Communication Technology
Video Unit - Quick Reference
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The Process:
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The Stages:
Video production is simply telling a story - communicating - by the use of visuals (camera shots,
titling, special effects) and audio (script, voice-over, sound effects, music) tightly woven together. This
close association between audio and visual runs throughout the production process and makes video
a particularly challenging medium in which to work.
Three distinct stages: different tasks, different roles, same goal - to make a great video.
Pre-Production:
• Essentially the planning stage for the video. The better the detail in this planning, the fewer
problems and unexpected surprises you’ll have in the production and post-production stages.
• Scriptwriter develops the script, which is then given a treatment to plan how the visuals will
reinforce the script. Researchers add detail, historians and technical advisors also involved.
• Talent, props, equipment and location planning are all done by experts after the treatment
has provided enough information to them to move forward.
Production
• Set construction, lighting, camera operators, sound engineers, special effects crews, actors,
stuntmen, narrators, makeup, transportation, ‘gaffers’ and ‘grips’ who perform important but
basic labour.
• All are under the command of the Director on a set. Organization is very similar to a movie
production - not surprising, since early television programs were shot on film and transferred
to video for broadcasting.
• Much investment is made at this stage, so the better planning, the shorter the shoot and the
better the savings.
Post-Production
• The critical stage where the footage shot is edited into what the audience will see.
• The script and any modifications made on the set by the director are incorporated into
the final product.
• Primarily Editor, Director and Sound people are involved in this stage.
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Script:
The script is often considered the critical document for many reasons:
1 - It is the first time audio is integrated with visual;
2 - It provides the actors and others the opportunity to visualize the production;
3 - It serves a a common document to which the specialists (sound, props, sets, special
effects, etc.) refer as they do their unique jobs on the production team;
4 - It is the source of storyboarding ideas;
5 - As a script, it allows prospective actors to read together and interact in their roles;
6 - At this stage budgeting can be estimated and controlled;
7 - Investment can be sought based on the quality of the treatment, to fund production;
8 - Potential problems - both legal and logistical - can be identified before becoming costly.
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© TINGLE 2004
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Camera Tips:
The camera is the viewers’ window on the video production, and to achieve the best dramatic effect,
successful directors and editors will devote much time to selecting the camera angles. shots and
movements that best represent their ideas on the screen. They have many to choose from:
1. Extreme Close-Up is an excellent tool for cutting to subject detail and involving the viewer. It is when a small subject fills the frame and allows the viewer to focus on it. i.e.: an actor’s eye;
2. Close-Up Shot is frequently a tightly composed shot of a character’s face, useful for conveying
emotion;
3. Medium Shot: A good all-purpose shot taking in the usual 90o angle of view of the average person.
Typically a shot showing the full actor;
4. Wide Angle Shot - Used as an “Establishing Shot” to show the context of the scene to the viewer.
Wide angle shots show over 90o angle of view, allowing the viewer to see a lot of the scenery;
5. Long Shot - Long shots focus the viewer’s attention on a distant object or actor, involving them in
the scene. Long shots are similar to close-ups, but are taken from a distance where perspective is
distorted;
5. Zoom is simply the optical transition from one shot length to another;
6. Tilt is the vertical camera movement. Imagine a shot of a building starting at the ground, moving up
7. Pan is the technique of horizontal camera movement - often used for visually connecting areas;
8. Dolly describes when the camera is moving along with subject, keeping it in the frame - like in cars;
9. Track refers to a fixed camera location following the subject - like at a horse race;
10. Position: Camera height can be high, level or low, and used with the above shots;
11. Perspective involves how the foreground and background are used to dramatize the action;
12. Transition shot is a technique of inserting a neutral shot between two conflicting move shots.
Example: Action moving from left-to-right -> still shot of actor or object -> action moving from
right-to-left.
Good productions involve many of these camera settings throughout one scene as the camera,
representing the viewer, moves around the subject matter, picking detail and rendering general feeling.
Care must be exercised to not disorient the viewer with too many visually conflicting moves.
☞ Composing for Action and Actors:
The concept of negative space is very important in video and film: Composition must be framed with
objects leading the viewer’s eye to where you will introduce action or into where your actors will be seen.
Scenery or other objects that compete with the actor(s) may draw the viewers’ attention from the desired
activity - unless you are building suspense.
© TINGLE 2004