“There’s a big difference between shooting video and making something that somebody else will want to watch.” ~Colin Barrett

There are two types of video•Analog

– The original video recording method which stores or transmits signals as an electronic wave. The images and sounds are represented by continuously changing frequencies and voltage levels; highly subject to degradation and interference.

•Digital– Video that was recorded in digital (numerical—0s and

1s) format OR video that has been converted to digital format using a capture device; a more consistent signal that is highly resistant to interference.

ANALOG S

IGNAL

Think of the analog signal as a ramp, which is a continuous way

to reach a certain height.

Think of the digital signal as steps, which are discontinuous and skip from one point of the

signal to the next.

DIGITA

L SIG

NAL

ANALOG S

IGNAL

When an analog signal is digitized, regular samples of the signal are taken at points (steps) along the “ramp.” This

is called “sampling.”

Large steps = low sampling rate = poorer quality =

smaller file.

DIGITA

L SIG

NAL

Small steps = high sampling rate = better quality = bigger file.

Video Broadcast Standards

•NTSC – most of the Americas & Japan

•PAL– most of Europe, except France

•SECAM– Brazil, France, southern Europe,

Middle East

Resolution & Aspect Ratio• Resolution (The quality or sharpness of an

image, usually measured in pixels per inch)– NTSC picture—720x480 resolution; 30 fps (frames

per second)• DVDs use this resolution

– PAL & SECAM pictures—720x576 resolution

• Aspect ratio (the relationship between the width and height of an image—or horizontal to vertical)– Conventional video and TV: 4:3 (full screen or

standard)– Widescreen movies: 16:9

Sources of Material

• Use images to create videos• Purchase stock footage• Shoot video and capture

– Video capture: the process of transferring video to the computer

Software for Editing Video• Adobe Premiere• Ulead Video Studio• Sony Vegas• Pinnacle Studio 12• MovieMaker

• Roxio• DVD MovieFactory• Final Cut Pro

(Mac)• iMovie (Mac)

To create DVD movies, the software must have DVD authoring capabilities.

Common Video File Formats• .wmv—Windows media video

– originally designed to play in Windows media player

• .avi—audio video interleave– standard Windows video format

• .mpg—motion picture experts group– compressed video format

• .mov—movie– Quicktime video

• .vob—video object– DVD video format

Common Video File Formats• .asf

– Microsoft streaming media format• .mp4

– Mpeg file format used for video streaming

• .swf – Macromedia Flash; pronounced swiff

• .m4v– iMovie - iTunes

Video Cameras• There are several types of video

cameras on the market– HDD—takes directly to an internal hard drive.– Mini-DV—records video to a small tape; 30-60

minutes recording time per tape– Mini-DVD—records to mini DVD; good if you

don’t plan to edit– Flash drive/memory card—records to flash

device which can easily be transferred to your computer

– Hybrid—combines two methods on one camera

Anatomy of a camcorder• On/off switch• Record / Playback• Zoom• Storage option

(tape, dvd, etc.• LCD screen• Volume controls• Tripod bush• Microphone

• Accessory shoe– Hot shoe

• Power source– Battery– AC

• Menu• Cables and ports, if

applicable

Accessories• External microphone

– a shotgun microphone attached to the top of the camera

– a handheld microphone you connect to the camera

– a lavalier or clip-on microphone you connect to the camera

– a boom microphone you connect to the camera

– wireless microphones

Accessories• Tripods

– Select a tripod that will support the weight of your camera

– Pan and tilt heads are helpful

• Lights– Mounted– External

• Green screen (an example of chroma key)– A film and video technique that shoots footage

against a green screen, which is subsequently removed from the image and replaced with a different background

Connecting to Computer• Video capture card

– optional type of video card that will allow you to connect your camera to the computer by S-Video or composite (red/yellow/white) cables

• Firewire (IEEE-1394)– most cameras will have DV out option

(excellent quality)– Firewire 400 – PC; Firewire 800 – Mac

• USB 2.0 capture device– can connect camera or VCR to computer

Camera Techniques

Shots

• Extreme close-up• Close-up• Medium • Long • Over-the-shoulder• Establishing• Point of view• Cutaway

Angles• Low angle• High angle• Eye-level

angle

Movement• Pan• Tilt• Zoom

Camera Tips

• Avoid shooting into the light• Follow the “rule of thirds” guideline:

– Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up (or across) the frame, rather than in the center of the frame

• Leave plenty of recording time at the beginning to allow room for editing

Pre-Production (Plan the Shoot)• Brainstorming• Listing materials, characters, location

– Get approval, if required

• Storyboarding idea– a graphical representation of the shoot

• Preparing the script• Preparing equipment

– Check storage media, batteries, tripod, etc.

Production

• Shooting the video• Capturing the video

– The steps required for this will be dependent on the type of video camera that is available

• Editing the video– Edit video to required length– Add titles, transitions, audio, etc.

Post Production• Rendering the video

– The process of converting project files into one file; your software will determine the file format options available: mpg, avi, wmv, etc.

• Recording video to external storage– Video can be transferred to other media devices– If creating a DVD movie, movie authoring software is

required

• Cleanup– Delete footage from computer– Depending on storage media, reformat or erase

footage