Video Communication & Video Communication & ProductionProduction

Chapter 1: About VideoChapter 1: About Video

Ch. 1 ObjectivesCh. 1 Objectives

Explain the meaning of “Video Explain the meaning of “Video Communication”Communication”

Explain why it is important to understand the Explain why it is important to understand the nature of the video world.nature of the video world.

List some major types of video programs.List some major types of video programs. Describe the three major phases of video Describe the three major phases of video

production.production.

A. What is video?A. What is video? Until recently, video did not exist.Until recently, video did not exist. There were just two main audiovisual There were just two main audiovisual

media: media: Film & TelevisionFilm & Television

I. About Video?I. About Video?

Film was the medium used for creating most Film was the medium used for creating most audiovisual programs, from movies to TV audiovisual programs, from movies to TV commercials. commercials.

Film was (and is) an excellent production Film was (and is) an excellent production medium.medium.

1. Film1. Film

The Advantages of FilmThe Advantages of Film

Film equipment is relatively portable, so Film equipment is relatively portable, so location filming is practical.location filming is practical.

Film’s ability to reproduce quality images in Film’s ability to reproduce quality images in black and white or color is highly refined.black and white or color is highly refined.

Film picture and sound tracks are usually Film picture and sound tracks are usually recorded on separate strips of film (or audio recorded on separate strips of film (or audio tape), so sophisticated editing is possible.tape), so sophisticated editing is possible.

2. Television2. Television

TV was the medium used for broadcasting TV was the medium used for broadcasting studio programs as they happened (“live”), studio programs as they happened (“live”), and other programs previously produced on and other programs previously produced on (or copied onto) film. Fig 1-1(or copied onto) film. Fig 1-1

The Early Disadvantages of TVThe Early Disadvantages of TV

Its equipment was heavy, complex, and tied Its equipment was heavy, complex, and tied down by cables to its control systems.down by cables to its control systems.

Its image quality was markedly lower than that Its image quality was markedly lower than that of film, and its ability to render shades of grey of film, and its ability to render shades of grey from black to white was limited.from black to white was limited.

It could not be recorded for later editing, except It could not be recorded for later editing, except by copying the live signal to film and then by copying the live signal to film and then treating it as if it were a filmed program treating it as if it were a filmed program (kinescope).(kinescope).

Video Comes of AgeVideo Comes of Age

As the popularity of television grew over the As the popularity of television grew over the years, equipment manufacturers gradually years, equipment manufacturers gradually solved most of its problems.solved most of its problems.

B. Video vs. FilmB. Video vs. Film

Disadvantages of TVDisadvantages of TV– Picture clarity is course Picture clarity is course

because its resolution is lowbecause its resolution is low– Color lacks a certain Color lacks a certain

richness that is hard to richness that is hard to describe but easy to see in describe but easy to see in filmfilm

– Until recently, sound editing Until recently, sound editing has been more cumbersome has been more cumbersome in videoin video

Disadvantages of FilmDisadvantages of Film– More expensive to shoot More expensive to shoot

and process to a final and process to a final composite positive stripcomposite positive strip

– Less tolerant of different light Less tolerant of different light levelslevels

– Color-balancing is time-Color-balancing is time-consuming and expensiveconsuming and expensive

– Editing is much more difficultEditing is much more difficult

C. Converging TechnologiesC. Converging Technologies

Whatever the alleged weaknesses of film or Whatever the alleged weaknesses of film or video, they are now becoming less video, they are now becoming less important as the two media grow closer important as the two media grow closer together.together.

High-definition video, for example, is close High-definition video, for example, is close to the visual quality of film; and modern film to the visual quality of film; and modern film stocks have wider exposure ranges.stocks have wider exposure ranges.

D. Types of Video ProductionD. Types of Video Production

Today, people make a wide variety of video Today, people make a wide variety of video programs ranging from five-second to thirteen-programs ranging from five-second to thirteen-hour miniseries.hour miniseries.

These are distributed for broadcast, cable, satellite These are distributed for broadcast, cable, satellite TV and the Internet, and on cassettes or disks TV and the Internet, and on cassettes or disks played in schools, businesses, and homes.played in schools, businesses, and homes.

Some videos are produced to entertain, to Some videos are produced to entertain, to persuade, or to teach. Others capture a family persuade, or to teach. Others capture a family holiday, inventory a stamp collection, or document holiday, inventory a stamp collection, or document a vacation. a vacation.

E. Video Talents and JobsE. Video Talents and Jobs If you like the story side of production, try writing, directing, or editing.If you like the story side of production, try writing, directing, or editing. If you have graphic talents, the specialties of art decoration, set and If you have graphic talents, the specialties of art decoration, set and

costume design, and makeup are vital to sophisticated video costume design, and makeup are vital to sophisticated video production. You can also create postproduction video graphics and production. You can also create postproduction video graphics and titles.titles.

If you are intrigued by nuts and bolts of production, then camera If you are intrigued by nuts and bolts of production, then camera operation, lighting, and audio recording are skills that command operation, lighting, and audio recording are skills that command respect.respect.

If you have technical aptitude, audio and video engineering are If you have technical aptitude, audio and video engineering are challenging occupations.challenging occupations.

If management is your aim, video producing and production If management is your aim, video producing and production management require well-developed skills in organization, personnel, management require well-developed skills in organization, personnel, and finance.and finance.

F. Not for Professionals OnlyF. Not for Professionals Only

You may not anticipate a career in video You may not anticipate a career in video production, but you may want to master this production, but you may want to master this medium purely for personal expression.medium purely for personal expression.

Like music or painting or photography or Like music or painting or photography or cabinetmaking, video is an art in which “amateur” cabinetmaking, video is an art in which “amateur” practitioners can and should develop exactly the practitioners can and should develop exactly the same skills that full-time professionals use to same skills that full-time professionals use to make their living in this medium.make their living in this medium.

II. Video CommunicationII. Video Communication

A.A. The Nature of the Video WorldThe Nature of the Video World When you watch TV, you may think you are looking at When you watch TV, you may think you are looking at

a picture of the actual world, but you are not. The TV a picture of the actual world, but you are not. The TV screen is a screen is a windowwindow that looks out on a completely that looks out on a completely different universe – a strange cosmos in which the different universe – a strange cosmos in which the formal laws of space and time and gravity do not work formal laws of space and time and gravity do not work at all. (See figure 1-5)at all. (See figure 1-5)

B.B. The Language of Video ExpressionThe Language of Video Expression

C.C. The Construction of Video ProgramsThe Construction of Video Programs

II. Video CommunicationII. Video Communication

A.A. The Nature of the Video WorldThe Nature of the Video WorldB.B. The Language of Video ExpressionThe Language of Video Expression

Video Communication uses a visual language Video Communication uses a visual language – a language with rules much like those of a – a language with rules much like those of a written language.written language. An An imageimage is much like a single word is much like a single word A A shotshot is like a complete sentence is like a complete sentence A A scenescene is like a paragraph is like a paragraph A A sequencesequence is like a chapter is like a chapter

C.C. The Construction of Video ProgramsThe Construction of Video Programs

II. Video CommunicationII. Video Communication

A.A. The Nature of the Video WorldThe Nature of the Video WorldB.B. The Language of Video ExpressionThe Language of Video ExpressionC.C. The Construction of Video ProgramsThe Construction of Video Programs

Video Communication is like written Video Communication is like written communication in yet another way: it is not communication in yet another way: it is not enough to write a grammatically correct enough to write a grammatically correct sentence or compose a short paragraph. You sentence or compose a short paragraph. You must be able to organize and develop a must be able to organize and develop a coherent story or essay – or even a whole coherent story or essay – or even a whole book.book.

III. Visual LiteracyIII. Visual Literacy

Even if your career never involves producing Even if your career never involves producing video, you spend a considerable amount of time video, you spend a considerable amount of time consuming it: Video is the most persuasive and consuming it: Video is the most persuasive and powerful system ever invented for delivering facts, powerful system ever invented for delivering facts, ideas, and opinions.ideas, and opinions.

If you understand the techniques of video If you understand the techniques of video communication, you can separate the information communication, you can separate the information you are watching from the methods used to you are watching from the methods used to organize and present it. This is called organize and present it. This is called Visual Visual LiteracyLiteracy..

IV. Video ProductionIV. Video Production

1.1. PreproductionPreproduction This phase includes everything you do before actual This phase includes everything you do before actual

shooting begins. (scripting, storyboards, scouting shooting begins. (scripting, storyboards, scouting locations, gathering cast and crew, planning locations, gathering cast and crew, planning production equipment, etc)production equipment, etc)

2.2. ProductionProduction This phase covers the actual shooting of the This phase covers the actual shooting of the

material that will become the program.material that will become the program.

3.3. PostproductionPostproduction In this phase, you select the shots you want to In this phase, you select the shots you want to

include, assemble them in order, add music and include, assemble them in order, add music and sound effects to the audio, and create titles and sound effects to the audio, and create titles and visual effects. This process is called editing.visual effects. This process is called editing.