Video Production Video Production 101101

James FalkofskeJames Falkofske

SectionsSections

PlanningPlanning

ScriptingScripting

Shooting SetupsShooting Setups

Camera MovementsCamera Movements

LightingLighting

AudioAudio

PlanningPlanning

Objective of VideoObjective of Video

What purpose will the video serveWhat purpose will the video serve

Who is the intended audienceWho is the intended audience

What viewer knowledge is already What viewer knowledge is already assumed assumed (“prerequisites” to viewing the video)(“prerequisites” to viewing the video)

Are there measurable objectives that can Are there measurable objectives that can be tested after viewing the video be tested after viewing the video (feedback / assessment)(feedback / assessment)

Planning the VideoPlanning the Video

Determine:Determine:– what scenes will need to be shotwhat scenes will need to be shot– locations and props necessary for each scenelocations and props necessary for each scene– sequence of events and sequence of shots sequence of events and sequence of shots

(what needs to be displayed at each stage)(what needs to be displayed at each stage)– which scenes can be “ganged” which scenes can be “ganged”

(shot at the same location – but out of time (shot at the same location – but out of time sequence)sequence)

ContinuityContinuity

Think about time progression and time lapses Think about time progression and time lapses needed in then finished videoneeded in then finished video

Avoid continuity errors Avoid continuity errors (changes in clothing in shots that are “minutes (changes in clothing in shots that are “minutes apart”, jewelry and hairstyle changes, daylight apart”, jewelry and hairstyle changes, daylight changes (morning sun to high noon)changes (morning sun to high noon)

Scenes that are supposed to be different days Scenes that are supposed to be different days should result in different clothing/hairstyle should result in different clothing/hairstyle changes – even if recorded in the same hourchanges – even if recorded in the same hour

Narrator Costume (hint)Narrator Costume (hint)

Having a “standard costume” of the same Having a “standard costume” of the same professional outfit in every scene professional outfit in every scene (as narrator or lecturer) (as narrator or lecturer) establishes a “look” that can be used for establishes a “look” that can be used for all narration and lectures all narration and lectures

A standard costume avoids continuity A standard costume avoids continuity errors of scenes shot on different dayserrors of scenes shot on different days

Encourages “professional dress” in playersEncourages “professional dress” in players

Outlining the scenesOutlining the scenes

Break up the video into a series of scenesBreak up the video into a series of scenes– Each scene should have a specific purpose Each scene should have a specific purpose

and a clear beginning and endingand a clear beginning and ending– Transitions between scenes should be Transitions between scenes should be

anticipated and addressed in the scripting and anticipated and addressed in the scripting and shootingshooting

If an educational video, each scene should If an educational video, each scene should have a preview and a review sectionhave a preview and a review section

Planning – ReviewPlanning – Review

Objective of Video and Intended AudienceObjective of Video and Intended Audience

Sequence of shots and locationsSequence of shots and locations

Addressing ContinuityAddressing Continuity

Outlining the ScenesOutlining the Scenes

ScriptingScripting

Scene ScriptingScene Scripting

What dialogue is needed among the What dialogue is needed among the actors?actors?– Tightly edit the script to remove all but the Tightly edit the script to remove all but the

crucial and necessary informationcrucial and necessary information– Keep language simple; limit jargonKeep language simple; limit jargon

What information is being communicated, What information is being communicated, and how can it be shown most efficientlyand how can it be shown most efficientlyWhat props, locations, or people are What props, locations, or people are needed for the sceneneeded for the scene

StoryboardingStoryboarding

Completed after scene is scriptedCompleted after scene is scriptedStoryboard “previews” each transition in Storyboard “previews” each transition in camera shots (what angles and what is camera shots (what angles and what is shown in each shot)shown in each shot)Assists in the placement of equipment and Assists in the placement of equipment and making the shooting of scenes quicker and making the shooting of scenes quicker and more efficient (you have a “plan”)more efficient (you have a “plan”)Try to manage scenes as 10 to 30 second Try to manage scenes as 10 to 30 second shot segments (MTV attention span)shot segments (MTV attention span)

Sample StoryboardSample Storyboard

Indicate Indicate which which persons are persons are on cameraon cameraIndicate Indicate direction direction they are they are facingfacingShow Props Show Props in Shotsin Shots

Shots Derived from StoryboardsShots Derived from Storyboards

Determine what scenes will be shotDetermine what scenes will be shot

Determine the locations and props neededDetermine the locations and props needed

Scenes do not have to be shot in Scenes do not have to be shot in sequencesequence– Plan least moves of equipmentPlan least moves of equipment– Shoot in a nonlinear fashion to gang scenes Shoot in a nonlinear fashion to gang scenes

needing the same camera setupsneeding the same camera setups– Start scene with a sequence number Start scene with a sequence number

(scene and take)(scene and take)

Sequencing ShotsSequencing Shots

654321

121110987

6

5 4

3 21

12

11

10

9

87

Shooting Shooting SetupsSetups

2 Camera Setups Work Best2 Camera Setups Work Best

2 Cameras2 Cameras

dramatically reduces work load – since the dramatically reduces work load – since the transition shots can be done in one-taketransition shots can be done in one-take

allows one camera to do a cut-away shot allows one camera to do a cut-away shot while the other camera repositionswhile the other camera repositions

if tracks are in-sync, editing transitions and if tracks are in-sync, editing transitions and audio tracks is easier and more efficientaudio tracks is easier and more efficient

2-Camera Setups2-Camera Setups

One Person NarrativeOne Person Narrative– FrontFront– SideSide

Two Person InterviewTwo Person Interview– 35 degree left35 degree left– 35 degree right35 degree right

One Person LectureOne Person Lecture– FrontFront– Visual AidsVisual Aids

One Person NarrativeOne Person Narrative

One camera One camera face close-upface close-up

One camera One camera on angle on angle (newscaster (newscaster spin)spin)

Two Person InterviewTwo Person Interview

Cameras “over the shoulder” of each Cameras “over the shoulder” of each speakerspeaker

Cut video back and forth for exchangesCut video back and forth for exchanges

One Person LectureOne Person Lecture

Document camera

One camera face One camera face close-upclose-up

22ndnd Camera is Camera is movable for movable for documents and for documents and for demonstrationsdemonstrations

Video feed from Video feed from computer can also be computer can also be tapedtaped

Demonstration SetupDemonstration Setup

Panning Cameras

Two cameras that can Two cameras that can pan quickly to capture pan quickly to capture motion and actionmotion and action

Overhead camera Overhead camera useful for capturing useful for capturing work surfaceswork surfaces

Group ActivitiesGroup Activities

One camera is One camera is wide-anglewide-angle

Another camera Another camera for tele-zoom for tele-zoom shotsshots

Camera Camera Movement Movement

HintsHints

Establishing Shot Establishing Shot (opening credits sequence)(opening credits sequence)

Start wide angle / still (background / Start wide angle / still (background / setting)setting)

Cut new camera angles / still (opening Cut new camera angles / still (opening credits / sequence)credits / sequence)

Some simple backgrounds to overlay textSome simple backgrounds to overlay text

Begin Scene ShotBegin Scene Shot

Zoom in close (on detail or face)Zoom in close (on detail or face)

After establishment of scene, slowly zoom After establishment of scene, slowly zoom outout

Slow pans (Left/Right) to show context of Slow pans (Left/Right) to show context of scenescene

DialogueDialogue

Wide shot to include all speakersWide shot to include all speakers

Cut aways (instead of panning camera) to Cut aways (instead of panning camera) to each speakereach speaker

Cut aways to listeners (to get reactions Cut aways to listeners (to get reactions and nods)and nods)

DemonstrationDemonstration

Wide shot to include setupWide shot to include setup

Close-up on narrator’s face as preview is Close-up on narrator’s face as preview is describeddescribed

Cut-away shots (during narration) to show Cut-away shots (during narration) to show items neededitems needed

2-angle shots (one wider, and one close-2-angle shots (one wider, and one close-up on action)up on action)

Lecture / LabsLecture / Labs

Wide shot to include classroomWide shot to include classroomClose-up shot on speaker during Close-up shot on speaker during introductionintroduction2-camera setup on speaker2-camera setup on speaker– One camera for close-ups on speakerOne camera for close-ups on speaker– Lecture: 2Lecture: 2ndnd camera is wider to show camera is wider to show

whiteboards & screenswhiteboards & screens– Labs: 2Labs: 2ndnd camera is on a dolly to move to camera is on a dolly to move to

show actionshow action

Live Action (Theatre / Sports)Live Action (Theatre / Sports)

Wide angle camera to show contextWide angle camera to show context

2-camera setup (wide & motion)2-camera setup (wide & motion)– Wide camera is to cut-away as the motion Wide camera is to cut-away as the motion

camera repositionscamera repositions– Motion camera on tripod or dolly to allow for Motion camera on tripod or dolly to allow for

smooth pans and zoomssmooth pans and zooms

LightingLighting

2 Light Setup – One Person2 Light Setup – One Person

Main Light: Main Light: Front Umbrella Front Umbrella at slight angleat slight angle

Background / Background / separation light separation light (hair halo) at (hair halo) at opposite side opposite side of main lightof main light

2 Light Setup – Two Person2 Light Setup – Two Person

Main Light: Main Light: Overhead & Overhead & back lightback light

Front fill lightFront fill light

2 Light Setup – Lecture / 2 Light Setup – Lecture / DemonstrationDemonstration

Main Light: Overhead & frontMain Light: Overhead & front

Side Accent LightSide Accent Light

Classroom/Wide SetupClassroom/Wide Setup

Wide / broad Wide / broad lighting at lighting at 30-angles to 30-angles to subjectssubjects

One light One light closer (to closer (to create create shadow shadow depth)depth)

AudioAudio

Single Speaker / Narrator Single Speaker / Narrator (on-camera)(on-camera)

Wireless microphone positioned 6” under Wireless microphone positioned 6” under chinchin

Narration (not on camera)Narration (not on camera)

Microphone placed about 8” above of and Microphone placed about 8” above of and in-front of speaker in-front of speaker – Avoids “popping” the P’s on the microphoneAvoids “popping” the P’s on the microphone– Avoids desk “shuffle noise”Avoids desk “shuffle noise”– Allows clear site of scriptAllows clear site of script

Dialogue / ConversationDialogue / Conversation

Boom microphone placed above and in-Boom microphone placed above and in-between speakers, ORbetween speakers, OR

Separate lapel microphones on each Separate lapel microphones on each speaker run into a mixerspeaker run into a mixer

Group Activity Group Activity (Theater / Classroom)(Theater / Classroom)

Separate microphones routed into a mixerSeparate microphones routed into a mixer

Microphones placed above participants at Microphones placed above participants at equal distances from center or actionequal distances from center or action

If possible, recording each microphone on If possible, recording each microphone on a different audio track (so that in post-a different audio track (so that in post-production, microphone levels can be production, microphone levels can be adjusted or dropped from the mix)adjusted or dropped from the mix)

The End!The End!