Video Workshops Class Notes

Unit 1, Video Field Production.

  • Shooting for Electronic Field Production (EFP).

    In single camera production the story is told through scenes. A scene is continuous in time and usually at a single location.

    Scenes are made up of sequences which are a series of related shots which stand alone. For example: the fight sequence, love sequence, etc.

    Sequences are made up of individual shots. A shot is one run of tape, although zooms may be said to be transitions which divide a single run into two or more shots.

    The process of single camera production involves scripting, shooting, and editing.

    Scripting is critically important. We must break action down into shots ("busting it up" in film terms). The viewer should not be aware of the individual shots, but should visualize in scenes or sequences.

    Feature films are shot with a master shot of each scene or sequence which is a MS or LS with a minimum of tracking and zooming. The CUs are then shot and edited into the master shot. These must match perfectly which is sometimes difficult. This technique can be used for a variety of single camera productions.

    Keep in mind when structuring a feature piece that interviews are inherently weak elements usually used by TV stations to hype the image of their resident talent. Use voices of real people, but edit out questions and insert illustrative video over their sound bytes.

    In shooting single camera we must keep in mind the editing process. It is possible to shoot raw footage which will not edit.

    Always shoot cutaways, which are related shots which can be used to cover mismatched shots. These can include establishing shots of buildings, bystanders, etc., but should NOT include the talent.

    Avoid jump cuts where a talent or object suddenly changes position in the frame for no apparent reason. This can be done by never having the talent seen at both the beginning and end of a shot. Either have the talent enter the scene, or show the talent leaving the scene while the tape is still rolling.

    Be aware of continuity.

  • Editing the Single Camera Production.

    First we must review the raw footage and "log" the shots we want to use. The choice of which take to use is sometimes difficult. The best performance is not always the best match for adjoining shots.

    Some concepts of editing include:

    1. Avoid cutting between moving images. Use a cutaway to avoid this.
    2. Avoid cutting from moving to still images except as a special effect.
    3. Avoid closely matched shots. Try not to have the same subject in adjoining shots.
    4. Maintain screen direction (do not cut from a shot with one direction of movement to a shot with the reverse direction).

    Sound.

    l. built of synchronous voice, voice-over, music and sound effects (SFX) tracks.
    2. Silence can be used for accent
    3. Sound can suggest off-camera action
    4. Sound can overlap scenes and be used as a bridge

    Music should be used sparingly and never over interview segments.




    Return to the Video Workshops Home Page