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Tell your story in a video
You could, for example, talk about how online volunteers are supporting your organization and the difference they make to your projects and the people you serve. Ask your online volunteers to record why they volunteer online, what they personally gain from the experience, how they have supported your organization and what they have helped you to achieve -- and then join your statements together (using any video editing tool) and upload them to the “UNV Online Volunteering service” group on YouTube.
Your videos can be featured on the Online Volunteering service website and will help demonstrate that online volunteering is about real people, real relationships for real impact on peace and development. It is also a way for organizations to recognize the contributions of their online volunteers.
Hints and tips for producing a video
While broadcast quality productions are not expected, below are some conventional video hints and tips. This is meant as a guide only, as ultimately good stories and enthusiasm easily make up for loss in ideal technical quality and this is your story, so develop and explore your own style, using whatever equipment you have to hand, whether webcam, mobile phone, digital camera or camcorder.
Directing/Production
What is the story you are trying to tell?
• Just giving it a title can help you think it through;
• You could write a dummy voice over script which could be recorded and used in the final edit or serve merely as a guide;
• Establish the main focus (e.g. volunteers/ing) right from the beginning.
What pictures will you need to tell your story?
You’ll need to show…
• Who is involved: think about how you can show people in context;
• Where it is: you will need shots to locate the action in space & time;
• What is happening: you can break down action into sections with a shot for each (e.g.: entering a building in 4 shots);
• It can help to create a two column shot list for both audio & visual to list what needs to be captured.
Equipment
• Your equipment can be as basic as any device that captures digital video (ideally camcorder but it could also be a mobile phone or digital camera with USB or FireWire ports);
• A PC or laptop with at least a media player (QuickTime, RealMedia, Windows Media) but ideally also editing software such as iMovie for the mac or Windows Movie Maker with PCs;
• An occasional connection to the Internet for upload to Youtube.
Shooting
General tips
• If necessary re-do takes for both clean audio and best visuals;
• Top and tail shots: If editing allow at least 5 seconds at the start and end of each shot;
• Focus: Ensure your subject is in focus. This is best done manually if there is a lot of movement. Zoom into your subject, adjust the focus (or Push Auto if available) then zoom out to establish your shot and start filming (if left to auto the camera will try to focus on anything crossing the screen).
Shots
Movement
• Don’t overuse zoom: it is usually better to zoom in film, stop filming then zoom out and recommence filming as overuse can be disorientating for the viewer – it is generally better to get closer to the subject;
• Keep the camera steady as much as possible avoiding jerky sudden movements while filming – use a tripod/bean bag if necessary or set the zoom to the widest setting and move physically closer to minimize camera shake;
• Pan: Again use sparingly, keep slow and steady on a tripod or held against the chest. Always start & finish with the camera at static.
Wide shots
• Usually used to set the scene, make sure they are long enough and capture all the action in that scene.
Medium shots
• Often useful to show interactions between characters.
Close up
• Useful for highlighting the details of your story bringing it alive and revealing emotion or ‘truths’ (e.g. facial expressions or hands doing something).
‘Cutaways’
• Once you have your pre-planned shots, use the remaining time to get GV’s (general views), a variety of shots, (close and wide) giving ‘colour’ to the story and options to break up a long shot (especially interviews) in the edit.
Composition
• Fore/Background: Be aware of what besides the subject is in shot that could add or detract from your intention (e.g.: reflections of yourself filming!). This may require checking locations in advance;
• Point of view: Be conscious of how your camera position can infer point of view (e.g.: shooting a child from above can infer superiority so it might be better to squat to get them at eye level);
• Headroom: Too much or too little headroom (space above a persons head) and the image could look unbalanced so be careful with framing.
Lighting
Outdoors
• Keep your back to the sun so as to light your subject (if you faced the sun your subject would be silhouetted);
• Beware of where shadows fall.
Indoors
• To avoid your camera misreading the primary light source (daylight, tungsten or fluorescent) either manually set the white balance or leave it on automatic;
• Classic lighting set up is ‘3 point lighting’ with the subject lit by a ‘key light’ from 30-45 degree angle from the camera, a 2nd light filling in shadows on the subject’s other side and a 3rd back light creating depth.
Audio
Good audio is as important as good images in telling a story.
• Many camcorders have audio levels which can be monitored and adjusted to check sound levels and it is best to use headphones when recording audio;
• It is preferable to use external microphones as most camcorders pick up all sound in the area and is usually quite a distance from your subject;
• General: Use a uni-directional microphone (so you can point at the source you want) which can be fitted to the front of the camera, handheld or attached to a pole;
• Interviews: ‘Clip-on’ microphones are best for interviews. These are omni-directional so do not need to be pointed at the source of sound. Beware of rustling if the microphone is attached to clothing (avoid folds).
People
Interviews
If you are able to edit later, introduce the interviewee, try to get establishing shots or a short sequence (even if you have to stage this) ideally with the subject involved in activities relevant to the interview subject. This material can then be used as ‘cutaways’ (images over audio) during the interview.
• Set up a head and shoulders shot (don’t frame the shot around the neck or elbow joints);
• Have the main light behind you and falling on the subject. Avoid strong back lighting;
• Make sure you can see both eyes and that the eyes are not in shadow;
• Record in a quiet area if possible. Use a clip microphone when there is not much background noise, otherwise use a directional microphone -- keep it out of shot and pointed at the subject’s mouth (ideally 2-6 feet away). If you are later editing avoid background music as this will play havoc with the edit continuity.
‘On the run’
This will often involve handheld shooting so remember to
• Minimise camera shake; keep the frame on a wide setting and get in close, this will also increase the depth of field;
• Be aware of the position of the microphone in relation to the subject to pick up consistent audio.
Post-production
Editing
• Most recent computers come with basic video-editing software installed (like Apple's iMovie or Windows MovieMaker) with their own self-tutorial. Otherwise well know packages such as FinalCutPro or Premiere are relatively inexpensive & user-friendly or you may know someone who has them.
Some tips
• Decide how the piece will progress from one theme to another (e.g. through visuals or narration?);
• For added impact look for opportunities to match the activity on the screen to spoken words;
• Think carefully about how one shot continues to the next to avoid jump cuts (jarring viewer expectation) – cutaways can be used here;
• Do not overuse elaborate transitions – stick to cuts and occasionally dissolves and fades to black;
• Keep your audience in mind for style and pace, leaving them with the emotion you are communicating;
• Don’t forget to add titles as needed;
• Remember - the more complex the editing, subjects and backgrounds, the larger the file will be.
Uploading Your Videos to YouTube
• Once your edit is complete, Youtube accepts video in a common format such as QuickTime .MOV, Windows .AVI, or .MPG files for uploading. (Youtube specifically recommends the MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format at 640X480 resolution with MP3 audio).
• Remember, your file must be under 1GB in size and no longer than 10 minutes in length (most are under 5 minutes).
• Youtube has a very comprehensive Help Centre here: http://help.youtube.com/support/youtube/
