Bringing your big idea to the screen can be a challenging process, especially if it's your first time creating a video project. Luckily, creating a video uses a similar process as other creative projects, like writing. This lesson will go over how to create a video using skills that you already have for writing essays.
These are some beginning steps in the media making process that can be helpful in planning and preparing for recording your project:
What is the format? Is this project more of a recorded presentation? Is there flexibility for a more creative approach?
Who is the audience? Are you addressing your peers? Are you addressing folks with prior knowledge of the content material? Are you addressing people outside of this area of interest? How does this change how you explain and deliver the material in your video?
What is the thing you are trying to communicate? Can you find something that you're excited to share? There are many strategies to trying to decide on an idea: consider searching the internet for brainstorming strategies if you're stuck.
Ask yourself what you want to accomplish with your video. Are you creating this video in order to persuade, entertain, enlighten, or something else? Just make sure that your purpose is in line with what the assignment asks you to do. Look for keywords in the assignment guidelines to help you figure out what your purpose should be.
Trying to devise a structure for your video can be one of the most difficult parts of the process, but remember that it is not dramatically different from writing an essay! Imagine your video as a five-paragraph essay: What needs to be included in the introduction? What about the body paragraphs? How does all of that culminate into a conclusion?
Making a detailed outline before you begin recording is a good way to make sure your ideas come across in a clear and logical order.
Depending on the format of the project, you might be able to present the content for the video project in a number of different ways. For more information about different styles of video projects, check out our examples and resources page.
Do you have access to the resources you need to make this project possible? Do you have time to schedule everything? Are there ways to condense materials? Is everything necessary for communicating the information in the project? Are there parts that can be modified to be more manageable or cut altogether?