Why a how-to?
Really? A how-to?
The sheer number of how-to videos is reason enough to include this project in this class. (How many how-to videos are on the internet? A million?) But more important, this how-to video will also be a structured way to re-introduce you to important principles and techniques in this class. Each day in class, I'll demonstrate useful techniques: shooting and editing techniques as well as techniques for planning and project management.
This will be the only project where everyone will have essentially the same set of problems to solve, so it will be a rich opportunity for discovery and conversation--a great jumping-off point for a semester full of creative exploration!
The sheer number of how-to videos is reason enough to include this project in this class. (How many how-to videos are on the internet? A million?) But more important, this how-to video will also be a structured way to re-introduce you to important principles and techniques in this class. Each day in class, I'll demonstrate useful techniques: shooting and editing techniques as well as techniques for planning and project management.
This will be the only project where everyone will have essentially the same set of problems to solve, so it will be a rich opportunity for discovery and conversation--a great jumping-off point for a semester full of creative exploration!
Key Concepts & Ideas
- In video, the moving images on screen are more important than the words your script includes.
- Scripts are designed or drawn, not written.
- Storyboards are designed or drawn, not written.
- Shot lists are designed or drawn, not written.
- A video is not a writing project, so don't write it; design or draw it.
Project Overview
- 1:30-3:00 video that demonstrates, explains, or teaches a process.
- Record a voiceover using a microphone (or sound booth).
- Base your voiceover script on a well-designed storyboard or shot design.
- Shoot the video using the Panasonic AC-90 camera.
- Abide by all applicable copyright & license limitations for music, images, and video footage.
Samples
Because of my line of work (I'm a teacher, in case you haven't noticed), I make a lot of how-to videos, and I've had a lot of time to think about the form--what's effective and ineffective. I'm not always successful, but I've given it lots of tries. Here is a selection of tries from the past few years that demonstrate some of the principles I'll be talking about over the course of this project. Some of these how-to videos aim to communicate information; others, merely to explore the form.
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Technical Demos along the way
- How to design scripts, shotlists, and/or storyboards.
- Clear, concise, and conversational approaches to script design.
- How to control exposure, white balance, focus, and sound on the Panasonic AC-90 camera.
- How to use a tripod to stabilize shots.
- How to use a microphone to properly record voiceover audio.
- New features in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- How to mix voiceover, nat sound, and music for clarity and vibe.
- How to use framing and basic graphics to direct the viewer's eye.
- Media management strategies for large projects.
- How to work with graphics inside Premiere Pro.
- How to create simple graphics using Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop.