How can you tell a great story on video with limited resources?

Recipe for a good story: - choose a dynamic and interesting character your audience will connect with - choose a relatable internal AND external conflict - elicit an emotion

One way to get a timeless message or story across on video is be original in the detail of the story. Seem passionate. Be and do all the things visually to tug on the heart or something they can't do but love watching it! Starting with an attention grabber and playing with the intensity or suspense will get them every time.

Always know what medium you are going to use to share your story. Is it social? If its IG/TikTok, grab a cheap L-Mount on Amazon and film the whole thing vertical instead of cropping it in post. Is it YouTube? Think about how long your project is going to be and which ecosystem the content will thrive in. Are you planning to pitch it to festivals and aren't concerned with those platforms? Rent a camera on ShareGrid that is 3-4 years old (i.e. a Sony A7SII instead of the SIII), and budget more for audio and lighting if necessary. Use natural lighting as needed, and try to convey your message in the first 15 seconds to get your audience hooked.

The main key here is to have a clear understanding of your story. Focus on the story and know what you want the video to convey to the audience. Spend time crafting a well-structured narrative focusing on the main elements. Sufficient pre-production, i.e. scripting, storyboarding, and finding the right location will drastically reduce costs. Use available equipment, such as an iPhone, or burrow a good camera, instead of expensive hire. You don't an expensive sound kit to record good audio. A simple microphone will suffice. For editing there many free software you can use to create compelling edits. Before publishing the video get feedback from experienced colleagues.

A good story is good by nature. So start with that. Focus in details that make it good. Use characters that will enhance the plot. Equipment are important but not crusial. Direction and photography are crusial. A good aesthetic result always adds quality

Your first 5 to 10 seconds are crucial. Don’t introduce yourself - introduce the problem and that there is a solution in the video. If people aren’t hooked in the first few seconds, the viewing time drops of very fast. It’s very rare that you need to talk about yourself and/or your experience with the problem - people really don’t care and will tune out. Think of the script like it is a mystery story, reveal tantalizing things to keep your audience guessing and wondering until the big reveal. Plot twists are always useful.

A good story heuristic I love is You Need Go Search Find Take Return Changed Establish character in their environment, and show that they have a need to fill, they go somewhere to search for a solution, they find it (or don’t), take it (or something else), and then return. Then show them changed in a new or their old environment.

A well-planned story is half the battle won: Structure is Key: Use the hero’s journey or three-act structure for a compelling narrative. Define Your Elements: Who’s the hero? What’s the goal? Identify key story components. Script it Out: Cover main points, dialogues, and transitions. Make every word count. Clarity and Consistency: Ensure your script is easy to follow and stays on message. Remember, a strong script sets the stage for a powerful video.

In my view, this is the most important part of the process. This is where you can really leverage your resources, however limited, to be most effective. Center the story around your limitations so that you can effectively create something of quality that connects and most importantly communicates the message you want to share. Everything else that comes after serves the story.

I've learned that the simplest way to tell a successful story is by following the "Once Upon A Time..." technique. As a matter of fact, Disney follows this example for their stories. * Once Upon a Time... * Every day... * Then, one day... * Because of that * Because of that * Because of that * Until finally You don't need to follow those exact words above but use that technique as a foundation and a resource.

A good camera does not equal a good video. So many high quality videos today are made using just an iphone, even some movies have been made with the iphone. I've found that if you do choose to invest in equipment, make it audio first. It's easier for a viewer to get past bad video but near impossible for them to get past bad audio.

Equipment is just a tool to tell your story, so don't get hung up on needing the best equipment. You can get very good quality video with a smartphone and tripod. The first thing I would invest in is a quality microphone to suit your project needs. People will forgive poor video quality, but will turn off one with poor audio quality.

One day all the movies will be made with mobile phones..! Cameras and professional equipment are not easy to use and are expensive. The vision of your art combined with artificial intelligence will give wonderful results.

Pour certains clients ayant un budget très restreint, je leur apprend à filmer avec leurs propres smartphones en leur donnant les conseils de base pour optimiser le son et l'image. Il y a des paramètres qui peuvent sembler évidents mais qui ne le sont pas pour tous comme par exemple : - ne pas mettre son doigt sur le micro du smartphone - réaliser les interviews dans des endroits qui ne résonnent pas ou qui ont des bruits parasites (éviter les halls, les jardins peuplés d'oiseaux...) - si on ne possède pas de micro, se rapprocher le plus possible de la personne interrogée... - éviter de balayer une pièce en filmant pour éviter le flou de bougé - bloquer les réglages du smartphone pour éviter les sauts de luminosité...

Yes, better equipment could lead to "better" results, however, as a videographer that started filming with a phone, I can attest that filming knowing I did not have high-end equipment forced me to master the most important thing about video...telling the story. Also, the limitations of a phone can lead to unseen creativity that can only be replicated on a mobile phone. So whatever you have, just click record.

For cinematographic inspiration, revisit your favorite films and closely observe the shots that resonate with you. Take notes on what makes those shots special - framing, lighting, movement, and angles. If Emmanuel Lubezki is your favorite cinematographer, emulate and learn from his work - or others!

At Arrington Media, this is our SOP: Documentary: On location Get subject doing what they do… - Shot of hands - Shot of face - Wide shot - Side shot - Over the shoulder (POV) Then ask what they are doing. *repeat* Single Interview: 2-3 camera - medium closeup (3/4 shot or side) - wide (looking slightly off camera) - side profile or Dolly track For narrative: - Master (wide) - Over the shoulder person one - Over the shoulder person two - Get an insert for key actions / prop interaction / or pivotal moments For world building: - drone shot - wide shot (landscape) - walking / moving shot - close up - detail shots

Movement can add some great energy to your video. Even a simple interview can be elevated through a moving B cam. Yeh not every shoot needs this, it’s worth considering what the story is your trying to sell and if movement will add and not take away from the story. If add’s get thinking about how movement could improve your work.

The rules of composition in photography depend on the frame you choose first. The location of the subject and other photo elements determines the type of frame. Generally, vertical frames are used for composition in portrait photography. Horizontal frames are mostly chosen for composition in landscape photography, nature, urban architecture and similar subjects. But know the secret of photography: the rule of the golden ratio

The visual language is what defines your identity as a filmmaker, so learn from professional directors how they tell the story to you using images, and teach yourself how to think through images instead of words, so that you will through continuous experimentation, find your own style of directing the film.

You can use AI to eliminate ums and uhs. There are plenty of AI video editors out there that are low to no cost and even some the apps mentioned here have built in AI tools.

Yes, just get Davinci Resolve for free or pay once for studio for $300. Stick to basic cuts. And prioritize storytelling and flow over fancy stuff. It’ll come across classic and will be more generally appealing. Use your approved brand fonts and colors for text. Also high quality logo but scale it to be no more than 30% of the frame. I’d avoid using web based editors to tell a story. But they can be great to edit quick social pieces. Pro tip: Create a drive or Dropbox folder of best shots to incorporate into web based editors or store locally on a hard drive for easy access if you’re editing in Davinci.

I have found that understanding the fundamentals of editing and storytelling is the most important thing. No software is going to magically make your videos amazing, so go with what works for you. Comfortability with the software is key because if you are focused on how to to something in the software, you are not focused on your story.

As a video content creator, I'm often asked about the tools and software I use for editing. While laptop softwares can be powerful, there's a fantastic world of mobile phone video editing apps waiting to be explored. What's even better? Many of them are free and, with a little exploration, can yield stunning results. One standout example is CapCut. This versatile video editing app offers a wide range of features and functions that rival traditional desktop software. From precise editing to creative effects, it's an all-in-one solution for video enthusiasts. The takeaway here is simple: you don't need high-end equipment or expensive software to create compelling video content.

There are plenty of free to low-cost resources to edit your videos. Personally, I have a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. Therefore, I have Premiere Pro on my belt. However, I like to shoot my videos with my phone, and CapCut has been an amazing, yet free and accessible app to cut down some production time. No matter what platform you are using, they pretty much provide the same tools across the board. Just find the one that's comfortable for you.

1. I back up those who say to spend on audio, if you have to be selective. Undistracting sound covers a multitude of home video style sins. If you have one mic, mic the subject. You're probably close enough to the camera, and people accept a volume raise for off screen questions. 2. Show what needs to be seen, as closely as you can. What are you trying to see as someone demonstrates something? Get that shot. Get a couple of angles; even ask them to repeat it, and cut those shots right into the master, because visual clarity also covers a multitude of cheapnesses. If people leave your video thinking, "Huh! I totally got that!" then all of the high-quality things you simply couldn't do won't matter to them. They'll subscribe.

Don't take all the audience's impressions seriously! Take advantage of the comments and take only the positive side! You will not be able to please everyone, so start with yourself and the people whose you trust their taste and mentality .

Vous aurez beau avoir une belle vidéo qui raconte une belle histoire, si vous la postez sur les réseaux sociaux sans éléments de contexte, sans une introduction qui donne envie de la regarder, elle aura moins de succès. Ainsi, au risque de choquer, je dis souvent à mes clients qu'une bonne vidéo n'est pas forcément une belle vidéo : elle doit avant tout embarquer votre communauté et votre cible.

Interesting time to answer this question re. strikes, economy. The craft of video/film is naturally turbulent, so getting used to limited resources is VITAL, especially when starting out. If you're not passionate about the subject matter, or the process, then you won't be motivated enough to problem solve when the going gets tough. Get comfortable with changing circumstances, and wearing different hats!

During the pandemic, we couldn't do live shoots, so I had to get creative. Back then, we had basic search, but nowadays with AI and computer vision, search is a lot faster and more meaningful. There are many free stock image and video offerings online such as Pexels or Unsplash, that have absolutely fantastic video, some of it in 4K. If you know After Effects, you can also animate or 3D project images for awesome video. Best of all, many are released as Creative Commons, without the need for attribution, and which can be used commercially. Sites such as the ones above, and those for music under Creative Commons, can yield a treasure trove of content. With patience and thoughtful editing, you can weave a great story from a $0 budget!

Quality does not equal complicated. Think of this throughout the whole process and ask yourself constantly "does the project need this?" This is helpful in a project of any scale, but becomes essential when resources are limited.

A big part of video and storytelling is the setting. You don't need a fancy venue or expensive equipment to invoke a feeling; these are things you can achieve simply by picking the correct time of day, the desired weather and the location. This is also huge for lighting, as sets get complicated and artificial lighting is introduced the cost start to soar. You would do yourself a huge favor and save a lot of money simply by researching settings and finding the right time and place.

Viewers connect with genuine, compelling characters. You don't have to design them -- there are captivating real stories and people around us, all the time. If you can create space for them to be their true selves and speak or act from the heart, this will connect with audiences every time. You don't need a fancy rig or process to take advantage of this. Set your subjects up for success, bring your professionalism and perspective and then get out of the way and let shine.