Download - Video Story Forms
Video story forms
Michael Roberts
• How to frame video story forms
• How to them to improve your video
• Benefits to the newsroom
• Benefits to your readers
Topic / Main points
Problems
Bad video
Weak video skills
Poor use of video
Solution
Video story forms
Topic / Main points
Video comes to the newsroom…
Video trends 2011
Fewer videos: High-quality, extended video pieces
More videos: Quick, short video
More shooters: Reporters with simple cameras
Embed vs. free-standing: Video as part of package; link sets; repeat use from inventory
Video standards
• Gear
• Shooting techniques
• Editing techniques
Video standards
Video standards
• Gear
• Shooting techniques
• Editing techniques
• Story forms
Video standards
• Gear
• Story forms
- Shooting techniques
- Editing techniques
Video story forms
• Specify content focus
• Anticipate workflow
• Outline structure
• Identify opportunities
• Vary approaches & content
• Offer viewers consistency
• Improve communication
• Provide basis for coaching
• Enable content management
Video story forms
Video story forms
Event Guide Profile
Slice of life Man on the street
5 Video Story Forms
Event: Live news event.
Guide: Tour. Orientation. Consumer information. How-to.
Profile: Person. Place. Organization.
Slice of life: Sights and sounds of familiar event.
Man on the street: Q&A with series of people.
Event video
Preparation: Date, time, expected highlights, cast of characters. Consumer information for recurring event. Story structure: Chronological; beginning-middle-end. Content: Distinguishing visual and audio elements. Interviews with participants.
Guide video
Preparation: Tour guide. Consumer, participant information. Expected highlights. Story structure: (a) Chronological. (b) Blocks or chapters. Example: Tour of candy factory that follows production line (chronology). Guide to restaurant by menu, setting, and chef (blocks). Content: Consumer information from tour guide (interview), with related visual / audio elements.
Profile video
Preparation: History of subject. Identify defining characteristic; essence; central motivation. Story structure: Identifies subject, defining characteristic, and shows that characteristic in action. Content: Opens with subject or tour guide to identify subject, then shows defining characteristic in action or results. Note: Video is not devoted to history of subject, but rather the defining characteristic.
Slice of life video
Preparation: Identify familiar event, something viewers will immediately recognize. Select theme or slice to highlight. Structure: Introduce theme, follow with collage or variations on the theme. Content: Visual / audio expressions of selected theme.
Man-on-the-street video
Preparation: Identify (1) news topic, (2) single question for video, (3) relevant group of people. Structure: Introduce topic and question, followed by concise answers. Content: Multiple responses to single open-ended question. Limit sound bites to 7-10 seconds. Vary framing of each subject.
Other possible forms…
• Short interviews; “Three questions with…” “A minute with…”
• Fan talk (sports; entertainment)
• Settings (places in the news)
• Others?
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Story forms improve…
• Training: Across departments and roles; offers a common language
• Skills: Develop momentum; independence; consistency
• Content management: Shelf life and best use of resources
Video story forms
Michael Roberts