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Video Production Tips from Students and Teachers |
For the beginning of the school year we are planning
to run on our show several stories that I toss out to the kids each year.
These stories are:
1) How to apply/interview for a part-time
job; 2) Tips for purchasing a used car and auto insurance; 3) Introduction
of new teachers; 4) a profile on our school
police liason officer; 5) Athletic department
overview (ie. how many students participated in athletics last year, what
sport had the most participants, how many
boys vs. how many girls, etc.).
These are just a few story ideas we've
tossed out yearly. I'd like to see more.
James Hatten
jamhat@stfrancis.k12.mn.us
Chromakey Tips
In our elementary school broadcast studio, my fifth graders use chroma key daily thanks to our Videonics MXPro video mixer. This piece of equipment is a $1800 godsend for live broadcasting. We usually broadcast a full-screen photo on a PowerPoint slide as the background, but have also done a lot with maps of the US. A fun background is using a national geographic video tape! We started with chroma blue flat-paint on huge sheets of drywall, but have ordered a professional cloth.
Beth Graham bgraham@fortbend.k12.tx.us
In the early 90s, a friend and myself were in high school and very much into video production. We approached our new technology-driven principal
and received funding - $15,000 worth of equipment. One 455, a Panasonic switcher and C/G (uggh what a piece of junk!), a great pair of editing
VCRs, a light set, and monitors. We started out doing monthly pre-recorded shows and within months were asked to take on a daily ilve show. The years
went by, I graduated, and was in the right spot at the right time and was asked to return as a teacher. Our program, WCAP Capital News, has been
going strong for almost a decade now. I definently think that while it takes a great deal of work from advisors, the success of starting a
student-run television program relies completely on the students. It's their efforts, ideas, and comedy that make it a worth-while school venture.
From a group of 5 students that started it, I now have over 250 students signed up to take the course next year.
Brian Martin
WCAP, Broughton High School, Raleigh NC
Powerpoint slides as backgrounds: Great idea! Instant moving backgrounds on a chromakey set! We originally purchased well over $1000 of green chromakey fabric from Markertek. When we decided to go to blue, I visited the local fabric store and bought the same amount of fabric for under $50.00. It worked fine. Royal blue seems to be the preferred color. I think the Markertek fabric was higher quality (thicker) and probably more durable in the long run. We found that some hair color keyed better over blue (blonde) and conversely darker hair keyed better over green. Re: sources for background images: The Internet is a great place to start. If we need a snowy mountain background, for instance, we search for an appropriate image that is already large enough that if it needs to be stretched to full screen, it still looks fine.
Doug Green dougteach@aol.com
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Lighter cameras and younger photographers (too much Blair Witch Project?) often lead to video that looks like it was shot during an earthquake. Erratic camera movements, shaky tight shots- it makes for miserable video. A couple of rules of thumb that will help with this:
- First of all, if the situation allows for it- have students use a tripod! It sounds obvious, but in many stand-up situations, a tripod would have saved the shot.
- Have students stay with a wide angle and walk up to the subject. Too often inexperienced camera operators will stand back from the subject and zoom in. This only exaggerates the shake!
Make Your Video Look More Like Film...
One award winning British photographer swears by this method of making "cold" video appear more like the "warmer" film look. Don't white balance on white. Instead white balance on the back of your hand. Sound Crazy? Read his article here!