Enrollment options
Optional Print Course Material: Personal Historian: Video Techniques
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
This course is designed to introduce the basics of audio-video production for personal historians and genealogists, that is, people who want to use current digital audio and video tools to record, edit and share life stories. Audio-video productions encompass four phases of work: pre-production, production, post-production and delivery. This course is structured along these four phases.
Students with any level of audio-video experience, including those who are beginners, can learn from this course. There is great depth and variety to the practice of video biography. This course will help you build your skills and savvy.
Course Length: 7 weeks
MODULE 1
AUDIO/VIDEO TECHNIQUES, TOOLS & TIPS
Introduction
Glossary of Terms
PRE-PRODUCTION
Crew and Gearing Up
Managing time & money: budgets, schedules & expectations
Crew: will you work alone or with others?
The right tools for you
Packaging and delivery
Partnerships
Learning opportunities
MODULE 2
PRE-PRODUCTION ... Continued
Prepare for Your Shoot
Gearing up - A brief review
Planning and organizing a specific shoot
Budgeting: money matters
Scheduling: managing your time per project
Location scouting
Story skills: Thinking visually
Research
MODULE 3
PRODUCTION
Your Field Recording, Your Shoot
Lighting - Essential skills
Camera work - Essential skills
Field audio - Essential skills
Interviewing
B-roll explained
How to choose and use the subject’s personal archive
MODULE 4
POST-PRODUCTION - PART 1
Organizing Your Materials After the Shoot
Understanding narrative structure in brief
Practical options for preparing your materials for edit
Practical options for organizing your story
MODULE 5
POST-PRODUCTION - PART 2
Editing & Composing Your Materials After the Shoot
Editing video
Editing audio
Graphics
Rights and permissions - your legal responsibilities
Rough cuts & fine cuts
MODULE 6
DELIVERY
Outputting Your Story & Reaching Your Audience
Additional audiences - use your work to generate more
Communities
Speaking opportunities
Organize client-centered screening events
Create a web presence
Encourage word of mouth
Leverage local media