Shoot good video basics
Family history video can be more than
taping an interview. You can start your program with video from your
storyteller’s birthday party or family reunion and segue into a taped interview
with family photo overlays. Plan your shots using shoot-to-edit and framing techniques.
Storyboard before videotaping
Whether your goal is to videotape an
interview or background material, you should have a general idea of how you are
going to proceed before setting up the camcorder. This will force you to
formulate a plan for your project and set up an organization guide.
Incorporate shot rhythm in your story
layout. Start each scene with a wide
establishing shot, then a medium wide shot, then mix medium,
closeup, cut-ins and cutaways at
various angles in repetitive patterns. You won’t feel the rhythm until editing,
but you need to get the shots to make it happen
Comic book style storyboard is a series
of illustrations that helps you visualize the organization and development
of your story.
Outlining is a simple way to organize your history project.
Index
cards with story segments can be laid out linearly to visualize the
developing story. Cut sections from copies of your video log sheets and photo contact sheet and glue them to the
cards. Easy to shuffle around.
Photo
layout is good for a slideshow-style family history video. Simply
lay photos out in a logical order. Sub-group images by color and activity. Pair
photos that have the same focal point. For example, 2 or 3 photos with the main
person on the left side of the photo. Use either close up or wide group photos
to transition between groups where the focal point changes.
Shot sheet
Use you storyboard to create a shot sheet--list of video shots you will need to make your storyboard a reality. Include what you want to shoot, type of shot and at what angle. Take this with you when you shoot your video.
Set the stage
Interview scenes should be attractive
and uncluttered. Look through the viewfinder at the shot to make sure there are
no objects behind the subject that appear to be growing out of their head or are otherwise unsightly.
Plan the color scheme from free Rules of Graphic Design for your stage and subject. Some
colors look better on video than others. Colors to avoid are red, orange,
bright yellow, and too much white. Some contrast is good but keep it subtle.
Video does not handle high contrast well.
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