a week as ideas develop, research work in-between.
- Longer sessions more frequently as pre-production commences (involving, for example: designing models, casting, location search, design, scripting, storyboarding etc)
- Whole days or two day blocks together when rehearsing, set-building, model-making etc.
- If possible longer blocks to actually shoot your film.
- Then again in post production, shorter time slots can work fine.
momentum
The main problem with infrequent sessions is momentum. If you are a secondary school teacher you will know all about this from single lessons, but with film it becomes particularly evident.
Look at ways of getting a team back up to speed quickly. If they know exactly what they are doing, then a physical warm-up or focus exercise might be appropriate.
Be realistic about how much time you can give to a project. Filmmaking can be demanding
packing away
Repeatedly tidying equipment away and getting it out again is an inescapable and potentially frustrating fact of filmmaking life. Use this as a positive by working it into a useful 'best practice' routine for everyone involved, making sure everything is assembled correctly each day, and then packed away carefully (all batteries on charge etc.). You will have a better filmmaking team as a result. DO NOT do it yourself after the session.
group size and ages
You will have to weigh-up whether the group, depending on their ages and the locations, can go off unsupervised and do things by themselves. If they can't you will need to deal with the reality of working with large numbers of people. These considerations will also affect your choice of film type.