Video Production Overview

This document covers some basic video production concepts.

The Script

Content is Key.

An easy way to deal with script formatting and writing is to use script writing software. There are lots of high end well deveolped software packages out there, thought a free open-source software package called Celtics(?) is available and quite spectacular at it's job for it's price. In the end any simple text editor will do if you format it in a standard way.

Script Formatting Standards

Audio Recording

Audio is possibly the most important part of film making. Lighting and camera angles, even the script or bad acting are often looked over by an audience, but give them bad sound and they'll walk out.

An illegal but perfect example of this is downloaded movies. Pirates are willing to download poor quality camcord videos of movies and watch them, even if they go in and out of focus or are tilted, so long as the sound, music and dialogue is audible.

Although some cameras have on board microphones, I'd never recommend using them for final sound, but I do recommend always using them for reference sound when editing and in worst case scenarios, backup audio recording.

My favourite ways to get sound are to use external mics that plug into either the camera directly, through audio adapters like those from BeachTek or seperately using a dedicated recording device.

My new favourite portable recorder, H4N, can be used with it's onboard microphones, or plug in any manner of external microphones like those listed below, it multitracks, has onboard effects, acts as an audio card and amazes me evert time I use it.

Microphones

Lapel Mics (wired or wireless)

Shotgun Mic on a boom.

Batteries

When dealing with location cameras, microphones and audio recorders it's always a intellegent decision to have backup batteries for you gear.

Having batteries that are well suited for your equipment is also a good idea. If you need standard AA batteries there are a few things to pay attention too.

Alkaline and Nickle Cadmium batteries should only be used in emergencies. Rechargable Nickle metal hydride (NiMH) battereies are great for your remote control, but don't keep their charge, so when not in use they bleed power over time. NiMH batteries also have a steep voltage drops which is less than ideal for cameras and flashes.

So what's left?

Lithium batteries, great for flashes and devices that need that quick burst of energy, though they are not rechargeable.

The way to go these days is to try and use the NiMH/hybrid batteries. They hold they charge for months when not in use, and can be recharged. Look for the term PRE-CHARGED to help identify them in the store.

Video Resolutions

Video Resolutions

Vancouver Video Resources

Links

end