Smartphone Video Guide

Smartphones allow you to find, shoot, and edit a variety of video stories. This article will help you get to know the iPhone camera and apps to start creating quality video stories. There are a few essential items you'll need that are listed below in the Smartphone Reporting Essentials list.

Here are some recommended apps to help you get the most out of your smartphone.

SMARTPHONE ESSENTIALS

*Video Apps for shooting

>Beastcam
>ProMovie

*Video Apps for Editing

>Capcut
>Inshot
>iMovie
>LumaFusion

Smartphone Accessories

You can get by with just your phone and the apps, but you'll need a few accessories to make your videos professional.

Just like anything, the prices and quality of accessories vary greatly. I've tested some entry-level products that produce good results and stay within the budget.

Lavaliere Microphone for Smartphone
-Wireless Microphone for iPhone

wireless lavalier microphone

-Shotgun Microphone for Smartphone

- Rode VideoMic

Smartphone Rig

- Neewer Smartphone Video Rig

Video Tripod

- AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod

Video Tripod

Smartphone Light

- Ulanzie Video Light

Smartphone Video Lights

Smartphone Reporting Guide PDF Download



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five-Shot Sequence


 
Interview with Five-Shot Sequence

VIDEO PROJECTS


Spot News

If you have your smartphone with you, you are ready to shoot a news story wherever you are.

Keep your eyes open for anything unique, interesting, or otherwise newsworthy. The length and format of the video depend entirely on what you are able to see and shoot. 

Example #1:

I noticed a backup of cars near the local Walmart. Cowboys were driving a herd of cattle down the highway, through the stoplight, and around the corner. That isn't something you see every day. As my wife drove, I pulled out my iPhone and started shooting video. 

I sent the raw video to my friends at East Idaho News in Idaho Falls. They posted the video, which pulled in over 170 thousand views.

Cattle Drive at Walmart 

 

Example #2

It was a hot summer night in August. On my way to the store, I drove by the drive-in and was surprised to see at least 50 cars lined up to get in.

On my way back, I ensured my smartphone was ready to catch the phenomenon.


Friday Night at the Drive-In
 

Video Postcard

A video postcard is a great project to practice the mobile journalism skills of shooting and editing with a smartphone. Shoot a variety of wide, medium, and tight shots and edit them into a story. The video can be of an event, location, etc. The final video should be between 45 to 70 seconds long. Watch the example of "Winter Wonderland" as an example.

Suggested Elements:
-Time: 45-70 seconds
-Clips: A minimum of 6 clips
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Story: The video should convey a story and demonstrate the atmosphere of the place, event, etc.

Video Export Settings: 

Export video in an HD YouTube quality setting. 
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps

Winter Wonderland

Fast Facts Video 

This project is designed to take the next step with your mobile journalism skills of shooting and editing with a smartphone.

Similar to the "Video Postcard" project, you will shoot various wide, medium, and tight shots and edit them into a story. For the "Fast Facts" project, you will include text with descriptive numbers and/or statistics. 

The video can be of an event, location, topic, etc. You'll need to research to find the information you need to tell the story through numbers and video. 

Suggested Elements:

-Time: 45-70 seconds
-Clips: A minimum of 6 clips
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Story: The video should convey a story and demonstrate the atmosphere of the place, event, etc.
-Text: Three to seven text overlays or graphics facts and numbers/stats to tell your story.

Video Export Settings: 

Export video as an HD YouTube quality setting. 
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps

Mesa Falls

Explainer

This type of story is best for topics or events you don't have access to an interview or when it simply works best to tell the story as a reporter. 

An explainer requires good reporting and research to ensure you get the facts right about whatever you are covering. 

In the example below, I attended a tech conference for which there was plenty of written material to give details of the conference. I made sure to shoot video that would complement the information available.

After reviewing the footage and the information available, it is best to write up a two-column script. Once the script is ready, record your voice track on audio track #1. Next, lay down the b-roll with the video on video track #1 and the audio on audio track #2. 

Suggested Elements:

-Time: 45-70 seconds
-Clips: A minimum of 10 to 15 clips
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution if desired
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Story: Video and narration should convey a story and provide accurate information of the event covered.
-Text: graphics and lower-thirds as needed.

Video Export Settings: 

Export video as an HD YouTube quality setting. 
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps

 
Tech Summit in Salt Lake City

   

Event Interview with B-Roll Video

 
For this project, you'll need to search for an event. The event can be any organized activity that is relevant to your target audience.

For this project, you'll need to research the event and find someone in charge of or closely associated with the event to interview. 

Shoot the interview at the event along with the b-roll you will need. Remember to shoot a variety of wide, medium, and tight shots for the b-roll that you can edit into the story. 

Use sound bites from the interview to tell the story. It is important that you shoot sequences and use the b-roll to tell the story. We should see the person being interviewed, but not too much. Use b-roll effectively.

Suggested Elements:

-Time: 45-70 seconds
-Clips: A minimum of 8 clips and an interview
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution.
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Interview Sound Bites: Properly edited sound bites that have appropriate levels and tell the story.
-Story: The video should convey a story and support the content of the interview sound bites.
-Text: Lower-thirds or graphics as appropriate for the story.

Export video as an HD YouTube quality setting.
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps

Remembering Cade

News Package Video

This project is a traditional news package like you see on local television news.

A news package can be on any topic, event, or issue. It typically includes a reporter voice track, interview sound bites, b-roll video, and natural sound. 

Once you decide on the topic of your story, you'll need to find appropriate people to interview. Depending on the story's topic, you may shoot the interviews first and then b-roll that complements the sound bites, or b-roll and then interviews. Remember to shoot a variety of wide, medium, and tight shots for the b-roll that you can edit into the story. 

Use sound bites from the interviews to effectively tell the story. It is important that you shoot sequences and use the b-roll to tell the story. We should see the person being interviewed, but not too much. Use b-roll effectively.

Suggested Elements:

-Time: 60-90 seconds
-Clips: Eight to fifteen clips and an interview
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution (music is optional)
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Interview Sound Bites: Properly edited sound bites that have appropriate levels and tell the story.
-Story: The video should convey a story and support the content of the interview sound bites.
-Text: Lower-thirds or graphics as appropriate for the story.

Video Export Settings: 

Export video as an HD YouTube quality setting.
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps


Boom N' Pop

  

Depth News Package

Following the traditional news package principles, some stories need more depth to report.
The example below is from the Madison School District. The community passed a $27-million bond to upgrade classrooms and build a new gym and football stadium. 
This story was picked up by East Idaho News.

Madison High School $27-Million Bond

 
Profile Video

For this project, you'll need to find someone who does something visual that you can profile. Once you decide who to profile, I suggest doing a pre-interview. A pre-interview is an informal discussion with your profile subject to discuss your story concept.
Based on the pre-interview, you'll have formulated good questions that will lead to sound bites for which you can shoot b-roll footage. Use the rule of thirds to frame up your interview and use proper lighting.
It is important that you shoot sequences and use the b-roll to tell the story. We should see the person being interviewed, but not too much. Use b-roll effectively.
You will not use a voice track but will edit the interview in a manner so the profile subject tells his or her own story. We should see the person being interviewed, but not too much. Use b-roll effectively.

Suggested Elements:

-Time: 45-90 seconds
-Clips: Approximately 8 to 15 clips and an interview
-Music: Creative Commons music with proper attribution.
-Natural Sound: Include properly balanced natural sound appropriate to the video.
-Interview Sound Bites: Properly edited sound bites that have appropriate levels and tell the story.
-Story: The video should convey a story and support the content of the interview sound bites.
-Text: Lower-thirds or graphics as appropriate for the story.

Video Export Settings: 

Export video as an HD YouTube quality setting.
Resolution: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
Frame Rate: 30fps
Video Quality: 32Mbps


Grand Teton Ancient Grains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment