First Movie Project - A How To Video

So you know the basic shots and camera movements, now it is time to use these skills to create your first real video. The video you will create will be a How To video in which you or someone you know demonstrates how to prepare a meal or food dish.

Here are the specs for the project:

- 5 seconds of black screen.
- Title ~ 3 seconds - should show up during the 5 seconds of black screen and should have your first name only.
- Your movie. The movie must be a minimum of 2 minutes but no longer than 4 minutes.
- No one shot can be longer than 20 seconds.
- You must record the sound of the speaker using the boom mic and headphones to be sure the sound quality is good. Poor sound quality will result a lower score.
- You must include B-roll and cut-aways.
- Be sure to include background music.
- Closing credits - be sure to credit those who participated in the video - remember first names only.
- 5 seconds of black screen.

B-roll refers to additional supporting shots that are not specifically of the subject. Examples of B-roll might be a closeup of the food in a bowl before it is prepared. A close-up of the hands working with the food or the food in the oven or refrigerator. All of these will be cut into your video to increase the interest and prevent long continuous shots.

Cut-away shots are clips of things in the environment where the main shot is being recorded. A shot of the audience or of the kitchen could be used as a cut-away. Cut-aways are typically used to transistion from one scene to another so you don't end up with a jump cut.

The Planning Process.

1. Create a shot list of what will happen in your shoot
LS of kitchen and presenter > MS of kitchen and presenter > CU of presenter as they describe what they are going to prepare.
MS CU of presenter working with food
CU of finished product

2. Create a B-roll shot list - CU of pealing potatoes, CU of butter being poured over potatoes....

3. Create a Cut-away shot list - CU of family picture on kitchen wall, CU of refrigerator with notes....

The Shooting Process.

1. Have your presenter walk through the process as a dry run so they can practice and you can practice with your shots. You may or may not end up using some of this footage.

2. Record your first take, if mistakes are made just continue shooting, you can cut the mistakes later. This first take should be shot with a tripod and there should only be minor camera movements.

3. Record your second take for sections where mistakes were made in the first take.

4. Shoot your B-roll shots - closeups of specific tasks such as the hands preparing the food, the food in the pan cooking, the final plate of food, your presenter taking a taste of the food, the mess the cook made in preparing the food.

5. Shoot your Cut-away shots. Have a series of shots you can use to transition from one shot to another. The dog sitting in the kitchen, the oven... These shots do not have to be long but the more you have the more you have to choose from.

The Editing Process.

1. Since this is a how to video there is a definite sequence to your shots so this will help you put your shots together. Check your sound at this point to be sure the instructions are clear. You may need to do some editing of the sound as well.

2. Once you have your main action shots in sequence begin to add your B-roll and cut-aways to provide interest and transitions.

3. Add sound but be sure the sound does not overpower the voice track, fade the sound in and out at appropriate spots.

4. Add your title and closing credits. Be sure to credit everyone involved in the film but use only first names.