1. Visual Storytelling: The five-shot method and beyond
You don’t need to be a pro to use it!
20 minutes for presentation , 10 minutes for Q&A

2. (for videos you want to share)
Common video issues
(for videos you want to share)
Video too long (in love with the footage)
You MUST edit videos either in camera or with some editing software to make it consumable
Cuts too long
Video not stable (all handheld)
Trying to shoot in inadequate light
Too far away from subject

3. Why is teaching and learning video hard?
It’s not just you…
(so let’s back up a bit)
Why is teaching and learning video hard?

4. Ten years of training journalists and students: video storytelling is the toughest thing to teach

5. Problems Uncle Ralph video (home movie) Bad framing
Unusable pans/moves
Not enough closeups
No clear concept for each shot
Bad audio makes the best footage shot with the best camera money can buy, look amateur

6. Why? Multitasking Complexity of technology Intrusiveness
Slow/no feedback loop in shooting/editing

7. Low Face-to-face Instruction
Story research/development
Shooting
Editing/Recutting

8. Reading/writing closely linked Watching and creating video is not
Usually more art than science
Need more science

9. Pioneered by Michael Rosenblum, NYT Television, NY1, BBC, CurrentTV
BBC 5 Shot method
Pioneered by Michael Rosenblum, NYT Television, NY1, BBC, CurrentTV

10. Five Shot method Closeup on hands Closeup on face Wide shot
Over the shoulder
Unusual/side shot

11. Venice Pier Gets its Fill

13. Five Shot basics Start with best shot
Get audience to ask questions/be curious
Hold the shot: no pans, zooms, moves

14. Why it works Sequence always cuts together Usable B-roll all the time
Mystery draws viewers in

15. Closeup on hands
Closeup on face
Wide shot
Over the shoulder
Unusual/side shot

16. Adam Westbrook
“What’s the difference between amateurs and professionals? Pros shoot sequences.”

17. Why it’s useful Compels journalist/storyteller to get close
Provides known game plan
Frees up time for story decision making
Web video demands closeups

18. Additional shots
Interview
Reveal shots
Establishing shot
Tracking shot

19. Tools for Evaluation
People other than those in the video (or who helped work on it) will watch the entire video (outside audience appreciation)
People will learn something or comment.
If you watch your YouTube Analytics people make it through the majority of your video
People share your video

20. Keep in mind… Not meant to be rigid formula Know when to break rules
Under stress, fall back on basic training:
closeups, faces, holding shots, line of action

21. REMEMBER!
With GOOD SHOOTING TECHNIQUE you can create professional style video with iPhone, P&S camera

22. Build the 5 shot method into device
Future Possibilities
Build the 5 shot method into device
e-workbook
Module: BBC 5 Shot
REC
Closeup on face
WHO is doing it?
• Frame with rule of thirds
• Give “talk space” in front of eyes/nose.
• Can cut off top of head, but not the chin.
• SHOW TWO EYES!
Analyze
FRAMING
EYES
NOSEROOM
Hands
Face
Wide
OTS
Unusual

23. Materials
Field checklists