Thought Pieces

Thought Piece 1 – Nathaniel Wheeler

This helped me realize and understand the basics better, I always knew it was important to understand and learn the fundamentals. However, Steve Stockman lays out 12 important concepts that will help better understand the basic fundamentals of video, that he calls a quick start guide. 

1. Think in Shots!
2. Don’t shoot until you see the white in their eyes!
3. Keep your shots under 10 secs long!
4. Zoom with your feet!
5. Stand Still! 
6. Keep the light behind you!
7. Turn off the camera’s digital effects!
8. Focus on what really interests you! 
9. Don’t use amateurish titles!
10. Keep your video short!
11. Use an external microphone!
12. Take the quality pledge.

He gives more in-depth explanations to these points and more than a few stand out to me. In particular, Think in Shots!I feel like I often just press record and film, almost hoping to catch something. I originally started filming video when recording sports and you’re almost always recording as players get into frame because you never know what’s coming or want to miss a play. This is something that I need to start working away from and become more intentional in my shots. I think I have a good natural eye for seeing possible shots but intentionally thinking about my shots. To begin, I need to put more thought into the planning and vision of my videos prior to shooting. I don’t often plan or go in with a vision for what I am looking to capture or any shot list. I think having a direction and vision in mind for my video in advance will help me better execute. 

Stockman emphasizes the importance of preparation in making a quality video. He goes as far to say write down all your thoughts even if they are over the top and then from there build on what is realistic. I think that better preparation will help me better in post production as well, I sometimes become overwhelmed by my lack of preparation. When I film without vision in mind, I end up with many different pieces and in post I am stuck trying to figure out how I want to put it together. 

For this video class and this semester, implementing this looks like sitting down before assignments and starting to organize and visualize ideas. As well as having a flow and idea on where I want to take my story as I am editing and in post. Looking ahead in the future as I continue to work will continue to elevate my work and better prepare myself. 

Thought Piece 2 – Nathaniel Wheeler

This section connects well with some of the takeaways that I got from the points made on the first reading from Thought Piece 1. The biggest take away is how planning is non-negotiable, that doesn’t mean everything must be scripted down to a tee, but know what you’re going to shoot, why you want to shoot that, and start to think how everything may fit and piece together later. 

In the last thought piece I mentioned how my preshoot thought process and preparation could better enhance my videos. Starting with storyboarding and a shot list,

Thought Piece 3 – Nathaniel Wheeler 

This section focused much more on technical shooting and technique alongside learning your camera better. This section is important to me as I continue to improve and one thing I think in my videos I need to approve of is the mix of interesting b-roll and interviews. I am working to find my balance and keep my video both material and visually interesting. 

As well as he continues to hammer the idea of thinking ahead even when shooting. What’s the next shot? Continue to think ahead and the video will only get stronger as it progresses. This translates to me as I feel I can begin to better prepare for my assignments, but not only to think about the shot list and story board. But what do I see while shooting, how does this shot compliment the next, how can these all tie in together? 

Another point is the thought of practice and continuing to shoot and shoot. I think when I first transferred here and came in with all of my general education requirements filled that I was almost overwhelmed by starting my classes here. I started straight into strictly photojournalism and journalism classes. I went from just shooting sports for fun and freelance to full time class schedule of writing and photographing. Now that I have been doing it for a while, I notice I am finding more fun again in shooting extra events, games, and other opportunities outside of just work and class. I will continue to challenge myself even in those settings to further advance my progress and how I can improve the quality of my work. 

Points that were made in this section can help me apply these to my progress. One point that stuck out that you have made to me as well is shooting with multiple cameras and from multiple angles which I can apps ly particularly in interviews.

Get out of my comfort zone, shoot closer, further, or shoot more challenging angles. I think I can challenge myself more and try to get out of my comfort zone much more, both myself and what I am visually shooting. I can stand to get closer to my subject and put myself more out there when shooting. As well as I can shoot tighter and riskier shots, in this section detail shots and more obscure angles were both mentioned. 

 I feel like I often lack the ability to implement simple principles into my video work like the rule of thirds or the simple idea of a higher angle showing weakness and a low angle showing strength. These are things that I think help visually tell a story and starting to better implement those ideas into my videos can continue my progress. 

This section had more to do with advancing story telling and better building characters within video stories. When creating a good video it is more than just having visually appealing shots, videos are about people and telling stories. It is important to find ways to show and pull emotion out as well as share the importance of particular moments that you are visualizing. Visuals can help improve the storytelling which I mentioned in my last thought piece through camera angles, distance, focuses, and other elements. 

Thought Piece 4

An important part of helping character development in video story telling is the authenticity and comfortability of the subject. The more comfortable the subject is  becomes the more emotion they share and more relatable they become. Interviews become more conversational and natural. This can come through shooting more, spending more time with subjects, getting to know them more, and to camera train them over time to where they almost forget it is there.

Editing was something that was also addressed in this section. Emphasizing points that we have had made by guest speakers like Neil Blake with his editing flow and process. Avoid jump cuts and edit for clarity and well flowing story. Editing affects your story and product as much as shooting visuals does. A poor edit will ruin a video story. 

To me, I feel I need to improve the most with my editing. Not jump cuts but more to do with my ambient sound in audio and the overall flow and direction that I take with a story. I need to also work on my selection from interviews that best incorporate and progress the story. These are things that improve strictly through practice and continue to shoot.  

My last thought is as I am learning to better prepare and plan my videos and thoughts, I see the benefits and improvement. However, not every story fully reveals itself while shooting or planning. Sometimes the full story becomes clear during editing. Understanding this allows me to approach projects with more flexibility rather than trying to force a narrative too early.

Thought Piece 5 – Justin Wheeler 

This final section of the book spoke more about the elements of video editing and keeping clarity and quality in the final product.  

Although video is an art form, it is important to keep clarity and convey a clear message to viewers. Your audience should never walk away confused if they are, that is a storytelling issue and not on the audience. You should guide your audience throughout your video, and never assume they are going to put a piece together or catch something. 

An element that he covers is transitions in video editing. The importance in avoiding jump cuts and sloppy editing, transitions play a big role in that. It is important to begin to mix in multiple transitions to avoid repetitiveness and keep the viewer engaged. Overusing flashy and complex transitions can be very counterproductive and draw attention away from the story. Transitions should be used to create minimal and invisible transitions within the story. The edit should support the story telling, not show off effects.  

Avoid adding extra elements that do not strongly contribute to the video, everything should be there for a reason. Graphics should only be included if they are used for clarity, necessary information, or are simple/not distracting.  

Another element is sound, outside of ambient sound. Music can strongly enhance videos and help set tone. Layered sound can increase engagement and enhance video storytelling. Well put together sound design and incorporation can carry a piece that can help convey emotions or keep the viewer engaged.  

Now at the conclusion of the book, I have learned new and had old thoughts repeated to me that can help enhance my video storytelling. I have noticed points in my previous work and active thoughts that I try to avoid while working on new projects. Improvement comes from repetition and experience. Continuing to work and keep improvement as an active thought, be willing to accept criticism, and be aware of my weaknesses.