TIPS FOR SHOOTING GOOD
VIDEO
Try telling a story with what you shoot. If you are shooting a
night at a soup kitchen, show volunteers cooking ahead of time, tables and chairs
being arranged, people waiting outside in line, the door being opened to the first
client, clients receiving food from volunteers, clients eating, taking the empty
trays up to the kitchen, the last client leaving, cleaning up after the meal.
Always shoot lots of "B-roll" -- shots that set the scene, show what
someone is talking about, describe your subject matter with images rather than
words. For example, if producing a piece about a cook, not only interview the
cook, but at a minimum get shots of the cook cooking, the restaurant both inside
and out, closeups of her hands chopping foods, shots of the cook
talking/demonstrating to her fellow workers. For a more lengthy piece, get shots
of where she lives, her getting in her car to go to work, her family in action, etc.
Think in terms of visual images, not written words.
For most purposes, a stationary camera works best. Let subjects walk
through the picture rather than following the subject. Use a tripod whenever
possible. Even a cheap one will keep your camera steady. When not using a
tripod, brace your camera in any way which allows you to hold it steady. Try
to get long (20 second or more) steady shots without zooming and
little camera movement.
Avoid using the zoom when shooting, though it may be used before
actually pushing the record button to "frame" a shot.
The secret to professional video is to GET CLOSE. It's
important to get a few long-shots to set the scene (like showing the entire dining
hall of the soup kitchen, or at least the portion in which the people are seated)
and some medium shots (showing people in the food line at the lunch or several
people working to prepare the food), but the professional secret is to also get
close-ups--the ladle dipping into the vat of soup, the sign that says "Free Lunch
This Way," and most of all faces of people: people laughing, smiling, crying,
eating, chatting etc. Getting close adds interest, beginners almost invariably
shoot from too far away.
For indoor shots, generally the more light the better, except for
florescent light. Camera mounted lights work well for interviews and objects less
than 10 feet. If the light is strong on one side of the subject, particularly if this
casts shadows, try to balance it with a light on the other side. If possible,
"backlight" the subject with a light behind the subject (this adds depth to the
picture).
For outdoor shots, overcast days are often ideal. If the sun is out, each
shot should either in the sun or in the shade--but not both. If you shoot in the
shade, make sure the background is shady as well. If the sun is directly overhead,
as it is at mid-day in the summer, shoot in the shade.
TIPS FOR SHOOTING
INTERVIEWS
IMPORTANT: The first question you ask this person
with the camera running, no matter who he or she is, is their name,
how they spell their name, and any title that they have with the Church and to
the event being shown (for example, someone might be a Church Treasurer, but
might also have organized the Walk-A-Thon you're showing us, so please let us
know both titles). This way we will be able to identify them.
If you are able to, turn off the automatic equipment, including edifices,
auto-light level or white balance, and "image stabilization" found on some small
cameras. You can use these while setting up a shot, for example to set the focus
automatically, but then turn it off during the actual shooting. Otherwise, the
image can change repeatedly.
Use a tripod.
For most purposes, a "head and shoulders" framing of the shot works
best. You can go in a little closer or come out a little, but avoid the person's neck
being at the bottom of the picture, which looks like a head floating in space.
Leave "headroom," which means if the person is looking off to his right, where the
interviewer is located, leave extra space in the direction he's looking, don't put
him smack in the center of the frame.
Stand to the right or to the left of the camera by about a foot. Have
the interviewee look at you, not the camera.
Remember your question will not be included in the video, so make
sure your respondent answers the question by including the question. For
example, "Did you brush your teeth today?" "Yes," won't help you on the video.
"I brushed my teeth today" will.
If the video is to be edited later, the on-camera mike will just not do.
Get a lavaliere mike and clip it on the person's shirt or jacket about six inches
below their mouth. Try to hide the wire connecting the lavaliere by asking the
interviewee to pass it under their jacket or shirt. Alternatively, use a hand-held
microphone, which you, the interviewer, will hold about ten inches from the
person's mouth. Try to frame the shot so this microphone is either well within
the shot or well outside of it; if only the tip of the microphone bobbles in and out
of the bottom of the frame, it can be distracting. Use a headset (the one's used by
Walkman-type stereos are fine) to make sure sound is coming through well. If
you are outside and there is wind, listen in the headset whether the wind creating
a tornado effect. If it is, try a windscreen on the mike (a little mesh ball) or move
to a less windy area.
Change the background between interviews even by swiveling the
camera a bit.
Watch out for things in the background which could appear to emanate
from the head of the interviewee.
Avoid interviewing in noisy areas unless the noise is integral to what the
person is saying (to hear kitchen noises in the back of an interview with a cook is
okay, as long as the audio is understandable. Use headphones to check on that.)
For lively responses, ask tough questions--perhaps take a contrarian
stance, even if you don't believe in it. For example, ask "Why should I spend MY
hard-earned tax dollars on education?"
An interview shold be a conversation. Follow-up on what the
interviewee says not simply on responses to a set of prepared questions.
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