Telling Your Story With Video Telling Your Story With Video

You’re Part of the Crew!  Producer – oversees project, guides idea, works with director guides idea, works with director  Director - guides actual production (really calls the shots!)  Assistant Producer/Assistant Director- finds resources, gets copyright okays, sets schedules, sets up interviews, locations  Talent - on-camera host, anchor, or actor delivers lines, acts in character, follows director’s cues

Roles in Production  Camera person (videographer)– Runs the camera, tells story visually as guided by director  Sound person (Audio Engineer) – Records and manages sound, chooses music, sound effects  Scriptwriter – writes scripts & storyboards  Graphics Designer- Creates text, still images, and animations for onscreen and web use.  Website Designer- Many programs have websites or are delivered as part of a website. This person creates the site

Safety First!  Use a tripod and make sure it is stable  Make sure camera is tight on tripod  Watch out for cables  Don’t point camera at bright light like the sun for long periods  Don’t try and force tape, data cards or sticks, cables, or attachments into place

Viewfinder (LCD Screen) Lens Assembly Auto Zoom Control Switch Wide Telephoto Inset Detail Auto/Manual Focus Controls W T Battery Compartment Power/ Record Controls Microphone Playback Controls Diagram of a Typical Camcorder

Close up of Controls (location of these will vary from camera to camera) Diagram of a Typical Camcorder Viewfinder Menu Access Mode Control Camera/Play Audio Video Port Record Button

ProductionProduction  Scenes are rehearsed, performed by talent, and taped  Supporting video (B-roll) is also shot to “cover” audio (the sound) and natural audio is captured “cover” audio (the sound) and natural audio is captured  Video/audio clips are logged and labeled

The First Rule of Video Production No matter how good your equipment, editing, and graphics… Garbage In! Garbage Out! It takes high quality audio/video to make a good production!

Telling Your Story With Shots

Basic Shot Types Close-up (CU)Wide Shot (WS)Medium Shot (Med)

Shot Purposes  Close-up/Extreme CU shots- “tell” what characters look like, show emotions, point out details  Medium shots- create comfortable “talking” distance  Wide Shots- Show setting or action.  Point of View (POV) shot lets viewer “see” through a character’s eyes “see” through a character’s eyes

How To Frame A Shot (Subject Facing Camera) Subject can be centered Headroom

How to Frame A Shot (Subject looking to one side) How to Frame A Shot (Subject looking to one side) Headroom Give lead or “ talking” room

How to Frame A Shot Using the Rule of Thirds How to Frame A Shot Using the Rule of Thirds Place most interesting part of subject where lines cross. Notice body and eyes lie along these lines instead of picture’s center

ZOOMING!ZOOMING!  Zoom – Zooming in or out can be used to “guide” viewer through a scene but should not be overused to avoid audience “seasickness”

Using Angles  Bird’s Eye (High angle) shots make characters or objects look small or weak shots make characters or objects look small or weak  Worm’s Eye (low angle) shots make characters look big or strong

Camera Tips  Use a tripod  Place camera so greatest light is at camera person’s back  Use focus and white balance controls  Practice camera moves (blocking shots)  Frame shots and moves with purpose

Camera Tips (continued)  Vary shots  Don’t overuse zoom  Be sure to lay down pre and post-roll  Correct roll-back (only on tape cameras)

Don’t do This! The “witness Protection” shot When shooting don’t place your subject in front of a strong light like a window, lamp, mirror, etc.

Common Video Mistakes…..  Too much headroom - bad framing  Subject in front of bright backlight  Shaky camera - no tripod  No shot variety- wide shot  lack of planning - no script  lack of pre and post roll

Audio Track Parts  Talking  Sound effects  Music  Natural sound

Audio Tips  Use headphones to listen to sound quality  Choose microphones based on project needs  Place microphone right distance from source  When using built-in microphone move closer and zoom out  Listen for and control distracting background noise

Common Audio Mistakes…..  using only cam mike  mike too far from sound source  not monitoring (listening to) audio

On-Air Tips for Talent n n Make sure ahead of time that you can read and properly pronounce words (especially people’s names) n n Wait for your cue before speaking n n Smile! (when it feels right)

On-Air Tips for Talent n n When addressing audience, look into camera when speaking as much as possible. n n Hold objects you are speaking about close to face when possible so it is easy to frame shot (spokesmodel pose) n n Speak clearly, projecting your voice toward the microphone

Interview Tips  Write a focus sentence  Research the subject  Target your audience correctly  Prepare a complete list of questions  Describe the purpose to the subject before the interview

Interview Tips  Don’t interview the subject without the camera before the actual interview  LISTEN  Ask good follow-up questions  Be polite and professional

Interview No-No’s  Yes and no questions  “I see” and “Uh-huh”  Two-part questions  Obvious questions  Questions in poor taste  Questions that have already been answered