Video—shoot-to-edit
Shoot-to-edit means that you have an
editing plan before you start to shoot (record) your video. Make a shot sheet
with all the shots, angles, and detail that you envision in your family history
video and use that as a guide while videotaping.
Shoot for editing rhythm
Well-edited video has rhythm. Start
a scene with a wide establishing shot, then a medium wide or medium shot. Combine
the variations in a repeating pattern. After that, alternate medium shots with
closeup cut-ins and cutaways. Plan your shots with this in mind—mostly medium
and close-up shots.
Camera Angles
Shoot several angles of a scene.
Angle changes should vary by at least 45°, horizontally or vertically. Shooting
down (high angle) at a person makes them appear timid and submissive, up (low
angle) authoritative and less friendly. For interviews, position the camera so
it’s eye-level, or slightly lower, with your subject.
Start with an establishing shot
Establishing
shots (usually wide shots) let the audience know what’s going on and where it’s
taking place. Let’s say you plan to edit your family history video by opening
with a family reunion at the park. Start with a wide shot showing several
family-populated picnic tables. It’s best to get this shot at the beginning of
your taping session, while the platters are full, so that your edited video has
continuity. Hold the shot steady for 6-10 seconds. Start each scene with an
establishing shot.
Get plenty of cut-ins and cutaways
Cut-ins are
those close-up, steady 4-6 second shots of objects in the scene. Use these to
cover up edit splices and show detail. Cutaways are medium and close-up shots
of related things taking place somewhere else.
Handles beginning and end of each shot
Start recording 5 seconds before the
action starts in a shot and continue recording 5 seconds after the action
stops. In order to edit your video, you will need to play the tape and capture
it onto a computer. The camcorder or tape deck needs to arrive at and maintain
a steady speed before video can be captured. That takes about 5 seconds. Same
goes for slowing down when the tape stops. And those 5-second handles come in
handy if you decide to edit in transitions. It provides extra footage for the
shots to overlap
Pans, tilts, & zooms
Let the action happen in the shot,
not with the camera. Use these camera moves sparingly and with purpose.
If you find it
necessary to pan (left/right), tilt (up/down), or zoom, here’s how to do it
- Start with a steady shot and hold 1-2 seconds.
- Execute the shot slowly
- End with a well-framed
shot and hold 1-2 seconds.
The best way to do this is frame
your ending shot before recording. Zoom, pan, or tilt to the beginning shot.
Then record the shot in reverse.
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