Creating Online Videos
If you only do four things when shooting video, make it these:
1. Frame tight
Show us what you are trying to say. Wrap the frame around your subject.
2. Make the subject stand out against the background
Notice the lighting on and visual interest of your subject & the background. Backgrounds should be interesting, but not disctracting, lit, but n0t brighter than the subject.
3. Follow the rule of thirds
Frame your subject off center, in-line with one of the thirds of the frame.
4. Mic within 2 feet
This is all important. Good sound = credible video. By the way, 2 feet is a maximum. Closer is even better.
1. Frame tight
Show us what you are trying to say. Wrap the frame around your subject.
2. Make the subject stand out against the background
Notice the lighting on and visual interest of your subject & the background. Backgrounds should be interesting, but not disctracting, lit, but n0t brighter than the subject.
3. Follow the rule of thirds
Frame your subject off center, in-line with one of the thirds of the frame.
4. Mic within 2 feet
This is all important. Good sound = credible video. By the way, 2 feet is a maximum. Closer is even better.
Getting footage : “A roll” & “B roll”
What is “A Roll” & “B Roll”?
It’s pretty simple…
A Roll = Interviews or Primary Action : Content that has critical sound (like dialogue)
B Roll = Details & Atmosphere : Often called cutaways
Why should you care?
It’s useful to make these distinctions so you can gauge what footage you’ll need to make your video work. “They” say that a video is made in editing, it follows that footage you bring into the editing process is all the material you have to work with. You need material. Think of it as cooking. If editing is making the meal, shooting is stocking the pantry. A-Roll is then your entree, B-Roll is your spices and seasoning. You need both for a good meal.
For A Roll think in terms of:
For B Roll details think in terms of:
Always overshoot.
Shoot more than you think you’ll need. Roll on anything that looks remotely interesting. It will all come in handy later.
Linger.
Hold detail shots for at least 10 seconds.
Leave room at the beginning (head) and end (tail) of every shot. If you ask a question, leave a moment of silence after the subject answers. It may feel slightly awkward in person, but all awkwardness can be overcome with honesty and humor.
Coverage.
The gist of coverage is to shoot the same event multiple ways. It gives you material to work with in editing. Coverage is a well known term in the film industry and follows some specific and set rules (like getting a wide shot, then over-the-shoulders, then close ups, etc.) No need to worry about these specifics, but do shoot things a few times so you can get a wide shot of the action and close ups of the details & reactions. One note: change the angle from one shot to the next (get a wide shot from one location and a close up from another angle).
Hold steady.
Use a tripod for critical shots. This helps you get set and forces you to consider the framing before shooting.
What is “A Roll” & “B Roll”?
It’s pretty simple…
A Roll = Interviews or Primary Action : Content that has critical sound (like dialogue)
B Roll = Details & Atmosphere : Often called cutaways
Why should you care?
It’s useful to make these distinctions so you can gauge what footage you’ll need to make your video work. “They” say that a video is made in editing, it follows that footage you bring into the editing process is all the material you have to work with. You need material. Think of it as cooking. If editing is making the meal, shooting is stocking the pantry. A-Roll is then your entree, B-Roll is your spices and seasoning. You need both for a good meal.
For A Roll think in terms of:
- Interviews: What you want you or your subject to say about the background of the story, the intent of the project and the call to action or ask.
- Scenes (action): What do you need to show happening? How will you capture it to show all the needed details? Shoot the same bit multiple times to cover all the angels (see coverage below).
For B Roll details think in terms of:
- Locations: What do you want to show about the context?
- Actions: What is your subject doing that conveys your intent?
Always overshoot.
Shoot more than you think you’ll need. Roll on anything that looks remotely interesting. It will all come in handy later.
Linger.
Hold detail shots for at least 10 seconds.
Leave room at the beginning (head) and end (tail) of every shot. If you ask a question, leave a moment of silence after the subject answers. It may feel slightly awkward in person, but all awkwardness can be overcome with honesty and humor.
Coverage.
The gist of coverage is to shoot the same event multiple ways. It gives you material to work with in editing. Coverage is a well known term in the film industry and follows some specific and set rules (like getting a wide shot, then over-the-shoulders, then close ups, etc.) No need to worry about these specifics, but do shoot things a few times so you can get a wide shot of the action and close ups of the details & reactions. One note: change the angle from one shot to the next (get a wide shot from one location and a close up from another angle).
Hold steady.
Use a tripod for critical shots. This helps you get set and forces you to consider the framing before shooting.
Development and Pre-Production : Planning your shoot and outlining your “script”.
You may or may not feel the need to write a script if you are producing a short film for the web. That’s no excuse for avoiding preparation. Ben has many tips on how to prepare to shoot a short film that proposes an effective call to action. Here are but a few:
Before you get started take time to plan your shoot on a few different levels.
Start with the strategic vision.
Define your audience is, your goal, & the target behavior you are hoping to achieve.
Cast your characters.
Who is best to convey your story. A team member, others. Whose story is it? Who is most charismatic?
Plan the shoot.
Scout the location. Make a list of potential B roll* details you’d like to cover.
Prep the Interview.
Consider the doing a pre-interview. Create a steam of questions that support the information you need around background, inspiration, & call to action.
Use a simple “3-beat” structure to outline your “script”. Let it guide the questions you ask, the shots you get, and the edits you make.
1. Background
What does the audience need to know?
2. Intent / Inspiration
What can you show or say that will let the audience know why they should care?
3. Call to Action
What is do you want your audience to do? How can you make this ask?
You may or may not feel the need to write a script if you are producing a short film for the web. That’s no excuse for avoiding preparation. Ben has many tips on how to prepare to shoot a short film that proposes an effective call to action. Here are but a few:
Before you get started take time to plan your shoot on a few different levels.
Start with the strategic vision.
Define your audience is, your goal, & the target behavior you are hoping to achieve.
Cast your characters.
Who is best to convey your story. A team member, others. Whose story is it? Who is most charismatic?
Plan the shoot.
Scout the location. Make a list of potential B roll* details you’d like to cover.
Prep the Interview.
Consider the doing a pre-interview. Create a steam of questions that support the information you need around background, inspiration, & call to action.
Use a simple “3-beat” structure to outline your “script”. Let it guide the questions you ask, the shots you get, and the edits you make.
1. Background
What does the audience need to know?
2. Intent / Inspiration
What can you show or say that will let the audience know why they should care?
3. Call to Action
What is do you want your audience to do? How can you make this ask?
Rights-free Media Sources
Numerous sites exist that allow full or partial use of audio & visual material. The usage rights vary widely.
Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org) is an organization that has codified the release of rights to varying degrees in publicly available media. Many private services have adopted these standards and use them within their services.
Be sure to check the specific use cases you intend with any sourced media—above all pay particular regard to referencing the original work as requested: it is simply the best behavior.
Music & Audio:
Free Services
SoundCloud Creative Commons:
http://soundcloud.com/creativecommons
OpSound:
http://opsound.org/music/
Free Music Archive:
http://freemusicarchive.org/
CCMixter:
http://www.ccmixter.org/
Jamendo
http://www.jamendo.com/en/
8tracks Creative Commons
http://8tracks.com/mixes/creative_commons
Vimeo Music Store:
http://vimeo.com/musicstore
Open Music Archive
http://www.openmusicarchive.org/
Public Domain 4u
http://www.publicdomain4u.com/
AudioFarm
http://audiofarm.org/
SonnyBoo
http://sonnyboo.com/music/music.htm
Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/audio
Sound Click (you have to select from the pull down menu to get creative commons)
http://www.soundclick.com/business/license_list.cfm
MobyGratis (songs from Moby––not for profit: not sure where kickstarter falls––spirit, not letter)
http://www.mobygratis.com/gratis/list
Paid services
Friendly Music
http://www.friendlymusic.com/
You Licence
http://www.youlicense.com/
Magnatune
http://magnatune.com/
APM Music
http://www.apmmusic.com/
Audio Socket
http://audiosocket.com/
Pump Audio
http://pumpaudio.com/
Graphics:
The Noun Project
http://thenounproject.com/
Icons for everything. Note all require attribution.
Video & Still Images:
Video and still images:
flickr
http://flickr.com
flickr allows users to search for rights-free video and images in the advanced search settings by selecting “Creative Commons images only”.
Wikimedia Commons
http://www.wikimediacommons.org
Vimeo
http://vimeo.com
vimeo allows those who upload videos to designate them with Creative Commons licenses. It is not possible (yet) to search the site for designated videos only.
With each of the services, be sure to double check that the released rights match with your intent for use.
Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org) is an organization that has codified the release of rights to varying degrees in publicly available media. Many private services have adopted these standards and use them within their services.
Be sure to check the specific use cases you intend with any sourced media—above all pay particular regard to referencing the original work as requested: it is simply the best behavior.
Music & Audio:
Free Services
SoundCloud Creative Commons:
http://soundcloud.com/creativecommons
OpSound:
http://opsound.org/music/
Free Music Archive:
http://freemusicarchive.org/
CCMixter:
http://www.ccmixter.org/
Jamendo
http://www.jamendo.com/en/
8tracks Creative Commons
http://8tracks.com/mixes/creative_commons
Vimeo Music Store:
http://vimeo.com/musicstore
Open Music Archive
http://www.openmusicarchive.org/
Public Domain 4u
http://www.publicdomain4u.com/
AudioFarm
http://audiofarm.org/
SonnyBoo
http://sonnyboo.com/music/music.htm
Archive.org
http://www.archive.org/details/audio
Sound Click (you have to select from the pull down menu to get creative commons)
http://www.soundclick.com/business/license_list.cfm
MobyGratis (songs from Moby––not for profit: not sure where kickstarter falls––spirit, not letter)
http://www.mobygratis.com/gratis/list
Paid services
Friendly Music
http://www.friendlymusic.com/
You Licence
http://www.youlicense.com/
Magnatune
http://magnatune.com/
APM Music
http://www.apmmusic.com/
Audio Socket
http://audiosocket.com/
Pump Audio
http://pumpaudio.com/
Graphics:
The Noun Project
http://thenounproject.com/
Icons for everything. Note all require attribution.
Video & Still Images:
Video and still images:
flickr
http://flickr.com
flickr allows users to search for rights-free video and images in the advanced search settings by selecting “Creative Commons images only”.
Wikimedia Commons
http://www.wikimediacommons.org
Vimeo
http://vimeo.com
vimeo allows those who upload videos to designate them with Creative Commons licenses. It is not possible (yet) to search the site for designated videos only.
With each of the services, be sure to double check that the released rights match with your intent for use.
