How to make a project video by Benkei
How to make a project video, by Benkei
Project videos are included in the ICARUS project for further dissemination and promotion of project results. The realization of these videos is under the responsibility of Benkei with the help of all partners. As we go through the filming steps with the team, it is a perfect opportunity to share some advice with you all!
To make the point, let’s focus on the first video presenting the project “ICARUS: processing and refining of secondary raw materials from silicon photovoltaic manufacturing”. This is a 7-minute-long film that includes:
- The main challenges of the project
- Its main objectives
- The presentation of the consortium
- The presentation of the organization and structure of the value chain addressed by ICARUS
Presentation of the consortium
Presentation of the value chain
First step : the Story Board
Before going into any operational details, the first step of the process shall be the preparation of a story board. The story board is like a written summary of the video. Its main role is to define the objective(s) of the video and to structure its content. It should include the text to be said, define the people saying it, provide a rough timing estimation and describe the decor or accessories for the filming or even the visuals to be added to illustrate a given section. Having a good storyboard significantly facilitates the filming and post-processing process. Basically, the more detailed, the better!
Here is an example for the section “presentation of the consortium”:
Extract from the storyboard – Section presentation of the consortium
Second step: Filming and recording the voice over
Once we have defined WHAT we want to say, WHO is going to say it, and WHERE it is going to be said, then the video filming can start with the voice-over recording. No worries, this is truly accessible for everyone with the current technologies available out there. No need to be a cinema specialist!
Filming – Your Smartphone is a powerful tool just there in your pockets
Technologies have evolved so much, to the point where a simple smartphone can be used to obtain really good results. However, you must consider two important aspects:
- The stability of your device; even a small movement of your phone can negatively impact the final video, so make sure your device is stable (you can use a tripod for example, no need for anything fancy).
Example: Manfrotto’s tripod, a nice compromise between features and price (https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/products/photo-tripods/)
- The luminosity, which can highly influence the quality of the final video. Even though it is possible to adjust the luminosity during the post processing steps, it generally gives worst results than managing it during the recording phase.
Recording the voice over
To record the voice over, a simple lapel microphone can be used. The device must be plugged into a smartphone or camera to record the sound. To obtain good results, several parameters must be considered such as the ambient noise or even the choice of device you plug the microphone into (some smartphones can generate a discrete but audible white noise during the recording for example).
Example: Rode microphone (https://rode.com/en/microphones)
Many parameters can influence the quality of your recording. Below are a few of them:
- Background noise: The presence as well as the level of the background noise in your recording will greatly influence the quality of the result of your video. It is possible to remove some background noise during the post processing step; however, it is always best to try to have the calmest environment during the shooting. Here are some elements you might pay attention to:
- Train outside: Public transportation is tricky since the noise is not constant, you can therefore be surprised during the shooting of your video by earing a train or tramway, without noticing while you do the recording.
- Music / recurrent noise / Discussions from colleagues in other rooms
- Door closing: A closing door can ruin an otherwise good recording. Be careful and try to limit the movement of other people around the shooting area if possible. In case you decide to film in a public place, try to isolate yourself as much as possible since the microphone can capture sound from a distance.
- Coffee machine: In a professional setting, the coffee machine noise is very frequent. Similarly to the public transportation, you can be surprised by a coffee machine noise during the recording of your video. Try to limit the usage of any noisy equipment surrounding the filming area as much as possible by informing the neighbors beforehand.
Illustration: Different sources of potential noises
- The type of smartphone the microphone is plugged to: some smartphones can generate a discrete but audible white noise during the recording. To find out, the best way is to record during a couple of seconds in a very calm environment and then to listen to the recording with headphones.
- Distance from the microphone
- Articulate, you want to have the most transient possible: Don’t hesitate to articulate a little bit too much during the recording phase even though it might not feel natural, nobody is seeing you and the goal is to obtain the best transient possible.
Anyway, you may end up better proceed by trial-and-error, at least initially: try first to record the voice-over and listen to it in a calm environment, to evaluate the quality of your set up and the extent of the background. Also, make sure you have the text in mind or in front of you, and take your time to read it and set the mood for the future viewer / auditor. Always better not to be in a rush!
Indeed, it is important to keep in mind that rushing the recording will most certainly greatly increase the time needed for the post processing of the video.
Professional sound recording equipment versus a cheaper lapel microphone easily findable on Amazon
Third step: Post-production
Once the storyboard is finalized and the content recorded, the last BUT NOT LEAST step of the process is post-production.
Post-production is about assembling all sections together, but also implementing the transitions, potential incrustations, background music and the overall management of all content. So, before anything else, gather all the materials mentioned in the storyboard in a single folder for simplicity.
In terms of software, we have found Da Vinci Resolve by Blackmagic design to be one of the best and secure free alternatives out there.
Below are the main steps of the post processing phase:
- Assemble all the clips together following the organization defined during the preparation of the storyboard.
- Secondly, cut any unnecessary part from the clips (e.g: long blank space during 2 sentences, short pause before and after the person is speaking, etc…)
- Thirdly, you will need to add the incrustation as well as the transition between your clips
Source: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/fr/products/davinciresolve
Transition
The addition of transitions between 2 sequences helps you to smoothen the video. There are several types of transitions, some more exotic than others. We recommend always favor simpler ones, to keep the viewer concentrated on the message and content. Below is an example of a cross-dissolve transition between 2 video clips.
How to do it in DaVinci resolve?
First, go to the “Edit Tab”, and drag the two clips you want to add the transition to.
Below are the different steps needed to add a cross-dissolve transition to two clips next to each other on the timeline of your project.
You will then have to drag the cross-dissolve transition from the video transition to the two clips on your timeline as shown below:
Now, it is time to adjust the duration of the transition:
Incrustations
Text
You can add some texts as shown below to highlight the most important information. Ideally, incrustations should be very short, with key numbers or key take-aways only, to avoid any eye distraction. The simplest way to do it would be to create the text on PowerPoint before saving it as an image. You can then import it as it is in your timeline.
Pictures
You can also add some pictures or graph to the video to highlight some important results. But again, the simpler the better!
Background Music
It always feels better to add a background music, ideally adapted to the rhythm of the movie. This is not always an easy task for sure, as it can deconcentrate the viewer! Make sure the music you choose is copyright free to ensure that the video will not be blocked during its publication on social media platforms such as YouTube.
Timeline
Below an illustration of the timeline in the software (DaVinci Resolve) once all the elements have been added to the video.
Exportation
Lastly, your computer might face some difficulties playing the video in real time, if you have added a lot of incrustations as well as a lot of fusion effects. In this case, I recommend exporting some intermediate versions of your video during the post processing step.
Fourth step: Publication
Once your video is ready and everyone is happy with it, then you can upload it online and disseminate it. Obviously make sure first that all participants and entities are fully authorizing its public dissemination. There are several ways to share your video. For collaborative project videos we usually recommend YouTube and LinkedIn.
Youtube
1 – Access your YouTube channel
2 – Go to Youtube studio
3 – In the content tab, go to create and upload video
You can also disseminate the video on LinkedIn while using the embedded functionality by selecting media in the post section.
Next steps
Out of the 15 long videos envisioned, 8 have already been published on the YouTube channel of the project: ICARUS H2020 . Don’t hesitate to check our channel if you want to see the result of this process.
