Digital Storytelling & Editing

Digital Storytelling & Editing By www.ventanaz.com & How to Make a Videostory

Pre-Production Planning the video Planning is the most important step! The ability to plan videos is a skill that takes time to develop, You can get started by planning a few basics such and gathering any as: resources you might

need. 1. The approximate length of the final video, how many shots you will need to achieve this, how much talking you can fit in, etc.

What music or other sounds will be added to the video.

2. A script, storyboard & interviews

3. What medium and format the final video will be shown in. Be aware of any special requirements of the medium, and the best way to convert (encode) into the correct format.

Poduction Camera and sound Camera work involves a range of skills from recognizing the potential for a good shot to knowing how to use the technical-looking controls on your camera. The better your skills are in all areas, the better your videos will be.

Vision and sound are equally important in most video, so learn how to capture good sound as well as good pictures.

Unless you have some other artistic purpose, camera work should be steady, in focus, well-exposed and well-framed.

Post Production Editing the video Editing is a process of: and distribution 1. Removing unwanted footage

2 Arranging desired footage in the correct order

3. Adding music, titles, transitions

4. Converting into the correct format PRE-PRODUCTION

Planning

This is the most important step, and perhaps the most difficult to master. It should be where most of your energy is directed.

Camera work is only one skill in a larger process — the goal of which is usually to produce a completed video, TV program, or presentation of some kind. To be good at camera work, you must have a clear picture of the whole process, and some idea of what the finished product should look & sound like.

If there's one thing that separates the amateurs from the pros, it's that amateurs "point and shoot", whereas pros "plan and shoot". Obviously there are times when you don't have time to prepare before having to record — sometimes the action begins unexpectedly, and you just have to go for it. In these cases, as far as possible, you plan as you go. It can't be stressed enough — planning is everything.

Planning means adopting an attitude in which you take control. When you get out your video camera, instead of thinking "This will look good on video" and starting to shoot whatever happens, think "What do I want this to look like on video?". You then shoot (and if necessary, direct) the action to achieve your goal.

Plan the approximate length of the shoot: How much footage do you need to end up with, and how long will it take you to get it?

Have a checklist of equipment, which could include: camera; tripod; tapes; batteries/power supply; microphones and audio equipment; pens and paper work.

Story and storyboard

1. Story

The Five Ws the Five W's (also known as the Five W's (and one H), or Six W's) is a formula for getting the "full" story on something. When making video’s for educational purposes the questions you should ask yourself are:

. Who or what is it about? . What is going to happen (what's the story)? . Where is it going to take place? . When is it going to take place? . Why does this happen? . How is this going to happen?

2. Storyboard

A storyboard is simply a visual interpretation of the story being told, panel by panel. Many storyboards are textual, while others may include text, pictures and drawings.

Once a concept or script is written for a film or animation, the next step is to make a storyboard. Your storyboard should convey some of the following information:

1. Who is in the frame, and how is he moving? 2. What are the people saying to each other, if anything? 3. Where is the camera in the scene? Close or far away? Is the camera moving?

3. Why make a storyboard?

Creating a storyboard will help you plan your story out shot by shot. You can make changes to your storyboard before you start filming, instead of changing your mind later. You will also be able to talk about your video and show your storyboard to other people to get feedback on your ideas.

Most commonly, storyboards are drawn in pen or pencil. If you don't like to draw you can also take photos, cut out pictures from magazines, or use a computer to make your storyboards. Keep in mind that your drawings don't have to be fancy! In fact, you want to spend just a few minutes drawing each frame. Use basic shapes, stick figures, and simple backgrounds. If you draw your storyboard frames on index cards, you can rearrange them to move parts of the story around.

4. Storyboard or Shot Plan

Once you have a plan for your shooting session, you're ready to begin planning individual shots.

1. Have a reason for every shot. Ask yourself: What am I trying to achieve with this shot? Is this shot even necessary? Have I already got a shot that's essentially the same as this one? Is my audience going to care about this subject?

2. Angle and frame. Once you're happy that you have a good reason to get the shot, think about the best way to get it. Consider different angles, framing, etc. The art of good composition takes time to master but with practice you will get there.

3. Ask yourself exactly what information you wish to convey to your audience through this shot, and make sure you capture it in a way that they will understand.

Simple Storyboarding: Interview

Interviewing is a vital skill. It is one of the most important ways to gather information and create content for a story. Good interview technique requires practice so don't expect to master it immediately. The next few pages should give you a reasonable understanding of how interviews work, what to do and what not to do.

Most interviews seek to achieve one or more of the following goals:

1. Obtain the interviewee's knowledge about the topic 2. Obtain the interviewee's opinion and/or feelings about the topic 3. Feature the interviewee as the subject

It's important that you know exactly why you are conducting an interview and which goal(s) you are aiming for. Stay focused on questions and techniques which will achieve them.

Do your homework You will be expected to have a basic knowledge of your subject. Do not roll up to an interview with a band and ask them how many albums they have released — you should know this already. If you show your ignorance, you lose credibility and risk being ridiculed. At the very least, the subject is less likely to open up to you.

Preparing the interview

1. Have a list of questions.

While you should be prepared to improvise and adapt, it makes sense to have a firm list of questions which need to be asked.

Of course many interviewees will ask for a list of questions before hand, or you might decide to provide one to help them prepare. Whether or not this is a good idea depends on the situation. For example, if you will be asking technical questions which might need a researched answer, then it helps to give the subject some warning. On the other hand, if you are looking for spontaneous answers then it's best to wait until the interview.

Try to avoid being pinned down to a preset list of questions as this could inhibit the interview. However, if you do agree to such a list before the interview, stick to it.

2. Ask the subject

If there are any particular questions they would like you to ask.

3. Listen.

A common mistake is to be thinking about the next question while the subject is answering the previous one, to the point that the interviewer misses some important information. This can lead to all sorts of embarrassing outcomes.

Type of questions

I. Open-Ended Questions

The ability to ask open-ended questions is very important in many vocations, including education, investigative work and journalism.

An open-ended question is designed to encourage a full, meaningful answer using the subject's own knowledge and/or feelings. It is the opposite of a closed-ended question, which encourages a short or single-word answer. Open-ended questions also tend to be more objective and less leading than closed-ended questions (see next page).

Open-ended questions typically begin with words such as "Why" and "How", or phrases such as "Tell me about...". Often they are not technically a question, but a statement which implicitly asks for a response.

Examples

Closed-Ended Question Open-Ended Question

Tell me about your relationship with your Do you get on well with your boss? boss.

What do you think about the two candidates Who will you vote for this election? in this election?

That's an interesting coloured shirt you're What colour shirt are you wearing? wearing.

How do you feel? Perhaps the most famous (or infamous) open-ended question is "How does this make you feel?" or some variation thereof. The reason it is so widely used is that it's so effective.

II. Leading Questions

A leading question is a question which subtly prompts the respondent to answer in a particular way. Leading questions are generally undesirable as they result in false or slanted information. For example:

Do you get on well with your boss? This question prompts the person to question their employment relationship.

In a very subtle way it raises the prospect that maybe they don't get on with their boss.

Tell me about your relationship with your This question does not seek any judgment boss. and there is less implication that there might be something

wrong with the relationship. Interview Plan and Order

1. Setting the scene

Typically, the interviewer begins by setting the scene. They invite the viewer into the conversation by introducing the location, guest and topic. At this point the interviewer is probably speaking, either to the camera, or in a voice-over as if they were looking the viewer in the eye.

2. Interview & Conversation

Next, the interviewer turns to speak to the guest. Then follows a fairly one-sided conversation in which the interviewer asks questions which are (usually) designed to encourage the guest to talk a lot.

3. From vox-pop to in-depth

The way the interview progresses will depend on the situation. A short vox-pop style interview will last long enough to get the information from the guest and then close, often quite abruptly. A more in-depth or personal interview will usually go through a settling-in stage where simple facts are discussed, then move gently towards the more thorny issues.

4. Closing the interview

The interview is usually concluded by thanking the guest. The interviewer may then turn back to the camera and say goodbye to the viewer, as well as tidy up any script requirements such as leading to the next piece in the program.

More Interview Tips

1. Keep it simple When you're starting out shooting it's probably best to keep it simple. Remember, the important stuff is what the guest is saying, not how creative your framing is.

2. Pace Yourself (and Everyone Else) Fatigue is the enemy. Interviewers and guests who are tired do not perform well, so be careful not to exhaust them. Do not ask for multiple takes unless necessary (you will often find the first take is the best anyway).

3. Dress appropriately, or at least dress with a purpose. Your appearance will influence the way interviewees respond to you.

Beware of clothing which is un-camera-friendly. This includes shirts and jackets with fine patterns which produce the moire effect. Dark glasses or caps which obscure/shade the eyes are not good.

4. Be Prepared Think about everything that could happen during the interview. Especially if you're shooting off-the- shoulder and there's a chance that your subjects could move around, you need to know how you're going to move. Try to ensure that unwanted bystanders aren't going to interrupt.

5.Try to be unique, so it's not just another interview rehashing the same questions the subject has answered many times before. Don't push this too far though — if you try to be cute or disarming it may backfire.

6. Dealing with guests who have never been interviewed Guests who have never been interviewed before can be a challenge, especially if they are very nervous. It's important to reassure them and make them feel comfortable. Here are a few things you might find yourself saying to the nervous newbie:

"Just treat it as a normal conversation. There's no reason for you to worry about anything else that's happening. The best thing you can do to look good for the cameras is to ignore them."

"Don't worry if you make a mistake or muddle up your words - just carry on. It actually happens all the time in interviews, but because it's something the audience is used to seeing in everyday conversations they won't even notice."

"You look fine!"

Note: If the interview is to be edited, you can point out that any serious mistakes can be cut out.

7. Be honest. Sometimes it's tempting to lie or omit important information when securing an interview.

8. Don't have an attitude if you want a quality interview. A confrontational approach is less likely to get good information.

9. Stay neutral. Try not to ooze bias. Don't appear to be persuaded by the subject's opinions. Don't judge or directly criticize the subject.

10. Don't interrupt. This can upset the subject's train of thought.

11. Minimize your own vocals (in video and audio interviews). Ask questions clearly and succinctly, then let the person speak without any more words from you. Learn to react silently as the subject talks — rather than saying things like "uh-huh, right, I see", use nods and facial expressions.

12. Don't over-direct. Try not to give the subject too many instructions or be too specific about what you want them to say. In most cases it's better to let them speak freely.

13. Show empathy. Often you will need to cover sensitive or distressing topics. Show some compassion for the subject without getting too emotional. Ask for permission before asking difficult questions, e.g. "Is it okay to talk about...?"

14. It's not about you. Don't talk about yourself or add your own opinion. Your questions can be long enough to add information or interest about the topic, but the interviewee is who the audience wants to hear from.

15. Take an interest in psychology. Interviewing is very closely associated with psychology. The better you understand how people think, the better you will be able to extract their thoughts from an interview.

16. When you finish the interview, put your notebook or recorder away and have an informal chat. As well as being polite and leaving a good impression, you might be surprised at what additional information flows when the subject thinks it's all over and is more relaxed.

17. If you missed a question from the interview, you might be able to call the subject back later and get the answer. You get one shot at this — call them back twice and you'll probably be out of luck. Obviously the call-back will be more difficult for video interviews, but you might still be able to voiceover the answer yourself during the story. PRODUCTION

Introduction to Audio

It's important to recognise the importance of audio in film and video. A common mistake amongst amateurs is to concentrate only on the vision and assume that as long as the microphone is working the audio will be fine. However, satisfactory audio requires skill and effort. Sound is critical to the flow of the programme — indeed in many situations high quality sound is more important than high quality video.

Getting better results with audio is actually quite difficult and is a whole subject in itself. We won't go into it much here — you just need to be aware that audio is very important and shouldn't be overlooked.

Basic Audio

1. Virtually all consumer-level cameras come with built-in microphones, usually hi-fi stereo. These work fine, and are all you need for most general work.

2. If possible, try to keep the background (ambient) noise level more or less consistent. This adds smoothness to the flow of the production. Of course, some shots will require sudden changes in ambient audio for effect.

3. Listen to what people are saying and build it into the video. Try not to start and finish shots while someone is talking — there's nothing worse than a video full of half-sentences.

4. Be very wary of background music while shooting — this can result is music that jumps every time the shot changes, like listening to a badly scratched record. If you can, turn the music right down or off.

5. One more thing... be careful of wind noise. Even the slightest breeze can ruin your audio. Many cameras have a "low-cut filter", sometimes referred to as a "wind-noise filter" or something similar. These do help, but a better solution is to block the wind. You can use a purpose-designed wind sock, or try making one yourself.

Camera Most domestic camcorders can do just about everything automatically. All you have to do is turn them on, point, and press record. In most situations this is fine, but automatic functions have some serious limitations. If you want to improve your camera work, you must learn to take control of your camera. Framing Shots are all about composition. Rather than pointing the camera at the subject, you need to compose an image. Framing is the process of creating composition.

Shot Types The list below briefly describes the most common shot types

EWS (Extreme Wide Shot) The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used as an establishing shot.

VWS (Very Wide Shot) The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing him in his environment.

WS (Wide Shot) The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible. AKA: long shot, full shot. MS (Mid Shot) Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject.

MCU (Medium Close Up) Half way between a MS and a CU.

CU (Close Up) A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.

ECU (Extreme Close Up) The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. Variation: Choker Cut-In Shows some (other) part of the subject in detail.

CA (Cutaway) A shot of something other than the subject.

Two-Shot A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.

(OSS) Over-the-Shoulder Shot Looking from behind a person at the subject. Noddy Shot Usually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject.

Point-of-View Shot (POV) Shows a view from the subject's perspective.

Weather Shot The subject is the weather. Can be used for other purposes, e.g. background for graphics.

Shooting Technique

1. Position yourself and your camera

With a Tripod If you're using a tripod, make sure it's stable and level. If you're going to be panning and/or tilting, make sure that you'll be comfortably positioned throughout the whole move. You don't want to start a pan, then realise you can't reach around far enough to get the end of it. If it's going to be difficult, you're better off finding the position which is most comfortable at the end of the move, so that you start in the more awkward position and become more comfortable as you complete the move. If the tripod head doesn't have a bowl (this includes most cheaper tripods), it's very important to check that the framing still looks level as you pan - it may be okay in one direction but become horribly slanted as you pan left and right.

Without a tripod

If you're not using a tripod, stabilise yourself and your camera as best you can. Keep your arms and elbows close to your body (you can use your arms as "braces" against your torso). Breathe steadily. For static shots, place your feet at shoulder width (if you're standing), or try bracing yourself against some solid object (furniture, walls, or anything).

2. Start recording

1. Frame your shot. Then do a quick mental check: focus; framing, vertical and horizontal lines, background, etc.

2. Think about your audio. Audio is just as important as vision, so don't forget about it.

3. Press "record". Once you're recording, make sure that you are actually recording. There's no worse frustration than realising that you were accidentally recording all the time you were setting the shot up, then stopped recording when you thought you were starting. Many cameras have a tape "roll- in time", which means that there is a delay between the time you press record and when the camera begins recording. Do some tests and find out what your camera's roll-in time is, so you can then compensate for it.

4. Use both eyes. A valuable skill is the ability to use one eye to look through the viewfinder, and the other eye to watch your surroundings. It takes a while to get used to it, but it means that you can walk around while shooting without tripping over, as well as keeping an eye out for where the action is happening. It's also easier on your eyes during long shoots.

5. Learn to walk backwards. Have someone place their hand in the middle of your back and guide you. These shots can look great.

You'll often see television presenters walking and talking, as the camera operator walks backwards shooting them.

6. Keep thinking "Framing...Audio..." As long as you're recording, think about how the frame composition is changing, and what's happening to the sound.

7. Press "record stop" before moving. Just as in still photography, you should wait until one second after you've finished recording (or taken the photo) before you move. Too many home videos end every shot with a jerky movement as the operator hits the stop button. 8. Zoom This is the function which moves your point of view closer to, or further away from, the subject. The effect is similar to moving the camera closer or further away. Note that the further you zoom in, the more difficult it is to keep the picture steady. In some cases you can move the camera closer to the subject and then zoom out so you have basically the same framing. For long zooms you should use a tripod.

Zooming is the function everyone loves. It's easy and you can do lots with it, which is why it's so over- used. The most common advice we give on using the zoom is use it less. It works well in moderation but too much zooming is tiring for the audience.