Back to the Basics (Production Basics, that is) In a Cyber-media World Basics of Video Production

Basics of Video Production

“ Those who tell stories hold the power in society. Today television tells most of the stories to most of the people, most of the time.” George Gerbner 1992

Phases of Production Pre-production : Planning, scheduling, and writing,…and storyboards Production: Shooting, recording,… Post-production: Editing

Pre-production : Planning, scheduling, and writing,…and storyboards

Production: Shooting, recording,…

Post-production: Editing

What is the objective? Inform Entertain

Inform

Entertain

Who is your audience? Background Age Motivation

Background

Age

Motivation

Parts Of Typical Camcorder Microphone Viewfinder Lens Assembly Tape Compartment Power / Record/ Playback Controls Tape Eject Control W Auto Zoom Control Switch W T Inset Detail Auto/Manual Focus Controls Battery Compartment

Production Tools An introduction to types of camera shots and techniques

Rule of thirds

Anchorperson in left third. Eyes at important cross-section at top third line.

How To Frame A Shot ( Subject Facing Camera) Center of Frame Headroom

How to Frame A Shot (Subject looking to Side) Headroom Lead Room

In this shot the lady is looking off camera to the left so she is placed in the right third so she seems to be looking at something on the left of the shot.

Follow the rule?

Visual impact

Yes or no?

Washington Post, Sept. 17, 2007.

Moving objects…

Watch background!

What’s wrong with this pic?

Shot Glossary (ECU) Extreme Close-up Shot (CU) Close-up Shot (Med) Medium Shot (WS) Wide Shot (POV) Point of View Shot (OSS) Over the Shoulder Shot (Noddy) Interview nods attentively

(ECU) Extreme Close-up Shot

(CU) Close-up Shot

(Med) Medium Shot

(WS) Wide Shot

(POV) Point of View Shot

(OSS) Over the Shoulder Shot

(Noddy) Interview nods attentively

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

Establishing shot: Wide

Establishing: wide shot (WS)

Another wide shot to establish scene: Washington Post, Sept. 16, 2007.

Type of shot?

More emotional impact: Medium (Med)

Type of shot?

Human level: close up (CU) Practice with digital cameras first then on to video cameras. Washington Post, Sept. 16, 2005.

XCU: Purpose?

Camera Techniques Pan Tilt Focus Fade High or low angle Zoom Point of view Shot variation- Wide, Med., CU

Pan

Tilt

Focus

Fade

High or low angle

Zoom

Point of view

Shot variation- Wide, Med., CU

Camera Tips Use a tripod Position camera so greatest light is at videographer’s back Use focus and white balance controls Practice camera moves Frame shots and moves with purpose

Use a tripod

Position camera so greatest light is at videographer’s back

Use focus and white balance controls

Practice camera moves

Frame shots and moves with purpose

Video Clip : Let’s review! Watch the following clip for various camera shots. Use the terms we learned! What was the effect/purpose of the shots? Raise your hand!

Watch the following clip for various camera shots.

Use the terms we learned!

What was the effect/purpose of the shots?

Raise your hand!

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

Vary shots

Don’t overuse zoom

Be sure to lay down pre and post-roll

Correct roll-back

Basic editing In camera editing Assemble editing ‘ A’ Roll ‘ A/B’ Roll Insert editing

In camera editing

Assemble editing

‘ A’ Roll

‘ A/B’ Roll

Insert editing

Disappearing Act ( In Camera Edit) Record (Push red button.) Establish subject, subject freezes Pause (Push red button.) Change scene. Record (Push red button.)

Record (Push red button.)

Establish subject, subject freezes

Pause (Push red button.)

Change scene.

Record (Push red button.)

Activity Make something disappear or animate an object through in-camera editing. Keep background constant and camera position constant for best effect Establish cues so crew knows what to expect

Make something disappear or animate an object through in-camera editing.

Keep background constant and camera position constant for best effect

Establish cues so crew knows what to expect

Options for Transitions Close-up of object Fade-out of one scene, fade-in to next Full screen text of poster or graphic See someone walk out of room, walk in to next room Create a walk-through effect

Close-up of object

Fade-out of one scene, fade-in to next

Full screen text of poster or graphic

See someone walk out of room, walk in to next room

Create a walk-through effect

Audio techniques Voice-over narration Sound effects Music Natural sound

Voice-over narration

Sound effects

Music

Natural sound

Audio Tips Use music and natural sound Use headphones Select microphones based on project needs Place microphone right distance from source Listen for distracting background noises

Use music and natural sound

Use headphones

Select microphones based on project needs

Place microphone right distance from source

Listen for distracting background noises

Planning Your Production Two main ways of planning are scripts and storyboards Scripts take many forms but should have a place for describing both audio and video Storyboards are really comic strip versions of production where shots are drawn with audio written as captions underneath

Two main ways of planning are scripts and storyboards

Scripts take many forms but should have a place for describing both audio and video

Storyboards are really comic strip versions of production where shots are drawn with audio written as captions underneath

Script Example Video EST. Shot -of school exterior Med. Shot- Student host pointing at building WS. Shot – Student walks through door Med. 2 shot- Host and school director EST. Shot- Scriptwriter’s office with her at her computer Audio V.O- Welcome to the ACME School of Production Let’s go inside take a tour Music Host- This is the school’s director, Mr. Doe. What are you going to show us today? Director – Well I thought we would start by talking with our scriptwriter, Ms. Smith Director – Well hello Ms. Smith! We have a visitor with us, Mr. Host

Video

EST. Shot -of school exterior

Med. Shot- Student host pointing at

building

WS. Shot – Student walks through

door

Med. 2 shot- Host and school director

EST. Shot- Scriptwriter’s office with

her at her computer

Audio

V.O- Welcome to the ACME School of Production

Let’s go inside take a tour

Music

Host- This is the school’s director, Mr. Doe. What are you going to show us today?

Director – Well I thought we would start by talking with our scriptwriter, Ms. Smith

Director – Well hello Ms. Smith! We have a visitor with us, Mr. Host

Sample Storyboard The veterinarian will take a blood sample She will use a special needle to take the sample She will check the sample under a microscope

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

Too much headroom - bad frame

Subject in front of bright backlight

Shaky camera - no tripod

No shot variation - wide shot

Insufficient planning - no script

lack of pre and post roll

Common Audio Mistakes….. using only cam mike mike too far from sound source not monitoring audio

using only cam mike

mike too far from sound source

not monitoring audio

Resources for Video Production On KET EncycloMedia: “ Lights, Camera, Action” series On KET-ED Channel: KET Newsquiz —streamed or live airings Making of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (9/4@11am) Hollywood Homeroom series (9/4 @10am)

On KET EncycloMedia:

“ Lights, Camera, Action” series

On KET-ED Channel:

KET Newsquiz —streamed or live airings

Making of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (9/4@11am)

Hollywood Homeroom series (9/4 @10am)

www.ket.org/makingnewsquiz

Interview Tips Research the subject thoroughly Consider the knowledge and interest of the audience Prepare a comprehensive list of questions Group related questions and consider the order of importance and interest Describe the purpose beforehand to the subject

Research the subject thoroughly

Consider the knowledge and interest of the audience

Prepare a comprehensive list of questions

Group related questions and consider the order of importance and interest

Describe the purpose beforehand to the subject

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

Yes and no questions

“ I see” and “Uh-huh”

Two-part questions

Obvious questions

Questions in poor taste

Questions that have already been answered

Interview Tips Avoid interviewing the subject without the camera before the camera interview LISTEN Ask appropriate follow-up questions Be polite and professional

Avoid interviewing the subject without the camera before the camera interview

LISTEN

Ask appropriate follow-up questions

Be polite and professional

Dressing for Television Choose clothes with simple, clean lines Wear solid colors (blues and teals) Women should apply foundation and wear make-up that emphasizes eyes and lips Avoid white, black, shiny jewelry, and distracting patterns

Choose clothes with simple, clean lines

Wear solid colors (blues and teals)

Women should apply foundation and wear make-up that emphasizes eyes and lips

Avoid white, black, shiny jewelry, and distracting patterns

Video Assessment Checklists Storyboards Rubrics Scripts Shot sheets Peer and self-evaluation

Checklists

Storyboards

Rubrics

Scripts

Shot sheets

Peer and self-evaluation

Roles in Production Executive Producer - Oversees production (Teacher) Producer - Guides idea Director - Guides technical production Associate Producer - Handles details Talent - On-camera host or actor Videographer - Operates camera

Executive Producer - Oversees production (Teacher)

Producer - Guides idea

Director - Guides technical production

Associate Producer - Handles details

Talent - On-camera host or actor

Videographer - Operates camera

Everybody is important

Missi Baker [email_address] 606.836.0474 KET conducts workshops in video production for Kentucky teachers and students.

Missi Baker

[email_address]

606.836.0474

KET conducts workshops

in video production

for Kentucky teachers and students.