Tips for Producing a Good Science Video
Technical Aspects
Lighting
- Indoors: Most of the video cameras you will use for this project are specifically designed to function in
low light situations. However, without additional lighting, the video will look grainy and
unprofessional. If you shoot indoors, use additional lighting in order to obtain
clear, crisp images. Point the light at a white poster sized piece of foam core board and point the board
at the subject. The reflected light will be diffused and will appear more natural.
- Outdoors- Cover a same foam core board with aluminum foil and use the sun as a light
source. In bright sunlight, the white board alone may be enough to diffuse the light.
Make sure your subject is facing the sun and the sun is at the photographers back.
Framing
- Interviews - Typically for interviews with people, frame the shot so that there is just a small bit of space
above their head. This will leave room for a graphic at the bottom when you edit. You will have
to judge the space when looking through the viewfinder, but typically there is about one inch of
white space above the subject’s head on the television.
- Clean up the background - Remove unwanted items from the background. Your background should not have anything that distracts from your subject.
Stability
- Tripod: Use a tripod whenever possible.
- Panning: Pan slow and steady. Don't jerk the camera
Sound
- background noise: Avoid locations with loud ventilation, hallway or traffic noise.
- If possible, use a room with acoustic dampeners like carpeting and heavy curtains help soften reverberation
Footage
- Include a variety of images or perspectives
- Video the subject from a variety of perspectives so you can select the best
