PHASE 1: THE MISSION

Your gear is worthless if your story is weak.

1. The "One-Sentence" Mission: What is the single, clear point of this video?

2. The 3 "Pillar" Shots: What are the three non-negotiable shots you must capture?

3. Confirm The "Why": Why will anyone care? What value/emotion are you delivering?

PHASE 2: THE KIT

"Good enough" is how you fail.

4. Visual Integrity: 3x Power, 2x Media. (One battery is zero. Two is one.)

5. Audio Integrity: The "Blind Spot Check." Pack headphones. Monitoring is not optional.

6. Power Redundancy: Every cable for every device, plus a charged power bank.

7. The "Go-Bag" Lock: Tripod plate / mount is physically attached to the camera.

PHASE 3: "GO" SIGNAL

The final barrier to failure.

8. The "Test Record" Proof: Record 10s. Play it back. Check audio/focus.

9. The "Idiot Check": Keys. Wallet. Phone. Gas in the car.

10. The "Last Look": Walk out, count to 10, walk back in. "What did I forget?"

The Blackwater Outdoors Creator's Protocol

"Amateurs pack a bag. Professionals run a protocol. Failure is a choice—it's a failure of process."

PHASE 1: THE MISSION (Story)

Your gear is worthless if your story is weak.

1. Define The "One-Sentence" Mission: What is the single, clear point of this video? (e.g., "This video *proves* that you can build a fire in the rain.")
2. List The 3 "Pillar" Shots: What are the three non-negotiable shots you *must* capture to tell this story? (e.g., 1. Soaked ground, 2. Striking the flint, 3. The fire sustaining itself.)
3. Confirm The "Why": Why will anyone *care*? What value or emotion are you delivering? (e.g., "Viewers will feel *empowered* and *capable*.")

PHASE 2: THE KIT (Gear Integrity)

"Good enough" is how you fail.

4. Visual Integrity: 3x Power, 2x Media. One battery is zero. Two batteries is one. You *always* have a primary + 2x backups. You *always* have a primary + 1x backup formatted SD card.
This is the final, one-page tool.
5. Audio Integrity: The "Blind Spot Check." Audio is 80% of your video. Check your primary mic, check your batteries, and—most importantly—**pack headphones.** Monitoring audio on-site is not optional.

6. Power Redundancy: Every cable (USB-C, Micro, Lightning) for every device (camera, mic, phone) is confirmed and packed with a fully charged power bank.
7. The "Go-Bag" Lock: The `Tripod` plate, `GorillaPod`, or `Gimbal` mount is *physically attached* to the camera *before* it goes in the bag.

PHASE 3: THE "GO" SIGNAL (Final Check)

This is the final barrier between you and failure.

8. The "Test Record" Proof: Do a 10-second test recording. **Play it back.** Is the audio clean? Is the focus sharp? Is the format correct? Do this *before* you leave.
9. The "Idiot Check": Keys. Wallet. Phone. Gas in the car. A world-class video on your SD card means nothing if you're stranded.
10. The "Last Look": Look at your fully-packed bag. Now, walk out of the room, count to 10, walk back in, and ask, "What did I forget?"

BLACKWATER OUTDOORS

THE BLACKWATER
OUTDOORS
PROTOCOL

The 10-Point System to a Zero-Failure Shoot

The 10-Point Protocol

PHASE 1: THE MISSION

PHASE 2: THE KIT

PHASE 3: "GO" SIGNAL

The Blackwater Outdoors Creator's Protocol

"Amateurs pack a bag. Professionals run a protocol. Failure is a choice—it's a failure of process."

PHASE 1: THE MISSION (Story)

Your gear is worthless if your story is weak.

PHASE 2: THE KIT (Gear Integrity)

"Good enough" is how you fail.

PHASE 3: THE "GO" SIGNAL (Final Check)

This is the final barrier between you and failure.

THE BLACKWATER OUTDOORS PROTOCOL

The 10-Point System to a Zero-Failure Shoot

PHASE 1: THE MISSION

PHASE 2: THE KIT

PHASE 3: "GO" SIGNAL

The Blackwater Outdoors Creator's Protocol

"Amateurs pack a bag. Professionals run a protocol. Failure is a choice—it's a failure of process."

PHASE 1: THE MISSION (Story)

Your gear is worthless if your story is weak.

PHASE 2: THE KIT (Gear Integrity)

"Good enough" is how you fail.

PHASE 3: THE "GO" SIGNAL (Final Check)

This is the final barrier between you and failure.

THE BLACKWATER
OUTDOORS
PROTOCOL