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GOT A MINUTE?The power of immersive, short form video
Ravi Jain, Boston College@ravidjain
OVERVIEW•My evolution as an short form video producer
•Defining short form video: what and why
• The Boston College Minute
• Short form video (SFV)101
• Extreme short form video formats
•Q & A
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
• Senior Associate Director, Web/Multimedia at Boston College
•Digital Media Faculty, Northeastern University
•MFA, Studio for Interrelated Media, MassArt
• BA, Modern Imaging Techniques, Oberlin College
• 20+ years digital filmmaking
MY ARC AS A SHORT FORM PRODUCER
• Three Abreast web sitcom: conceived in the year 5 BYT
• Coffee break length = 8 minutes
•DriveTime video blog: social media element
• Engagement of audience = the hook
HOW DO WE DEFINE SHORT?
• Extreme short form: 6 second Vines, 15 second Instagrams
• Short form video: 30 seconds to 3 minutes
• Coffee break length: 5 to 8 minutes
• Extended online clip: 10 to 20 minutes
• “I wish I was on TV” clip: 30+ minutes
LENGTH ISN’T EVERYTHING (!)
• Ultimately the story you are telling will dictate the length
• If the length is (pre)determined, then you scale your story
• A poorly made short video can still be boring
• A well crafted longer piece can fly by
SO WHY SHORT FORM THEN?• Short attention spans?
• Forces you to cut out the cr*p and get to the point
• Hook your audience with immediate storytelling
• Same possibilities as with longer forms
http://youtu.be/IaS1RgsuLoY?t=43s
THE BOSTON COLLEGE MINUTE
• Episodic concept, conceived 2009
• Individual threads weaving together a tapestry
•Don’t try to do too much
• Pilot concept
DNA OF THE BC MINUTE
•No “set pieces” : Fly on the wall observation
•No talking to the camera
•No lower thirds
• You are IN the story, experiencing the story
•Doesn’t overstay its welcome
SFV 101: PREP PHASE• The more you can plan ahead, the better the end result
•What is the story or message?
•Where will this take place? Who are the players?
•What equipment will you need?
• How many people do you need on your team?
• Can you scout the location ahead of time?
SFV 101: PRE-PRODUCTION
• Storyboard – even if it looks like a three year old did it
•Devise a shot list – may not match storyboard sequence
•What does Early Soviet Cinema have to do with any of this?!
• Check inventory (batteries, memory cards, gaffers tape)
• Talk with team – even if just yourself!
SFV 101: PRE-PRODUCTION
• Storyboard – even if it looks like a three year old did it
•Devise a shot list – may not match storyboard sequence
•What does Early Soviet Cinema have to do with any of this?!
• Check inventory (batteries, memory cards, gaffers tape)
• Talk with team – even if just yourself!
A + B = more than A + B
SFV 101: PRE-PRODUCTION
• Storyboard – even if it looks like a three year old did it
•Devise a shot list – may not match storyboard sequence
•What does Early Soviet Cinema have to do with any of this?!
• Check inventory (batteries, memory cards, gaffers tape)
• Talk with team – even if just yourself!
SFV 101: PRODUCTION• Think quickly but don’t shoot quickly
• Follow plan but don’t be tied to it – adapt if necessary
• Audio and video aren’t married yet
• Take advantage of repeated actions
• If scripted activity, find a way to make it seem unscripted
• Achieve level of comfort with players
SFV 101: POST-PRODUCTION
• Log, log, log
• Logging is the bane of video production, but it is oh so critical
• Get to your rough cut as quickly as possible
•Work with what you have
• Schedule will often dictate when something is done
SFV 101: POST-PRODUCTION
• Log, log, log
• Logging is the bane of video production, but it is oh so critical
• Get to your rough cut as quickly as possible
•Work with what you have
• Schedule will often dictate when something is done
SFV 101: SUMMARY• Every video has its own voice
• Your job is to find that voice and bring it to fruition
•What is the tenor? Exuberant? Thoughtful? Lyrical?
•With SFV, you need to be in the zone in the first few seconds
•No time for course correction
EXTREME SHORT FORM VIDEO
• Instagram and Vine
• Immediacy of production and distribution
•Near instantaneous
•Opportunities for “moment sharing”
•More than just stop motion
DO IT FOR THE VINE
• Elmo
• #OutRunTheT
•@kvsmusic
• #turnipforwhat
• Lowes
• Let’s make a Vine!
SHORT FORM VIDEO SUMMARY
• You are always one click away from losing a viewer
• SFV = a more immediate form of storytelling
• Break down a bigger message into bite-sized chunks
•On the whole, a more expedited production schedule
• ESFV even more immediate: hard-wired social media forms
• bc.edu/bcminute
WE DIDN’T ALL INVENT THIS
• Let’s turn back the clock 30 years or so...
Q & A
THANK YOU
• Join the conversation @ravidjain on Twitter
• Find me on LinkedIn
• Email me at Boston College
•Don’t talk to me today (I have a plane to catch)
GOT A MINUTE?The power of immersive, short form video
Ravi Jain, Boston College@ravidjain
