Video For Printosaurs

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When text just isn’t enough

Enhancing Your Storytelling with Video

+But I’m a print journalist! **

Why do I have to learn (eeiuw!) video? Acquire another marketable skill Communicate coherently when you’re working with a

team of multimedia journalists Enrich your story with power that words alone can’t

convey Think afresh about new ways to tell stories

** “There are only two kinds of ‘print’ journalists:

Those who are unemployed and those who soon will be.”

– source unknown

+What can video accomplishthat my stellar writing can’t?

Immediacy Viewer gets sense of “being there”

Strong visuals Sometimes a picture IS worth a thousand words

Emotion Facial, vocal and body expression

Action


Example: NYT’s “Gazan Doctor Loses Family,” 1/17/2009 The print version The video version


Example: NYT’s “An Ambush and a Comrade Lost,” 4/19/2009 The print version The audio slideshow version

+The basics of video storytelling

Not every story is a good video story If you have only information, no emotion or action, don’t waste

video on it

Best video stories? Information + emotional connection = understanding Good characters

Distinguish between topic and story Find the story! Find the main theme

Much of video’s power comes from the audio

WashPost’s “Crisis in Darfur Expands”

“Basics of Video Storytelling” draws extensively from a June 2008 Society of News Design Video Storytelling quick course taught by Regina McCombs, now of the Poynter Institute.


The F-word: Focus Keep it tight Define it in 10 words or less Focus on emotional aspect of story Ask yourself:

What’s important about this story? Why are we spending time, resources to do it? Why should the reader/viewer care?



The inverted pyramid doesn’t work for video storytelling!

Employ literary techniques of a short-story writer A complete story, with beginning, middle, end An attention-grabbing opening Fast-paced plot Good characters



Structure, or story arc, is critical Constant conversation in your head:

What’s the beginning? What’s next? How do I build the story sequentially? How do I use transitions to move from one to the other? What’s the ending? How do I get there?



Key difference between print and video? Video: think visually and plan ahead!

What compelling visuals will the story have? If no visuals, it’s not a video story

Once again: Video storytelling is linear Your story needs a beginning, middle, end

Think in acts (Act 1, Act 2, Act 3) Sketch it out before you head out Write up a list of shots you need

How will your shots come together sequentially? Forces you to “pre-write” your story (counterintuitive to

printosaurs!)“Basics of Video Storytelling” draws extensively from a June 2008 Society of News Design Video Storytelling quick course taught by Regina McCombs, now of the Poynter Institute.

+A word about audio

AUDIO is the most important thing in video Bad sound = lost audience In your quest for compelling visuals, pay

attention to sound

+Assembling the video story

A video story is not merely an assemblage of shots Go beyond “shot-shot-shot-shot” to true storytelling Sequencing: compressing time

Shoot wide, medium and close-up of every shot Record at least 15 seconds of every shot Break down action into multiple sequences Shoot lots and lots of close-ups

Help you avoid jump cuts Help you sequence Especially important for Web viewing


Open your video with natural sound, wide shot Establishes place/scene Often close with a wide shot

Use many clips of 3-10 seconds in length A 1:30 package can have 20-25 shots NEVER run a single long clip of someone talking into the

camera Achieve appropriate story pacing through careful pacing of

clips


A-roll and B-roll A-roll: interview B-roll: background video on which we often overlay the

audio from the A-roll Shoot lots and lots of B-roll

Plan ahead before you shoot to save time and headache when you edit. Don’t shoot everything Make a list of the shots you need, whom to interview Have a plan, but be flexible and be prepared to follow a

different angle if the story leads you there

+Keep in mind…

Video moves your source to the forefront The writer should be invisible Video evokes feelings, emotions, opinions in the viewer,

rather than the writer imposing them Video lets other people tell their stories. Get out of the way

and let them!

+The basics of video storytelling:An example

“Pushing the Limit: Being Aron Ralston,” NYT, 3/31/2009 A good example of:

Narrative arc Good pacing Mix of A-roll and B-roll Variety of shots Good audio Drama, suspense, resolution

Video For Printosaurs

Education

Transcript of Video For Printosaurs