1. Communication Arts- Video Production
Mr. Mikula

2. Composing Basic Camera Shots
Don’t be a hoser!
You are not watering a garden
Good writing and Good video much the same!
Shoot to edit
Think and plan before you shoot
Record for extra time before and after shot

3. Basic Camera Shots
Shots are defined by how much of the scene you show in your frame.
Physical space- walk
Focal length- zoom
Long Shot (LS)
Medium Shot (MS)
Closeup Shot (CU)
Extreme Closeup (XCU)

4. Long Shot (LS)
A long shot frames a wide field of view of your subject and its surrounding.
Use them sparingly….details get lost and they get boring!
XLS LS

5. Medium Shot (MS)
Frames more of your subject while still revealing some of the background.
For a person, it is usually from the waist up!

6. Closeup Shot (CU)
This shot focuses your viewers attention on specific details. Use for emotional impact.
For a person it is usually shoulders up!

7. Extreme Closeup Shot (XCU)
Frames only a portion of your subject.
VERY DRAMATIC! (Don’t overuse it)
For people it would usually mean the eyes, the nose, and mouth!

8. The Rule of Thirds
You should mentally divide the frame into thirds, both vertically and horizontally.
Place your key subjects where those lines intersect. NOT IN THE MIDDLE!!!!!!!!

9. Room at the top
Headroom- refers to the amount of space between the top of a persons head and the top of your frame. Don’t let them sink or hit their heads!
Watch the edge of your frame- you may decapitate the person!

10. Lead Space/ Background
Leave space in the direction the person is looking or moving.
Watch what’s in your
background!

11. Camera Movement Panning- Horizontal Pivoting Tilt- pivoting up or down
One of the most abused shots
Make sure there is a beginning-middle-end
You are leading your viewer to something…pause at the end so they can see it!
Tilt- pivoting up or down
Same as above
Tracking
Smooth camera movement with a subject

12. Camera Movement (cont.)
Zooming- reframes the video quickly
Very convenient- often abused!
OK to do, but be prepared to edit out the craziness or you will make your viewer sick
Zoom in- can concentrate the viewers attention on a detail
Zoom out- can serve to reveal the location of a subject (can be funny)

13. Playing with Angles Flat Shot- camera and subject same level
High Angle- Camera in raised position
Low Angle- camera lower (great exaggerated effect)
Point of View (POV)- showing things from the perspective of an actor/subject (very effective!)
Over the Shoulder (OTS)- used often to demonstrate a conversation

14. Creative Camera Placement
Try new things, look at the world in different ways
Horizon lines should be messed with sparingly
Step aside- add depth by shooting your subject at an angle.
Near and Far- make sure there are objects in the foreground and the background- screen depth.
Blurring- you can switch the camera to manual focus and blur the background for effect

15. Editing
You can own a killer toolbox, but that doesn’t make you a mechanic!
Non-Linear editing- when the images are digitized
IT ALL STARTS WITH PLANNING!!!!!!!!!!

16. Transitions
When editing you will need something to bridge the gap between shots
A Cut is when there is no transition, the shots switch instantaneous (VERY ROUGH )
Manipulate Time and space
Elevator or road trip examples

17. Transitions (cont.)
Jump Cuts- when images follow one another, but have no logical connection. EXTREMELY disorienting
Jump Cut Magic- New objects in same scene
180 Rule- Filming a game from opposite ends of the court
Cutaway Shot- Editing a speech (Max Headroom)
Fade/Dissolve/Wipe- transitional devices to signal an end, a passage of time, or a deliberate change
Use sparingly when appropriate
Be consistent

18. Visual Continuity
Positional Continuity- if you shoot things at different time, be very aware of any changes that may have occurred (Independence Day)
Directional Continuity- if things suddenly change directions, the viewer gets disoriented
Conversation- make sure the two subjects face one another (When Harry Met Sally)

19. Sound Continuity
Volume Continuity- don’t make the audience reach for the volume control over and over
Mic Placement
Fixing Audio levels afterwards is not a great idea
Cafeteria during lunch vs. Cafeteria after lunch

20. Making “Sound” Decisions
Voice-Overs- This should happen during editing, not during filming
They should provide framework for the content, not be the content
They must match the video
Music- can have a dramatic effect on the viewer when used correctly.
Use the right song- not the one you “like”
Lyrics can detract from the video
Copyright issues!
Sound FX
Can be effective….or corny!

21. Interviewing
Comments from those “in the know” lend credibility to the story.
It is more effective to have participants provide information on camera instead of doing it in a voice over.
The purpose of an interview is to get information and quotes you can use, plan accordingly!

22. Some tips: Try to have all of your equipment set up ahead of time.
Make the interviewee comfortable by telling them what you are doing before you start the interview.
Open ended questions!!!!!!!!!
Conduct the interview in a place associated with their role in the story.
Don’t rush them, they will usually add more.
If the answer is unclear, rephrase the question.
Shoot on an angle, they aren’t talking to the camera.

23. Generating story ideas