Transcript 032309lecture - News

Multimedia Journalism
Video for the Web
Sec. C1 – March 23, 2009
Topics we’ll cover today
• Creating video for the Web
– Your video story ideas
– Elements of Web video
– Examples
– In-class assignment
• Assignments for next week
Creating Video for the Web
• Remember from week 1: Video is best for showing action, especially
with breaking stories; it takes you to a place central to the story
• When you edit, remember:
• Keep ‘em short—AJR reported in 2008 a survey showing the average length
of video elements on newspaper sites being 2-3 minutes. (Editing can take 34 hours.)
– Note also that YouTube, Vimeo, and other free sharing sites will often limit you
to X minutes per video (generally 5-10)
• It’s a lot like television: Show interviewees for a few seconds, then switch to
"B-roll,” stand-ups, etc.
– B-Roll is: supplemental or alternate footage intercut with the main shot in an
interview or news piece. It makes things interesting.
– Stand-up: When the journalist stands in front of the camera with the mic and
gives supplemental/connecting information (like in voiceover)
– What are some other elements?
• Because the Web typically uses a low frame rate—usually 15 fps rather than
30--avoid action shots with a lot of movement or shots that capture nuance.
They usually display poorly on the Web.
Creating Video for the Web
• Basic rules:
– Avoid wide shots: In broadcast, wide sweeping shots are
generally fine. But remember that your Web video viewers are
much smaller (typically just 3 inches wide when embedded).
– Wider shots, especially those with people (movement) are harder
to see on the Web. The writing is easier to make out in image 2.
Creating Video for the Web
•
Basic rules:
–
Avoid long fades/transitions/dissolves. On the Web, short fades
(or better yet, direct cuts) look much cleaner.
Note how the original fade looks clean while the Web fade looks muddy/has artifacts.
Creating Video for the Web
• Basic rules:
– While I don’t expect you to add text (lower thirds, flashy
intros, etc.) to your pieces, remember this:
• Any text you do use should be easy to read on a small screen.
• The second image is better, but even that’s pushing it.
• What I prefer: introduce interviewees with narration/voiceover rather than text.
NOTE: The rule of thumb for text on the screen is to leave it up long enough to be
read three times over.
Creating Video for the Web
• Stand-ups and interviews (Web or broadcast):
Key terms/What they mean:
Extreme close-up shot
Close-up shot
Medium close-up shot
Medium wide shot (American shot)
Wide shot (full shot)
Extreme wide shot (long shot)
In general, you will use CU/MCU for interviews & MCU shots for stand-ups. Medium shots are
useful when you have the interviewer and interviewee in one frame
Notice the space around the subject in all of these shots.
He’s not perfectly centered until you go wide, but the shot is still balanced.
Only center the subject head-on if you’re it (that is, if you’re talking to viewers)
Creating Video for the Web
• Notes for filming and editing:
– Remember that you don’t have to keep everything you shoot. In fact,
you should bank on shooting more than you’ll ever need. These are
two of the hardest things to learn when first doing video.
• When in doubt, leave it out: As with print, if you’re not sure if a
certain piece of information belongs in your piece, it probably
doesn’t. Leave it out.
• This is the purpose of editing.
– You edit to improve your clips, not to tie together every little thing
you’ve shot.
– Since most Web videos are 2-3 minutes in length, you need to keep
the important stuff in and be willing to leave the auxiliary stuff out.
Creating Video for the Web
• Other tips for interviewing and editing
– Your interviewees don’t have to say everything, especially if the topic at hand
is complicated. If you can summarize complicated points in narration, do.
– What if your interviewee uses a lot of “uhs” and “ums”?
• Be sure to ask them the same question in multiple ways. Once they get comfortable
with what they’re saying, they’ll usually say it better.
• Ask the tougher questions last. This will make your interviewee (who might not be
comfortable with the camera) relax and speak more calmly.
– If your piece has complicated math or financial figures, you can go ahead and
use text to illustrate the key points and figures, but use it sparingly and clearly
– Graphics and charts (created in Photoshop or Excel, for example) might also
help you illustrate key points, so consider them, but remember that they, too,
should be used sparingly.
– Think about your audience’s attention span. You should only use supplemental
information (charts, graphics, numbers) if they are necessary to your story and
if they make things easier to understand. Do NOT use them to squeeze in
more complicated information.
Creating Video for the Web
• Remember that good audio is just as important as
good video (if not more).
– In a video piece, what you hear and what you see should have equal
importance. Otherwise, why aren’t you doing a slide show instead?
– Most pro and consumer cameras will come with a mic input jack. If you
have your own camera and mic, please use them both.
– Make sure that you have a pair of headphones plugged into your
camera. This will help you monitor your levels and avoid something too
quiet or too loud.
• It will also help you fix any issues with noise. If you hear a buzzing sound as
you’re recording, it could be the sign of an equipment problem, or it could
mean that you just need to move your wires around.
– Even though you’re done with your Soundslides presentations, don’t forget how
to use your audio recorders. You’ll need them to record a nice, crisp, clear
narration for your piece.
– Avoid music – It’s tempting, but you don’t need it for straight news. Plus, it can
make your other audio difficult to hear.
Creating Video for the Web
• Past Student videos
– HIV/AIDS funding in jeopardy
– Getting Inked
– The Youth Vote at BU
– What do you notice about these videos?
• What do you like/dislike?
• How did they incorporate B Roll, stand ups, and other elements?
Useful Links/Outside reading
• Useful links/Outside reading:
– MediaCollege.com’s Video Guides
– Sony’s Video Tip Book
– As I’ve mentioned, we can’t cover all of the ins and outs of video in this class:
• The reason that broadcast is its own major at most schools is because
neither one class period nor one course semester is enough to cover all
that you need to know to create stellar work.
• If you are non-broadcast track and are interested in producing good video
for this class (or your final project), I suggest you start reading guides like
the above ASAP. I will try to answer any questions I can, but remember
not to bite off more than you can chew:
– Doing video for the Web involves more than a camera and a mic—it involves a
variety of software (from editing tools to uploading tools/sites). The learning
curve is high, but don’t let it discourage you.
In-class assignment
• Get into pairs and begin working with your cameras.
– Get a feel for the different buttons, the zoom feature
(which should be used sparingly) etc.
– Take turns interviewing each other. Pay attention to:
• Where the person being filmed is standing.
• Can you hear them? Are they too close?
• Are they out of the shot?
– Show me what you’ve got and I’ll offer any pointers if you
need them.
Assignments for Next Time
•
Write up and bring in three ideas for your final project as we
discussed last week. Review the project requirements if needed.
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•
You need to have a written proposal for your topic
You will also need to bring a storyboard outlining (just a rough sketch) how
your site/three multimedia elements work together. (You will turn in both
the proposal and storyboard.)
Get into pairs, check out a camera, and shoot a video report. It
should be at least 2.5 minutes long and include at least 2
interviews. This is a group project and is designed to get nonbroadcasters comfortable with video cameras.
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–
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Due NEXT WEEK: Rough cut (almost final) / Due in TWO WEEKS (April 6): FINAL
Videos (rough AND final) should be on YouTube/Vimeo/similar and cross-posted to
your blogs for viewing in class. We will critique.
NOTE: Both partners should take part in the planning, shooting, and editing of this
project. It will not be acceptable for one party to be stuck with (or to steal) all of the
work. Not working together could result in a failing grade for the assignment. So find
out each other’s schedules before selecting partners.
•
If one person is doing the stand-up(s), the other should record the narration.