Graphics
Never open your video with a graphic - instead open with a series of cutaways (footage). Three cutaways at a time is a good rule of thumb to start with.
Have a look at these videos for some ideas:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Introducing your contributor
During interviews, make sure you sit to the side of the camera and ensure your contributor keeps eye contact with you and ignores the camera.
Use interesting locations - no plain backdrops, pop-up banners or logos.
Frame your contributor so they have enough looking room and not too much headspace.
Here's an example:
Length
Videos should generally be no more than 1.5-2 minutes in length.
You must capture your audience within the first three seconds.
If your video is going to be longer there must be a strong editorial reason. Remember – users don’t know what you’ve cut out, so be brutal and edit down to the absolute minimum you need to make sense of the story.
Music
Music should be used where appropriate and must always match the tone of the video.
Use royalty free music tracks, which can be purchased and downloaded from various stock music sites, like:
Just remember to check the license.
Top tips
What not to do
- don’t put your contributor against a plain backdrop
- don’t let your contributor speak directly to the camera, unless they’re specifically doing a piece-to-camera as part of a news story, for example
- don’t film if the lighting isn’t right
- don’t give them too much headroom
- don’t let them stand still with their hands at their sides – get them to talk with their hands; it humanises them and makes them more relatable
- always avoid shots of things that aren’t appropriate to a place of learning, ie alcohol
Things to try
- put your contributor in a completely different location to what you’d normally do
- try a completely different shot or angle
- don't be afrait to ask your contributor to wear something specific
- do everything and anything that might make your video more interesting, exciting and empowering
- don’t be afraid to direct your contributor or ask them to do something to get a particular shot
