Shooting and Editing a Sequence

Example sequences:	'Getting in a Car'	'Putting on a Hat	'Sport Sequence'

1. Create a storyboard

Each student will create a storyboard consisting of at least 5 shots (but not more than 10) that could be combined during editing to tell a simple “story”. We’re not talking The Lord of the Rings here! We’re talking about a little “slice of life”. . . . a simple sequence, that could be captured in one shot, but that would be ever so much more visually appealing as a sequence of shots. Use appropriate fields of view, angles, camera movements, points of view, reaction shots and transitions. Remember to include CU shots to show detail!

Finished sequences should be no more than ONE minute in length!

Some examples of topics for your story:

• Sharpening a pencil
• Getting a drink of water
• Getting a book from your locker
• Going to a different room
• Opening a bottle of water and taking a drink
• Brushing your teeth
• Getting into a car
• Purchase from a vending machine
• ........

When your storyboard is finished, you should be able to look at it and visualize exactly how your sequence will go together when you edit it. So should your teacher!
The storyboard should show each of the shots, camera angles, shot type, etc.

Have your teacher check your storyboard for possible jump cuts before proceeding to shooting/editing.

Remember the concept of repeating the action between the shots that will be edited together!

2. Shoot your sequence, following the storyboard. You’ll need to enlist the help of classmates to serve as talent (the people in the camera shot).

3. Capture your video and edit your sequence. Add appropriate music, sounds, and titles.

Once again . . . Finished sequences should be no more than ONE minute in length (not including any possible titles and credits you may want to add)

Some points about shooting a Sequence

To shoot a simple sequence you need at least three shots -

• A master shot showing the person engaged in their activity
• A shot of the person's face
• A close up of the activity

1. The master shot should be wide enough to show the whole action – which (if repeatable) should be recorded from beginning to end.
2. As you get better at sequences you won't need to record the action from beginning to end. You'll know where you want to cut and therefore know when to: stop the action; change shot; and restart the action with some overlap.
3. Keep a close eye on what the subject is doing – which hand did they use to pick up the phone – continuity errors can spoil a good sequence.
4. You must offer the editor a variety of shots (at least three remember) – this entails changing either:
   » the camera lens angle e.g. wide shot, mid shot,close up
   » camera position e.g. over the shoulder, profile, head on
   » camera height e.g. high angle, eye height, low angle
5. The average shot is about 4 seconds long. BUT, you must shoot enough to leave the editor some flexibility- as a general rule record shots that are at least 20 seconds long.
6. Ensure that you record the complete action e.g. Frame up on a telephone, start recording and keep recording as the hand comes in to pick up the receiver - then put the receiver back - the hand goes out of shot - hold - then stop recording. Now your editor has flexibility to start (or end) the shot at any given point in the action.
7. You must try not to "cross the line". Be clear in your mind where the line of action runs and stay one side of the line.
8. Don't forget to shoot the cutaways, e.g. if someone is using the photocopier, appropriate cutaways might be:
   » the buttons being pressed
   » the copy coming out of the machine
9. Of your three sequence shots, the shot of your subject's face concentrating on what they are doing is very important. This can be edited in almost anywhere – and may get you over a continuity problem.
10. If your subject is concentrating hard, then get in close. For simpler activities, an MCU will probably be sufficient.
11. It doesn't look good to edit into or out of moving shots. Keep zooming, panning and tilting to a minimum. Hold the camera steady and let the subject provide the movement and visual interest.
12. Letting your subject enter shot or exit, acts as a reason to edit. A kind of visual full stop.