Chapter 6
Question 3
Discuss several considerations in shooting and editing video
for multimedia. What techniques would you use to produce the best
possible video, at a reasonable cost? Which of these techniques apply to
all video, and which apply specifically to multimedia?
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Concept
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Purpose of Video.
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Constraints.
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Script
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Description of Shots and Settings.
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Written Dialogue and Narration.
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Storyboards
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Conceptualize shots.
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Plan flow of video.
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Equipment
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Availability.
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Flexibility, limitations.
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Framing and Composition
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Be aware of your surroundings.
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Rearrange objects as needed.
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Headroom
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Don’t leave excessive space above subject’s
head.
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If subject is looking to the side, leave space
where he/she is looking.
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Rule of Thirds
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1/3 of the frame should be above the eyes.
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1/3 of the frame should be face and shoulders.
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1/3 of the frame should be lower torso
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Lighting
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Check indoor lighting conditions first, add more
lighting if needed/possible.
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Filming outdoors? Check the time and weather.
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Noon: Bright light, high exposure, no shadows.
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Morning/Afternoon: Direct light, heavy shadows.
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Overcast: No direct light or shadow, dull.
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Sound
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Detachable microphones are desirable for best
sound quality
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Using the camera’s mike?
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Check for background noise before shooting
(traffic, ventilation, nearby crowds).
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Stay close to your subject.
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Subject should speak loud and clearly.
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No noise from the crew!
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Shooting
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Use a tripod for stability.
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Shoot at least 15 seconds of “dummy tape” before
and after scenes.
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Try to shoot in-sequence.
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Keep a video log of recorded scenes.
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Use a variety of shots – multiple perspectives
and angles.
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Try multiple takes of the same scene, adjusting
the shot slightly.
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Film more than just your subject.
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Things to avoid
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Breaking the 180° plane.
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Using the same composition for every shot.
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Too many differing shots and angles.
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Extreme close ups or wide shots.
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Excessive panning or zooming.
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Shooting too much.
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Choose your editing software of choice
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imovie (mac)
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Final Cut Pro (mac)
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Windows Movie Maker (pc)
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Premiere (pc)
Postproduction
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Walkthrough for using imovie
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Walkthrough for using WMM
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Editing Clips
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Know your footage. Use your video log or create one for your raw
footage.
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Avoid jump cuts.
Different scenes should be easily distinguished.
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Be tasteful in using titles and transitions.
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Adjust lighting and sound as much as
possible. Bad footage is bad footage.
If you want to make a low budget movie, there are a number of
steps which you can follow to get the best results. Who knows? With some hard work
and a little luck, maybe you’ll crank out the next El Mariachi, Blair Witch
Project or Night of the Living Dead.
The best advice on how to make a low budget movie is to never
give up. Whether you’ve got $1000 or $15,000, it’s important to follow your filmmaking
dreams. If your movie is good, there’s a decent chance of finding a
distributor, no matter how small the budget.
Getting The Cast Together
If you really want to save money on your movie, try casting
friends and family. Got a cousin who used to do community theatre? Get them.
Does your niece take drama in high school? Looks like you’ve got yourself
another actress.
You can also find people willing to work for free (or next to
free) on the Internet. Sites like Craigslist, mySpace or Facebook are excellent
ways to meet people and assemble your low-budget movie cast.
Offering Points
If you don’t have much cash to spend on your cast and crew, you
can also try dangling “points” in front of them. Basically, points are a
percentage of the movie’s profit, and you can promise to give someone a certain
amount in exchange for services rendered. Just remember, you only have 100
points to work with (as in 100 percent), so don’t offer someone too many.
Screen Credits
Everyone likes to see their names in the credits, so you have
another option besides giving away your movie’s profits. Sometimes, just an
offer to be in the credits will be enough to convince someone to work on your
film.
Find A Good Script
Whether you purchased a script or wrote it yourself, it’s important
to work from one that’s halfway decent. Just make sure it’s not laughable, as
this will hamper the abilities of your actors and quickly turn off any viewers.
If writing’s not your thing, try obtaining one from a hungry
film student in your area. You can also check the Internet; it’s amazing what
you can find on the Internet.
Obtaining A Camera
If you’re going to make a low budget movie, you’ll definitely
need a camera. It’s up to you whether to select a digital video camera or one
that actually uses film.
A three chip digital video camera can either be purchased or
rented, while a professional film camera will need to be rented. The biggest
advantage to a digital camera is that there’s no film to worry about.
If you do use film, you’ll have to decide between 16mm and 35mm,
and you’ll also have to pay to have it developed. Of course, a movie shot in
film does have that “professional” look, so there’s always that fact to
consider (especially if you can get a good deal on some film stock).
The Importance Of A Director of Photography
A Director of Photography (or DP) knows how to use the camera,
knows about film, and knows all about lighting the shot. A good DP can set up
the shots and be a major help in crafting the overall look of the film, thus
freeing up the director to worry about the actors and overall story.
The best way to get a DP for cheap is to check local colleges
with a film department. You can also try working the Internet again, as sites
like Facebook and Craigslist are bound to put you into contact with a few
aspiring Directors of Photography.
Use Storyboards
Storyboards are basically little cartoons which show what each
shot will look like. They also list the locations, cast members and props that
are to be used in any given scene. This will allow you to quickly locate all
the scenes taking place in the backyard (or wherever) and shoot them together.
This will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Rehearse
It’s also a good idea to rehearse scenes in advance before you
shoot them. Big budget movies can waste lots of film waiting for the actors to
get a scene right. You probably won’t have that luxury.
The Score
If you want to have music on your low budget film, you might try
approaching a local college music student. Offer them points or screen credit
in exchange for recording an original compositions for your film. Just be sure
to get them to sign a release form. This will ensure that they don’t sue you
if/when your project really takes off.
For that matter, you also need all your actors to sign a release
form. Basically, this means that they give you written permission to use their
likeness during both promotion and production.
Editing
Once your movie is complete, you’ll need to find someone to edit
it. This means that they take all your shots and put them together in an order
which makes sense to the viewer. Whether you’re using a digital camera or film,
most modern movie editing is done on a computer.
Entering Film Festivals
Once your film has been edited, it’s ready to be seen by the
public. But in order for anyone to see your movie, you’ll need to find yourself
a distributor. That’s where film festivals come in.
There are plenty of representatives from studios and
distributors at major film festivals. If your film catches their eye, don’t be
surprised if they approach you about making a deal.
If your movies start getting buzz on the festival circuit, you
can also hold a distributor screening. This means you rent out a small theatre
and invite reps to come, watch your movie, and then bid against one another for
the right to distribute it. When this happens, you’re really on your way to the
big time.
