Module 5. Making Video Projects -- Post-Production
Module 5: Making Video Projects – Post-Production
Using media assets: Video editing can be confusing at first. Media assets, such as images, video b-roll clips, cutaways, audio voice or music recordings, etc., may not be necessary but can often enhance your video project. You could use music to add suspense to a scene, or still images to make your project more visually interesting. You can even use images or stock footage to cover visual mistakes in your video. Example--slideshow, PDF--of timeline editing with media assets. These files can either be imported or simply dragged and dropped into your editing timeline (demonstrate all of the above via screen capture of someone editing in basic software). Examples of how they could be used? Yes, perhaps links to videos in our SVP, the Apple or AFI resources, etc.
It is important to be careful with copyrighted material, especially when using media assets from other sources. A line about organizing these materials in their own folder? Yes, I think that would be good - Jeff sent a resource, recently, Soundcloud - maybe mention this and some of the other free resources available (Since then, I've compiled more resources...will add to the Wiki -- JG). See Multimedia Resources Module for more information on copyright (other topics--open source material, etc.?).
Editing the video: You have good footage, you have good audio, and you have good media assets to add to your project. Now you have to assemble it all into one cohesive project. This can sometimes be a daunting task. Where do you even start? (Free and subscription-based online video editing, special effects, and graphics resources -- many cloud-based online-processing resources are coming along nicely and make good alternatives to pc-based multimedia software. See youtube.com/create; wevideo.com; aviary.com; etc. These can be in the resources list/page, but we should also mention them as alternatives to pc-software editing/graphics/efx.)
Every editing software has a different set of specifications, but the basics are the same regardless of software or purpose of your project:
Assemble project video clips in your timeline in the order in which they best tell your story
Trim these clips for length and better visual and auditory balance and pacing
Add transitions between video/audio clips as needed, including fade-ups or downs for audio
Add media assets (b-roll) to enhance the story or cover gaps in the story made by insufficient video
Balance the colors and video levels of your clips to make a consistent color range in your project and to keep flesh looking human!
Check your audio and balance where needed in both clips and overall timeline. This is also a good time to add voice-overs, sound effects, pre-recorded natural sound or music (refer to Module 4 for more information about audio techniques) (Although some VOs or other audio are inserted early so that video can be cut to the audio...so then you might want to insert the VO, if narration, e.g., earlier...LM, when did you add Roger's VO for the Belle of Lou. EFT? Early or late? Works either way, though -- JG)
Add titles, lower thirds, and credits(I usually do most of this at or toward the end of process, titles often a montage made from video content, e.g. -- JG)
Finish it! Save your project in your desired file format (add info. about formats/codecs somehow, popup?) and upload to a website like the KET School Video Project (link) or burn to a DVD. See our "Multimedia Resources Page" (link) for more information on saving and sharing your project.(Resource for file conversions - list software to download plus online processing resources...test first, some work better than others).
Here(where, how?...PPT, PDF, slideshow, videos) are some simple editing tricks that you can use, including how to do your own easy special effects. Visit KET for more post-production resources (link). (Perhaps a referral to our Media Lab editing workshop? Free editing software - i.e. videospin, etc.?) Note: Let's add a multimedia production glossary somewhere, to help define things like "b-roll" -- and make it accessible from every page, maybe with a link.
Module 5. Making Video Projects -- Post-Production
Module 5: Making Video Projects – Post-Production
Using media assets: Video editing can be confusing at first. Media assets, such as images, video b-roll clips, cutaways, audio voice or music recordings, etc., may not be necessary but can often enhance your video project. You could use music to add suspense to a scene, or still images to make your project more visually interesting. You can even use images or stock footage to cover visual mistakes in your video. Example--slideshow, PDF--of timeline editing with media assets. These files can either be imported or simply dragged and dropped into your editing timeline (demonstrate all of the above via screen capture of someone editing in basic software). Examples of how they could be used? Yes, perhaps links to videos in our SVP, the Apple or AFI resources, etc.
It is important to be careful with copyrighted material, especially when using media assets from other sources. A line about organizing these materials in their own folder? Yes, I think that would be good - Jeff sent a resource, recently, Soundcloud - maybe mention this and some of the other free resources available (Since then, I've compiled more resources...will add to the Wiki -- JG). See Multimedia Resources Module for more information on copyright (other topics--open source material, etc.?).
Editing the video: You have good footage, you have good audio, and you have good media assets to add to your project. Now you have to assemble it all into one cohesive project. This can sometimes be a daunting task. Where do you even start? (Free and subscription-based online video editing, special effects, and graphics resources -- many cloud-based online-processing resources are coming along nicely and make good alternatives to pc-based multimedia software. See youtube.com/create; wevideo.com; aviary.com; etc. These can be in the resources list/page, but we should also mention them as alternatives to pc-software editing/graphics/efx.)
Every editing software has a different set of specifications, but the basics are the same regardless of software or purpose of your project:
Here (where, how?...PPT, PDF, slideshow, videos) are some simple editing tricks that you can use, including how to do your own easy special effects. Visit KET for more post-production resources (link). (Perhaps a referral to our Media Lab editing workshop? Free editing software - i.e. videospin, etc.?) Note: Let's add a multimedia production glossary somewhere, to help define things like "b-roll" -- and make it accessible from every page, maybe with a link.