1) The mobile video workshop covered fundamental mobile video techniques like shooting wide, medium, and tight shots while getting close to subjects, keeping the camera steady, and using audio effectively. 2) Examples of mobile videos were shown to demonstrate techniques like establishing shots, reaction shots, close-ups, and nat sound. 3) Editing tips focused on storyboarding with a clear beginning, middle, and end for the 60 second videos and pacing the story with a compelling opening, establishing the narrator, and ending with a memorable moment.

1. Mobile Video Workshop April 16, 2011 Instructors: Jake Batsell and Michele Houston Technical engineer: Robert Emery Student assistant: Bridget Bennett

3. Fundamental mobile video techniques remain relevant, regardless of equipment

5. Gather crisp, compelling AUDIO Audio is your A roll – consider audio more important than the video. A roll – Gather vivid nat sound and find your narrator. SHUT UP! (But we mean that in a nice way.) Keep your ear out for audio distractions – if too noisy, move to a new room for your primary interview. Ask open-ended questions: What’s going on here? Why is this important? How does it make you feel? B roll – Get supporting video that matches your primary audio/interviews. When you arrive, keep your ear out for vivid, evocative sounds that define the scene. Voiceover or no? Decide early. Here are standup/VO tips.

6. Example #1: A Day at the Races

7. What techniques did you spot?

8. Example #2: Redford Theater in Detroit

9. What techniques did you spot?

10. Think with your eyes and ears Take your viewer to the scene. Short Web videos are impressionistic – they evoke a sense of place without including every detail. Still, the video must stand on its own as a story. Don’t assume your viewer has any context whatsoever. Web video viewers don’t expect technical perfection, but they do expect your video to be worth their time and have little patience for major distractions such as extreme shakiness, poor audio quality, etc. Storyboarding, Part I: Before you head out to shoot, form a mental outline/checklist of the shots and sounds you know you’ll need.

11. Equipment practice

12. Field shooting; Lunch on your own

13. Editing tips Storyboarding, Part II: Your video needs a clear beginning, middle and end. You’ve only got 60 seconds, so limit your focus to 1 or 2 key themes. Robert Hernandez, USC: “A video is like a short story, not like an inverted pyramid. Find a character.” The opening 5-10 seconds are key: reel the viewer in with a compelling opening shot/sound, or quick sequence of shots/sounds. Establish your narrator early to explain what’s going on and to bring context and reflection. Pace your story – you don’t want 60 consecutive seconds of rapid-fire inteview quotes; let the story breathe every so often with nat sound or an extended shot. End your story with a memorable kicker of some sort – a funny quote; atmospheric nat sound; music captured onsite; a laugh/giggle, etc.

14. Hands-on editing session

15. Thanks!jbatsell@smu.edumhouston@smu.edu