Thanks to advances in technology, anybody with an iPhone can make a video and put it online for the world to see. The power and resources of an old movie studio are now practically pocket-sized.
It’s a great time in terms of creative possibilities. However, it still depends on the skills and expertise of the creators and producers. True, anyone can make a video. But it takes an understanding of cinematic techniques and production prowess to make the most of this potential.
You can spend thousands of dollars going to film school to become a master of the craft. Or, you can get a firm grasp of the basics through online information and digital resources and take it from there. For those interested in the latter, here are seven essentials for making compelling video content for any usage:
Writing
It all starts with a good story. A good script is the cornerstone of any compelling video project. You can shoot footage on the fly with little to no plan, but that hardly works out. Instead, learn the basics of screenwriting and start writing a script. Unhappy with the first draft? Keep working on it until you’ve polished it into something resembling a narrative structure. Pacing and character development are other factors determined during the writing process. Having a complete script gives you a blueprint to rely on going forward.
Funding
This is where producers enter the picture. But let’s be honest, you’re probably the producer of your own video project. Finding the funding for your video project will probably be the most challenging part of the process, but it’s essential. Whether it’s out of your own pocket, granted by a studio, or gathered with the help of investors, the money to turn ideas into images is an unavoidable piece of the puzzle. Moreover, you need to itemize every detail to determine the appropriate budget. The last thing you want is to run out of money halfway through production.
Storyboarding
You might have developed a good story, but not all good stories make good videos. Storyboarding provides a way to show the cinematic potential of your script. It’s essentially a comic book version of the story, conveying the way the camera will capture the action when filming begins. By creating a storyboard, you provide a proof of concept of your idea and a visual roadmap for setting up shots.
Lighting
When it comes to creating awe-inspiring visuals, lighting is everything. Referred to as cinematography, it’s an essential part of the filming process. The position of the lights, as well as their brightness and color, will determine the mood of the scene and dictate which aspects of the image are highlighted and which are not. Take time to study the basics of cinematography before you begin shooting your video. From there, consider purchasing a basic light kit to ensure you get the right lighting for every frame.
Filming
Now the “fun” part! The day has arrived when you get behind the camera, call action, and create the footage you’ll use to assemble the final cut. When it comes to the final choices of angle, framing, and camera movement, start by abiding by the rule of thirds. Follow up with an effort to establish the depth of frame as much as possible. This means having multiple planes visible in your shot: background, middle ground, and foreground.
Editing
They say a movie is made three times: in the writing stage, during production, and then again in the editing process. The editing stage is arguably the most important. From knowing how to add audio to video to picking the best sequence of shots for a particular scene, one must consider a tremendous amount of detail when editing their video. Poor editing will practically ruin an otherwise good idea, while great editing has the potential to rescue a struggling concept.
Publishing
Once you’re done editing and polishing your visuals into a narrative structure, it’s time to put the finishing touches on and move forward with publication. Chances are you’ll be using YouTube as the platform of choice, but you might want to consider alternatives as well. Doing so means a greater chance of your video getting noticed.
Virtually everyone can be a filmmaker these days. But it takes more than opening your phone’s camera and pressing the record button. There’s an art to making compelling videos. Practice makes perfect. Good luck!
Michael Driver is a freelance writer from Texas. When not writing to pay the bills, he loves covering topics related to history, movies, and sports. Michael can be reached atReddishRaddish87@gmail.com.