Video Production

Types of Video cameras

 Point and Shoot video camera: Very basic, compact video camera. Among
the smallest pro-grade video cameras and is cheap. Have plenty of features,
a rudimentary auto-focus feature, manual exposure changes and a live
preview. Not as advanced as more expensive cameras. The quality of a
capture is slightly different, and there are limitations.
 DSLR video cameras: One of the most popular types of video cameras
available. They’re used by YouTubers and social media personalities to film
content and provide an enhanced image. A digital single-lens reflex camera
offers interchangeable lenses which is an advantage.

 Mirrorless: Lighter and thinner than a DSLR and is hence good for beginners.
User-friendly, simple, portable cameras and capture extremely high-quality
video. Have an autofocus system, prioritizing the capture of fast-moving
objects. Like a DSLR, mirrorless video cameras have
interchangeable lenses. The drawback to mirrorless cameras is that they are
expensive.

 Digital Camcorder: Singularly designed to be inexpensive, versatile, and

flexible, used predominantly for personal video-making rather than anything
professional. These don’t even come close to a DSLR or professional video
cameras.

 Sports and Action video camera: These are designed to capture fast
movement and activity. They’re portable and meant to be handheld. Focus
greatly on image stabilization features and maintaining clarity when the
activity captured on-screen is uneven. These types of video cameras can be
combined with various harnesses, mounts, and attachments.
 Professional-grade film cameras: Used for making films and videography as a
career. These can get very expensive and are bulky to operate for
inexperienced filmmakers. Have image sensors, processors, lenses, ISO and
aperture ranges and all sorts of features that other cameras don’t carry.
  360 degree video camera: Also known as an omnidirectional camera, has a
360-degree field of view so that it captures just about everything around the
sphere. 360 cameras are needed when large visual fields need to be covered,
such as shooting panoramas. As virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) is
rising in prevalence in video games and other forms of interactive
entertainment, 360 cameras are being used more widely today.

Types of lenses
Normal lens : A normal lens is a lens that reproduces a field of view that generally
looks "natural" to a human observer under normal viewing conditions.
Wide-angle lens: A wide -angle lens allows more of the scene to be included in the
photograph, which is useful in architectural, interior and landscape photography
where the photographer may not be able to move farther from the scene to
photograph it.
Telephoto lens: This lens incorporates a special lens group known as a telephoto
group that extends the light path to create a long -focus lens in a much shorter
overall design.
Zoom lens: This allows to quickly and easily varying the composition without
needing to reposition oneself.
Prime lens: Offer wider maximum apertures than zoom lenses, making them ideal
for low -light shooting and attaining shallow depth of field in images.
Macro lens: Designed for close-up photography.
Tilt-Shift lens: Known as Perspective -Control lenses. These allow the optical
configuration of the lens to be shifted and tilted relative to the film or sensor.
A memory card is an electronic data storage device used for storing digital information,
typically using flash memory. These are commonly used in digital portable electronic
devices. They allow adding memory to such devices using a card in a socket instead of
protruding USB flash drives.
A camera, camcorder, drone or mobile device, use a memory card. The SD and microSD
variants are most commonly used in smartphones and digital cameras.
 Some of the most popular forms of memory cards are:

 Secure Digital (SD) card

 CompactFlash (CF) card
 SmartMedia
 Memory Stick
 MultiMediaCard (MMC)

Video file formats

Since video files can be large, programmes called codecs were developed to make them
easier to store and share. Codecs encode data to compress it for storing and sharing.
Then they decode that data to decompress it for viewing and editing.
These are the most common digital video formats and their most frequent uses.
MP4
MP4 is the most common type of video file format. Apple’s preferred format, MP4 can
play on most other devices as well. It uses the MPEG-4 encoding algorithm to store
video and audio files and text but it offers lower definition than some others. MP4
works well for videos posted on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MOV
MOV (QuickTime Film) stores high-quality video, audio and effects but these files tend
to be quite large. Developed for QuickTime Player by Apple, MOV files use MPEG-4
encoding to play in QuickTime for Windows. MOV is supported by Facebook and
YouTube and it works well for TV viewing.

WMV
WMV (Windows Media Viewer) files offer good video quality and large file size like
MOV. Microsoft developed WMV for Windows Media Player. YouTube supports WMV
and Apple users can view these videos but they must download Windows Media Player
for Apple. Keep in mind you can’t select your own aspect ratio in WMV.

AVI
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) works with nearly every web browser on Windows, Mac
and Linux machines. Developed by Microsoft, AVI offers the highest quality but also
large file sizes. It is supported by YouTube and works well for TV viewing.

AVCHD
Advanced Video Coding High Definition is specifically for high-definition video. Built for
Panasonic and Sony digital camcorders, these files compress for easy storage without
losing definition.

FLV, F4V and SWF

Flash video formats FLV, F4V and SWF (Shockwave Flash) are designed for Flash Player,
but they’re commonly used to stream video on YouTube. Flash is not supported by iOS
devices.

MPEG-2
If you want to burn your video to a DVD, MPEG-2 with an H.262 codec is the way to go.

Basics of Visual Language: Shots, Scenes, Sequences

Visual Language
The language of visuals is same like the written language. Like words, sentences and
paragraphs it has shots, scenes and sequences.
In terms of visual language:
A shot is a continuous view filmed by a camera without interruption. Once we start
recording, until we pause it’s a shot. It may be a small or long one duration wise,
showing much details in one take.
Scene is a place or setting where the action is happening. It may be a combination of
different shots or a shot of much duration showing the overall details of the scene.
Sequence is a combination of different scenes which create a small meaning complete.

Shot Types
There is a convention in the video, film and television industries which assigns names
and guidelines to common types of shots, framing and picture composition. The list
below briefly describes the most common shot types. The exact terminology may vary
between production environments but the basic principles are the same.

Extreme Long/Wide Shot

The view is so far from the subject that it is not even visible. This is often used as an
establishing shot.

Very Long/Wide Shot

The subject is slightly visible, but the emphasis is still on placing the subject in the
environment.

Long/Wide Shot
Full View of the subject from top to bottom. Purpose is to establish the subject.

Mid Shot
Shows some part of the subject in more detail whilst still giving an impression of the
whole subject.

Medium Close Up
A halfway shot between the wide and close up shot. Shows better details of the subject.

Close Up Shot
A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.

Extreme Close Up Shot

A very close shot used to show some specific details or expressions of the subject in full
frame.

Cut In
Close shot of any part of the subject.
Cut Away
Shot of something other than the main subject or action. Used as a transition in editing
with jump cut.
Two Shot
A mid shot of two persons framed together.

Over The Shoulder Shot

Shot from behind of the main subject. Basically used to show audience from the behind
of the speaker with a side view of the speaker and a long view of the audience.

Noddy Shot
Shot of a person listening to someone with the expression of listening and
understanding.

Point Of View Shot

A close up shot used to show the view from the subject’s perspective.

Arc Shot
An arc shot is a camera move around the subject, somewhat like a tracking shot.
In mathematics, an arc is a segment of the circumference of a circle. A camera arc is
similar — the camera moves in a rough semi-circle around the subject. Used to show the
environment and mood around the subject while keeping the composition of the shot
same.

Dolly and Tracking Shot

A dolly is a cart which travels along tracks. The camera is mounted on the dolly and
records the shot as it moves. Dolly shots have a number of applications and can provide
very dramatic footage.
Dolly shot is also known as a tracking shot or trucking shot. However some professionals
prefer the more rigid terminology which defines dolly as in-and-out movement (i.e.
closer/further away from the subject), while tracking means side-to-side movement. In
Dolly Shot, Camera follows the action in perpendicular while in tracking shot camera
follows the action in parallel or horizontal. In both the shots the composition of the
frame remains same, only the background or position of the background changes. The
basic purpose of these shots is to carry the viewer along with the subject and to show
the visuals in such a way which naked eyes can’t see.
Dolly Zoom
A dolly zoom is a cinematic technique in which the camera moves closer or further from
the subject while simultaneously adjusting the zoom angle to keep the subject the same
size in the frame. The effect is that the subject appears stationary while the background
size changes. This is called perspective distortion.

Follow Shot
The Follow shot is fairly self-explanatory. It simply means that the camera follows the
subject to action. The following distance is usually kept more or less constant.

Camera Pan
A pan is a horizontal camera movement in which the camera moves left and right about
a central axis. This is a swiveling movement, i.e. mounted in a fixed location on a tripod
or shoulder, rather than a dolly-like movement in which the entire mounting system
moves.

Camera Tilt
A tilt is a vertical camera movement in which the camera points up or down from a
stationary location. For example, if you mount a camera on your shoulder and nod it up
and down, you are tilting the camera.
Tilting is less common than panning because that's the way humans work — we look left
and right more often than we look up and down. A variation of the tilt is the pedestal
shot, in which the whole camera moves up or down.
[follow ppt too]

Camera Angles
Low Angle
The subject is framed from below their eye line in a low-angle manner. A low-angle shot
of one character is frequently coupled with a high-angle picture of the other character
to illustrate power dynamics between characters. Low-angle camera angles are ideal for
conveying supremacy or instilling feelings of terror and dread.

High Angle
The camera, in a high-angle shot, is pointing down at your subject. It frequently makes
you feel inferior to your subject as if you are “looking down” on them. However, as with
any other camera angle, there are several applications.

Dutch Angle
The camera is inclined to one side for a Dutch angle (Dutch tilt). You can generate a
sensation of disorientation, a destabilized mental state, or heighten tension by tilting
the horizon lines in this fashion.

Camera Movements: A camera movement refers to the way a camera shifts to visually
narrate and shape a viewer’s perspective of a scene. Camera movement is a filmmaking
technique that causes a change in frame or perspective through the movement of the
camera. Camera movement allows cinematographers and directors to shift the
audience's view without cutting. Specific types of camera movements in film also can
create a psychological and emotional effect on the audience. These effects can be used
to make a film more immersive and engaging.

Track - A tracking shot is any shot that physically moves the camera in all directions
through the scene for an extended amount of time. Any shot in which the camera
physically moves sideways, forward, or backward through the scene. Tracking shots
usually last longer than other shots, follow one or more moving subjects, and immerse
the audience in a particular setting. The term tracking shot traditionally referred to a
shot achieved with a camera dolly mounted on a dolly track, but some types of dolly
shots are tracking shots, not all tracking shots are shot on a dolly. Modern filmmakers
shoot tracking shots using stabilized gimbal mounts, Steadicam mounts, motorized
vehicles, and even drones.

Pan - Panning is when the camera is moved horizontally either left to right or right to
left, while its base is fixated on a certain point. The pan camera movement is typically
achieved with a tripod head, but can also be done handheld or with a stabilizer.
Panning can help you establish the location of a scene or let you follow a moving
character. Panning can also help you reveal things that were previously off-screen.
Tilt - Pivoting the camera vertically up or down. A camera tilt is a vertical movement in
which the camera base remains in a fixed location while the camera pivots vertically.
Tilting is useful for establishing shots that contain tall vertical scenery or introducing a
character in a dramatic fashion. Camera tilts can be used to give a character dominance
in a shot or to reveal new information to the audience. Tilts enable filmmakers to
capture the verticality of a film in moments of awe and spectacle.
Using a tilting motion helps to fit more into a single frame. A slow upwards tilt can be
very effective in making a subject appear bigger or more significant while a downwards
tilt has the opposite effect.

Dolly Shot: Dollying is a type of tracking shot in which the entire camera moves forward
or backward along a track, while placed on motorized vehicle. This type of movement
can create beautiful, flowing effects when done correctly.

Hand-held shot - This is used to convey a sense of immediacy or draw the audience in
for a realistic point of view (POV).

A shot without any type of camera movement is called Static Shot. A static shot has no
camera movement at all. It is achieved by locking a camera to a fixed-position typically
with a tripod. The stability of a static shot makes it non-distracting.

Purpose of Camera Movement

Creating dynamic scenes: Since the camera is an audience’s eyes on a story, using
camera movements can make scenes more interesting, add a naturalistic element to
scenes, and mimic human movement. You can even make static scenes seem active with
certain camera movements.
Influencing audiences’ emotional reactions: Camera movements can imitate a person’s
view during various circumstances. Shaking the camera during an earthquake scene can
convey fear and chaos while swaying on a boat mimics sea-sickness.
Directing audiences’ attention: Camera movements can obscure audiences’ vision as
well as pull audiences away from certain elements on-screen, or vice-versa
Controlling reveals: Adding camera movements is also a great way to provide narrative
information, reveal new subjects that were once off-screen, and even foreshadow or
create ironic tension that characters are unaware of.

Basic Image Sizes - (LS, MS, CU)

The size of the subject relative to the frame is known as the camera shot size or
type and it’s a critical element of the narrative in filmmaking.
There are 3 basic types of camera shots:
 The close-up (CU)–  emphasizing detail and highlights emotion. the look of
concentration in a shot that is "full face". Sometimes used for interviews -
especially when things are getting personal.

 The medium shot(MS) – balancing character with environment. The mid shot cuts
off at the waist. It is a good shot to introduce people to your audience. We get a
good image of the subject and their surroundings.

 The long shot (LS)– providing context and a sense of location. The long shot takes
in the whole height of the person. It doesn't show as much background as the VLS
but it does show enough to know the subject's location.

What is Video Composition?

Composition is the arrangement of visual elements in an image. It refers to the way

elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. It’s all about asking whether the
image has all the right ingredients.

Rules of composition
1. Using Rule of Thirds in Cinematography
Mentally divide your image horizontally and vertically into thirds and position the most
important parts of your shot along those imaginary lines.
2. Filling the Frame
Avoiding dead space by either getting closer to the subject or zooming in.
3. Using Leading Lines
Drawing the eye towards the main subject by making use of leading lines like rivers or
roads. Examples of leading lines in nature are:

 Rivers
 Trees

 And shorelines

Some examples of man-made leading lines are:

 Roads
 Bridges

 And railway tracks

4. Exploring Symmetry and Patterns

5. Film Rule: Master the Art of Finding the Framing

The 30-degree rule is a basic film editing guideline that states the camera should move
at least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject.
If the camera moves less than 30 degrees, the transition between shots can look like
a jump cut which could jar the audience and take them out of the story. The audience
might focus on the film technique rather than the narrative itself.
The 30 degree change of angle makes two successive shots different enough to not look
like a jump cut.

However, camera movement should stay on one side of the subject to follow the 180-
degree rule.
In filmmaking, the 180-degree rule is a cinematography principle/guideline that
establishes spatial relationships between on-screen characters. The rule states that the
camera should stay on one side of an imaginary line between two characters so that
each character always appears to be facing the same direction, regardless of where the
camera is positioned to preserve visual consistency.
Moving the camera over the axis is called jumping the line or crossing the line. Breaking
the 180-degree rule by shooting on all sides is known as shooting in the round.
The 180-degree rule enables the viewer to visually connect with unseen movement
happening around and behind the immediate subject and is particularly important in the
narration of battle scenes.
Suggestive questions

1. Lens with fixed focal length is known as Prime lens

2. In video shot in which there is no movement is called a Block Shot
3. Movement of camera on the horizontal axis is called Pan or Panning
4. Movement of camera on the vertical axis is called Tilt or Tilting
5. When a shot is taken from just above the subject, its called a Bird’s Eye Shot
6. What type of shots are Cut ins?
Extreme Closeup
7. A continuous shot taken for a longer duration is also considered or serve as a
Scene
8. The cart on which the camera is mounted for the movement is called Dolly
9. A shot covering the action while moving in all directions is called a Tracking Shot
A shot taken to establish the location of the location or the entire surrounding of
the location is called Extreme Long Shot

10.Changing the focus from one point to another during a single shot is called Rack
Focus