VIDEO STORYTELLING

Shooting terminology A-roll = story narrative (what sources or

narrator are saying.) B-roll = video transitions added to avoid

having talking heads. Remember 80:20 ratio (80 percent should

be B-roll and 20 percent should be A-roll interviews – you will always need more B-roll than you think you will.)

Getting good A-roll Good audio is critical. Wear headphones and monitor the levels

to be sure. Avoid “stepping on” interviews – be quiet. Get the mic close to the subject.

A-roll

Use rule of thirds to frame the interviewee.

A-roll Pay attention to background

Watch for poles or other objects coming out of their heads

Avoid lining up people against walls

Getting good B-roll Shoot lots of it – and get a variety of shots

wide (helps establish) medium close up

For a 1:30 minute video, you will need 35 to 60 shots to keep your viewers interested.

When shooting B-roll, try shooting wide, medium and tight shots of each scene or image.

Some examples

Shoot in sequences A sequence is a series of images that flow from

one to the next -- not just wide/medium/tight. A sequence sets the scene, shows details, has

motion and completes an action.   BBC’s Five-Shot Method A good rule of thumb:

50 percent of shots will be close ups 25 percent medium 25 percent wide

More examplesAnd more here

Critical shots Be sure to get an establishing shot –

something that sets the scene in one image

Critical shots Your opening shot should grab the

viewer’s attention and help set up your story.

Critical shots Get a closing shot (someone closing a

door, capping a pen, petting a dog, turning out the lights, releasing a butterfly)

Be thinking about shots Always think about how to get from one

shot to the next. Try to get some kind of transition shot

with either an entry or exit. Close-ups are especially helpful in editing

to get from point A to point B.

Shoot lots of cutaways To avoid jump cuts – some examples

The 180-degree rule Shoot within 180 degrees around a

subject. In other words, don’t walk around your subject when interviewing them.

Some examples

Additional tips Always pre-roll and post-roll your tape.

Record 20 to 60 seconds of black at the beginning and end of your tape. Why?

Hold every shot for at least 10 seconds Stop recording before you move to the

next shot Don’t move the camera -- avoid zooming

and panning Use a tripod

Good planning = good story

Brainstorm the idea Make sure the story is worth video.

Action Emotion Something people want to see

Visualize the story Think about which shots you’ll need – make a

list Think about what will be visual

Keep focused on the story – keep it simple

Good planning Consider creating a storyboard before

you shoot. After shooting you can revise the

storyboard to help you focus in the editing process.

Or you can write a script, based on transcription of your interviews.

Good planning Script example – video tab on class blog

Writing tips Write to your video. Don’t include information

in your story unless you have the visuals to back it up.

When you’re done editing, turn off your speakers and watch your video. Does it still make sense? If so, you’ve done a good job at telling a visual story.

Now turn on your speakers. What you hear should add an entire new layer of information: You don’t need to include information that is already conveyed in the visuals.

Writing Tips From NBC’s Bob Dotson: Make sure you know what you want the

audience to take away from the story. Formulate this theme to yourself to help guide the story creation.

Then use your images to prove that theme visually. Very seldom will you state the theme verbally in any story.

Write to your pictures first. Write a strong lead that instantly telegraphs the story to come.

Writing Tips Allow for moments of silence. Stop writing

occasionally and let two or three seconds or more of compelling action occur without a voiceover.

For a writer, nothing is more difficult to write than silence. For viewers, sometimes nothing is more eloquent.

Build in surprises to sustain viewer involvement. Surprises help viewers feel something about the story; they lure uninterested viewers to the screen.

Surprises can be visuals, wild sounds, short bites, or poetic script. Always, surprises are little moments of drama.

Some examples (broadcast)

Everybody Has a Story Art of Compassion Daddy dentistry

Examples (no narration) Baseball player Chicago snow Neighbor in snow Roping the Wind “I want Luis back”

Plenty more examples Michelle’s Delicious

NewsNet examples Rubric Gowns Haymarket Park

Bottom line Before you start writing text or editing

video, you need to have a very clear idea of the focus of your story.

Your story should be so focused that you can describe it in one sentence.

Once it’s complete, you need to be able to sit back and look at your project as a reader/viewer would. Is your story coherent?

More resources Knight Digital Media Center Video Journalists Toolkit Shooting tips