3 Stages of Video Production Preproduction – Everything you do before actual shooting begins Scouting locations Gathering cast & crew Planning for equipment use Brainstorming ideas Writing scripts Creating storyboards Production Postproduction – collection of footage in which you select shots you want to include – Assemble the in order – Add music/sound effects/titles & visual effects
Target Audience Specific audience you want to watch your video – Age, sex, race, any specific demographic group
DSLR’s are being used more in Filmmaking – Good option for filmmaker on a budget Good image quality Low price Great low-light performance Huge selection of lenses
What’s Different with a DSLR – Structure of the camera Still cameras are designed to be gripped with one hand – And adjusted (Lens zoom, focus, etc.) with the other hand Pro video cameras are designed to sit on the shoulder – Helps with stabilization and movement of the camera – Rigs have been designed to help with use of DSLR’s for video
DSLR’s have many interchangeable lenses – Provides many custom shooting options Wide/Extremely wide angle Telephoto Low light (f1.2/f1.4) – Excellent for night shooting with little or no extra light Shallow depth of field – (DSLR’s designed for it)
Interchangeable lenses DSLR’s – Shallow depth of field feature Increases need for careful focus DSLR’s usually require manual focus – No motorized Zoom Users will dolly or use tracks to move closer to subject Zoom lenses are an option – Look for lenses with manual zoom option – Poor audio recording option Use “Double-system sound”
SETTINGS DSLR Camera Settings for HD Video – Video mode – Frame rate & size – Shutter speed – F-Stop – Set the focus – White balance – Image stabilization
LENSES Working with Interchangeable Lenses – Offers for a customizable camera – Allows use of High Quality lenses – Canon L-Series – Nikon – Zeiss – And more Also allows prime lenses
LENSES – What lens do I need? Three basic lenses to have on hand – Wide Angle – Normal Lens (Human eye field-of-view) – Telephoto lens – How to get a shallow depth of field – Shoot in low light – Use a longer lens
Focus Importance of focus Images in focus on a small LCD Screen – May be out of focus when presented on a larger screen – Pulling Focus – When focus is adjusted as actor move Rack Focus – An intentional visible shift in focus
Camera rigging & support – DSLR Camera riggings – Glidecams/Steadicams – Dollies – Sliders – Jibs & Cranes – Aerials – Car mounts
Viewing video on set – Enhanced viewfinders – Camera-top monitors
Double-System Audio Recording When audio is recorded on a separate device – Despite potential for good audio Reasons to use separate device are – Using small camera with movements not good for external mics – Multiple microphone use (when multiple inputs aren’t available) – When camera and dialogue are in different location » Camera is on roof, actors are on street – Multi-Camera shoots » All cameras will share audio in post
Multi-Cam Shooting – Standard for televised broadcast video News, Sports, Sitcoms, etc. Good for capturing spontaneous action – With little editing required in post
Multi-Cam Challenges – On set Lighting – (outdoor natural light may ease challenge) Framing shots – Shots need to be different enough to avoid a jump cut Location of boom operator – So they are not in the shot
Creativity and Digital Media Basic elements of design are important, regardless of media type Need to pay attention to designer/client relationship Satisfy client’s needs
The Art of Storytelling Can expand the presentation to deliver more complex concepts TV commercial, Web animation, video production can deliver a multitude of messages that can take form of story Storytelling: one of oldest forms of communication
THE CONCEPT Often called the “ log line ” For Example: Shakespeare struggles to overcome his writer ’ s block by seeking a muse and he discovers true love. The result: Shakespeare in Love
THE EARLY STAGES OF WRITING AND STORY DEVELOPMENT The Outline
THE EARLY STAGES OF WRITING AND STORY DEVELOPMENT The Scene Outline
THE EARLY STAGES OF WRITING AND STORY DEVELOPMENT Notebooks Bulletin Boards
THE TREATMENT
Produced for Circulation Sales Tool Narrative version of your program that reads like a Short Story
THE TREATMENT Use Visual and Descriptive Language Get the reader Hooked and keep the reader Engaged Written in the Present tense Single-Space format Place Line Breaks to denote Changes in Time and Location
THE DRAMATIC STRUCTURE Exposition Inciting Incident Complications (Rising and Falling Action) Crisis Climax Resolution
CHARACTERS Protagonist Antagonist Ensemble Cast Supporting Character
THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF WRITING Write your Ideas down How do they look after a few days? Share your work with Friends and Seasoned Writers Activate the imagination in Indirect Ways Music is a powerful tool
EXERCISES Option A. Look at today ’ s news articles and write an outline and treatment for a story based on a news articles you see. Option B. Write an outline Treatment inspired by your own life ’ s experience. How will you get the reader Engaged? Who are the Antagonists, and what Complications do You face? How does the story End? TREATMENT: Paragraph about the event. Tells the characters, setting, and conflict. It does not give away the resolution. OUTLINE: 4 parts. A few sentences each broken up to give a general idea of what the camera will see.
Choose one of your favorite films of all time. Identify the Protagonist(s) and Antagonist(s). What is the Inciting Incident? What is the Dramatic Question? What are some of the Complications? Is the protagonist Successful in his or her journey? What is the Climax of the story?
In class writing assignment Facebook is launching a new ad campaign around the tag line. “Today I feel…” You need to write a 30 second ad that represents who you are and ends with the tag line. In groups, you will discuss your ideas and pick the best one of the group to share with the class.