The Language of Video

Shot

• Measured from Record to Pause

• The building blocks of a project

Scene

• Shots are combined into a scene

• Usually recorded in one location or time

Sequence

• Scenes are combined into a sequence

• Our movies of 2-3 minutes would represent a sequence

Types of camera shots

Wide Shot

• Shows the entire scene and people involved

• Often used to open a film and called the “establishing shot”

• Orients the viewer to the scene

• Often ten seconds long

Extreme Wide shot

• Shows the entire area around the scene

• Use sparingly

• Example: a football stadium seen from a blimp

Medium Shot

• Shows the talent from the waist up

• Most common shot

• Identifies the most important item in that scene

• Usually about 6 seconds

Close-up Shot

• A person’s face or a license plate

• Identifies specific information for a scene plot

• Usually 3 or 4 seconds

• Sometimes used as a bridge between other shots

Extreme close up Shot

• A person’s eyes

• A title on a book or a note

• Use sparingly only to focus attention on a key point

Static Shot

• Camera does not move

• Talent walks in and out of the shot

Point of view (POV)

• Camera is at eye height of the talent• The viewer is seeing the scene as the actors

see it

• The viewer feels they are part of the action

Over the shoulder shot (OS)

• Over the shoulder shot (OS)• Camera shoots over the shoulder of the

person in the foreground• Used in conversation between two people• Shows the speakers face and the back of the

listener

Jump-Cuts

• Occurs when filming is stopped and then started with the same camera angle and shot type.

• Makes the viewer feel they missed something and the film can look jerky.

• Correct by using fadein/out transitions to show the passing of time.

• Camera Angles

Eye level

• Makes the viewer feel a part of the action

• Sit down or hold the camera waist high to approximate eye levels of children

High angle

• Make the subject smaller and less significant.

• Can create suspense or interest by leading your eye to a subject.

Low angle

• Makes the subject larger and more significant

Dutch Tilt

• Turn the camera 45 degrees

• Creates interest if used intentionally and sparingly.

Rule of Thirds

• 1. Rule of Thirds:• Divide the paper into imaginary thirds. • Eyes should be shown on the upper third line• Points of interest should be where lines intersect• A single subject can be in the center for emphasis• Shown on the viewfinder • of some cameras.

Storyboards

• Storyboards are plans for your video with a simple sketch for each shot.

• Each sketch includes 3 basic elements:• A sketch of the shot • Notes on the type of shot and angle, and audio

cues• The amount of time the camera will be recording

7 tips to good storyboards

• 1.Keep it simple. Use stick figures if you are not a great artist.• 2.Draw how the actual shot size will appear on the TV screen.• 3.List the different types of shots.• 4.Use the margin for notes. Write down everything the

videographer will need to know. Don’t assume things!• 5.Make an estimate of the time each shot will take so that you

will know the total length of the video.• 6.Use arrows to indicate camera panning or movement of the

talent in the shot.• 7.Write your script for each shot on your storyboard slide.

• Do you need to storyboard every shot? YES!!!

• Do you need to include every bit of information? YES!!!

Special Effects

• Go to the Editing Menu in iMovie

• Open Video fx- explore the different options

• Open Audio fx- explore the options

Filming at home

• Be sure to make a test clip well before your filming date

• “Finalize” the clip and save it in QT to a flash drive

• Try it on the computer to make sure it opens and you can drop it into an iMovie project.