The document summarizes a 3.5 hour video workshop for 18 participants on using cameras to shoot great content and conceptualizing video packages. It provides an agenda that includes sections on basic camera operation, directing interviews, and conceptualizing packages with beginnings, middles, ends and resources. The workshop covered tips for shooting, audio, framing subjects, and using b-roll and locations to tell stories. Sample video links were also included.
1. YAC MEETING – VIDEO WORKSHOP
Date: 11.11.11
Time: 3.5 hrs
Participants: (18)
Cameras: (6)
Location: A/V Room
10:45 Break
SECTION 1 - HOW TO USE THE CAMERA TO SHOOT GREAT CONTENT
TIME: 8:45 am – 9:45 am
I. Basic Camera Operation
a. Understand Image Capabilities
i. How far is the optical zoom
ii. How far is the digital zoom
b. Understand Audio Capabilities
i. Understand the limits of your microphone
1. Can you change the characteristics of the “on board” mic
2. Omnidirectional – evenly in all directions
3. Unidirectional – predominantly in one direction
ii. Can you add a microphone attachment
1. This will improve overall sound quality
II. Tripod vs. No Tripod
a. What is the environment you are shooting in?
i. Are you able to setup a tripod?
ii. How much time do you have?
1. Using a tripod will take time to setup but provide more
stability
iii. What style do you want to incorporate?
1. Hand-held / Organic
2. Static / Structured
III. Holding the Camera
a. What is most comfortable?
i. Underhand vs. Overhand
1. What is your perspective?
b. Walking and talking?
i. Keep camera in front of subject or object
IV. Recording
a. What do you hear?
i. Background noise
ii. Unlicensed music
iii. Construction / Traffic / Crowd / Appliances / Etc.
2. V. What do you see?
a. What environment is available?
i. Indoors / Outdoors
ii. Textures / Patterns / Colors
1. Brick walls / Chain link fences / Solids
b. Rule Of Thirds
i. Keep subject framed on three corners
1. Who is the subject talking to?
2. Head space and dead space
3. Never centered without touching frame
VI. Creating Drama and Telling Stories
a. Perspective
i. Close-up and Medium Close-up
b. Depth-of-Field
i. In Focus vs. Out of focus
ii. Playing with background image
c. Colors and Textures / Books and Signs
i. Use existing items to tell stories
d. Subtle Movement
i. Organic and Real
ii. Static and Serious
SECTION 2 – CONCEPTUALIZING A PACKAGE
TIME: 9:45 am – 10:45 am
I. How much time do you have?
a. Be conscious of how long will the blog or package be?
i. Anything over 2 minutes is boring
ii. Keep it short and sweet
II. What is your point? / What is your angle?
a. What is the most important element?
i. Person / Object / Action
b. Who are the most important subjects?
i. What makes a person interesting?
ii. What do you think they will say?
c. What are you really trying to say?
i. What is their TRUTH?
ii. Understanding who they are?
d. What is the story you really want to tell?
i. What is the big picture?
ii. What do you think people will want to hear?
a. Who is your target audience?
i. Who is it intended for?
ii. What age?
iii. What is their attention span?
III. Beginning / Middle / End
a. How will you start?
b. How will it tie to everything else?
c. How will you end it?
i. Keep it connected
ii. Keep it engaging
IV. Resources
YAC MEETING – VIDEO WORKSHOP – 11.11.11 2
3. b. What is available to you?
i. Locations
ii. Music
iii. Subjects
iv. B-Roll
v. Sound
c. How will you edit
i. Keep it simple to finish it fast
d. What style are you going use?
i. Organic vs. Static / Handheld vs. Tripod
ii. Visual Essay / Commentary / Story
iii. First Person / Third Person
e. Do you have permission?
i. Do not shoot anything you do not have permission to broadcast
ii. Do you have permission for the music?
iii. Do you have permission for the locations?
iv. ALWAYS ACQUIRE PERMISSION
f. Talking Heads
i. Create drama with a simple zoom or movement
ii. Find their sweet spot
g. B-Roll
i. Paint a picture with what is around
1. What objects / signs / actions will tell your story
2. Color your talking heads with action
3. SHOW NOT TELL!
h. Text
i. Use text to tell a story without images
i. Keep It Simple
i. Shoot less and say more
1. Don’t waste time on what you know won’t work
2. You be creating more work in the end
ii. Think of what it will be and then create it
iii. Know Your time frame
1. When do you want it released?
2. Keep it current
a. World Games Blog needs to be released during
World Games
b. Old footage re-purposed with a fresh angle
BREAK – 5 MIN
TIME: 10:45 am – 11:00 am
SECTION 3 – DIRECTING AN INTERVIEW
TIME: 11:50 am – 12:30 pm
I. What do you see?
a. What locations are available?
b. Use the location to represent your story and your subject
II. What do you hear?
a. Find a quiet place with limited background noise
YAC MEETING – VIDEO WORKSHOP – 11.11.11 3
4. III. Make your subject comfortable
a. Get to know your subject before asking the questions
b. Do no roll your camera until you feel your subject is comfortable
c. Discover angles and interests while “warming-up” you subject
IV. What do you want the subject to say?
a. Have a clear idea of what you would like your subject to say
b. Ask questions that keep the conversation focused
c. How do you get the subject to say it?
SAMPLE LINKS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPrM_klW-
dI&feature=BFa&list=PLF3D6CEFA11D80053&lf=results_main
(package)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geRLDWnvBFg&feature=related
(package)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7-KsBl0G70&feature=related
(package)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVo399-uMRE&feature=related
(package)
http://www.youtube.com/teentruthnet#p/c/57D034432F618912/37/NIXI3sn0260
(wind problem)
http://www.youtube.com/teentruthnet#p/c/57D034432F618912/16/P68EdH6mXd4
(content)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY-hhxZyyVY&feature=related
(interview)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vmWXL6tHjg&feature=related
(interview)
YAC MEETING – VIDEO WORKSHOP – 11.11.11 4