TIPS ON SHOOTING AND EDITING YOUR CONVERSATION VIDEO

PREPRODUCTION CONCEPT PURPOSE OF VIDEO. CONSTRAINTS. SCRIPT DESCRIPTION OF SHOTS AND SETTINGS. WRITTEN DIALOGUE AND NARRATION.

PREPRODUCTION STORYBOARDS CONCEPTUALIZE SHOTS. PLAN FLOW OF VIDEO. EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY. FLEXIBILITY, LIMITATIONS.

PRODUCTION FRAMING AND COMPOSITION BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. REARRANGE OBJECTS AS NEEDED. HEADROOM DON’T LEAVE EXCESSIVE SPACE ABOVE SUBJECT’S HEAD. IF SUBJECT IS LOOKING TO THE SIDE, LEAVE SPACE WHERE HE/SHE IS LOOKING.

PRODUCTION RULE OF THIRDS 1/3 OF THE FRAME SHOULD BE ABOVE THE EYES. 1/3 OF THE FRAME SHOULD BE FACE AND SHOULDERS. 1/3 OF THE FRAME SHOULD BE LOWER TORSO.

PRODUCTION LIGHTING CHECK INDOOR LIGHTING CONDITIONS FIRST, ADD MORE LIGHTING IF NEEDED/POSSIBLE. FILMING OUTDOORS? CHECK THE TIME AND WEATHER. NOON: BRIGHT LIGHT, HIGH EXPOSURE, NO SHADOWS. MORNING/AFTERNOON: DIRECT LIGHT, HEAVY SHADOWS. OVERCAST: NO DIRECT LIGHT OR SHADOW, DULL.

PRODUCTION SOUND DETACHABLE MICROPHONES ARE DESIRABLE FOR BEST SOUND QUALITY USING THE CAMERA’S MIKE? CHECK FOR BACKGROUND NOISE BEFORE SHOOTING (TRAFFIC, VENTILATION, NEARBY CROWDS). STAY CLOSE TO YOUR SUBJECT. SUBJECT SHOULD SPEAK LOUD AND CLEARLY. NO NOISE FROM THE CREW!

PRODUCTION SHOOTING USE A TRIPOD FOR STABILITY. TRY TO SHOOT IN-SEQUENCE. KEEP A VIDEO LOG OF RECORDED SCENES.

PRODUCTION SHOOTING USE A VARIETY OF SHOTS – MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES AND ANGLES. TRY MULTIPLE TAKES OF THE SAME SCENE, ADJUSTING THE SHOT SLIGHTLY. FILM MORE THAN JUST YOUR SUBJECT.

PRODUCTION THINGS TO AVOID BREAKING THE 180° PLANE. USING THE SAME COMPOSITION FOR EVERY SHOT. TOO MANY DIFFERING SHOTS AND ANGLES. EXTREME CLOSE UPS OR WIDE SHOTS. EXCESSIVE PANNING OR ZOOMING. SHOOTING TOO MUCH.

POSTPRODUCTION EDITING CLIPS KNOW YOUR FOOTAGE. USE YOUR VIDEO LOG OR CREATE ONE FOR YOUR RAW FOOTAGE. AVOID JUMP CUTS. DIFFERENT SCENES SHOULD BE EASILY DISTINGUISHED. BE TASTEFUL IN USING TITLES AND TRANSITIONS. ADJUST LIGHTING AND SOUND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BAD FOOTAGE IS BAD FOOTAGE.