Review: Video Production Concepts

Stages of the Production Cycle

• Preproduction – the process of planning, organizing, scheduling all elements required to complete a successful production. This includes storyboarding, shot lists, scriptwriting and more.
• Production – the shoot itself, when actual filming takes place.
• Postproduction – the editing stage where all elements of the project come together to make a final product.

Composition and Framing Your Shots

1. • Rule of Thirds – Roughly put, this rule suggests that you can get more interesting composition by placing your subject off-center, a third of the way from the edge of your frame.

2. • Headroom – The amount of space above the subject. Too much headroom may make your subject seem short or sunken. Too little can make your shot appear awkward and unfocused.

3. • Lighting – Generally avoid having bright light behind the subject, which will overwhelm the image. Try to keep major light sources behind the camera.
   • Tripods – Use one whenever possible if you want a stable, smooth shot.

Camera Shots

1. • Wide shot (Establishing shot) – This shows the whole scene, providing the view with visual context. Frequently you'll see video pieces begin with this shot.

2. • Medium Shot – This shot shows less of a scene than the wide shot. The camera seems closer to the subject. For example, if you were interviewing someone, this shot would show them from about the waist up in a medium shot.
   • Close Up Shot – This shot shows an even smaller part of the subject or scene. It's great for showing detail, like a person's emotional face or individual leaves on a tree.

Shot Angles

Your shot angle is the level from which you look at your subject.

1. • Eye Level– This angle also causes the least discomfort because we're used to it. If you're shooting a person, make sure you shoot at their eye-level, not yours.

2. • Low Angle – In this shot, the camera looks up at the subject, making it seem important, powerful, or perhaps larger than it is to the viewer.

3. • High Angle – In this shot, the camera looks down upon the subject, decreasing its importance. The subject looks smaller. It often gives the audience a sense of power, or the subject a sense of helplessness.