Video Lessons Learned

Video: equipment checklist

• Scheduling, more than one video take
• Camera
• Batteries
• Tripod
• Tripod strap or carrying case
• Possibly lights or lights with filters in a case
• Film is the best quality even if there is a memory card and has more space (CTEP media committee)
• Microphone
• Microphone batteries (if necessary)
• Headphones
• Adapter cord (battery recharge)
• fire wire (camera input and output)
• Camera manual or familiarize yourself with the camera there are a lot of buttons (some maybe for a memory card, some for photograph and some for video)
• Try to have the equipment in one place, it will affect time, if you need to travel

Video: taping checklist

• Film rewind (if necessary)
• Microphone test (remember the camera may have a built in microphone, quality?)
• Possible lighting, there are portable lamps you could check with your Public Television station
• Tripod lock (make sure the camera is secure in the tripod) or always use the hand grip
• Familiarize yourself with the buttons
• Light level buttons
• Zoom buttons
• Focus
• Make sure it is on the film/tape setting and begin
  

Video: transfer checklist

• Transferring to the video editor, make sure the computer has an input location for the fire wire
• Make sure to bring in the video with the audio, your program should have those settings and you should be able to modify them as you want
• Once you hit go the program may do the rest for you including creating clips (there is a manual option)
  

Video: editing checklist

• Working with the video on the computer
• Internet Access (for possible import or transfer)
• Speakers (volume)
• Microphone (narration)
• CD or DVD burn capability or a flash drive, for transportability, large enough for your video (NOTE: the project we worked on was 2.3 MB, the video that was placed onto the toolkit was over 90 MB), or the original tape (the video can be transferred back to the tape with the camera and firewire)
• If you used a fire wire to capture the film, you can use a flash drive
• Adjust the volume on each clip according to how you want it heard
• If you leave spaces of non-volume clips and will save the project try to trim the clip in the project itself not where it was captured you may want to reuse section of the same clip
• For future editing prior to exiting the program, the software program may sub compress on save or adjust slightly think about adding additional audio right away for open spaces
• When adjusting volume, if you have copied the original audio make sure to mute the original to work with the secondary track or narration, it may affect speed of playback for video
• If for whatever reason your program will not import additional audio files think of other options, use the microphone with another device
• When captioning (for closed captioning) make sure to recheck the video for overlay, separate accordingly
• Apply possible fade/transition options to both video and audio
• Preset credit length, can be overlaid
• Recheck your project to make sure it is in sync, especially if using subtitles
• Be sure to recheck clips for trimming, if you shortened a clip without trimming it can affect the speed and synchronization
• Play the project as often as necessary
• Remember modification will affect the whole project
• If you need to retake a section, be sure to give yourself enough time to reinsert and possibly re-synchronize video and audio
• If you need to retake and cannot retake think of other options such as a script from that individual or a narration with other video or stills
• Labels if possible
• Definitely a carrying case for your CD or DVD or Internet access to email or something like Youtube.com or your own vlog