TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Self Produce
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Before You Start
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Pre-Production
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Dressing For the Camera
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Before You Shoot
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Shooting
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Before You Edit
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Editing
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Wrapping Up
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WHY SELF-PRODUCE? Video has so much power. Undoubtedly, you’ve seen this power at work. Remember the last time you logged onto Facebook? Videos everywhere! Videos of people’s children, music videos, comedy sketches, cat videos…whatever someone’s passion, there is a video for it. We have a video studio here at UMFS and we’re ready to capture all of the big moments for you. But what about smaller projects? The studio belongs to the agency and that means it belongs to you! When asking yourself if you should request to self produce, keep this in mind. Self-produced projects are typically for inagency use and scripted, thus requiring minimal editing. If you want to record a speech, great! Do you need to record yourself teaching an online training, great? The studio can help you produce professional and brand-consistent videos! Are you ready to learn more?
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Before You Start… To get the best result, you have to plan!
1. Self-produced videos are typically for internal use. If you will be showing the video to people outside of the agency, you must FIRST fill out the Marketing Project Request form. (Check InSite under “Ask”.) 2. Decide on the format. Are you doing an instructional video? Are you seeking to entertain? 3. Check the studio schedule. Make sure that the Creative Production Manager knows when you want to shoot so we can have the studio prepped!
4. Get ready to have fun! 3
PRE-PRODUCTION Prepping for the production is essential. That way, once
you’re in the studio and ready to shoot, you can shout “Roll ‘em!” and get your video done in no time flat. First, you should determine the purpose of your video. The best self-produced videos are ones that follow a specific script and require minimal editing. Don’t be scared by the word “script.” You don’t have to memorize anything if you don’t want to....that’s what the teleprompter is for! All you need for this is a Word document-- just submit it before your shoot and it will be ready to go by the time you’re ready to shoot. Remember, the studio is under the gym and down there, you (and the camera) can hear everything. Scheduling time to shoot is essential. 12pm-12:30 is a great quiet time! Please give the gym teacher and/or Recreation Therapist adequate notice when you are shooting.
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WHAT (NOT) TO WEAR DON’T Wear This
DO Wear This
• Stark White (Too Bright!)
• Cool Colors (Blue, Purple…)
• Solid Black (Too Dark!)
• Solid Colors Work Best
• Busy/Complex Patterns
• Subtle Patterns
• Bright Red, Pink, Orange
• Navy, Grey, Brown (Neutral)
• Avoid High Contrast
• Breathable Fabrics
• Loud Jewelry
• Simple Accessories 5
Before You Shoot… Time to set your plan in motion! • Make sure that your subject is
comfortable and sitting/standing in position. • Make sure they are framed properly-- you need their chest and face in the frame, not their whole body! • Are you mic-ed? Make sure that if
your subject is speaking, they’re wearing a microphone. • Check the sound-- Don’t leave it to chance! Put those headphones on and make sure that sound is crisp and clear. • Now it’s QUIET TIME-- the camera picks up everything! • Hit that red button-- we’re ROLLING!
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SHOOTING The studio will be set up prior to your arrival-- most of the time, all you need to do is show up, hook up and you are ready to go! There are tons of buttons on the camera— don’t worry, I know.
There is no need to touch most of those buttons. The microphones will be set up and attached to the camera for you. Make sure the microphone is switched to the “on” position and attach the mic to the lapel of the subject. Use the “thumb to pinky” rule. Extend your hand, placing you thumb on your chin and your pinky on your chest. You’ve located the perfect spot to clip that microphone!
You have the option of reviewing your footage on the camera after you have finished recording, that way you can avoid any unexpected surprises after you’ve wrapped.
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Though the studio will be set for you when you arrive, knowing the “method being the madness” will help you to understand the why and make any necessary adjustments on your own with CONFIDENCE! One of the most important aspects of a compelling photo or video is its composition. Composition refers to the placement or arrangement of the visual elements in a work of art— be it a painting, a photograph or a film. There is a simple and fundamental rule that can guide you to create a strong composition— the “rule of thirds.” The rule of thirds asks you to imagine four intersecting lines, dividing the screen into nine equal parts.
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It is thought that an o-center subject is more pleasing to the eye in a composition. Think about it, a slightly unsymmetrical portrait probably looks more natural and active than one perfectly centered, with the subject staring straight ahead. To apply the rule of thirds, take a good look at your grid and it’s lines and intersections. Decide what the most important elements of your composition are and align them near these areas. Take a look at the composition below:
The rule of thirds is in full effect here: Greg’s face is right in a corner, making this a dynamic and interesting composition.
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Before You Edit… It’s time to put everything together!
• All of your footage will be in a labeled folder on the desktop of the Studio computer. Make sure to review all of the footage before you start. • Check the folder called “Assets”— there’s all sorts of elements that you can use in your videos! • You’ll be using iMovie to create this project— if you need a little help, follow this link. (https:// www.apple.com/support/macapps/imovie/) • Take some time to plan— Yup, it’s that time again! You’ve got all the elements, make sure you know how you’ll use them!
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EDITING It might look intimidating at first, but really, editing is all about attention and patience. Make sure you select the blank template for your movie: you want to keep it devoid of any eects or builtin animations. iMovie is very user-friendly: if you have any experience with the Apple platform then you will be able to get a grasp on it in no time. Your editing area will look something like this:
The top right hand area is where the clips that you shot will be. From there you can highlight the clips and drag them to the timeline below. Re-ordering the clips can be done right there on the timeline. If you are bringing other elements in (like lower thirds and the UMFS logo) then you can drag and drop those elements on the timeline as well! The program is designed for the everyday user so there is no need to be intimidated. Again, you can visit https://www.apple.com/support/mac-apps/imovie/ for additional assistance. When it is time to export the video, go to “File” —> “Share” and then select “File”. Select a resolution of 1280x720 and High Quality. Keep an eye on the size of the file, though!
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WRAPPING UP Now that you have exported your production (a masterpiece, I’d bet!), what to do with it? It’s time for the WEB! The studio maintains a site on vimeo.com, a video sharing site much like YouTube. Vimeo offers users the ability to embed high definition video into other websites as well as the ability to download video— there’s no need to take up excess space on the server! The video can also be password protected; you are in complete control of your audience. Won’t believe it till you see it? Check out this video (https:// vimeo.com/110273261), self-produced by the members of The Innovation Station!
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