Visual Storytelling: The five-shot method and beyond
You dont need to be a pro to use it!
20 minutes for presentation , 10 minutes for Q&A
Common video issues
(for videos you want to share)
Video too long (in love with the footage)
You MUST edit videos either in camera or with some editing
software to make it consumable
Cuts too long
Video not stable (all handheld)
Trying to shoot in inadequate light
Too far away from subject
Its not just you
(so lets back up a bit)
Why is teaching and learning video hard?
Ten years of training journalists and students: video
storytelling is the toughest thing to teach
Problems
Uncle Ralph video (home movie)
Bad framing
Unusable pans/moves
Not enough closeups
No clear concept for each shot
Bad audio makes the best footage shot with the best camera money
can buy, look amateur
Why?
Multitasking
Complexity of technology
Intrusiveness
Slow/no feedback loop in shooting/editing
Story research/development
Shooting
Editing/Recutting
Low Face-to-face Instruction
Reading/writing closely linkedWatching and creating video is
not
Usually more art than science
Need more science
BBC 5 Shot method
Pioneered by Michael Rosenblum, NYT Television, NY1, BBC,
CurrentTV
Five Shot method
Closeup on hands
Closeup on face
Wide shot
Over the shoulder
Unusual/side shot
Venice Pier Gets its Fill
Five Shot basics
Start with best shot
Get audience to ask questions/be curious
Hold the shot: no pans, zooms, moves
Why it works
Sequence always cuts together
Usable B-roll all the time
Mystery draws viewers in
Closeup on hands
Closeup on face
Wide shot
Over the shoulder
Unusual/side shot
Adam Westbrook
Whats the difference between amateurs and professionals? Pros
shoot sequences.
http://adamwestbrook.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/10-common-video-storytelling-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-adam-westbrook-online-video/
Why its useful
Compels journalist/storyteller to get close
Provides known game plan
Frees up time for story decision making
Web video demands closeups
Additional shots
Interview
Reveal shots
Establishing shot
Tracking shot
Extra Credit - Heros Journey
Tools for Evaluation
People other than those in the video (or who helped work on it)
will watch the entire video (outside audience appreciation)
People will learn something or comment.
If you watch your YouTube Analytics people make it through the
majority of your video
People share your video
Keep in mind
Not meant to be rigid formula
Know when to break rules
Under stress, fall back on basic training:
closeups, faces, holding shots, line of action
REMEMBER!
With GOOD SHOOTING TECHNIQUE you can create professional style
videowith iPhone, P&S camera
Future Possibilities
Build the 5 shot method into device
Hands
Face
OTS
Wide
Unusual
Closeup on face
WHO is doing it?
Frame with rule of thirds
Give talk space in front of eyes/nose.
Can cut off top of head, but not the chin.
SHOW TWO EYES!
FRAMING
EYES
NOSEROOM
e-workbook
REC
Analyze
Module: BBC 5 Shot
Materials
Field checklists
http://andrewlih.com/blog
