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How to make a video ?

Comment réaliser une vidéo ?

How to talk about cinema without addressing the question of the video ?

In recent years, the web has seen the birth of a large number of videastes.

The reasons for this popularity are many : development of new technologies, lower prices, which allows to turn for cheap, want to communicate about a particular topic etc

The videos can be defined as a film of short duration. This can be a sketch , a web series, a podcast and video clip, etc

You’re no doubt familiar with the legendary stage of the Bullet time of Matrix ? It is a real stroke of genius which are delivered to the directors at the time. By aligning multiple cameras, they were able to take frame-by-frame movements of the actor. Doing so, they showed their music video producers who have decided to finance them.

Without this video-clip, the Matrix would have seen the day ? Has to meditate.

The videos, although they are not qualified to be Art, and therefore deserve all your attention. Indeed, they are often the first step towards the cinema, and they allow us to try and be able to make his evidence when it does not have the necessary budget.

I therefore propose today a big article that will introduce you to the making of the video, which is in the end many similarities with the production of a film.

1 – Write a Scenario

 

You will not be able to make a good video without a script. The scenario is your roadmap that allows you to have a time scale, and to organize the “filming” of your video.

You will need to first select a theme, a topic that is important to you, then, imagine a story.

It must be original in the chosen topic or, to be able to explore a subject already treated in a different way, using an angle of attack again.

It’s a bit like the problem and the plan of an essay. You can’t improvise completely. You need to leave a base then leave it to your imagination.

It goes without saying that your story should include a beginning, twists and turns, and an end.

In sum, the more you’ll build your scenario, you will be more relevant. However, remember, if you want to interest the viewer, or the web, you will need to be capable of capture the attention very quickly. The channel-surfer will not have the patience of your friends !

You will also need to develop a pitch, which is a summary of your scenario (2 to 3 lines maximum) to make it the ” seller “, or attractive.

In summary, I would advise you to ask yourself the following questions :

  • What topic/theme I want to develop ?
  • How much time will I need (3 minutes, 5 minutes ?) ?
  • What kind of budget I have (if I had a budget) ?
  • What are the events that are going to introduce a change of pace ?
  • What(s) location(s) ?
  • What(s) time ? (winter, summer, day, night, rain, sun etc)
  • Am I going to do to intervene of the characters ? If yes, how many ? Who will be able to help me ?
  • Do I need decorations ? If yes, which ones ? How will I get it ?

The structure of the scenario will therefore depend on the quality of your video clip.

I find that this phase is very rewarding, because it allows you to truly make it take a body to the idea which had germinated in you for some time, and you have a direction to follow.

Please do not hesitate to speak to your friends and family to test its consistency. And, of course, don’t hesitate to come on the articles in our category scenario

2 – Film

 

Shoot, this is usually the part that we find the most interesting when you start.

We often imagine it to be in the process of giving orders, sitting on a chair, have his name inscribed on the back, and a small glass of Martini in hand.

In reality, to be the master of a video, it means to pass behind the camera. It is at this time that you realize that film is far from simple.

It is necessary to take into account several parameters.

What device should I choose ?

You have a panel of devices : camcorder, camera, smartphone, tablet.

These brackets are created equal of course not all of them. Camcorders and cameras are, in principle, of a superior quality to smartphones and tablets.

However, some smartphones today have good image quality, and their use can be the subject of a scene in a scenario.

In addition, some agencies organize a contest of music videos shot with a smartphone. You understand therefore of interest to know how to handle this tool if you want to get to know.

In sum, I advise you to ask yourself the following questions in the choice of your device :

  • What image quality does it have ?
  • What sound quality does it ?
  • Will I need an external microphone (I will need an assistant) ?
  • I want to create a small effect of style ?

But despite everything, I think that the dslr is the best solution in terms of quality / price ratio. We devote a great part in our book ” make his film effectively “

How do you film ?

You can, of course, help you do so. In a video, the image in itself does not account that to 50% or even 30%. The viewer’s attention is retained by several parameters, and in particular by the sound ; I’ll get to that further down in the article

  • Tracking :

Even before we started filming, I advise you to do the tracking on the location or locations that you have chosen in your scenario. So, you will be able to take the atmosphere out of the place in question, and translate it to the image.

Do not hesitate to ask for authorization to film. For example, if you want to film a scene in a cafe, you can ask the bartender for permission to film. This will help to avoid unpleasant surprises.

  • Lighting :

The lighting is also an important parameter. You need to avoid placing you in the face to the lights, whether they are natural or artificial. Do in addition pay attention to your own shadow !

You can refer to our article on the basics of lighting and the light in the cinema

  • The techniques themselves :

Control the framing, it is to be able to convey an emotion, a moment, an atmosphere on the screen.

To do this, you can use different types of value plans, as well as different angles of the shots.

  • The plan :

The overall plan will represent a place, a landscape where the action unfolds. Generally, it is used to introduce the action, or to give an impression of grandeur.

For example, this representation of the future London in Star Treck Into Darkness :

 

If I wanted to make my film on the avenue des champs Elysées, I could take the following plan :

 

The us operates a framing cutting off the actors mid-thighs, while the plan of the Italian cup below the knees.

A close up on the figure of a character can be made to feel the horror.

Thus, for example, the plan from The Circle, the ring.

For an illustration of the different plans :

  • The angles of shooting :

Ilsont also their importance. It is the visual field, which will be on the inside of the frame.

The angle classic : shooting objective. The action is then filmed in the third person a point of view external to the characters present on the stage.

 

The subjective view. In this case, the viewer is the camera, which is the first-person perspective. This view is especially popular in horror movies.

Rec.

The view diving (to the bottom) : the camera switches to above the character. This angle can have several functions : to give a sense of magnitude out of scope, out of fear or vulnerability.

For example, in the following image, you can feel the distress of the actors, and one can imagine what they are facing is of a substantial size.

 

The view against-diving (up) : the camera switches to below the stage. The goal is to make the action more strong, to accentuate on a specific time.

In the image below, the anti dive helps to highlight the fact that the actress is sucked towards the space, and it certainly would not stay inside the vessel.

 

These few explanations and illustrations you will definitely help to better understand how to film.

To go further I encourage you to read my articles the basics of cinematic space and the composition of an image that deepen the concepts that we have just seen

There are other ways of filming, but that require a bit more technical means, such as the steady cam, or dolly.

Small additional advice : keep calm ! Train yourself to not make any sudden movements and to be the most stable possible.

 

3 – The sound

 

The sound should not be overlooked, according to some, it is even 70% of your film .

There are two types of sound, the indirect sound, which is the sound done in post-production, and the direct sound, the sound directly taken on the shoot. Most of the time, a microphone is integrated in your device.

The problem is the following : you and your camera produce noise. Therefore, the sound that you want to save will be parasitized by your own interference. You will lose quality.

I suggest you equip yourself with at least a microphone which will be connected to a pole it is connected to the boom operator

The choice of a microphone depends on two important principles to know and understand : its directivity and its technology

Also note that it will be difficult to hear the parasites mild but bothersome if you do not have a quality helmet at the time of the shooting. After that, it will be too late because it is still very difficult to eliminate a noise in the assembly.

Don’t forget that the capture of the sound will also depend on the intensity or the feeling of the image that you have filmed.

4 – mounting

 

The mounting is a phase a lot, but no less exciting. You will be able to dissect your different shots into a single video.

At the time, when there were no computers, we were forced to cut the strips, and paste those could go together, in order to edit them.

Now, your best friend is your computer. You are going to find yourself all alone in front of your machine for hours to accomplish the installation.

You must first install a mounting software. Several choices are available to you, and I will probably an article that presents the main editing software. However, I encourage you to register on this platform which will enable you to learn as much as I explain in this article

Once your software is chosen and installed, you need to transfer your video files over to it. In principle, the video will be shown on a tape that you will be able to sequence it (cut). Therefore, you will need to edit your video clip in the order that you have adopted in your scenario.

You can embellish the scenes of music carefully selected by your care in order to add atmosphere or to convey a message.

Go to the essential, choose the scenes to be the most relevant. Remember, your video must be rhythmic ! A length in a film of 2 hours will not escape the spectators, so that a length in a video clip of 3 minutes does not forgive.

You must be patient and be strict with yourself during this phase.

Boileau said,

“Make haste slowly ; and, without losing courage, twenty times on the trade give your work : Polish the constantly and the repolissez ; Add sometimes and often erase “.

This is exactly what you need to be able to do to edit your video.

 

5 – The viewing and dissemination

 

Once the editing is complete, your video is ready to be viewed. It is necessary that you visionniez several times to verify that there are no loose connections as the shadow of the cameraman, or even, the reflection of the camera on the dash of a car.

Do not hesitate to make watch by your friends, by asking them to be the more objective possible.

Once this step is completed, you will be able to, if you feel like it, spread it.

Youtube is obviously a good place if you want to gain in recognition.

I hope this article you will be enlightened to create your own music video. I ask you now to express yourself in the comments because it always makes me extremely happy to read you !

Good luck to you

Roman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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