directors cut

DIRECTOR CUT

Telling Your Story With Video

You’re Part of the Crew!

Producer – oversees project,

guides idea, works with director

Director - guides actual production (really calls the shots!)

Assistant Producer/Assistant Director- finds resources, gets copyright okays, sets schedules, sets up interviews, locations

Talent - on-camera host, anchor, or actor delivers lines, acts in character, follows director’s cues

Roles in Production

Camera person (videographer)– Runs the camera, tells story visually as guided by director

Sound person (Audio Engineer) – Records and manages sound, chooses music, sound effects

Scriptwriter – writes scripts & storyboards

Graphics Designer- Creates text, still images, and animations for onscreen and web use.

Website Designer- Many programs have websites or are delivered as part of a website. This person creates the site

Safety First!

Use a tripod and make sure it is stable

Make sure camera is tight on tripod

Watch out for cables

Don’t point camera at bright light like the sun for long periods

Don’t try and force tape, data cards or sticks, cables, or attachments into place

Viewfinder

(LCD Screen)

Lens Assembly

Auto Zoom

Control

Switch

Wide

Telephoto

Inset Detail

Auto/Manual Focus

Controls

W T

Battery

Compartment

Power/ Record Controls

Microphone Playback

Controls

Diagram of a Typical Camcorder

Close up of Controls (location of these will vary from camera to camera)

Diagram of a Typical Camcorder

Viewfinder

Menu Access

Mode Control

Camera/Play

Audio Video Port

Record Button

Production

Scenes are rehearsed, performed by

talent, and taped

Supporting video (B-roll) is also shot to

“cover” audio (the sound) and natural

audio is captured

Video/audio clips are logged

and labeled

The First Rule of Video Production

No matter how good your equipment,

editing, and graphics…

Garbage In! Garbage Out!

It takes high quality audio/video to make a good production!

Telling Your Story With Shots

Basic Shot Types

Close-up (CU) Wide Shot (WS) Medium Shot (Med)

Shot Purposes

Close-up/Extreme CU shots- “tell” what

characters look like, show emotions,

point out details

Medium shots- create comfortable

“talking” distance

Wide Shots- Show setting or action.

Point of View (POV) shot lets viewer

“see” through a character’s eyes

How To Frame A Shot

(Subject Facing Camera)

Subject can be centered

Headroom

How to Frame A Shot

(Subject looking to one side)

Headroom

Give lead or “ talking”

room

How to Frame A Shot

Using the Rule of Thirds

Place most interesting part of subject where lines cross. Notice body

and eyes lie along these lines instead of picture’s center.

1

2

3

1 2 3

ZOOMING!

Zoom – Zooming in or out can be used to “guide” viewer through a scene but should not be overused to avoid audience “seasickness”

Using Angles

Bird’s Eye (High angle)

shots make characters or objects look small or weak

Worm’s Eye (low angle) shots make characters look big or strong

Camera Tips

Use a tripod

Place camera so greatest

light is at camera person’s back

Use focus and white balance controls

Practice camera moves (blocking shots)

Frame shots and moves with purpose

Camera Tips (continued)

Vary shots

Don’t overuse zoom

Be sure to lay down pre and post-roll

Correct roll-back (only on tape cameras)

Don’t do This! The “witness Protection” shot

When shooting don’t place your subject in front of

a strong light like a window, lamp, mirror, etc.

Common Video Mistakes…..

Too much headroom - bad framing

Subject in front of bright backlight

Shaky camera - no tripod

No shot variety- wide shot

lack of planning - no script

lack of pre and post roll

Audio Track Parts

Talking

Sound effects

Music

Natural sound

Audio Tips

Use headphones to listen to sound quality

Choose microphones based on project needs

Place microphone right distance from source

When using built-in microphone move closer

and zoom out

Listen for and control distracting background

noise

Common Audio Mistakes…..

using only cam mike

mike too far from sound source

not monitoring

(listening to) audio

On-Air Tips for Talent Make sure ahead of time

that you can read and

properly pronounce words

(especially people’s names)

Wait for your cue before

speaking

Smile! (when it feels right)

On-Air Tips for Talent

When addressing audience, look

into camera when speaking as

much as possible.

Hold objects you are speaking

about close to face when possible

so it is easy to frame shot

(spokesmodel pose)

Speak clearly, projecting your

voice toward the microphone

Interview Tips

Write a focus sentence

Research the subject

Target your audience correctly

Prepare a complete list of questions

Describe the purpose to the subject

before the interview

Interview Tips

Don’t interview the subject without the camera before the actual interview

LISTEN

Ask good follow-up questions

Be polite and professional

Interview No-No’s

Yes and no questions

“I see” and “Uh-huh”

Two-part questions

Obvious questions

Questions in poor taste

Questions that have already been

answered

You may use this PowerPoint in whole

or in part but please cite KET

as the source!