Writers Workshop 2015: Make Your Content Pop: An Introduction to Creatinganimatedvideos-parlette-stewart_feb2015
1. Make Your Content
Pop:
An Introduction to Creating Animated
Videos
Melanie Parlette-Stewart
Blended Learning Librarian, University of Guelph
@melanie_sarah_ /melanieparlettestewart.com
4. Purpose of Videos
• Promote something (i.e. Book Trailer, Author Interviews)
• Describe a procedure / process
• Define a concept
• Present facts
• Provide an overview
• And more…
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPQnYYvnBZA#t=48
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Book Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gafz1-oucU
Your Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fAaTwmvTE4
Start with a script (this will make the transcript much easier!)
Conversational is better (approachable, friendly). Use short sentences and plain language (avoid jargon where possible).
“Write for the ear - not for the eye” (UNCC). Contractions are okay.
Read your script out loud. Lots. Does it feel natural? If not, make changes.
Have an introduction (what will you be telling them?) and a closing (is it over yet?)
Don’t worry about being artistic
It will change
Keep it simple
Think about metaphors and themes
Use text sparingly
Use PowerPoint
Sketch – stick figures are fine!
Shorter is better (typically 2 minutes or less)
If you have to go longer break it up into manageable chunks
Focus on the content (simple and clean).
Would users know what they are looking at if it were playing on a smartphone?
Message should be clear and easy to understand.
Use a template (standard opening and closing)
Repetition and Clear breaks (user might only watch a portion / skip ahead).
Consistent look and feel
Don’t overload your slides with information / content
Use animations and transitions to give a sense of movement
Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse.
If you make a mistake, pause, then record the section over. It’s better to record all at once and edit later.
You want to leave space for transitions
MP4 is playable on most devices and players.
Captions are required.
A transcript is required.
High Quality (HD or near HD quality)
YouTube
Facebook
If you are using content that requires you attribute it to the original author, create a “Credits” slide at the end of your video and provide attribution there.
4 tools that are commonly used (open up each in a tab), detailed chart is available on the website
PowerPoint
most people already have the software
music, pictures and sound through clip art
Record narration using Audio → Record Audio or upload MIDI, MP3, WAV, WMA
Must download video file and upload
Add captions in YouTube or other software
Pro - it’s familiar
Con - it can look really PowerPointy
Wideo
Free caps you at 45 seconds
Some royalty free music and templates
Pro - it’s Easy to use
Con - caps you at 45 seconds, no download
GoAnimate
Free caps you at 30 seconds
Pro - more complex scenes and characters
Con - Only 30 seconds, must upgrade to upload to YouTube
PowToon
Free caps you at 5 minutes
No download / must upload to YouTube
Lots of free templates, easy to use
Intuitive WYSIWG/drag and drop interface
Lots of templates and variety of “Styles”
Create modern and engaging videos
Aimed at non-professional video creators
Ability to create high quality videos easily and quickly
Free! More capabilities with the free account when compared to other online video tools
See below for added features with the reasonably priced Education Teacher Account
Other features:
Connects with Google Drive
Great tutorials
Images
Library Stock Photos: Shared Drive (S:) > Resources > Strategic Communications Plan > Library Stock Photos
Library Logos: Shared Drive (S:) > Resources > Strategic Communications Plan > Library_logos
Microsoft Office Clipart
Flickr – Creative Commons
Getty Open Content
The Noun Project
Open Clip Art Library
Screen Capture: Use a snipping tool to select or click PRINT SCREEN.
Click Image
To Sharpen: Format > Corrections > Sharpen
To Crop: Format > Crop
Music/Sound
Jamendo
freesound
FMA: Free Music Archive
soundcli.ps
AudioMicro: Stock Audio Library
FlashKit
Micrsoft Office > Insert > Online Audio
Create Your Own Using Audacity
Convert Audio Files: media.io, SUPER, FreeStudio
Best Practices
Things are happening every 3-5 seconds
This doesn’t have to be an entire scene change, just make sure something new is happening
Length
Ideally less than 1:30
Def less than 2 minutes
This is challenging
Consistent Look & Feel
Not too much text on the screen
Not everything is suited to animated videos
Not best for databases
Leave those to the vendors!
Story / Concept based
Play with scale
Powtoon.com
Sign up for account
Create
Studio - Create Now
Start from Scratch – Blank – go
Add music / narration
Download Audacity
Open Audacity
Speak Clearly
Test Audio
Allow 5 sec gap between slides
Click Record
Effect → Noise Removal → Get Noise Profile → Effect → Noise Removal → Okay
Remove gaps
2 seconds in between slides
Remove pauses and breath noise
File → Save
File → Export → (mp3)
Insert → Audio (onto first slide)
Slide 1
Turquoise background
Girl - waving
Hello text
Name text
Slide 2
Peach background
Girl – idea
Creative text
Non-stop ideas text
Slide 3
Turquoise background
Chart
Motivated text
Slide 4
Laptop
Tech-savvy text
Slide 5
Browser window
Information literacy text
Slide 6
Prop speech bubble
Social Media
Slide 7
Paper background
Hand writing blended learning
Slide 8
Background – living room
Picto – girl look
SWAP
Picto – girl push
Slide 9
Google image: reading
Search tools
Large
Non commercial with modification
Painting – download
Add image as background
Upload
Set as background
Slide 10
Change background
Text – let’s get to work (word by word)
Slide 11
Google image – melanie parlette-stewart
Image holder – me – download