Information and Technology

Getting Good Footage

For people who haven't done much filming, check out the Do's and Don'ts of shooting video.

Additional tips:

• Film emotional, evocative and informative shots (eye candy). 
• Take chances with the camera. Get interesting shots, interesting angles. Use light and shadow to evoke mood.
• Don’t put the subject in the center of the camera always. Split the frame in thirds in your eye and place the subject in one of the thirds.
• Film the place where the action is happening, the background. Capture details of the set. (B-Roll) You'll cut away to these later when you edit. They also provide additional information to the audience.
• Don’t be afraid to get close to your subjects' faces so your audience can watch their emotions.
• Film details of people – their hands, their dirty boots, their jeweled brooch, etc. This can be b-roll as well.
• Interviews:
  –Have subjects speak in whole sentences
  –Decide whether they should be looking at the camera or at you.
  -When filming two people talking, get behind one’s shoulder for a while, and then switch. Get an establishing shot of them together.
• Get one minute of room tone (background noise without anyone speaking). You'll need this when you start editing.