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Gareth J JohnsonWeasel Televisual Enterprises (and University of Leicester )

Creating and using effective promotional and educational videos for libraries and information services

Creating effective movies for training, education or promotion

The practicalities of going from idea to script to screen

Where do puppets fit in?!

Started filming in 2007 for fun Bought a camera and editing software Moved on to developing short films Started using videos to support teaching

and training Made open accessible & now reused by

librarians globally Learned about the practicalities and

craft of film production

Relax

Respite Re-usable

Reinforce

Remote

RefocusRepetition

Won’t click for everyone

But neither do other forms of instruction or promotion

Satisfying different customer needs and styles

A hybrid or blended promotional approach

Another weapon in the arsenal

Video production itself can be a PR event

Barriers exist

Organisational ethos or personal resistances

Concerns over skills set or resources

Why puppets?

Because they are always available to record!

Because they are adaptable to filming requirements

Because humour is a powerful a communication tool

Makes it engaging

A key goal for any education or marketing exercise

Makes it memorable

Audiences will remember serious points made

Makes it digestible

Sugar coating for difficult or complex topics

Videos are a non-trivial creation exercise A 3-5 minute movie might well take

1. Plotting, scripting, planning 1-2 hours

2. Set up, shoot and re-shoot 1-2 hours

3. Editing & polishing 2-3 hours

May not be consecutive periods

Helps if are relatively close together

Need for script approval can increase times

Message

Plot

Dialogue

Action

Filming

Editing

Release

Pre

-pro

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A video short should contain 1 core concept Concept encapsulated in 25 words or less

Don’t be tempted to cram multiple ideas in a single film

Start simple with message then plot then dialogue Choose your artistes with care Dull inflection/intonation bring death on swift wings

Availability can be a key factor Block out plenty of time First time always takes longer than you expect

Get someone else to film it if you can…

Effective way to conceptualise your idea

What if all reality was a computer game, and only you knew how to use the cheat codes?

Biographical story of the rise and fall of a small time mobster, and the lives he touches

Respected and only possible suspect tries to prove he didn't kill his wife, while fleeing an unstoppable pursuer

Write for your audience The opening and closing lines are crucial (hook & exit) Get someone else to read/review the script

Basic screenwriting techniques will help Not a simple migration of words to screen

Standard screen writing format means 1 script page = 1 minute on screen

Make use of a visual grammars Visual shorthand can play an important role in scene

setting Instantly recognisable traits or postures speak volumes

▪ e.g. Smartly dressed character vs a scruffy one

But don’t over rely on cliché ▪ e.g A bookshelf backdrop can be a major turn off to non-librarians!

Writing effective and engaging dialogue Dialogue needs brevity, clarity and punch Two heads can be better than one An interrogative between two speakers drives a narrative

forward Use naturalistic phrases and phrasing - and speak them

aloud once written

Action! Show don’t tell at the heart of best scripting practice Helps the economy of words and pacing Non-verbal cues 4 times the effect of spoken words

Keep thinking message, message, message throughout

Shooting tips Consider simple backgrounds for less viewer distraction

Make sure it’s well lit

Shoot once, shoot twice, shoot thrice

Editing it together The more shots that make up a film, the more editing will be required

Good editing can save weak filming by trimming dead air or gaffs

Rough cuts & polished gem Screen to a small audience & listen to their feedback or comments

Be prepared to make (minor) changes or reshoots

Output in multiple formats - Lower res for web, higher res for DVD & archive

Make a splash with your premiere

Don’t have time to make - then reuse someone else's Freely available high quality videos on YouTube, Jorum

Open or Institutional Repositories

Failing that commission someone

For effective information literacy videos Videos can be a vibrant addition to the IL toolkit

Keep your message uppermost when scripting

Visual grammars more powerful than words alone

Write for your audience’s needs and attention

Be aware of backgrounds and lighting

Make & watch a rough edit as quickly as possible

Contact

gjj6@le.ac.uk

0116-252-2039

www.twitter.com/llordllama

tinyurl.com/randyweasel

Videos

www.youtube.com/llordllama

Questions?

Slides