Pocket Video ProducerUsing Video to Tell Amazing Stories

About Me

• TV Producer - 23 years

• Web and Digital Video Specialist - 15 years

• Prof - Interactive Multimedia Developer and Social Media Certificate Programs

What We’ll Learn

• Visual Storytelling and Concept Development

• Technical Considerations

• Scripting Techniques

• Planning Your Production

• Q and A and Brainstorming your Project

Some Examples

• World Without Humanities (Narrative Style)

• Forever LSU (Conceptual)

• Oregon State Engineering (Interview Style)

What’s Your Story?

• Every great video begins with a story

• Every idea has a story waiting to be told

• How do I find my story?

What are some of the elements of a good story?

A good story has a beginning, a middle

and an end.

A good story sparks emotion

A good story provokes thought

If you tell a good story, you’ll get attention.

If you tell a good story, you’ll get attention.

So how do you tell a good story?

You have to know where you want to

go in order to figure out how to

get there.

The Production Process

• Production is a three-step process

• Often, people forget about pre-production

• Pre-production is the storytelling step and is the MOST IMPORTANT!

Pre-Production

Production

Post-Production

The Production Process

Production works on the 80/20 rule: 80 percent of your work is in the pre-production step!

Pre-Production

Production

Post-Production

How to Win at Pre-Production

• Get Perspective: How are you going to tell the story? (is it first person? A narrative tale? An art video? A retrospective?)

• Map it out: What are you going to to to tell the story? (a clear roadmap of how you’re going to shoot - storyboard or script)

• Plan it out: When, and where, and what do you need to shoot?

Scene Breakdown Map

• Group your scenes in ways that make sense (e.g. group all kitchen scenes together)

• Plan it in advance - never wait till you get to location to figure out what to shoot!

SCENE TECH PEOPLE PROPSSCENE II: INT. NIGHT: Jon comes into the kitchen wearing a bathrobe and pours himself a cup of coffee.

CameraTripod2x work lights with standsBoom mic and pole

Camera OpDirectorAudioActor (Jon)

Coffee PotCoffee CupBathrobe

Tips for a Smooth Production Day

• Make sure you’ve got all the equipment you need

• Bring extra copies of the script

• Get there early!

• Strive for controlled chaos

• Keep detailed notes as you shoot to make editing easier (recruit your most organized friend!)

• Hydrate!

Suze’s No-Slip Grip Bag

Camera

You don’t need to drop $1000 on a camera

Many phone cameras these days are HD!

Tripod

Have an option available to stabilize your camera

Again, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

Lighting

• Shoot outdoors if possible

• Control existing light or use work lights or desk lamps

Audio

• Camera mics can work in close quarters

• Use an external audio recorder or microphone ideally

• Minimize background noise for best results

Hit the hardware store!

• You can never have enough duct tape and clothespins on hand!

Post Production

• There are a number of simple editing tools

• Windows Movie Maker, iMovie are great and FREE!

• Adobe Premiere, Final Cut are not free and more advanced

• Use the tools you feel most comfortable with

Tips for Smooth Editing

• If you’ve done a good job with your script and have taken good notes when shooting, editing will be smooth!

• Map your edit out on paper first - pick the best clips and be organized before you start.

A Word on Copyright

• Ensure your music and images are not subject to copyright

• You can use images and music licensed under CreativeCommons.org (provided you give attribution)

• Creative Commons images: www.compfight.com

• Creative Commons (podsafe) music: Free Music Archive, MusOpen.org, iBeat.org

Just Hit Publish!

• Publish your video

• Start promoting (more on this next week with Patti!)

Your next steps:

1) Figure out your story (brainstorm and write it down!).

2) Figure out how you want to tell your story (your perspective).

3) Pre-production: Prepare your script scene by scene, listing action, equipment, props and people. Plan the logistics of your production.

4) Production: Have a smooth shoot!

5) Post production: Map out your edit on paper before you start editing

6) Publish: Get your video up on YouTube and tell the world!