Web video: making it great, getting it noticed

Introduction

ch. 1. Making great web video

Things change fast on the Web

Keeping your viewers in mind

What makes web video different

You can't always control what your audience will see

Producing for a Web-savvy audience

Production values and goals

Building a team to make better video

Use what you know

Start with a great idea

Plan for success

Managing your production

Ask questions

Plan your shots

Check out the location

A budget shapes and defines your project

PUt it all together

Project : 15 minutes to your video online

ch. 2. Shooting for the Web

Making video work on the Web

The gear you'll need

Prosumer cameras

Get the most out of the camera you have

Use a tripod

Capturing good-quality audio for Web video

Microphones you'll need

Cables and connectors

Headphones

Tape

Portable hard drives

Techniques for better Web video

Take your camera off autopilot

White balance

Auto focus

Auto exposure

Viewfinder settings to monitor exposure

Image stabilization

Audio limiter

Frame your shots for visual interest

Get help when you need it

Don't count on fixing it in post

Keep editing in mind while you shoot

Before you go out to shoot

Transporting your equipment

Project : Shoot an interview with B-roll

ch. 3. Shooting events and interviews

Find a creative approach

Tell a story about the event

Bringing conferences and meetings to life on the Web

Taking talking heads to a whole new level

Visuals capture the flavor of events

Working with a venue

Keep compression in mind to keep video quality high

Preparing for a location shoot

Getting optimal event sound

From the horse's mouth

Plug in to get good sound

Let there be light

A shot in the dark

Working with a venue's dramatic lighting

Getting the quality of light you need for the Web

Shooting interviews

Microphone technique for interviews

Using handheld microphones

Lavalier microphones

Lighting interviews

Working with on-camera lights

Three-point lighting

Project : Shoot an event

Project : Shoot a quick sound bite

Project : Shoot a two-person interview

ch. 4. Videoblogs, how-to-videos, and news

Bringing point of view to your Web video

Redefining the news online

Rocketboom

Geek Entertainment TV

Video news "Web style"

Producing informative video

Creating a strong visual presence on camera

Developing an on-camera style

Highlighting your talent

Controlling what viewers see in the background

Setting the stage for your story

Creating interesting compositions

Scripting information video

Choosing a flattering camera angle

Developing a visual style

Getting the sound right

Using software for video blogging

Producing how-to video

Planning a how-to video

Using voice-overs and narrations

Creating a simple storyboard

Maintaining visual continuity

Keeping track of screen direction

Playing with time

Showing a process step-by-step

Project : Plan and shoot a how-to-video

Project : Record a short commentary

Project : Shoot visuals and add narration

ch. 5. TV techniques for better web video

Planning a TV-style production

Creating a shooting script

Developing a storyboard

Scheduling your production

Planning a multicamera shoot

Helping viewers make sense of your story

The ten commandments of continuity

The whole world is watching

Creating a set for Web video production

Building a small studio

Sound

Mixing sound and video

Flooring

The set

Lighting

Create a booth for interviews at an event

Replacing a background using a green screen

Project : Shoot a commentary using a green screen background

Project : Shoot a talk show-style interview with three cameras

ch. 6. Editing and post-production

Organizing your project

Video-editing software - Building and editing sequences

Knowing what to cut

Compressing time

Advancing a story with editing

Keeping video short for the Web

Techniques for video storytelling

Continuity shapes the story

The language of editing

Using transitions

Designing titles and graphics

Editing sound

You can't always fix it in post

Project : Edit a simple sequence

Project : Edit a commentary shot with green screen

Project : Edit a multicamera interview

ch. 7. Uploading video to the Web

Compression changes everything

Choosing a video host

Understanding encoding

The best settings for Web video formats

Guidelines for encoding Web video

Setting parameters

Windows Media Encoder

iMovie

QuickTime Pro

Final Cut Pro

Premiere pro

Working with large volumes of content

Project : Format your video for the Web

ch. 8. Getting your video noticed

The truth about viral video

The first 50,000 views

Thumbnails show them what you've got

Marketing Web style

Working with the press

When your video becomes news

Internet famous

Your video Web site

Tips for creating your video Web page

Drive traffic to your site

Using statistics to make your video better

Tracking how you're doing with viewers

Marketing help from your video host

Project : Set up an RSS feed for your video

Project : Create a version of your video for the iPhone

ch 9. Making it pay

Understand your audience

Making advertising work for you

Getting paid for ads

Selling your Web video

Beyond advertising

Prove your talent

Sell T-shirts and other tie-ins

Selling your skills

Finding a job in Web video

Let your work open the door to new opportunities

Making great video

Project : Identify and target your audience

Project : Network!

Additional resources

Figure credits

Index.