Multimedia Design & Editing

Introduction | Video Basics | Pre-Production | Production | Post-Production

Assignments: Assignment #9 - Soundtrack | Assignment #10 - Freeze Frame Action | Assignment #11 - Action matching dialogue | Assignment #12 - Green Screen Jedi | Assignment #13 - Animating the lightsaber

Introduction

This unit introduces students to the processes of audio-video pre-production, production, and post-production. Students learn basic shot sizes, camera movements, and special effects to create a storyboard and to script audio-video material. Students compose and capture images, edit audio-video footage, and apply finishing operations before presenting the production to an audience. The safe and careful handling of sensitive equipment is emphasized. Students learn to apply ethical standards and policies in their productions while exploring further education and career opportunities.

Proper "Video Production" can be broken down into the following three stages:

Clip for discussion (Indy Short that inspired a feature film Movie)

Overview of Stages of Video Production

Video Production is typically broken down into the following stages:

STAGE ONE:

Pre-Production

Pre-Production is all about effectively planning the FORMAT and CONTENT of your production. Although it's EASIER to simply "wing it" and start shooting without planning, experienced producers know that the final UNPLANNED product WILL be:

Inferior and amateurish
Harder to edit, and may require re-shoots
Take more time to produce, and
Leave the producer with regrets

It's FAR cheaper to plan and "test out" your ideas on paper, before committing to the costly and time consuming process of shooting (production) and editing (post production) your video.

Pre-Production requires that you:

Identify the "Target Audience"
Define the final product, it's format and length
Define the concept and specific content
Storyboard StoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboardStoryboard your shots, and Script your dialogue
Assign time-lines, areas of responsibility and identify and book required resources

STAGE TWO:

Production

Set the stage, and shoot your "footage". If you're skillful at production, you'll be mindful of the things amateur productions don't pay attention to:

Lighting
Audio
Framing
Shots and Camera-work
Lead In and Lead Out

STAGE THREE:

Post Production

Editing the footage can be the most time consuming part of the process, and offers the most effective opportunities to enhance the production and give it a "professional" feel by adding:

Select or "trimmed" clips from your footage
Transitions between clips (be mindful of K.I.S.S.)
Audio elements
- Music
- Voice Over Dialogue
- Sound Effects
Titles and Credits
Text and Graphic overlays
Composited clips like green-screened elements or matte elements
Special effects and filters that can clean up, or modify the original video clips Post Production also involves rendering and publishing the final product to the desired output format like DVD or web-friendly files