Produce a video news story in a day

Shooting Made EasyShooting Made Easy

SABEW ConferenceSABEW Conference

Brian SnyderBrian Snyder

Shooting BasicsShooting Basics 5 Basic Shots

- - WideWide- MediumMedium- TightTight- ActionAction- ReactionReaction

Wide Shot – “Establishing” Wide Shot – “Establishing” shotshot

Wide shots are usually of a person’s Wide shots are usually of a person’s full body, or of a landscape, or of a full body, or of a landscape, or of a building. It is helpful to grab a wide building. It is helpful to grab a wide

shot of each location where you shot of each location where you shoot.shoot.

Medium ShotMedium ShotA medium shot usually contains a A medium shot usually contains a

person’s head and part of the torso. The person’s head and part of the torso. The bottom of the frame can be anywhere bottom of the frame can be anywhere

from just above the waist to the from just above the waist to the shoulders. This is the standard framing shoulders. This is the standard framing

for an interview.for an interview.

Tight ShotTight ShotA close-up is framed tightly on a A close-up is framed tightly on a

person’s face. Usually, the face will person’s face. Usually, the face will mostly fill the screen, and some of it mostly fill the screen, and some of it

may not even be visible (top or may not even be visible (top or bottom of the head, etc.)bottom of the head, etc.)

Action & ReactionAction & ReactionFor every action, there is a For every action, there is a

reaction. These shots can come in reaction. These shots can come in various forms, but are critical to various forms, but are critical to

the story.the story.

WideWide

MediumMedium

TightTight

Sequence of shots Sequence of shots

What shot is it?What shot is it?

1

2

3 4

Interview shotsInterview shots-Talking room-Talking room

-Good backgroundGood background-Lighting is criticalLighting is critical

-Microphone placementMicrophone placement

Creating Meaningful Creating Meaningful VideoVideo

-Every picture has a sound.

- The challenge is to take the subject matter and make it

interesting.

- Sound draws people to video.

-Shaky video = amateur video

- If you don’t have tripod, use your feet as the zoom.

Creating Meaningful Creating Meaningful VideoVideo

-When using a tripod, hold your shots and take your hands off

the camera.

- No pans or zooms, it’s not natural for your eyes or how you

look at things.- Find the characters and let them help you tell the story.

Let’s have some Let’s have some fun!fun!