Video storytelling
Why use video?
 85 percent of Web users watched video in May.
 34 billion videos
 News videos are second only to entertainment,
humor.
Many types of video
 Broadcast package – reporter narrates
 Subject-narrated video
 Video essays
 Spot news – sometimes raw
 Sidebars
 It’s all about the story!
What’s the story?
 Make sure the story is worth video.
 Look for action.
 Look for emotion.
 Look for characters.
 Look for activity people will want to see.
Action, movement
 Digging out
 Water main
Emotion
 “I want Luis back”
 Hearst championship winner
Find a character
 The carpenter
 Everybody has a story
Something you want to see
 Paraplegic dog
 Dancing for Dominoes
Planning even before you go
 Brainstorm the idea.
 Think about which shots you’ll need – make a list.
 Think about what will be visual.
Plan ahead
 Remember you need a beginning, middle and
end.
 Start and end strong.
 Think about what will grab viewers and set up
your story.
 Think about your closing shot – slamming a door,
turning out the lights, walking away.
Plan ahead
 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.
Shoot first, interview second
 Shoot what’s interesting.
 Ask questions about how, why later.
Understand the lingo
 A-roll – the story’s narrative (what sources or
narrator say)
 B-roll – transitions used to avoid talking heads
 80:20 ratio – 80 percent of your shots should be Broll, 20 percent will be A-roll.
So let’s start shooting
 What is the key ingredient when shooting good
video?
Getting good A-roll
 Good audio is critical.
 Wear headphones, monitor sound.
 Get the mic close to the speaker.
 Be quiet.
Shooting A-roll
 Be aware of the background.
 Remember the rule of thirds when framing your
shots.
Shooting B-roll
 Shoot lots of it. You’ll need more than you think.
 For 1:30 minute video, you need 35 to 60 shots to
keep viewers interested.
 Shoot wide, medium, tight shots of each scene.
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 in sequences
 Images should flow from one to the next.
 Ratio: 50% close-ups, 25% medium, 25% wide
 Sequences video
5-shot method
 Extreme close-up (hands)
 Close-up of the face of person in action
 Medium shot (face and action together)
 Over-the-shoulder view (from point of view of
person in action)
 Another angle (be creative)
BBC training video
 5-shot method
Time to start shooting
 Frame the action, then start recording.
 Stand still while you are shooting.
 Shoot for at least 10 seconds. Leave space at
beginning and end of shot to help you edit.
 Stop recording before you move to the next shot.
More on framing
 Pay attention to background – look for poles or
other objects coming out of heads
 Don’t leave too much dead space above a
person’s head.
Shooting rules
 Don’t pan.
 Don’t zoom.
 Don’t tilt the camera.
What you need
 Shoot action, then reaction.
 Let the action leave the frame.
 Get a variety of shots.
 Use a tripod.
Critical shots
 Opening shot -- should grab the viewer’s
attention and help set up your story.
 Closing shot -- someone closing a door, capping
a pen, petting a dog, turning out the lights,
releasing a butterfly.
Get details
 Remember to get close.
 Use details for transitions.
 Close-ups help you get from Point A to Point B.
Using sound as transition
Shoot cutaways
 Avoid jump cuts – person or object moves
unnaturally from one shot to the next.
 Instead shoot action, cut away to inanimate
object on periphery and then back to action.
 Jump cut video
180-degree rule
 Shoot within 180 degrees around a subject. Don’t
walk around your subject.
 180 degree video example
Telling the story
 Before you start writing text or editing video, you
need to have a very clear idea of the focus of
your story.
 Keep your story simple.
 Consider writing a storyboard.
Video examples
 Haymarket Park
 Colin Rocks
 Griselda’s words
 Art of Compassion
More resources
 Knight Digital Media Center
 Video Journalists Toolkit
 Shooting tips
 Examples – Michelle’s delicious