Planning your video blog
Before shooting your video blog, determine the following:
The target audience
Think about your audience profile - their age, gender, social standing, etc.
For example, if you are planning to make a movie on scuba diving, your target
audience may be young urban professionals in their mid twenties to thirties.
Then your movie's script, cast, setting, and wardrobe should appeal to this audience.
The duration
This will give you an idea of how many scenes you can have in your video blog, and
how long each scene should be. A 15-minute episode should ideally have 3 scenes,
each lasting 5 minutes. If you have too many scenes, your audience could become
confused. But if each scene is too long, they could lose interest.
The setting
A still background could minimize distractions to your subject. For example, you can
shoot against a wall. If you use a moving background, try to reduce the background
distance. You can also soften the background, make it off-focus, use lower
lighting levels, or move your subject closer to the lens.
Lighting
Always make sure there is sufficient light to shoot your movie. Take note of the
time of day, the weather, and if artificial lighting is needed. To record people,
soft, diffused light can be flattering. But there must be enough contrast in order
to distinguish facial expressions or other important features.
The cast
A good cast will execute your script well. Bright colors and complicated patterns on
clothes may cause your video to have blurring or 'bleeding' effects. The style and
makeup of your cast should also match their characters and roles in the movie.
Budget
Plan your budget well to make sure you have the resources you need to successfully
complete the shooting of your video blog. This includes cost of equipment and any
other production costs.
Camera
Use a webcam or digital camera for less formal presentations, discussions or movies that
are shot inside a house. However, if you are planning a movie that has complex scenes
or requires outdoor shots, a digital camcorder will give you higher resolution images
and more effects.
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