Planning Makes Perfect*: How to Plan Your -ISM Video

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Sample -ism videos: The following two clips are short selections (not entire projects) from two videos made recently by students in this course. They are average videos--not the best ever made, not the worst. They would generally earn a grade of approximately 3.0.

Click on the video image to start or download the movie in QuickTime Format. Click on the link below the picture if you want to watch the video in RealPlayer. A video viewer such as QuickTime Player or Real Player are required to watch this video.

Clothingism Video in MP4 Format for Real Player		Tattooism Video in MP4 Format for Real Player

Making great movies takes more than cameras, tripods, editing equipment, etc., of course. First you need the right raw material. Some advance planning will help ensure that you have the money shots. And following some basic videography techniques will make for more-professional results. Planning means "developing an outline"--in Hollywood parlance, a storyboard--that lists the shots you'll need in order to tell your tale. Professional moviemakers storyboard every scene and camera angle. You don't have to go that far, but you will tell a better story if you plan some shots. Consider starting with an establishing shot that clues viewers in on where your story takes place: for example, a shot of the swimming pool (see the examples on the right). To show the big picture, zoom out to your camcorder's wide-angle setting. From there, you might cut to a medium shot that introduces your movie's subject: little Bobby preparing to belly flop off the diving board. Next, you might cut away to Mary tossing the ball. Cut back to Bobby, and then finish with a long shot of the entire scene. And remember, you don't have to shoot every scene in chronological order-sequencing your shots is what editing is for. For example, shoot Mary's throw any time you like and edit it later into the proper sequence. Also keep in mind that your subjects should move, not your camera. Nausea-inducing camera work is a common flaw of amateur videos. Too many people mistake a video camera for a fire hose: they sweep across a scene, panning left and right and back again. This technique is frequently called the "headache pan." Or they ceaselessly zoom in and zoom out, making viewers wonder whether they're coming or going. A better practice is to stop recording, move to a different location or change your zoom setting, and then resume. Varied camera angles and zoom settings makes for a more interesting video. If you must pan--perhaps to capture a dramatic vista--do it slowly and steadily. Another trick to shooting a panning shot is to follow some action, e.g., follow Billy walking around the pool to establish the scene, rather than panning around the pool area without any action. Vary shot lengths. Your movie will be more engaging visually if you do. Use longer shots for complex scenes, such as a wide shot of a city street, and shorter shots for close-ups or reaction shots. Finally, you should attempt to avoid... The Seven Deadly Camcorder Sins: Headhunting--placing every subject in the center of your frame. Motorzooming--overuse of on-screen zooms. Rooting--staying in one spot instead of looking for interesting angles. Firehosing--panning all over the scene. Upstanding--shooting everything from standing eye-level. Snapshooting--taping only two or three seconds per shot. Backlighting--too much light falling on the background instead of on the subject.

More Video Editing Help

Go to this page (click on the hyperlink above) for a link to the Atomic Learning Library (for help with digital video) and for a tip sheet to help with the analog video (VCR-to-VCR) editing sequence. In either case, digital or analog, please contact the course instructor if you need help. It is important to set up appointments for video help at least two weeks or more before the due date!



Some Other Tips for Preparing Your -ISM(N.) Video

• Practice Makes Perfect: Practice working with the camcorder and rehearse all of the things you'll need to do to make a great video. One of the most common mistakes students make in this activity is that they leave the video shooting and editing until late in the term when they are stuck trying both to learn how to use the equipment and making a video at the same time. Then when editing their video they are stuck with lousy lighting, lousy sound, etc. and no time to do anything about it. When you put your video together at the end of this term, it should not be the first time you have touched the equipment!
  
  Check out the camcorder early in the term, Shoot a few hours of practice video. Figure out what works and doesn't work. Practice using the microphone. Practice with various lighting techniques. Practice holding the camera steady. In short--practice!
  
  
• Use good sound sources. The VCR's built-in microphone is very convenient but has many inherent liabilities. Because it's far from the subject, it records background noise and the camcorder's motor, in addition to the sound you want. Whenever possible, use an extension microphone or a wireless mike, positioned near the subject. DO NOT rely solely on the microphone mounted on the top of the camcorder!
  
  
• Pay attention to lighting. While today's camcorders have excellent low-light capabilities, the quality of the image invariably goes down in lower light. Try to shoot in strong light. Shoot near windows (although be careful about window placement--see below), turn on all the lights, and consider setting up your own lights.

  In general, you want your lots of light directed on your subject, placing the light source behind the camera and in front of the subject.
  

• Be careful around windows. DO NOT photograph people or objects in front of windows! During the day the exterior light coming through the window will make your subject appear as a silhouette. During the evening, the window may inadvertently reflect your camera operator's image. In either case, it is best to keep windows behind the camera!
  
  
• In order to save time in post-production editing, try to edit your video "in-camera." Believe it or not, it is possible to shoot a production so that what ends up on the original tape is close to your finished production. This is called "in-camera" editing. While this sounds like a straightforward way to achieve quality results, in practice it is extremely difficult because you must shoot in the production order and each time something goes wrong, you need to carefully position the tape at the end of the previous scene. In-camera editing sometimes interferes with the spontaneity of the action you are taping. However, if you do some in-camera editing, you can eliminate some post-production editing.
  
  
• The normal way to shoot a video involves filming as events unfold. When you "shoot to edit," you never back the tape up--you simply reshoot the scene until you are happy with it. You leave bad scenes and mistakes on the tape, to be removed later in the editing room.
  
  When you shoot to edit, follow these hints to make editing easier later:
  
  
  • It's a good idea to take notes. When you edit, your notes will tell you which scenes are good, who the players are, etc.
    
    Think of yourself as a story teller. The best videos have a beginning, middle, and end. Make sure you shoot the scenes you will need to tell the story. For instance, if you're traveling, shoot some road signs or wide shots to set the stage, so viewers know where you are.
    
    Leave some room around each scene. Start recording before the action starts and continue recording for a few seconds after the scene is complete. When you edit, this extra room will make it a lot easier to get just the good footage without accidentally picking up footage from neighboring scenes.
    
    Avoid the use of camera fades (fade to white or fade to black). If you will be editing the footage later, it's best to add fades as you edit instead of using camera fades, which cannot be removed or changed later.
    
    Some camcorders permit you to add titles as you shoot. While this is handy, it is often better to skip the titles when shooting and add them while editing instead. Titles recorded while you shoot are there forever and can't be changed. Separate titlers usually deliver more fonts and sizes and titles of much higher quality than those built into camcorders.
    
    It is also a good idea to turn off the automatic time and date feature since, like camera titles, they are on the scene forever.

  
  
  Editing Your Video

• Prepare your tapes before using them. In order to avoid much of the fluttering, jumping and instability of edited video images that can occur at each starting and stopping point of each edit, you should prepare your video tapes before using them. This is a crucial step that is not particularly apparent to the new video user.
  
  In order to prepare a video tape for shooting and/or editing, simply pre-record each tape you intend to use. Why? Until a video tape has been used at least once, it is lacking in an important technical element called a timing or control track. A timing track is a series of invisible magnetic markers that controls the tracking of the video through the VCR and camcorder mechanism--sort of like the sprockets on the edge of photographic film. Taping onto a video tape automatically adds a control track
  
  After you have prerecorded something onto a tape, it is ready to use in your video production. Professionals often prepare their tapes by video taping color bars or test patterns, but actually, anything will do--put your video tape in any VCR and tape 6 hours of CNN. Since you will tape over this prerecorded content later, what you choose to tape is not important.
  
  
• Avoid "jump cuts." Jump cuts are unnatural, abrupt switches from and to shots identical in subject but slightly different in screen location. This makes subjects appear to jump from one screen location to another. This problem is remedied by using cutaway shots. Cutaway shots are shots of other-than-principal action (but peripherally related).
  
  For example, if you wanted to show two highlights of a basketball player's performance in a game, you could use a cutaway shot of the crowd's reaction to the first highlight as a transition to the second highlight.

  *Much of this document is based on information provided in "Who Needs Hollywood?" an article which appeared in MacWorld, April 2000 Issue.
  
  
  
  
  
  Ten Quick Tips for Shooting Great Video from Video Maker Magazine

  1. Use manual focus if your camcorder has it.
  2. Set white balance at every location.
  3. When shooting outdoors, keep the sun behind you.
  4. Plan your shoot.
  5. Use a tripod or other image stabilization device.
  6. For handheld stability, imagine that your camcorder is a very full cup of hot coffee.
  7. Use the zoom to compose your shot. Avoid zooming while the tape is rolling.
  8. Move the camcorder only when necessary.
  9. Shoot to edit.
  10. Keep your average shot length between 5 and 10 seconds.
  11. Keep the shot steady (no zoom or pan) for at least 10 seconds.
  12. While shooting, be as inconspicuous as possible to best capture the true behavior of your subject

  Video Maker Magazine's site offers a thorough video glossary and FAQ section for beginners.
  
  
  -ISM(N.) Video Storyboard Template: You may use this template (the document is in PDF format) or Bill Bierden's Storyboard Maker program to plan your -ISM video in this course.
  
  
  How Will My -ISM(N.) Video Be Evaluated? (Download a copy here-->  -ISM VIdeo Scoring Rubric) The -ism group members will complete the rubric and hand in to the instructor on the day the video is presented. 

  The following scoring rubric will be used to evaluate the -ISM(N.) videos developed for this course:

  • 0.0-0.9 (0-9 points): Video is incomplete, doesn't possess the minimum elements for a passing grade (see below), or is completed in such a way that it does not display professional-level commitment to quality work. The video is 0-40% original content (i.e., visuals and/or soundtrack).
    
    
  • 1.0-1.9 (10-15 points): Video is minimally passing. All basic elements may present, but the elements may not flow smoothly or are poorly executed. The topic of the video may not be appropriate or is discussed in a cursory or frivolous manner. The video is 40-60% original content (i.e., visuals and/or soundtrack).
    
    
  • 2.0-2.9 (16-20 points): Video satisfies all basic requirements for this assignment, i.e., the video is 3-8 minutes long, discusses an "-ism" in such a way that the viewer learns something about the topic, and the production values of the video displays general familiarity with the basic tenets of video production as described above. Few (no more than 3-4) technical glitches are apparent. Lighting and sound are of good quality (no more than 3-4 errors in lighting and sound). The group's "-ism" is treated in a respectful and earnest manner. The video is 60-80% original content (i.e., visuals and/or soundtrack).
    
    
  • 3.0-3.5 (21-25 points): Video satisfies all basic requirements for this assignment, plus is executed with a high degree of precision, creativity, and scholarship. This higher degree of performance would include several of the following video planning or editing elements: The group hands in a completed storyboard and/or script at least one week before the video is due. Very few (no more than 1-2) technical glitches are apparent. Lighting and sound are of very good quality (no more than 1-2 errors in lighting and sound). The video includes an inserted sound track or second audio track. The video includes computer-generated graphics and/or titles. The video employs fades, wipes, or other sophisticated transition elements. The group's "-ism" is explored in an especially meaningful and scholarly manner. The video is 80-95% original content (i.e., visuals and/or soundtrack).
    
    
  • 3.6-4.0 (26-30 points): Video satisfies all basic requirements for this assignment, plus is executed with a very high degree of precision, creativity and scholarship. This highest degree of performance would include displayed proficiency in most of the following advanced video techniques: The group hands in a completed storyboard and/or script at least two weeks before the video is due. No technical glitches are apparent. Lighting and sound are executed with perfection. The video includes an inserted sound track or second audio track. The video includes computer-generated graphics and/or titles. The video employs fades, wipes, or other sophisticated transition elements. The group's "-ism" is explored in an especially meaningful and scholarly manner. The video is 95-100% original content (i.e., visuals and/or soundtrack).
    
    
    
    
    
    

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