Using Rapid Video

Using Rapid Video Gettin’ Hi-fi from Low-fi! Mark Chrisman & George Aston

Introduction

Session Outline

Introduction

Design Principles and the Brain

Film/Video Technique (with examples)

Recording Devices

Workshop

Design Principles and The Brain

Must Read

Learning from Design

Picture Superiority Effect – pg. 152

A picture is worth a thousand words

Is a video is worth a million?

Pictures are generally more easily recognized and recalled

Pictures and words together are even better

Example

Step 1: Tie a Starting Knot, then make the right end into a "loop" by simply doubling it back onto itself.

Step 2: Take the left end and pass it around to the right, going behind the right loop.

Step 3: Continue the left end around the right loop to end up in front.

Step 4: Start to feed the left lace into the "hole" that has just been made.

Step 5: With the left lace now through the "hole", grab hold of both loops and start to pull the knot tight.

Step 6: Continue pulling on the loops until the knot is firmly tied.

Immersion – pg. 112

A state of mental focus so intense that awareness of the “real” world is lost…

Perceptual and cognitive systems are challenged at near capacity, without be exceeded.

Optimal immersive experiences involve both rich sensory experiences and rich cognitive engagement.

Adapted from the theory of Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Example

Storytelling – pg. 186

Not just words – use imagery and emotion.

Uniquely human and engaging

Fundamental elements are:

Setting

Characters

Plot

Invisibility – When engaged the medium becomes forgotten.

Mood

Movement

When successful, the audience will experience and recall events better – it becomes part of them.

Example

von Restorff Effect – pg. 204

Noticeably different things are more likely to be recalled than common things

Two types:

Differences in Context

Differences in Experience

Example

Classical Conditioning – pg 32

Influence appeal of design using positive and negative imagery or sounds

Example

Do any of these sound like you need to have a HD camera and other expensive equipment to engage the learner’s brain?

Film Theory Outline

How to apply motion picture theory basics

How to use simple production techniques

What tools to use for developing video content

Creative ways for delivering video content

Composition & Editing

Wide Shot Medium close-up Over the shoulder Close-up Added layering Medium Shot Wide Shot

Camera Angles (Advanced)

Point of View (POV) shot

Ariel shot (convenient with small sets)

Cut-away (objects)

Cut-away (reaction shots w/out dialogue)

Freeze frame

Follow shot (pan or zoom)

First-person (hand held)

Rule of two thirds

Montage Kuleshov Experiment (1918) soup a girl wedding funeral Audience who the expression on the actor’s face was different each time he appeared, depending on whether he was "looking at" the plate of soup, the girl, or the coffin, showing an expression of hunger, desire or grief respectively. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuleshov_Experiment Same reaction shot

Low-fi Tips

In-camera editing

Slow pans and zooms

Walk arounds

Tri-pod or Hand held

Tools

Sound & Lights

Sound Internal Mic External Mic Audio Quality

Lighting Tips

Limit Your Light Sources

White Balance

Avoid Backlighting

Low-cost Illumination

Talent & Props

Low-fi Talent

Paper drawings and cut outs

Characters, puppets and toys

Still images

Friends in your office

Cheap props and Photoshop

Still graphics and Audio

Editing Tools

Production Tools

Apple Final Cut Pro editing

Adobe Premiere editing

Apple iMovie editing

Windows MovieMaker editing

Adobe Captivate, Powerpoint

Free

Jumpcut edit & host

YouTube capture , annotations, captions and hosting

Qik capture, hosting & stream from mobile device

Ustream capture, hosting, stream from mobile device

Eyejot capture and hosting

12seconds capture and hosting

GoAnimate flash animation and hosting

Workshop

Activity: Break into 3 groups and use the provided storyboard template, props and camera to create a quick (and very lo-fi) training video. Keep videos under 3 mins.