no-budget video production workshop

Workshop at OCACPS, The University of the South

Pacific 2016

‘No-budget’ video production

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Greg DowneyDepartment of Anthropology

Faculty of Arts

Macquarie University

greg.downey@mq.edu.au

Twitter: @gregdowney1

resource video production

pocket video, iphone video, no-budget video

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Equipment is not the

limit.Story is all important.

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• Why make videos?

motivation

• Communication

• Documentation

• Advocacy

• Promotion

• Community building

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the basics

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• Horizontal (turn phone sideways)

• Stabilise

• Get the best sound

• Improve your shots

• Story

the basics

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• Turn off the phone! (airplane

mode)

• Stop talking.

• Don’t use digital zoom. (EVER)

• Don’t be afraid to video!

warnings

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Experiment! Learning by doing.

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• Bracing for greater stability

• Tripod or monopod

• Selfie stick.

• Ad-libbed stabilisation (a.k.a,

visiting the hardware store)

• ‘Dynamic stabilisation’

stabilise

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• Vary shots.

• Unusual angles & close-ups.

• Shoot like an eye (short shots).

• Shoot scene & elements.

• Get closer than you think.

better shots

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‘rule of thirds’

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‘rule of thirds’

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‘rule of thirds’

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• Video is compilation of shots.

• Storyboarding (what shots do we

need?).

• Beware long uninterrupted video.

• Getting ‘goal list’ for B-roll.

story

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A-roll video

A-roll audio

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Video composition

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A-roll video

A-roll audio

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Video composition

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A-roll video

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A-roll audio

Video composition

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Video composition

A-roll audio

A-roll video

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Video composition

A-roll audio

B-roll video

Quick vocabulary

• Cut

• Tilt

• Pan

• Frame

• Establishing shot

• Slider

• Reveal shot

• ‘Rack focus’ shot

• Depth of field

• Foreground/background

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• Establishing shot: wide shot of

setting.

• Objects up close.

• Wide angles.

• Things that get discussed.

• Transitions.

b-roll

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Video composition

A-roll audio

B-roll video

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Video composition

A-roll audio

B-roll video

‘natural music’

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• Importance.

• Get closer.

• Listen to the environment.

• Don’t be your own enemy.

• Lapel microphone.

sound

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• Beware backlighting.

• Notice shadows.

• Use reflectors.

• Better to underexpose.

lighting• Use natural light.

• Beware midday, high

light directly overhead.

• Lighting can be a

‘special effect.’

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• Write questions but reflect

spontaneity.

• Not a conversation - be quiet.

• Easy questions first.

• No ‘yes/no’ questions.

• Match subject’s energy.

interviews

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• Look at people (don’t

look at camera).

• Be curious

• Ask people how they

feel.

• Repeat questions.

interviews• Help your subjects!

• Stand/sit next to camera.

• Ask for final comment.

• Don’t turn off camera too

fast.

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• Rule of thirds.

• Straight-to-camera v.

offset (25-30 degrees).

• ‘Nose space.’

interviews• Shoot close, sit further.

• Listen carefully to sound

quality.

• Push back background.

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• Scout location.

• Get reaction shots.

• See about getting sound out from

sound person (audio splitter).

• Ask yourself: what’s my goal?

events

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story

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• Economy (100

words/min).

• Online, most viewers turn

off in <20 seconds.

• Visual carries weight.

• Get action.

• Look & listen – make a

wish list for shots.

• What’s the pay-off?

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• Use slide show programs.

• Public domain & creative

commons music & photos

(Pixabay, ccmixter, Soundcloud)

• Stop motion fairly easy with

tripod.

• Use your strengths.

credits, music,

graphics

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Tomorrow: equipment

& editingResource video-making

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Thanks for your

attention!

Bibliography online at iLearn

Photos public domain at Pixabay

or as indicated.33DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY -