Communicating With Film
A few tips can help you and others in your video capture and retain people’s attention.
- Before you film your video, you should decide the purpose of your video.
- What are you trying to accomplish with the video?
- How does the video help you achieve those goals?
- Where and how will you use the video?
- An early step is to create what is known as a storyboard.
- A storyboard contains all the visual, audio and timing elements of your video. It is a visual representation of what will take place in the video, including drawings or photos, accompanied by any words and other audio. It marks to the second how long each scene takes.
- It is fine if you are not a great artist — a rough sketch is fine. You just need to show roughly what is happening in each shot. People should be able to look through the storyboard like a comic book or graphic novel and gain a sense of what will take place in the video.
- Think through who should be in the video and either exactly or roughly what they should talk about.
- If any of the people in the video are students, be sure to obtain a signed Photo and Video Release Form.
- If you plan to use music, be sure you understand copyright implications and obtain and use the music legally. Services exist for purchasing usage rights for music, often at a quite reasonable rate.
- Determine where you will do the taping — a quiet location with ample light is important. Sound is one of the most difficult aspects, so try to find a place where your camera or off-camera microphones will not pick up ambient noises.
- Being animated and enthusiastic can make a video more compelling. Use your voice to convey the meaning of your words, and avoid using a monotone. Be sure to smile with your eyes as well as your mouth to connect with the viewer.
- Remember that you can redo your recording if you are unhappy with how you come across.
- You may want to ask someone to be near the camera lens so that you can talk to that person. As the person reacts to what you say, this will help guide you and help you be more animated.
- Except for very rare instances, you should avoid reading a script or from notes. You will project a more dynamic presence if you have written down your thoughts, gone over them enough so the basic concepts stick with you, then speak without notes. Remember, you can always do it again if you dislike your first effort.
- Wear clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Avoid new clothes, because you do not know if they will show gaps or ride up. Try to avoid shirts with dramatic patterns or words, unless those are part of the story.
- If you want to include images in your video, those can be added in the editing process. As with music, remember to be sure you have obtained the rights to use the photograph or other artwork.
