Welcome to Lesson 6
Learning Intention.
In this lesson we will be consolidated your learning of key concepts and exploring some Video production Tips and Hacks! We are learning this because successful participation in communities relies on understanding systems of communication.
We will also continue to explore some of your ideas for the YouTube style channel that you will be making.
Our subject specific vocabulary will also expand.
Success Criteria:
By the end of the lesson you will know more about challenges facing content producers. In addition to application of key vocabulary, you will further develop the conceptual and practical considerations that video production involves.
Remember – because of our deal with Adobe, you can download Photoshop for 12 months for only $11.00. Contact Mrs Ortlipp to organize this. If you need her email address, message me!
Have a word document open, or a notepad. When you hear good ideas, or if inspiration suddenly strikes you, jot them down for later use!
When you see this image it means that there are questions that you must answer and send to me!
Tips, Hacks & Recaps
In this episode of learning from home while the world goes to hell – we will be looking at some practical tips and hacks for shooting video without super fancy gear. We will also recap some of the key information and concepts taught in the first 5 lessons.
By this stage I am sure you have already started to have some fairly concrete ideas about the channel you want to create. If not, look again at this list and commit to an idea so that you can start to generate content.
Review your word document where you defined your TARGET AUDIENCE.
Write a new paragraph about who you are targeting. Include their interests, gender, age and geographical location along with any other information that helps you define who they are.
Make a list of other channels that Target the same group that you are looking at. Identify HOW they try to appeal to that audience (branding, colors, content, etc)
Have a look at the thumbnail for the video above. It uses the same technique that I showed you back in lesson 1.
Remember when you make your thumbnail to keep the background as clutter free as possible. My example should have given greater attention to the text to make the focus of the video pop a little more. Experiment with your text and make sure you are happy with how effective it is in making people interact with it.
HACK #1 FAKE a Timelapse Video.
Timelapse is a technique where you set a camera up for a long period of time and record the changes that occur. The duration of the recording is then condensed down into a shorter time frame. Most new camera’s have this as an inbuilt function. Timelapse video’s can make for great transitions from one scene or segment into another.
The downside of using your phone for this type of task, is that you can’t use it while you are recording. So if you are super popular or just cannot go without your phone for 15-20 minutes, read on!
So the first HACK is to use an old phone or camera. The trade-off might be that the older phone/camera may not have a built in timelapse function. So to continue the HACK – record it and then edit it in software by changing its speed/duration. Let’s have a look at the example I shot below using an old phone that only had enough storage space to allow for a 15 minute recording!
Remember to use the Youtube Audio Library to download free soundtracks for your scene.
Forgotten how to use the basic video editor in Windows 10? Review the How to Video I made in Lesson 5
The Slow Mo Guys
The Slow Mo Guys have had a very successful Youtube presence for quite a long time. Watch the video below and then answer the questions.
Describe the audience you think the Slow Mo Guys target? Why do you think this?
Explain why you think that their content is or is not shareable? Remember the key elements of a shareable video are:
- topical.
- relatable.
- valuable.
Look at their channel art, about section and thumbnails. What is your opinion on the way they brand themselves? Are there things that they could do differently?
HACK #2 Teleprompters
In the really cringy video that I made back on the Cyberstudies landing page, I was reading from a DIY teleprompt. A teleprompt is basically a piece of equipment that is used in media production that let’s the presenter read the information while looking into the camera. The text will roll along and they just keep up with the text to deliver the messages with the correct tempo. Most modern TV style camera setup’s can integrate Teleprompters. Because I don’t have the cash to splash for one I used this HACK : https://cueprompter.com/
Cueprompter is FREE!! Like anything, it takes some time to get used to using it. In the video I shot it was the first time I had used it and I think it showed 🙁
Some RED HOT TIPS for use!!
Set it up on a laptop or tablet. Keep it pretty much in line and as close to the same height as possible to your recording camera. This way your eyes will look like they are looking into the camera. Also, put the teleprompt as far back as you can get it and still see it to read comfortably. The further back it is, the more natural your eyes usually look.
Watch the video below for a HOW TO on using it.
HACK #3 AUDIO RECORDING
There is a school of thought in media production that people will forgive you for less than perfect visuals, but they won’t stand for poor audio. So it is really important that our audio is as good as it can possibly be.
Hack #3 is using a second phone to record audio. Ideally it is a phone that has a set of earphones with an external Mic – you know, the old school type. My plugging the ear phones into your second phone you can wear them like a lapel microphone. They are designed for recording voices so the results are usually pretty good!
It is particularly helpful if you need to be a long way from the camera that is recording the picture!
Whenever using multiple audio sources, be sure to give yourself both a visual and audio cue (like clicking figures or a clapboard) to help sync the files together.
The downside of multiple audio tracks is that it does require a little extra editing!!
Let’s look at some examples of this technique being used and edited.
Lets look at how to edit video’s with multiple sound sources using Adobe Premier Pro. Remember we have that super cool deal with Adobe!
But if your pockets are empty and the $11.00 are beyond you at the moment, remember to check out the FREE software I mentioned in Lesson 5. I am fairly sure that at least two of the packages allow for layering of audio tracks so that you can still use the same technique I describe below! Review them here!
HACK #4 Tripods: KISS – Keep it Steady Stupid!
The tripod I use for the video’s I have made for these lessons was purchased at Officeworks for around $40.00. It has a grip for holding the phone and it can free stand or mount onto the small tripod it came with. I find it super handy as it fits into a small bag and is very light.
But 40 bucks is 40 bucks, and sometimes our budgets are a little on the skinny side and we need to make do with what we have around the house. This can mean piling books on top of a bench or table to get some height for indoor recording, or for outdoor recording, using the trusty old rubbish bin with a brick to lean the phone against.
The moral of this hack is – KISS: Keep it Steady Stupid!! Video where the camera is moving a lot can be really off putting for the viewer. So keeping your camera steady is really important.
Extension Task:
For those who want more!
Use your phone camera and any others that you may have access to record a simple walking scene that has a long shot, medium shot and a close-up. Use Adobe Premier Pro or some other editing software to edit the shots together.
Really give thought to how you are using the Audio!
Include a timelapse in the introduction to help Establish where the scene is taking place.