Pre Production Playbook

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You're booking $500-$5,000 gigs regularly.

Your camera skills are solid. Your reel is decent, but you never get those projects that look "cinematic or next level".

But you keep hitting the same ceiling...

- Watching other DPs with similar skills land the $5,000+ campaigns while you get the 'budget-friendly' projects
- Clients who love your work but somehow never call you for their 'important' shoots
- Directors who respect your abilities but don't see you as THE cinematographer for their vision
- Being the backup choice instead of the first call for brand campaign shoots

- Getting referrals for more $2,000 gigs instead of breaking into the $5,000+ market

Sound familiar?

Here's what I discovered: The difference between 'skilled cinematographers' and videographers and 'must-have DP' isn't better cameras, a prettier reel, or industry connections.

It's a preparation system that makes directors see you as the professional who NEVER puts their vision at risk.

This was me too.

Despite my technical skills behind the camera, I was trapped in a cycle of stress, second guessing, and scrambling before every shoot.

Then I discovered what separates the camera operators from the cinematographers that directors fight to work with:

It's not better gear. It's not more talent.

It's a bulletproof pre-production system.

What if you could walk onto every set with absolute clarity and confidence?

Imagine:

Clients who rehire you repeatedly because you deliver exceptional results every single time
Directors viewing you as a creative partner who elevates their vision, not just a technician who follows orders
Crew members who respect your leadership because your preparation gives them clear direction
The freedom to focus on creative decisions instead of putting out fires
The confidence to raise your rates because you know your preparation justifies premium pricing

This isn't about organization. It's about transformation.

It's about becoming the cinematographer who commands the room, earns the trust, and delivers the exceptional work that builds a reputation.

And that's exactly what The Pre-Production Playbook will help you become.

I'm Zachary Guy, co-founder of Tenfold Production and cinematographer for brands like Nike, Adidas, Shopify, and the Toronto Raptors.

But I wasn't always leading six-figure commercial shoots.

I started exactly where you might be now: taking $500 gigs and hoping my technical skills would carry me through. What I didn't realize then was that talent without preparation is a recipe for inconsistency.

When I finally landed my first major commercial opportunity, my lack of a solid pre-production system left me exposed. I scrambled on set, missed key details, and nearly lost the client and my reputation.

That painful experience forced me to develop what became The Pre-Production Playbook: the exact system I've used to transform from a stressed-out shooter into a respected cinematographer who confidently leads productions for major brands.

Transform how directors and clients see you from the very first meeting

The first mistake cinematographers make?

They jump straight to cameras and lighting without establishing a clear creative foundation.

Instead of aligning with the director, understanding the project's vision, and building a shared language they dive into technical details too early. Then they wonder why they're constantly second-guessing their decisions on set.

In reality, position is everything:

• Without director alignment, you're just guessing what they want

• Without a proper look deck, your shotlist has no visual anchor

• Without a strong foundation, the entire production feels shaky

Inside The Pre-Production Playbook, we give you our proven director alignment framework that positions you as a creative partner, not just a technician.

Transform confusion into clarity with our complete preparation system

The second big mistake?

When cinematographers don't prepare with intention.

• They don't know how to translate visual references into shot sequences

• They don't create lighting plans that their crew can actually follow

• They don't scout locations with the right questions in mind

• They don't match their gear and crew to the actual needs of the shoot

But most of all... they don't have a repeatable system they can trust.

Inside The Pre-Production Playbook, we walk you through every step of the preparation process with templates, examples, and real-world applications from our $100K+ commercial shoots.

Transform from camera operator to cinematographer when it matters most

What's the 3rd mistake?

Freezing when it's time to execute.

After shooting hundreds of commercial projects and teaching thousands of cinematographers, we've learned that execution day is where most people fall apart.

Why? Because they:

1. Didn't compile their prep work into a usable on-set guide

2. Can't adapt when (inevitable) changes happen

3. Don't know how to lead a crew through challenges

4. Lack the confidence that comes from proper preparation

Inside The Pre-Production Playbook, we give you our complete system for compiling everything into a cinematographer's final prep document that makes execution day feel easy.

Transform from "the camera person" to "the visual storyteller"

• Learn how aligning with your director early transforms you from a technician into a trusted creative partner and why skipping this step leads to chaos on set.

• Before you prep a shot list or touch a light, uncover the four common mistakes cinematographers make that quietly sabotage the entire production.

• Discover a simple but powerful framework for unlocking a director’s vision even when they’re unsure themselves. Use it to guide creative decisions and build trust fast.

Transform all your preparation into a unified command center

Learn how to build a simple but powerful document that instantly communicates your creative vision and makes people want to work with you again.
Explore why clear, proactive communication sets cinematographers apart, and how a well-crafted brief earns trust from directors, producers, and crew.
Follow a clean process for assembling your cinematography brief using tools you already know, designed to eliminate guesswork and align the whole team before day one.

If this system helps you:

• Land just one additional project this year ($1,500-$5,000)

• Raise your day rate by even 15% (potentially $5,000-$15,000 annually)

• Save yourself from one major on-set disaster (priceless)

• Build the reputation that leads to consistent high-level work (career-changing)

Then it's already paid for itself many times over.

But beyond the financial return, what about the transformation in how you feel as a cinematographer?

• The confidence that comes from knowing you're fullyprepared

• The respect you earn when directors see you as a true creative partner

• The pride in consistently delivering exceptional work

• The freedom from stress, second-guessing, and scrambling

How much is that transformation worth to you?

The complete Pre-Production Playbook system includes:

• 10 comprehensive modules with video lessons, templates, and real-world examples

• The entire preparation framework used on $100K+ commercial productions

• All templates in multiple formats (PDF, Notion, Google Docs)

• LIFETIME access and all future updates

Total Value: $5,000

Most cinematography courses focusing on just camera techniques charge $1,000-$2,000.

But we're not charging that.

Because we believe this transformation should be accessible to serious cinematographers at any stage of their career, we're making this complete system available for just:

$350 $1,000 $5,000

SPECIAL PRE-SALE OFFER: $250

For a limited time during our pre-launch period, buy the complete Pre-Production Playbook system for just $250.

This system has helped me command $4,000 day rates. If it helps you raise your rate by just $50/day, it pays for itself in 5 days.

This limited offer is only available till the release date of the Pre-Production Playbook on June 17th!

After that, the price will go back to $350.

Let's be honest about what happens if you don't invest in your pre-production process:

• The financial cost: Continuing to undercharge because you lack the preparation system that justifies premium rates

• The opportunity cost: Missing out on higher-level projects because directors don't see you as a true creative partner

• The reputation cost: Being known as "good with a camera" instead of "an exceptional cinematographer"

• The personal cost: The ongoing stress, second guessing, and scrambling before every shoot

How many more projects will you approach feeling unprepared and overwhelmed?

How many more opportunities will slip through your fingers?

How much longer will you postpone the transformation from shooter to cinematographer?

The Pre-Production Playbook gives you everything you need to make that transformation starting with your very next project.

"I used to walk onto projects like a videographer and just wing it. Now, I approach everything with a clear plan of execution, from initial idea conception to storyboarding and pre-vis. Shoot days are so smooth now, and for the first time, I’m creating content I’m truly proud of."

— Callum F, Filmmaker

"I was struggling to land higher budget projects, due to the lack of intentionality and pre-production and helping my clients visualize what their project would look like. I went from $500-$1500 to landing my first $5000 project for commercial and $7500 for an event."

— Phil O., 514films

"Knowing the Tenfold team has my back gives me so much security, safety and assuredness. (They) have single-handedly helped elevate and guide my growth as a creative more than almost every other resource, course, and coaching COMBINED."

— Adam S., Filmmaker

Is this right for me if I'm mostly a solo shooter?
Absolutely! The system is designed to scale for any crew size.

We show you how to adapt each module for solo shooting, small teams, or full commercial productions.
What if I'm not working on a project right now?
That's actually the perfect time to learn!

Pre-production requires practice and deep understanding, not something you want to figure out under project pressure and tight deadlines.

Master these concepts now so you're confident and efficient when that important project arrives. Plus, you'll have this as a reference guide throughout your career.
Do I need special software to use the templates?
No. All templates work with free tools like Google Docs, Notion (free tier), and Canva (free tier). We provide multiple format options for maximum flexibility.
What if I've never done formal pre-production before?
Perfect! This system is built to be accessible for cinematographers at any stage. We walk you through each step with clear examples and real-world applications.
How long does it take to implement the full system?
You can start using individual modules immediately. Most cinematographers implement the entire system over 2-3 projects, gradually building their confidence and skills.
Will this work for narrative projects or just commercials?
The system works for any visual storytelling format.

While our examples focus on commercial and branded content, the principles apply equally to narrative, documentary, and music video production.
What makes this different from other cinematography courses?
Most courses focus on camera settings, lighting techniques, or theory.

The Pre-Production Playbook is specifically designed to solve the organizational and leadership challenges that transform you from a technical operator into a respected cinematographer.

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