This document outlines the basics of video production, covering essential topics such as recording apps, lighting techniques (hard and soft light), and white balance adjustments. It also discusses the importance of establishing shots, camera angles (high, low, canted, and subjective), and capturing motion effectively. Overall, it serves as a guide for beginners on how to create visually appealing videos.

1. Video Production Basics
Presented by
Brett Atwood

2. Video Recording Apps
• Most Smartphones have a built-in video
recording app
– There are also additional video apps available in
the App Store and Google Play
• Consumer-grade video recorders are also an
option for recording video for the web

3. Lighting
• Three purposes of lighting:
– Provide adequate illumination for the picture to
be processed correctly by the camera
– To tell us what the objects on the screen look like,
including space/depth relationships and time of
day
– To establish the mood of a scene

4. Hard and Soft Light
• “Hard Light” – Very
pronounced;
Directional; Casts
strong shadows
• “Soft Light” – Light is
diffused/spread out;
less shadows
– People look better
with soft lights

5. Directional vs. Diffused Light
• Example:
Directional Diffused

6. Directional light
• Hard light casts a sharp, clearly defined shadow.
• When hard light is used to illuminate a face,
imperfections in the skin stand out. The result is less than
flattering.
• But in other applications, such as bringing out the texture
in leather, or the engraving on a piece of jewelry, this can
be an advantage.

7. Diffused light
• Soft (diffused) light has
the opposite effect.
• It tends to hide surface
irregularities and detail.
• Diffusers are used over
the front of lights to
soften and diffuse their
beams. At the same time,
diffusers also reduce the
intensity of light.

8. Soft Lighting
• Since soft light is
more scattered, you
may need more light
• Soft light may be
created using
bounced lighting
– Light source hits
subject indirectly
since it bounces off
a reflector

9. White Balance
• White Balance – Used to balance the color of
your shot.
– Point the camera at a white object (piece of blank
paper or white wall)
– Object should be in the same light that you will
use in shooting
– Press “white balance” button to adjust the
sensitivity of the camera to the current light
source

10. White Balance
• An improperly white
balanced camera can
cause your video to
appear yellow,
greenish or reddish or
yellower than it should.
• Example:
– Bad (Top image)
– Good (Bottom image)

11. White Balance
• If you move the camera into different light or
the light source changes, then you will need to
redo the white balance setting
• Some cameras do automatically re-balance
the white

12. Establishing Shots
• Many directors follow this
simple formula:
– First scene shot: Wide,
establishing shot to orient
the viewer
– Second scene shot: Closer
proximity to main subject
– Third shot: Main subject

13. Camera Angles
• Use angles to keep
the production
interesting
• Angles can be used to
manipulate audience
perception

14. High Camera Angle
• Positions the camera
above eye level
• Camera shoots down
at subject
• Used to show
overview of area
• Used to make subject
appear smaller

15. Low Camera Angle
• Positions the camera
below eye level
• Camera shoots up
toward the subject
• Used to give sense of
power to subject

16. Canted Angle
• Camera is tilted on a
horizontal plane
• Used to convey sense
of excitement or
instability
• Simply tilt the
camera to achieve
this effect
• Use this sparingly

17. Subjective Camera Angle
• Places the camera in
the place of a
character to show us
a scene from their
viewpoint
• Also known as point-
of-view shot (POV)
• Used to engage
viewers in the action

18. Capturing Motion
• You should always
consider the path of
moving subjects and,
generally, leave space
in front of them into
which they can
move.

19. Capturing Motion
• If you don't, here's
what can happen!
This jogger looks like
she's going to run
right out of the
frame.

20. Capturing Motion
• By placing the
subject in the lower-
left position, we've
used the rule of
thirds and given the
jogger plenty of room
to run within the
frame.