Watch the tutorial to the left to get an understanding of how to use Adobe Rush. Click HERE for a link to Adobe Rush resources!
Research first: do your homework! Define and examine the context, problem, or case you hope to study before you write a script, collect data, generate questions to ask an expert, or gather media assets.
Production: every film needs a star! Interview an expert (e.g., a "star" who "tells stories" for a living or frequently). Follow the three Cs rule: citation, copyright, consent. Give credit where it's due (i.e., citations), source information without stealing it (i.e., copyright), and get permission from the "star" to use the recording for your purposes (i.e., consent).
Collect B-roll: you can never have too much B-roll! Try to film and photograph all kinds of creative, interesting close-ups and angles. B-roll (i.e., supplementary footage) can be used as visual metaphors to help narrate your story or illustrate a more abstract concept.
Technical preparation: test your technology! Do sound checks with your microphone, understand the basic features of your device(s), and be mindful of location and lighting—all this before you do an official recording.
Guide your interview(s): listen to your interviewee carefully and strategically! Ask non-leading, open-ended questions that help your subject complete their thoughts and round out their (and your) storytelling. Don't be afraid to go with the flow if the interview goes off script, but do ask follow-up questions that help clarify key terms and concepts, prompt vignettes and anecdotes that illustrate ideas, and achieve the big-picture goals of your project.
File management: stay organized! Create a single folder for all of your recordings, images, files, music, graphics, etc. Then, name each asset descriptively, simply, and consistently for easy access later (e.g., b-roll_beach waves, b-roll_trees). Finally, back up the folder via the cloud. Nothing in your media project should be outside of this folder.
Select the right editing software for you: find your fit in the Adobe Creative Cloud! Here are some recommendations: Adobe Express Video (beginner), Adobe Premiere Rush (beginner-intermediate).
Develop your story: study and storyboard! Listen to your recording(s) via editing software, and search for concise soundbites that help build a coherent story—something with a beginning, middle, and end. Be prepared to do this many times as multiple listenings/viewings can often illuminate new insights. As you study, consider creating an outline or storyboard to organize the emerging sequence.
Edit for sound first: audio is king! Trim and arrange your audio clips so that spoken information (e.g., narration, interview excerpts) tells a story regardless of how the video looks.
Polish and publish: pay attention to detail! Add visual elements such as b-roll, titles, and graphics to reinforce and/or enhance your spoken audio; edit audio using music and add "ducking"; make a plan for closed captioning accessibility; and render, export, and share.