TYPES OF

VIDEO

SNAPSHOT-TYPE VIDEO

Snapshot-type videos illustrate a single action, and are usually 30 seconds or shorter in length.

This is the easiest type of video to produce, but it is somewhat limited in what it can convey.

An example would be a video of a traffic signal changing.

PERFORMANCE- TYPE VIDEO

Performance-type videos are recordings of individuals performing an extended series of actions. Usually this type will have only one shot, and can be up to several minutes long.

A tripod or other stabilizing device is especially important for performance-type videos.

An example would be a musician playing a song; the activity of a wild animal might also fit into this category.

TOUR-TYPE VIDEO

Tour-type videos will shift between different views to illustrate different aspects of a subject, or to tell a kind of narrative story. Usually this type will have a sequence of several different shots, and can be up to several minutes long.

If one wants to create a tour-type video that is an overview of a particular subject, one should read through the article of the subject to find queues on aspects of the space that deserve attention in the video

Additionally, if the tour-type video is being made about a particular physical site, a short scouting trip would be helpful. Before you start shooting, take a tour of the site. Using available informational material on the site, look it over to find other shots you might want to include in the video.

An example would be an architectural tour of a building.

FORMSOF

FILMS

NARRATIVEFILM

Narrative films refer to the types of movies that tell a story. These are the films most widely screened in theatres, broadcast on TV, streamed in the internet, and sold as DVDs and Blu-rays.

One of the storylines in James Cameron’s Titanic, for instance, pertains the steamship RMS Titanic that struck an iceberg in her maiden voyage and sunk soon afterwards – a real, greatly documented incident that happened on April 14, 1912. However, the romance between Rose and Jack, another prominent storyline in the movie, is a product of Cameron’s imagination, just like both characters.

The terms “fictional cinema” and “narrative cinema” carry the understanding that the filmmaker has the freedom to create storylines and alter historical facts as he or she sees fit. This freedom allows the director to shape the movie and perfect the story. One of the many reasons why Titanic broke a box office record was because the audience could identify with Jack and Rose and root for them.

DOCUMENTARYFILM

Documentary film is concerned with the exposure and analyses of real facts and historical events. It non-fictional, "slice of life" factual works of art. Subjects of documentaries can be the hunting of endangered species, the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, and the downfall of the Nazi regime.

A documentary film is a movie that attempts to document reality. Even though the scenes are carefully chosen and arranged, usually through editing after filming, they are not scripted and the people in the movie are not typically actors.

Cinema Verite is a a technique of documentary filmmaking in which the camera records actual persons and events without directorial control introduced in France in the 1950s.

Documentary filmmakers have the following weapons in their arsenal for persuasion:

Voice of God: This is the voice-over heard in the movie.

Documentation: To make a point convincingly, the filmmaker must present evidence from legitimate sources.

Interviews: Much like documentation, interviews are common on documentaries and equally necessary as sources.

Expert Witness: An expert witness is anyone that has great knowledge on the subject that they are testifying on.

EXPERIMENTALFILM

Experimental film also known as avant-garde, experimental films are rare and totally unpopular which is neither narrative or documentary.

Experiment film is an amalgam of ideas forced together by the filmmaker without any regards for characters, structure, or theme.

Experimental films are not imprisoned by story structure, character arc, or common sense.

MAIN FILM

GENRES

ACTION

Action film is a genre wherein physical action takes precedence in the storytelling. The film will often have continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. The story usually revolves around a hero that has a goal, but is facing incredible odds to obtain it.

ADVENTURE

Adventure film is a genre that revolves around the conquests and explorations of a protagonist. The purpose of the conquest can be to retrieve a person or treasure, but often the main focus is simply the pursuit of the unknown. These films generally take place in exotic locations and play on historical myths. Adventure films incorporate suspenseful puzzles and intricate obstacles that the protagonist must overcome in order to achieve the end goal.

COMEDY

Comedy film is a genre of film that uses humor as a driving force. The aim of a comedy film is to illicit laughter from the audience through entertaining stories and characters. Although the comedy film may take on some serious material, most have a happy ending. Comedy film has the tendency to become a hybrid sub-genre because humor can be incorporated into many other genres. Comedies are more likely than other films to fall back on the success and popularity of an individual star.

DRAMA

Drama film is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of realistic characters. While Drama film relies heavily on this kind of development, dramatic themes play a large role in the plot as well. Often, these dramatic themes are taken from intense, real life issues. Whether heroes or heroines are facing a conflict from the outside or a conflict within themselves, Drama film aims to tell an honest story of human struggles.

EPIC/HISTORICAL

Epic film is a genre that takes historical events and people and interprets them in a larger scale. Historical accuracy is not the main focus in Epics, but rather the telling of a grandiose story. The drama of an Epic film is often accentuated by a sweeping musical score, lavish costumes, and high production value.

HORROR

Horror film is a genre that aims to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience. These films are often unsettling and rely on scaring the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Horror films usually center on the arrival of an evil force, person, or event. Many Horror films include mythical creatures such as ghosts, vampires, and zombies. Traditionally, Horror films incorporate a large amount of violence and gore into the plot. Though it has its own style, Horror film often overlaps into Fantasy, Thriller, and Science-Fiction genres.

MUSICAL

A musical film interweaves vocal and dance performances into the narrative of the film. The songs of a film can either be used to further the story or simply enhance the experience of the audience. These films are often done on a grand scale and incorporate lavish costumes and sets. Traditional musicals center on a well-known star, famous for their dancing or singing skills (i.e. Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland). These films explore concepts such are love and success, allowing the audience to escape from reality.

SCI-FI

Science Fiction film is a genre that incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Often, this genre incorporates futuristic elements and technologies to explore social, political, and philosophical issues. The film itself is usually set in the future, either on earth or in space. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will incorporate heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology.