This document provides guidance on shooting and editing video content for news organizations. It recommends focusing on short, unedited videos between 30-60 seconds. Topics covered include lighting, composition, interviewing techniques, and basic editing strategies. The document also lists some video editing software tools and provides potential video story ideas.
3. Why shoot video?
News consumers have increasing video appetites
ďVideo will consume 90 percent of consumer traffic online this year
or next
ďBy 2016, 1.2 million video minutes (more than two years worth)
will travel the web every second
ďTablet users are more than 3 times more likely to view video than
smartphone users; one in 10 tablet users view video daily
ďVideos drive better time on site, which is good for advertising.
Sources: Cisco and comScore
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4. Strategy
Focus on short, unedited video
ď30- to 60-second videos are ideal
ďPlan to shoot what youâre already covering
ďUnedited or raw video should make up the bulk of your
production
ďReserve edited video, with multiple shots and B-roll, for
special projects
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5. Housekeeping
Charge your camera
â˘It should be charging when youâre at the
office or home.
Keep a spare card handy
â˘Itâs easy to forget one in a card reader.
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6. Housekeeping
Steady your shot
ďUse a monopod - it will make
your video smoother, more
professional.
ďIf you canât get a monopod,
use your environment â desks,
trees, fences, etc. to steady
your shots.
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7. Housekeeping
Get a monopod
âI know what some folks may think, âWhat's the point
of a little camera on a big tri-pod?â Well, yes, it looks
odd, but your viewers and critics will thank you.
Credibility in this business is measured by a lot of little
things and you don't want to lose online video views
by always having a poor video of jiggling footage just
because your arm gets tired.â
Dominic Genetti
Journalist, Hannibal Courier-Post
10. Housekeeping
Donât talk while shooting
â˘Your viewers will not appreciate your
constant verbal prompts
Check your sound quality
â˘Bad sound will ruin a video
11. Lighting
Donât backlight your subject
ďMake sure if youâre interviewing someone, he or she isnât
standing in front of a light or window.
14. Composition
Employ depth of field
ďIf youâre shooting a person, include an object in the
background, so the video doesnât look two-dimensional.
20. Interviewing
Make your video interviews look professional
ď Frame your shots
ď Rearrange things if
necessary
21. Interviewing
Make your video interviews look professional
ď Have the person look at
you, not the camera.
ď Shoot the person at a
slight angle, not a
straight-on shot.
ď Donât center your
subject.
22. Interviewing
Make your video interviews look professional
ď Be aware of the noise
your subject makes.
ď Let them know what
questions youâll ask.
ď Shoot a couple seconds
before the interview
starts.
23. Interviewing
Make your video interviews look professional
ď If youâre shooting a
person, do a head
shot, or a full body.
ď Donât cut someone
off at the knees,
and donât chop off
tops of heads.
24. Editing basics
Background is good B-roll
ďSometimes your subject isnât the
most interesting thing on the
scene.
ďCrowd reactions, spectators can
provide color.
âB-roll should advance the story or reflect what the interview subject is
saying. TV likes to use the same old shots of emergency lights on the fire
truck or police car as a cut-away. Your video should do more.â
Chris Young
Photographer, Springfield State Journal-Register
25. Editing basics
Vary your shots
ďUse some close ups, for
interviews or
demonstrations
ďUse medium or wide
shots to show the scene.
26. Editing basics
Think in soundbites
ďBe selective
ďMost videos should not be more than one minute long
Donât over pan or zoom
ďDonât constantly pan from side to side or zoom in and out.
ďGet one or two good shots.
OK, so hereâs iMovieâs left-side toolbar, which is where you get started. Once you have your camera connected to your laptop, youâre ready to import your clips. To do that, open iMovie and click the camera import button. You can swap out events, or clips, using the swap events button. And the slider there allows you to control the size of your project â how much it takes up on the iMovie screen.
Hereâs the center toolbar. On the left you have the edit tool, which allows you to add clips (you can also drag them using your arrow). The favorite tool is used to select a clip you like and know you want to use, and you can unselect it using the unmark button. Then thereâs the reject button, which allows you to check off clips you know you wonât use.
These tools are useful, because after youâve done through and marked everything, you can go to âViewâ in the top menu, and select an option to only show your favorite clips, without having to delete stuff you might actually want to use later.
Then thereâs the voiceover button, which will allow you to record yourself to add narration. The crop button, which weâre talk about later. And then the last button opens the inspector panel, which controls effects like audio, speed, color correction â things like that.
And the right-hand toolbar. Youâve got music and sound effects, which will let you drag in audio files from iTunes. The photo button allows you to pull in photos from iPhoto. If you have photos elsewhere, like on your desktop, you can just drag them in.
The title button allows you to add title screens. Youâve got your transitions button for in-between clips. And lastly thereâs a maps tool, which lets you add maps and other backgrounds.
The first step is to import or drag your raw video into iMovie.
To select part of a clip, essentially cropping out the part you donât want, use your cursor to select where to begin your selection, and drag it along the clip until you want to end your selection.
Once youâve highlighted the section you want, drag it into the upper panel.
To add a lower third â the text that identifies a person or scene, select the text icon in the right-hand control panel. It will give you many options for adding text. Stick to something simple and professional-looking, like a black gradient.
Drag the title box onto the portion of the clip where you want it to show up. Once you have it in place, you can alter the text on the right-hand screen.
To add a second clip, repeat the first step. Select the portion of the clip you want, then drag it into the upper panel.
If youâd like, you can add a simple transition between clips. Click the transition icon in the right-hand panel. Choose the transition you want â and again, stick to something professional, like a simple black fade. Then drag the transition where you want it â between your two clips.
You can also add a title screen at the end. Start by click on the text icon, like you did when you added the lower-thirds. Select the type you want â I like the âlens flareâ because itâs simple and looks nice. Drag it at the end of your project. Then you can edit the text on the right screen.
Once youâre all done, save your project by clicking âFileâ then âFinalize Project.â Depending on how long your video is, this process could take five, maybe 15 minutes.