1. Basic concepts of Video Production
Wayne Britcliffe
E-Learning Development Team
University of York, UK

2. Choosing to use video
Why video?
Ask yourself what is video GOOD at? (What makes a good video?)
Ask yourself what is video BAD at? (What makes a bad video?)
Establish this in your own mind and play to its strengths
Good:
Provides a human message/communication
Can be/show/provide evidence
An idea or message complex to get across textually can be communicated more simply/clearly
Can amplify emotions. It can be an evocative medium
Bad:
Can be too long (lose attention of viewer – harder to skim ‘read’)
Can show to much (graphic violence for example)
Can try and cover too many points/messages and thus become confusing
Choice of supporting media can be inappropriate (bouncy music for a serious subject for example)
Critique videos developed to serve the same purpose as your own; use ideas that work and avoid ideas that don’t.

3. Before you start – your audience
Establish clearly who the audience is:
Are they peers or the general public?
Potential customers or clients?
Articulate to yourself exactly what is the purpose and message of your video:
Are you vlogging progress (for peers/yourself)?
Pitching your project at potential customers?
Trying to interest potential investors?

4. Straight to Camera Example
‘Talking Head’ videos
How does shooting style affect message?
micro:bit Tutorial Series Part 1: Getting Started
Zoe
Straight to Camera Example
Interview Example

5. How does shooting style affect the message with ‘talking heads’
Can impact:
Authority and relationship with the audience
How and to what extent the audience engages
When would you use a particular technique?
Make sure the technique is appropriate or sympathetic to your message/content
Straight to camera:
The person talking is talking straight to the audience – it becomes a more personal ‘relationship’
You need to be sure you/your speaker is comfortable talking straight to the camera (not everybody is) if you wish to use this technique
Harder for such a dialogue to be more conversational and is usually more suited to relaying facts/information
Talking to interviewer off camera:
Audience is a third party and the result is less personal
Dialogue can be more conversational than direct address
Can be perceived as less aggressive

6. Types of Video – Talking Head
Presenter Led
micro:bit Tutorial Series Part 1: Getting Started
Motor Driver Board for the BBC micro:bit
Cathy Dantec
First look at the BBC Micro:bit
Project Advert
Subject Led

7. Types of Video – Action/Fly-on-the-wall
Cambridge micro:bit meetup January 2017
Puzzle game for BBC micro:bit (uses Proto-PIC micro:pixel)

8. Types of Video – Graphical Narration

9. Video projects – some basic considerations
Develop an outline/plan and (at least a rough) script
Storyboarding/planning:
Consider interesting b-roll possibilities
Consider what graphics/images might be needed
Identify any associated resources that may need to be sourced (music or sound effects for example)
Tip: Try and visualise the finished film and work backwards
Create a basic shot list:
List all the ‘talking head’ shots you will need
List all the b-roll shots (if any) you would like to record
Consider tone:
Will the video be conversational or more formal for example?
Rehearse as much as is realistically possible
B-roll is footage you can cut away to (from talking head footage for example).

10. Making your video compelling
Keep it clear and concise:
Shorter is better but make sure there is substance
Develop a simple narrative (don’t over complicate)
Inject variety/visual interest in illustration of narrative
Be critical of pacing (don’t dwell)
(Generally) try and be as ‘human’ as possible:
Show people in action
People identify with people
Andy Goodman’s 10 Rules for Storytelling
Stories are about people
Stories need to be fixed in time and space
Stories speak the audience’s language
Stories stir up emotions
Stories don’t tell. They show.
Stories have at least one “moment of truth”
Stories have clear meaning
The people in your story have to want something
Let your characters speak for themselves
Audiences bore easily so stories need challenges/obstacles
Example

11. Have a clear narrative and focus
Keep It Simple Stupid
Have a clear narrative and focus
People
Avoid “Brad’s Used Cars”
Interesting, authoritative, eloquent, attractive
Able to talk conversationally/relaxed
KISS your PALS
Action
Cutaways (b-roll)
Have people doing something if relevant (b-roll)
Location
Make sure it adds something, think about depth and composition and consider what is in the frame
Script
VO / graphics can link narrative, talking head questions to provide context, personal perspective and interest

12. Production process - overview
Brief
Parameters
Scope (purpose and message)
Planning & preparation
What, who, how
Structure, style etc
Script / questions / storyboard
Production
Interviews / talking heads
Cutaways / visual elements
Post production
Editing
Soundtrack
Graphics