ART ACTION TECHNIQUE NO 6:
YOUTH VIDEO
INTRODUCTION This guide takes you step by step through the process of creating a youth video project. Mayfield Arts Newbury House uses this technique to enage young people in the creation of video art that communicates messages of importance to them. It is a fun and engaging process and we hope that you find this guide useful and inspiring!
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX TECHNIQUE NO. 6
BEFORE YOU START!
Plan where and for how long the video will be displayed. Will it be shown at an exhibition or event? Will it be uploaded to a website or public forum? This is very important: you don’t want to spend time and creating a wonderful video that will never be seen by the public! Prepare by exploring possible themes with the group. At Mayfield Arts we use nonformal learning methods such as role-play, forum theatre and discussions to consider themes in more dept. Giving time for the group to critically reflect on what they learn supports them to come up with authentic messages that they want the public to hear. We also examine the work of other artists and youth video projects to consider how they get their messages across. This gives young poeple inspiration for ways they can visually express their own messages.
WHAT YOU NEED MATERIALS Getting Started: Digital Cameras Large sheets of paper Markers & Pencils Laptop Projector Shooting the Video: Video Camera(s) Large SD Card and/or Mini-DV Tapes Tripod Mic Editing: MAC or PC Video editing application, e.g. Moviemaker on PC and Imovie on MAC Writable DVDs Music for the soundtrack
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE STEP 1: Exploring the Theme & Assigning Roles
Explore the chosen theme using creative activies such as theatre games and discussions with the group. Photograph these ideas with a digital camera and go outside to scout for locations if your video shooting locations are going to vary. Upload all of the photos and use a projector to show them to the group to decide what worked and what didn’t. Explain the different roles that people can undertake, including actors, shooting the video, props, clothes and set-design, storyboarding and editing.
STEP 2: Storyboarding
Use simple storyboards that include spaces to draw or insert photos of the imagined scenes, and to write in the dialogue, location and props required for each scene. Explain the different types of video shots and plan these into the storyboards. An explanation of the different shots can be found here: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/
STEP 3: Shooting the Video
Look at the materials requried for each scene and make sure you have everything you need before you begin shooting. You may need to do a number of practice runs if your video requires actors to remember lines. You can record over mini-dv tapes to save on costs. Always use a mic to record speech unless your camera has a very good inbuilt mic. Remember the different types of shots you can incorporate into your video and use the tripod when possible to eliminate shaky footage.
STEP 4: Editing the Video
The whole group can be consulted about the final vision for the video and what music should be incorporated, but the editing process is easier to manage if no more than three people are involved. Import your video into your chosen video editing application and begin to sort the video into your scene plan. Try to stick with your original plan and cut any extra or badly shot footage that is not necessary. Make sure the dialogue is always clear and at the correct volume. Think about your audience: will any of them have hearing impairments or speak a different language? Subtitles can also be used to communicate what is being said.
STEP 4: Exporting the Video and Uploading/Exhibiting the Video
Export the video from your editing application. You will have a number of formats to chose from, and then you can burn the video to DVD, or upload it to the internet. If you are exhibiting the video think about how you want to display it. Designing a cover for the DVD is also a nice finishing touch.
Windows Vista Moviemaker tutorial:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Getting-started-with-Windows-Movie-Maker Imovie tutorial 2009: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie