VIDEO SEQUENCE
A video sequence is
a basic building block of visual storytelling. It is very simply, a series of short shots that show action
in a logical chronological order.
The basic shots
that are used in creating a sequence are:
XWS - Extreme Wide
Shot
WS - Wide Shot
MS - Medium Shot
CU - Close Up
XCU - Extreme Close Up
POV - Point of View
And sometimes a
reaction shot, depending on the action depicted. A sequence though, is not just a mix of different
angles, it's a series of shots that shows an action in order.
For instance, if
you were shooting video someone shoveling snow, for a story about a winter
storm, you could simply set up you camera with the subject nicely framed and
let them shovel away. That might
produce a good 20 or 30 seconds of the person shoveling.
But a SEQUENCE
takes the action and portrays as a series of smaller actions. So the first shot might show the person
from the front lifting the shovel and digging in. The next shot might be over the shoulder, showing the snow
being thrown in a pile. Next might
be a close-up of the gloves hands.
Or maybe a close-up of the person's face. You might include a shot of the snow pile as the snow
falls on it with the person in the frame. The key is the shots have to be in a logical order to
portray the action, and you want to match the shots so it appears to be a
seamless progression, not a hodgepodge of shots.
Here's a clever
video that explains sequencing, but this storyteller is doing one thing we're NOT
going to do. More on that
after you watch:
Did you hear his
reference to movies? He's right. Sequences are a staple of movies and television dramas, but Hollywood directors
can do something we as journalists do not. They direct the action. They stop the actors and move the camera. This video starts with a nifty sequence
where the narrator approaches his door, and fumbles for the key. Then when he opens the door, the camera
is suddenly inside to capture his entrance. This all makes nice sequence, but it's STAGED. And we don't stage sequences. You're not a Hollywood director.
So how do you get a
good sequence? The answer is to
look for repetitive actions, things that are done over and over again so you
can get a variety of shots that will edit together, without have to stage
direct your subject.
A very common
sequence is someone working at a computer. Do NOT do this for your assignment. But you can visualize how the sequence might go. A wide shot of the person at their
desk. A close-up of hands on the
keyboard. A medium or over-the-shoulder
shot. Maybe a close-up of the
screen, and a hand moving the mouse.
And then there's always the classic "screen reflected in the
person's glasses" shot.
Don't break the axis!
This is a good time
to talk about a basic rule of video that applies when shooting sequences. And like all rules it's not inviolate,
but if you follow it you won't look like an amateur. Breaking the axis essentially means shooting from both
sides of the subject in such a way that when you edit the shots together it
look like they are going in two different directions. The way to avoid this is to picture an imaginary line down
the center of your subject and stay on one side of that line.
Here is an example of a simple sequence edited on Adobe Premiere Pro:
Video Assignment #3 Sequence and soundbite
Your assignment is
to shoot a sequence of 3 to 5 shots, showing a repetitive action, and
accompany it with a short (:15) sound bite related to the activity. Make sure your shots are in order, and
show the action as it progresses from point A to point B. Don't break the axis, and don't have
any jarring "jump cuts" where the shots are too similar or are out of
order.
Edit in Adobe Premiere, iMovie or on the iMovie App for iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch,
and post to the blog. The final result should be :30-:45.
Grading Criteria:
This is your
checklist for success. If you can
say "yes" to all of these questions, you get an "A." It's that simple!
1. Does your sequence have 3 to 5 shots,
including a wide, medium, and close-up?
2. Do the shots show a logical
progression, documenting and action in order?
3. Are there no jump cuts, or sequences
that "break the axis"?
4. Do you have a short interview sound
bite that relates to the sequence?
5. Is the interview subject lit correctly?
5. Is the interview subject lit correctly?
6. Is the interview framed correctly following
the rule of thirds?
7. Is it clear that the action you videoed
was not staged? That is could the shots have been captured without stopping or
directing the action?
8. Is the audio clear?
9. Did you shoot on a tripod so there is
no camera shake or movement?
9-8
Yeses = A (95/90%)
7-6
Yeses = B (85%-80%)
5-4
Yeses = C (75%-70%)
3-2
Yeses = D (65%)
1-0
Yeses = F (50% (Assuming an assignment was posted)
