The ins and outs of video making
Video is a powerful medium that can help communicate and educate to improve people’s lives. No matter who they are or their situation, everyone deserves access to low-cost video technology to share their knowledge with the rest of the world.
To make compelling videos with a concise, persuasive message, one first needs to know the basics of video creation. Let’s dive into the process of making videos — step by step.
How illuminAid makes video: a tried and true formula
Pre-production
We start with the beginning of the production process: pre-production. Here is where the video’s topic is chosen, followed by scriptwriting and storyboarding. The best approach is to keep the message clear, and the shot list simple yet concise.
Pre-production also requires logistics planning: building a cast, setting up interviews with locals, and locating a nearby area to shoot at.
Production
Production from our recent VEW with CRS at a remote school near Naware, Togo
It’s now time to hit record. But before you do, you need a camera. illuminAid provides all our partners with video cameras — along with tripods, lapel microphones, and SD cards. All of this gear is important to have to ensure the video is stable with clear audio.
Here are a few other things to consider before recording: composition and lighting. Implementing composition techniques like the rule of thirds and leading make your videos look visually appealing and professional. Also, lighting is just as important as your camera, if not more important. Shoot near a window if shooting indoors and avoid shooting in very bright or low light locations to give the camera the right amount of light to capture all the details.
Post-production
Post-production from our recent VEW with CRS in Kara, Togo
Once everything’s shot, it’s time to piece everything together. There are many accessible phone apps that edit video. If editing on a computer, there are editing programs available for free online, such as Lightworks, Hitfilm Express and DaVinci Resolve.
Distribution
After cutting the final edit of the video, we move on to the final stage of video making: distribution — showing people the video. In illuminAid’s case, we provide projector kits, which include mobile projectors, tripods and speakers, making it simple to share video in rural areas. The projectors can project onto a whiteboard or screen and serve an audience of up to 50 people.
Videos can help teach, inspire and save lives. It allows us to share our experiences and knowledge to build each other up. There’s no better time than now to pick up a camera and start shooting.