Video Shoot Tips & Tricks

 

Nortel LearniT presents emergency "tips and tricks" guidelines (for those "trips and ticks" that every shoot can experience!), along with some ways to prevent emergencies.

RULE OF THUMB TIPS

 

• Do what you can with what you have
• ALWAYS CARRY DUCT TAPE
• Post these tips prominently; share them with your team
• ADD TO THEM your own ideas AND from lessons learned
• Future solution: ALWAYS USE THE EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST (http://nortellearnit.org/resources/) and check off every item before you leave

NO CAMERA:
-beg, borrow or steal one because without a camera you are toast

NO TRIPOD:
-place the camera on a table or chair to keep it steady and level
-shoot hand held, keeping as steady as possible (use both hands to steady it!)

NO TRIPOD PLATE:
-use duct tape (any tape will do) to secure the camera to the tripod
-don’t use a tripod (SEE "NO TRIPOD" TRICKS)

NO CAMERA BATTERIES:
-use your AC power adapter
-go get some

NO VIDEO TAPES:
-go buy some
-always keep a supply in your equipment room--give someone the job of keeping it stocked

NO HEADPHONES:
-before videotaping, record a few seconds and then play it back to make sure the audio levels and sound quality are OK
NO MICROPHONES:
-Move the camera within 5 feet and use the onboard microphone of the camera. (Try to be somewhere quiet when using this trick since the camera mic will most likely pick up all sound)

NO BATTERIES:
-try to power the device off the camera
-go get some
-always keep a supply in your equipment room--give someone the job of keeping it stocked

NO CABLES:
-try to make it work with what you have
-go get the cables you need

NO ELECTRICAL CABLES:
-plug straight into the wall outlets
-stay close to wall outlets

NO LIGHTS:
-use lights available to you and do what you can
-shoot outdoors since sunlight will usually give you consistent lighting

NO RELEASE FORMS:
-make some up on the spot
-see if the person you are interviewing has release forms (most schools and companies have their own release forms)
-Open www.nortellearnit.org. Go to http://nortellearnit.org/resources/. Click Career Bytes for the Nortel LearniT form which is in Word so you can edit it.
-go get some
-always keep a supply in your equipment room--give someone the job of keeping it stocked and making sure that they are in a camera bag
 

REMINDERS:

• POST THIS PROMINENTLY
• DO WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
  
• ALWAYS CARRY DUCT TAPE

To download a copy of the Video Shoot Tips & Tricks, click here.