Download Making your own Climate Story - Top Tips

Make your own
Climate Story
TOP TIPS
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org.uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
1. Preparing to make your Video
The most important part of making your
film is to know what you are going to film.
Decide what you want your story to tell
us and make a note of how you are going
to do that.
Estimate how long your final film will be
(no longer than 3mins).
Make a script or take notes on what
points you want to make and how you
will say them.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
2. Environment and Background
There should be a good background to
your video.
Avoid filming your subject against a
window or under a fluorescent light.
Try not to film in noisy or windy locations
and definitely not near music.
Don’t feel you have to do it all in one take.
Make sure you are happy with your
performance and that there are no
stutters or hesitations on your voice over.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
3. Filming your Video
Before you start recording your video,
make sure that your camera works and
that you are holding it the right way!
Check that your camera has charged
properly and you have spare batteries to
hand if you are filming on location and a
power supply is not available.
When you start to record your shot,
count to 5 to allow for a gap between the
footage for ease of editing purposes.
Keep the camera as still as possible, try to
avoid moving it too much. Use the zoom
on the camera as little as possible; move
closer towards the subject instead if you
want tighter shots.
Try to keep the source of light behind the
camera so it illuminates the scene.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
3. Filming your Video (cont’d)
If you are describing a
person/item/landscape etc. during
filming, try to record, where possible,
what you are describing.
When filming an interview, alternating the
shot size of the person will help smooth
the editing process and reduce ‘jump
cuts’ between the narrative.
When you have finished recording a shot,
once again, count to 5 before stopping.
Try not to worry about making your
video look professional as we are looking
for an authentic video diary.
Once everything is completed,
make sure to do one last check of your
camera and footage before starting the
editing process.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
4a. Editing Software
When it comes to video editing software, one size does not fit all. There are many
different choices for video editing applications. Whether you are a PC or Mac
user, there's a software program that's right for you. Although there are many to
choose from, here are our suggestions.
Apple iMovie ‘11
Pre-installed with every new Apple computer. It’s also bundled as part
of iLife ‘11 which can be purchased from the Mac App Store, for older
Mac computers, OS X v10.6.8 is required. Most beginning video editors
prefer going without a significant learning curve, and iMovie ‘11 has a
large selection of editing templates to make the job easy.
Click on link for more info: www.apple.com/imovie
Microsoft Windows Movie Maker
This is a free download from Microsoft and works with PCs running
Windows 7 or later. Movie Maker has simple easy-to-follow
procedures to edit videos that should please every beginner.
Click on link for more info: windows.microsoft.com/movie-maker
Adobe Premiere Elements 11
Adobe Premiere Elements has an easy to use graphical user interface
(GUI) with a timeline where you drag and drop video clips, along with
robust editing and trimming controls. The Quick editing mode’s
InstantMovie setting offers beginners an easy way to edit videos.
Click on link for more info: www.adobe.com/premiere-elements
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
4b. Editing Tips
Cutaways (B-Roll)
Cutaway material (or B-Roll) refers to video footage that sets the scene,
reveals details, or generally enhances the story. For example, at a school play,
besides shooting the play, you could get b-roll of the outside of the school,
the program, faces of audience members, cast members hiding in the wings,
or costume details. These clips can be used to cover any cuts, or smooth
transitions from one scene to another.
Don't Jump
A jump cut occurs when you have two consecutive shots with the exact
same camera set up, but a difference in the subject. It happens most often
when editing interviews and you want to cut out some words or phrases that
the subject says. If you leave the remaining shots side-by-side, the audience
will be jarred by the slight repositioning of the subject. Instead, cover the cut
with some cutaways, or use a fade.
Cut on Motion
Motion distracts the eye from noticing editing cuts. So, when cutting from
one image to another, always try to do it when the subject is in motion. For
example, cutting from a turning head to an opening door, is much smoother
than cutting from a still head to a door about to be opened.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
Make your own Climate Story
TOP TIPS
4b. Editing Tips (cont’d)
Change Shot Size
When you have two shots of the same subject, it’s easy to cut between close
and wide angles. So, when shooting an interview, it’s a good idea to
occasionally change the shot size or focal lengths. A wide shot and a medium
close up can be cut together, allowing you to edit parts out and change the
order of shots without obvious jump cuts.
Wipe
I love it when people walk in front of the camera. They are apologetic, but
unless it happened during a key scene, I am grateful for the wipe they gave
me to use during editing. When the frame fills up with one element (such as
the back of a black jacket), it makes it easy to cut to a completely different
scene without jarring the audience. You can set wipes up yourself during
shooting, or just take advantage when they happen naturally.
Adapting to Climate Change
Scotland’s Stories
www.adaptationscotland.org .uk
The Adaptation Scotland programme is funded by
the Scottish Government and delivered by Sniffer.
Happy Filming!
Please email us a link to your film at:
[email protected]