Transcript Guidelines for Shooting Video

Guidelines for
Shooting Effective
Video
Instructional Technology Services
Keep it Steady
• Use a tripod
• Brace yourself against something
solid
• Use the human tripod technique
• Camera shake is annoying to viewers
• When publishing to the web, shaky
movies translate to larger movie files
When to shake
• Lose the tripod when:
– You want to communicate a fluid or
unstable situation
– You want to impart a documentary style
effect
– You don’t have time to setup the tripod
– news type situations
Lose the ZOOM
• Use the zoom feature to frame your
shots
• Avoid zooming in and out during a
shot
• If you must, zoom in or out slowly
• Zooms, pans and tilts take up
valuable time, if they don’t enhance
your movie it’s best to leave them out
Headroom
Too much
Just right
Lighting
• This is one of the most important
factors in taking good shots
• Try and have the light at your back
• Avoid having your subject standing
in front of a white or bright
background
• If your camera has backlighting
controls, use it if the light is in front
of you
Too Much Backlight
Establishing Shots
• Use establishing shots to give the
viewers an idea of where you are
Camera Angle
• Hold the camera low and shoot up
towards subject to make them
appear large
• Film down on your subject to make
them appear small
• Frame your subject in the corner of
the screen they are facing to convey
a sense of being trapped
Sound Check
• Use an external microphone,
especially when conducting an
interview
• Even a cheap external microphone
will give you better results than the
built in microphone
• Use instrumental music as
background for shots with narration
To the Point
• Eliminate shots that don’t contribute
to your project
• Once the message is conveyed cut to
another shot
• Cuts are almost always better than
zooms, pans and tilts
• If in doubt, leave it out!
Lead Time
• Try and leave about 5 – 10 seconds
of lead time when taking shots
• This will enable you to some leeway
when editing your movie on the
computer
Most Importantly…
PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!
Video Activity
• In your groups, shoot 1 – 2 minutes
of video and employ 3-5 techniques
covered today.
• When you return, please cue your
tape to the beginning of your
footage.
• Be ready to share your video with the
rest of the class.
Rule of Thirds
• Always placing your subject in the
middle of the screen is BORING.
• Always placing your horizon in the
middle of the screen is BORING.
Video Activity
• Shoot some video that effectively
illustrates the rule of thirds.
• When you return, please cue your tape
to the beginning of your footage.
• Be ready to share your video with the
rest of the class.