Shooting Basics
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The document provides guidance on basic video shooting techniques including different types of shots - wide, medium, tight, and extreme close-up - and how to properly sequence those shots. It recommends always starting with a wide shot and moving closer, and discusses other technical tips like keeping a subject's eyes on the top third of the frame, leaving space in front of their nose, and using cutaway shots in interviews. Proper lighting, background selection, and storytelling techniques for editing are also covered.
Shooting Basics
- 1. Use the techniques of the pros Shooting Basics
- 2. If you have two hands and a good memory, you’ll always have your shooting notes with you.
- 3. ACTION REACTION WIDE MEDIUM TIGHT EYES NOSE SOUND LIGHTING BACKGROUND
- 4. 6 Basic Shots Action Wide Action Medium Action Tight Reaction Wide Reaction Medium Reaction Tight
- 5. Wide shot (also known as Establishing Shot or Long Shot) This shows the whole scene. Frequently you'll see video pieces begin with this shot. It's helpful because it sets the stage - the viewer gets oriented to where s/he is. These shots are also good if there's a lot of movement because there is plenty of room to move around. This shot might show a small crowd of people. To get this shot, you may need to zoom back as far as you can.
- 6. Medium Shot This shot shows less of a scene than the wide shot. The camera seems closer to the subject (although it may not be if you use your zoom lens). For example, if you were interviewing someone, this shot would show them from about the waist up in a medium shot. Use this when you want a closer look at your subject, or when you need to transition between wide shots and close-up shots (it is difficult for the viewer to follow what you are doing if you go straight from a wide shot to a close-up shot).
- 7. Close Up Shot This shot shows an even smaller part of the subject or scene. It's great for showing detail, like a person's emotional face or individual leaves on a tree. If you were interviewing someone, this shot would show the person from the top of the chest or shoulders up. An Extreme Close Up Shot is even closer than a Close Up. For example, it is just of the person's eyes, or of a bug gnawing on a leaf. Close Up Shot Extreme Close Up
- 8. Shot Sequencing during Shooting Always start with Wide and work your way to Tight. You want to do a Wide, Medium, Tight sequence for every shot you take, pausing your recording in between when you physically move yourself closer to what you are shooting (preferred) or using the camera's zoom to get in closer. Back in the editing room, you'll have lots of choices of shots to choose from.
- 9. Shot Sequencing Rules during Editing (only break for a GOOD reason or purpose) 1. Never repeat the same shot (i.e. a Medium Action followed by another Medium Action). 2. Never jump from Wide to Tight.
- 10. "Eyes on Third“ Always keep your subject's eyes on the top third line, whether you're 3 feet, 30 feet, or 300 feet away.
- 11. "Nose Room" Always keep more visual space in front of your subject's nose in the direction they are looking. This is also called "Look Room" or "Looking Room". Visualizing Pinochio is a great way to remember this principle.
- 12. "Two Eyes and an Ear" Always frame an interview subject in 3/4 profile with them looking slightly off camera, preferable at a reporter. You should always position yourself right next to your reporter with the camera on the same eye level as the interview subject. This means for kids, you need to lower the tripod so the camera is shooting at their eye level.
- 13. "Cutaways" Always change position after an interview and shoot footage of the reporter (where they were during the interview) repeating what they were doing during the interview -- listening intently and non-verbally responding to the subject's comments.
- 14. Interview Sound Use a lavaliere or shotgun microphone for your interview subject.
- 15. Natural "Nat" Sound Record lots of target and ambient sounds for use during editing. Vesperman Farms Nat Sound Pak
- 16. Proper lighting will make a huge difference in your production quality. Studio lighting is expensive, but you do not need to buy studio lights. Cheap halogen lights from the hardware store will work fine.
- 17. The background in a shot can add a lot to the feel of the newscast. Placing the reporter in the midst of the action he or she is covering gives the viewer a feeling of “being there.”
- 18. After shooting and downloading your video, you will need to map out how you will tell the story. Will you use a standup? Did you already record the standup or do you need to do it now? Where will you use narration? Does the story have a definite beginning, middle and end? Can you tell the story in 1.5 to 3 minutes Edit each video clip. Leave some room for transitions, but get rid of most empty air. Avoid jump cuts, which are two clips placed together of the same subject but there is a disconnect between them. Put in a transition or use B roll as a transition.
- 19. The End