the six shot story

ATTENTION: OFFICIAL COURSE MATERIALS HAVE MOVED TO CANVAS!
ONLY TECHNICAL GUIDES WILL BE UPDATED FOR 2018-2019

Exercise Overview

You and a partner will tell a short story in exactly six shots. No more. No less. Seems simple, right? We'll see. Having fewer shots means that every shot counts. This exercise in purely visual storytelling is good practice for both experienced and novice filmmakers. Additionally, this project will also entail a crash course in using fancier professional cameras--in this case, the Panasonic AC-90. 

We'll spend a few days talking about the project and learning how to operate the AC-90 cameras, and this is time you should also use to plan your shoot. You'll only have 90 minutes for shooting. (Two regular classes or a single block, depending on where this falls in the week.) That's it. No reshoots. No extra time. No shooting at home. 90 minutes in class. 
RULES
  • Video must include 6 static shots ("static" means no camera movement)
  • All shots must be properly exposed, white balanced, and focused. 
  • You need natural sound in all shots (including room sound)
  • Your video needs a title.
  • No text or dialogue other than the title.
  • 2:00 max length
SUGGESTIONS
  • Story is structure.
  • Sometimes plot templates are helpful. 
  • Nonfiction stories are also stories!
  • Shoot more than you need.  
  • Use a variety of shots, and lean heavily on close ups.
  • Plan, shoot, and edit for continuity. That means shooting in sequence, observing the 180º rule, and *maybe* even using match cuts. We'll talk about each of these during class.
  • ​If you use music, use it strategically and sparingly, not lazily. And any music you use MUST be copyright-free. For real.
  • Try to include a natural sound "pop" at some point--that's an attention-grabbing sound of some sort. A locker slamming, a car honking, a tuba blowing, a cymbal crashing, a person laughing, etc.

On Process

If you heed only one of my recommendations this semester, let it be this one: it's a good idea to develop a process-oriented mindset. Here's an approach to doing that:

For a project like this one, the first process step is imagining and developing possibilities. How many possibilities? That depends, but probably between 3 and 12. For each possibility, you probably want to break the story down into six key moments or turning points, and then you need to figure out how to make them purely visual. Remember: no text or dialogue allowed.    

At the earliest stages of planning, it's useful to have an open format: like a blank page or empty T chart. You could also try some sort of "mind-mapping" to get a sense of the shape of your ideas.  

Later in the process--once you know what the story is--then it's time to think in terms of shots. Because this project has so few shots, it's a good idea to use a storyboard in combination with your shot list. You can use only a shot list, but a storyboard is going to force you to think through shot composition; for that reason, it's harder. 

​Takeaway: If you start this project without a plan, you'll increase the difficultly of your production day. Better make a plan. 

Stuff you'll practice during this exercise

  • Terminology of basic shot angles and types. 
  • Simple shooting and editing for continuity, including match cuts, 180º rule, and shooting in sequence.
  • Basic approaches to planning and storyboarding.
  • How to control exposure, white balance, focus, and sound on the Panasonic AC-90 camera.
  • How to use a tripod.
  • How to mic for natural sound using the camera's internal microphone.
  • How to use framing and camera angle to direct the viewer's eye.
  • AVCHD media management strategies for small projects.

Technical guides

Stuck? Not sure how to do X? Be sure to check the "Technical Guides" menu item at the top of the page.
"Output Name" will prompt you to name and choose the save location for your project. Pay attention to where you save!