Documentation:Kaltura/Prepare to Create a Video (How to)

Creating a video can be a daunting task. There is preparation involved, consideration to be made about your presentation, time required to edit the video and the effort involved to make the video professional.

On the other hand, videos convey more information and allow the learner to see for themselves without actually being present. Seeing something done step by step, with the ability to rewind and pause at their own convenience is empowering. With some simple tips and key choices about your setup, you will be able to create your first video in no time!

Video

This video gives a brief overview of what is mentioned below, with specific emphasis on the complete process of creating the video from start to finish and some questions and thinking you should do. You might also find it useful to review the process for creating this video.

Effective Practices

Having a strong script or storyboard will make editing easier later on in the process.
Keep in mind what the audience is seeing and viewing and double check if your video is delivering the message or story you would like it to.
Plan out the timeframe for scripting, recording/filming, and editing to make sure you can complete your video in a timely manner or before a deadline.

Planning

The first place to start is planning your shoot and figuring out the story of your shoot. Ask yourself these questions and have the answers to them before you start the next processes:

What’s my purpose—why am I making this video?
Who is it for?
What’s the story or message you want to tell?
Is the quality (production value) important or is the purpose to document and share?
Do I have permission from the subject or representative of the site I am shooting?
What medium and format will the final video will be shown in? Be aware of any special requirements of the medium, and the best way to convert (encode) into the correct format.

Equipment

Gather all of the equipment that you will need for your project. The the bare minimum, this will be:

Headset with mic (or external mic if you prefer)
computer or laptop
script or storyboard and a pencil
video editing/recording software or all-in-one video creation tool (see Tools)
Drawing tablet (like a Wacom or Bamboo)

If you are recording yourself or other people/places, you will need:

webcam
camcorder/smartphone with video capture
lapel mics (for better sound)

This an example of a screencast setup with the following equipment: laptop, video editing and recording software, a script (can also be printed), and a recording device.

Scripting

By spending time creating a script or storyboard beforehand, the recording process will go much more smoothly, compared to improvisation as you go. Scripting what you will say will allow a smooth flow for the voice recording, and storyboarding will allow you to have a vision of what the final product will look like.

If using a script, print it out and practice reading it out before you begin recording to test out intonation. pauses and get a grasp of sentence structures.
Storyboarding can take a couple of forms. For a screencast it means planning out the order and sequence of how you will be presenting the information. If storyboarding for a camera shoot, visit the location and plan out camera shots and scenes, angle of camera, lighting, etc.

Recording

The recording portion of the video can seem to be the most straightforward part of the process, but there are actually many things to take into consideration.

If doing a screencast, recording can be anywhere quiet such as a room in the library or at home. Record anywhere that does not have a lot of background noise and that does not echo.
If making a screencast, try to verbalize every step you make on the screen so that an audience can follow.
Try to not speak directly into the microphone, as the microphone will catch your breath as you speak causing spikes. Rather, place the microphone off to the side and speak in a clear, loud voice.
Test the quality, pace and clarity of your audio. If making an instructional video, speak slowly and clearly.
When shooting outdoors, keep the sun behind you to avoid objects getting washed out by the sun.
For videos, shoot to edit so that you have various footage to work with.
For videos, move the camcorder only when necessary to avoid unnecessary movement.

Editing

The final part of the video creation process is the edit. This is where you bring together all the elements that you have worked on, and put it all together. Because editing allows you to interleave various takes and shots, be sure to choose the best footage or recordings you have and put it together. Editing usually is the most time consuming part of the process, and as such,

Set a zoom/keyframe so that the screen is close and tight to what is most important to show, doing this in the beginning allows you to cut out quiet bits and allows for the keyframe to automatically be applied to the next shot.
Adjust the volume to what is suitable, keep in mind that this may be different when you publish or upload.
Add "call-outs" like arrows or boxes for visual aids and add shaded callout boxes to ensure no personal information is visible.
Consider the length of the video; make sure it is not too long or too short for your audience.
Add music for the video intro callout and/or tail end. Make sure to fade in and out music when appropriate. When using music make sure to keep copyright issues in mind. You can use music under the Creative Commons license with appropriate attribution from jamendo.com.
After editing, publish the video as an HD video for better quality.

Questions about Copyright?

All online videos need to be compliant with copyright laws. For any copyright questions, please contact UBC's Copyright Advisory Group at ubc-copyright@interchange.ubc.ca for in-depth guidance and support.

The Copyright at UBC site contains copyright resources, requirements, and guidelines, including frequently asked questions about copyright in the digital classroom. The Copyright Advisory Group also hosts a regular series of workshops drop-in copyright clinics, where faculty, staff, and students can meet and get individual support from members of the Copyright Advisory Group. More information and a schedule of the upcoming copyright workshops and clinics can be found at http://copyright.ubc.ca/workshops/.