Course Handout - Multimedia by Harits Ar Rosyid

Chapter 9
Basic Videography and Camera Movement

A. BASIC SKILL
◆ Understand the concept of videography.
◆ Understand the techniques in video shooting.
◆ Understand and practicing the camera movement.

B. TIME
4 class-hour (4x50 minutes)

C. GUIDELINES
⚫ Begin every activity with prayer, good luck and ease.
⚫ Understand the purpose, basic theory, and exercises properly and correctly.
⚫ Do tasks well, patiently, and honestly.
⚫ Make inquiries to friends or assistants / lecturers should you require more directions or
explanation.

D. BASIC CONCEPT(copied without permission from the source and author)

1. Film Horizontal
First and foremost, always always always film horizontally. This may seem simple, but many beginner
videographers hold their phone exactly as they would when shooting still photos — and switch from
vertical to horizontal depending on what the subject matter calls for. But, with video, you cannot have a
finished product that flips from one to the other and back again. If you’re wondering why, consider this:
how many movies have you seen in theaters that use a vertical shot?

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2. Use A Tripod
That shaky camera effect that horror films use so often? It’s not as cool in other types of video work.
For stable shots, use a tripod. If you’re planning a moving shot and want to reduce shakiness, craft
yourself a dolly. A dolly is a small, wheeled platform meant for holding cameras while shooting
movement. Professional cameramen have expensive dollys, but depending on your location, you can
craft one yourself for the same effect. (I once used a book cart while shooting at my college library.)

In considering movement, it’s also good to keep in mind that you don’t need to zoom or pan in every
shot of your video. It’s perfectly fine to set the camera up and let it film an entire scene from a single
angle.

Think about your favorite videos or movies. Moving shots are used, yes, but more often than not,
movement is implied through the use of different types of shots. Filmmakers will transition from wide
shots to medium, to close-up, to a different angle of the same close-up, and so on and so forth. You want
to vary your shots to keep the audience engaged in your video.

3. Create a Shot list

Before starting, consider making a list of the types of shots you want to capture while filming — include
some moving shots, but keep in mind that too much movement can be a bad thing.

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4. Setting Up Your Shot

If your subject matter contains other people, make sure to give them enough headspace. Not in the
figurative sense, but in the actual literal sense when setting up your shot. Don’t frame your shot with too
little space between the top of the frame and the top of your subject’s head. Editing software systems
are all different, and some may zoom in slightly on your footage. If that happens and you didn’t think
about headspace, you may end up with people whose foreheads are cut off — no one wants that.

When making the transition from photo to video, photographers often have to curb their instincts. While
shooting stills, it’s possible to switch between apertures and shutter speeds without consequence.
However, while shooting video, switching apertures and shutter speeds can cause the look of your
footage to change abruptly. Find the best settings before you start, and stick to them with the entirety of
your video’s footage.

But, you don’t want to ignore all of your photographic instincts. Techniques for composition and framing
— like the Rule of Thirds — will apply in videography too.

5. Editing Your Footage

It’s always good to think about how you want to edit your video while you’re shooting. Being a few
steps ahead will ensure that you get all the footage you need for the final product.

But, with that in mind, remember this important phrase: Shoot now; edit later.

Always film more footage than you think you’ll need. You never know exactly how something’s going
to turn out once you start editing, and it’s better to have too much footage — too many options — than
not enough. Stay flexible and innovative too. When filming, try new shots, experiment with angles, and
be willing to shift gears depending on the situation. Unlike 20 years ago, there’s no way you’ll run out
of film!

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E. Videography Tips
1. Steady Eddie
Keep the camera steady. If possible, use a tripod. Don’t constantly zoom in & out or pan right to left.
In general, you want to record at least :10 of each shot. Let the action in the frame speak for itself.
You will thank yourself once you’re back in the editing room.
2. Wide, Medium, Close-up
For every scene or event you’re shooting, make sure to get different angles so that you’ll have
choices in the editing process. For example, if you’re videotaping a protest, get the widest angle
possible (perhaps on top of a building looking down on the crowd), then get close-ups of the faces in
the crowd and then some medium shots of people from the ground level.
3. What’s in the background?
When you’re shooting an interview or a speech, make sure to notice what's in the background. You
can either move the camera to get the best angle, move the subject in front of a good background or
create a new background. Ask yourself, does this background "support" this story visually?" Is it a
good backdrop for what is being discussed?
4. Timelapse
time-lapse is one of the most visual and fun ways to capture an event or story. Before heading out for
a shoot, think about whether the story could lend itself to a time-lapse shot. Various video cameras
these days are equipped with special time-lapse settings. If they’re not, just set the camera up on a
tripod and let it roll. You can always speed up the footage in editing later.
5. Lighting
he same rules that apply to photography, apply to videography. Always make sure your subjects are
well lit (but please, not “over-lit”). As an example, don’t put an interview subject with their back to
the sun. Or don’t put them under a shady tree with a bright scene in the background.
6. Anticipate action
This is one of those lessons that almost cannot be taught. It’s a skill that develops instinctively the
more you shoot. Once you miss a few “money shots”, you’ll learn to start paying attention. A simple
example of this is a baseball game. If you want to capture a player hitting the ball, you will need to
anticipate that moment and begin recording a few seconds or minutes before. Once you realize the
ball has been pitched, it’s too late. You’ve missed the moment.
7. Frame it like a picture
This is where artistic expression and style come into play, but in general, utilize the standard framing
styles and rule of thirds in photography.
8. Where’s your mic?
Many amateur videographers or budget filmmakers don’t have the luxury of having an audio tech to
hold a boom mic for them. Often the case in budget filmmaking, you are relying on the mic on top of
your camera for sound. If that is the case, you will need to always be conscious of where that mic is
relative to the sound you are trying to capture. If someone is talking, you will need to have the
camera very close to that person, otherwise it will be annoying for the viewer to strain to hear what
they are saying. The reality is that getting good sound will often dictate your shot.

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9. Don’t zoom for close-ups

In general, an image loses quality when you zoom. An image also tends to be shakier, especially on a
hand-held shot, when zoomed in. So whenever possible, take your two legs and walk up to whatever
it is you want a close-up of. It will look much cleaner and more professional.

F. Basic Camera Movement

1. Zoom
Without a doubt, zooming is the most used (and therefore, most overused) camera movement there
is. It is often used as a clutch when the videographer is not sure what else to do to add interest to a
shot. If you are going to use zoom, try to use it creatively. Zoom in or out from an unexpected, yet
important, object or person in your shot. Use a quick zoom to add energy to a fast-paced piece. Don’t
get stuck with your zoom as your default move!

2. Pan
Panning is when you move your camera horizontally; either left to right or right to left, while its
base is fixated on a certain point. You are not moving the position of the camera itself, just the
direction it faces. These types of shots are great for establishing a sense of location within your story.

3. Tilt
Tilting is when you move the camera vertically, up to down or down to up, while its base is fixated
to a certain point. Again, like panning, this move typically involves the use of a tripod where the
camera is stationary but you move the angle it points to. These shots are popular when introducing a
character, especially one of grandeur, in a movie.

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4. Dolly
A dolly is when you move the entire camera forwards and backwards, typically on some sort of
track or motorized vehicle. This type of movement can create beautiful, flowing effects when done
correctly. If you want to attempt a dolly, make sure your track is stable and will allow for fluid
movement.

5. Truck
Trucking is the same as dollying, only you are moving the camera from left to right instead of in
and out. Again, it is best to do this using a fluid motion track that will eliminate any jerking or
friction.

6. Pedestal
A pedestal is when you move the camera vertically up or down while it is fixated in one location.
This term came from the use of studio cameras when the operators would have to adjust the pedestal
the camera sat on to compensate for the height of the subject. A pedestal move is easy to do when the
camera is fixated to an adjustable tripod.

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7. Rack Focus
Ok, rack focus is not as much of a camera move as it is a technique, but many beginners overlook
this essential skill. You adjust the lens to start an image blurry and then shift the focus to make it
crisper, or vice versa. It is an extremely effective way for you to change your audience’s focus from
one subject to another.

G. BASICS EXERCISES (copied/adapted from tutorial section in Audacity)

From some camera movement techniques above, make 3 videos by applying different
camera movements !

H. HOMEWORK
Make a short video about the storyboard that you have made before !