How to make a great video (guest lecture for a class at McGill)

1. 1
HOW TO MAKE A GREAT VIDEO:
Le Basics

2. 2
What made that video so good?
Necessary components:
• Lightning
• Camera (image)
• Sound
• Editing
• Scripting
• Cinematography
• Acting
Coin Video:
• Simple language
• Showed use cases
• Call to action (thumbnail)
• Regular dude explaining
• “Why don’t already have
this?”

3. 3
Process: Key Elements
Idea
Scripting
Equipment
Lighting + ImageActing
Sound
Editing
Launching

4. 4
Process: Key Elements
Idea
Scripting
Equipment
Lighting + ImageActing
Sound
Editing
Launching
Pre-Production
Production
Post-
Production

5. 5
How do I find a great idea?
Choose
something
you like YouTube
component:
Shareable?
Brainstorm:
no
restrictions Aligned with
the brand?
Don’t target
EVERYONE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6. Resources
6

7. 7
Production
Lighting Sound Image Set
Day light Good mic
Tripod +
good
camera
Where?
Items
needed?

8. 8
Getting out of your comfort zone
Your comfort zone is any type of behavior that keeps you at
steadily low anxiety level.

9. 9
Getting out of your comfort zone
Make the
set fun
F*** what
others think
Intimidating
but not
impossible
The first
is the worst
Watch each
segment
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

10. 10
How is this useful?
• Final Cut Pro (editing): Listed as huge resume builder
• Choose a company you would like to work for
• Brand-consumer interactive marketing: Da Future
• Video production: Huge industry

11. 11
EDITING!
Super fun things and
stuff

12. 12

13. 13

14. 14

15. Final Cut Pro vs. iMovie vs. Adobe Premier
• iMovie = Beginner + not very user friendly
• Final Cur Pro = “YouTube” standard
• FREE for a month
• Adobe Premier: Film

16. 16
Library
Event
Project

17. 17
Import Files
Imported Files

18. 18
Playback
Video + Audio
Settings

19. 19
Where the
magic happens

20. 20

21. 21
Name
Image
Sound

22. 22
Text + Extra Clips
Main Clips
Music + Extra Sound

23. 23

24. 24

25. 25
Case Study: YouTube Nation

26. 26
Case Study: YouTube Nation
They had everything:
• Funding and production from Dreamworks
• YouTube stars as guests
• Amazing team
Yet… They failed
Problems:
• A +30 year-old targeting teens (we usually watch our age
group, but not always true)
• Tosh.O and RayWilliamJohnson were already there…
• Content discovery became more social
• There was no need

27. 27
Shameless Plug:
Practical
Procrastination