Document Outline:
Getting Started:
New media projects can feel overwhelming or scary, especially if you are working with a new technology. When you are feeling overwhelmed or lost with your project, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I trying to do with this video? What do I want to say? Or in other words, what is my goal for the video?
- What are the elements that I absolutely need to include in order to make my point?
- What do I already know? What skills and experiences do I already have?
- What are the benefits or affordances of video projects? (So, what’s good or useful about them?)
- What are the constraints or limitations of video projects? (So, what isn’t so great about a video?)
- Why does this project need to be a video?
Focusing on the goal of the assignment can help you decide where you need to spend your time and energy. This will also help you:
- avoid distractions or extra work that doesn’t add to the project
- improve your argument and evidence
- figure out what you need to do next
While video quality is important, your main focus should be on the content and what you are trying to say. You can make a video as flashy as you want, but it will still be evident when your argument isn’t convincing.
Drafting your video:
Create a folder/place for all of your project content
- Make sure this folder is backed up to TCU Box, OneDrive, or the cloud
- Make sure everything is clearly named AND dated
- Ex: TitleImage_Snyder_111021
- Make sure that this folder has ALL of your content in it
Brainstorm content
- Questions to ask yourself:
- What is your topic/content?
- What sources do you need?
- What images/music/videos would be useful?
- This includes content such as ambient recordings. (Ambient recordings are a great way to add some depth to your piece and they can be really easy to create. You can use the voice memo app on your phone, just be aware of where you are recording and if you have permission to do so.)
Plan content (script & storyboard)
- What goes in a storyboard?
- Script & audio plans
- Rough shot plans (what images you want to show on the screen)
- Any text you want on the screen
- How do you structure a storyboard?
- Go shot by shot from the very beginning of the documentary to the end
- Important notes about the storyboard:
- Doesn’t have to be detailed photos or well drawn
- Needs to give you a general idea of what shots/images you want
- Start with your script, so you get an idea of your content for each shot
- Resources:
Editing your project:
Using your notes from your storyboard, gather all of your files & import them into the editing program you are using.
- Make sure you are keeping track of where you are getting all of your additional sources from. You want to do this from the start, so you don’t have to try and backtrack.
- If you need to include any citations or works cited, this would be a great step to get that ready. If you have the citations ready to go, you can just put them in while you are editing. This will save you time and frustration.
- If you are creating any of your own images/content, this would be the step where you go out and film.
Some quick tips for creating your own content:
- Don’t overcomplicate your setup, you would be surprised what you could do in a quiet space with an iPhone and a couple of textbooks. Use your environment and what you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to get creative.
- iPhones are well suited to this type of project, but make sure you are aware of ambient sounds & natural lighting. If you can hear the washing machine, your phone will be able to pick it up too.
- Get creative with your images and text. You can use programs like Canva to create your own graphics to put things like statistics or quotes in your video.
- Space: if you have someone speaking in your shots, make sure you leave some room above their heads. You should also line up their eye line so they are looking across the screen into open space rather than off-screen.
Once everything has been imported, the next step is to edit your video!
- iMovie (Mac)
- Already on Mac
- products
- The Beginner’s Guide to iMovie
- Movie Maker (PC)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Express
- Adobe Creative Cloud Express (log in with your TCU credentials for free access)
- Things to keep in mind:
- Google is a good resource for figuring out technical issues (try googling what you want to do if you get stuck. Ex: add titles in iMovie)
- Click around and try out different things. Remember that there is always an undo button!
- It can be very difficult to move projects between machines, so try to start on the computer you are planning on using.
Finishing/Submitting:
Export your work!
- In iMovie: File -> Share -> File
- File is being saved automatically; however, you need to go through these steps in order to share your final project.
- The final file is unable to be edited and you will need to make changes in the project file.
- Things to keep in mind
- File size: Your files will be pretty large so you need enough space on your computer for them. Additionally, this will impact how you turn in materials, so make sure you plan time.
- Time: Exporting can take a while. Make sure you plan ahead of time.
General Tips for Making a Video
Remember, images or video clips are kinds of information. Theoretically, the more images you include, the more information you provide the viewer in terms of how well you understand your material.
Consider drawing out a storyboard before you begin gathering images. Doing so will help you think through what images you want to pair with which phrases from your narration. Think of a storyboard as a kind of visual outline.
You’ll want to create a project folder to collect all your media for the project (you’ll have dozens of files, potentially). In addition to still pictures, you may also have video clips and music files. Especially since you’re working in groups, it makes sense to have everything for the project saved in a single location, ideally on a cloud service (OneDrive, Box Sync, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc) so each member of your group has access.
Consider using your own pictures and videos (even music) for the project. You’ll have A LOT more creative control, and you have no worries about copyright if you want to share the video on YouTube or Vimeo.
If you do choose music, consider using instrumental music instead of music with a vocal track. Music with lyrics might distract your viewer from what your narration is trying to illustrate. Adobe Spark (spark.adobe.com – Now Adobe Creative Cloud Express) has a lot of music to choose from, but you should also check out Bensound (https://www.bensound.com) for even more options for royalty-free music
Resources:
Check out the resources below for helpful tips, programs, and more! These are divided up by media, but feel free to mix and match across these resources. For example, Canva is a great tool for making gifs, short videos, and graphic design content like social media posts and infographics!
Need additional help? Schedule a consultation with a CDEx team member. Any additional questions can be sent to cdex@tcu.edu.
CDEx Resources:
- Consultations – Click on the link to sign up for a one-on-one meeting with one of the CDEx team members about your project!
- Video Resources – This page contains extra resources specifically for video projects.
- Image Resources – Check here for resources for your image-based projects.
- Audio Resources – From podcasts to adding sound to a video project, this link will guide you to resources for finding royalty-free sounds and more!
Movie Maker Tutorials
Audio Editor
- Audacity: https://www.audacityteam.org/
Overview of the Video Production Process
Copyright-Free Image Resource
- Google Images: Advanced Search
- morgueFile
- Archive.org
- Free Stock Photos, Royalty Free Stock Images & Copyright Free Pictures · Pexels