Video Production 101

Camera, Lights, and Sound

What is the difference between FILM and VIDEO?

• FILMA strip of sequential, still images, taken on photographic film. (exposed to light and developed)

• VIDEOAudio and Visual information is converted into electrical impulses and stored on magnetic tape, or as a computer file.

How does a video camera work?

• The LensLight travels through the lens, and is reduced to a cone-shaped beam.

• CCD – Charge-Coupled DeviceThis part of the camera receives the light from the lens, and converts it into digital information. This will be stored on a tape, card, or drive.

Seems like…

Focal Length• Most video cameras have a zoom lens. Zoom

lenses have a variable focal length, which allows objects to appear closer or farther away without changing the lens.

• Focal length is the distance between the optical center of the lens, and the CCD or film.

Iris and f/Stop

• Iris/ApertureThe opening in the lens assembly through which light enters.

• f/stopA number which designates the size of the lens aperture .

Break for Key Terms #1

• Film• Video• Lens• CCD (Charge-Coupled

Device)• Focal Length• Iris/Aperture• f/Stop

Three Point Lighting

• Key LightPrimary source of light – typically a Fresnel spotlight. Generally all lights are set on the diagonal.

• Fill LightThis light helps minimize the shadows caused by the Key Light. This light is set from the opposite diagonal angle from the Key Light.

• Back LightThis light casts a gentle glow on the head and shoulders of the subject; this helps separate them from the background.

Microphones• Omnidirectional

These pick up sound in all 360 degrees around the microphone.

• UnidirectionalThese pick up sounds from a particular shape or pattern surrounding the microphone. (Cardioid, Super Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Bi-Directional, Shotgun)

• LavalierA small, hands-free microphone that can be clipped onto the subject’s clothing.

Most microphones in the studio will use XLR Cables.

Basics of Microphone Placement

• 3-to-1 RuleIf you are using more than 1 microphone, then the microphones must be placed 3 times farther apart than the distance from their subjects.

• Inverse Square LawWhen you move a microphone, the change in volume is the inverse of the square of the change in distance.(Double the distance, ¼ the volume.)

Break for Key Terms #2

• Three Point Lighting• Key Light• Fill Light• Back Light• Omnidirectional Mic• Directional Mic• Lavalier (Lav) Mic• 3-to-1 Rule• Inverse Square Law