Viewfinder: The Disciplines of a Storyteller

Spinning a good tale is as important to video as having good gear.

Videomaker actively reports on the development of hardware and software every month because there are so many changes in this exciting field of communications technology. Years ago, no one would have guessed that enough could happen in 30 days to warrant such reporting. Today there are hundreds of companies regularly releasing new products or upgrading existing products.

DV, a new format that is spurring many innovative products, is exciting because it produces video at a quality level that actually exceeds the needs of most people who read this magazine. If the DV tapes are edited within the DV format, the quality of the final product exceeds "broadcast quality." We have now reached a time when the only thing separating the readers of this magazine from professional TV producers is basic storytelling skill.

Advances in technology will never replace the aptitude for conveying information, thoughts and emotions from one human to another. The inherent advantages of this skill can't be purchased in a retail store or by mail. There are training materials and courses to help develop it but, in the end, the talent must reside in the mind of the person making the video.

Storytelling is the basis of all good video production. Many of us do not create original stories, but those of us that do have an enormous responsibility on our hands. We are hoping that many people will give up a chunk of their time; in the life-span of a video program, thousands or millions of people can devote a portion of their life (even if it is just half an hour) to watching our story. Therefore, we owe it to our viewers to sharpen our storytelling skills. Keep these basics in mind whenever you create video that other people will watch:

Composition is the fundamental skill of framing a shot. The "rule of thirds" in composition has staying power; it's been with us since the first lens was used to capture an image over a century ago. Aesthetics tend to change with the culture; keeping up with them is not easy. Witness MTV's "off kilter" or "crooked" composition style of several years ago. Now it is becoming passé. There is no substitute for good composition. In this month's "Getting Started," Lauryn Axelrod offers solid, usable composition techniques.

Pacing is essentially how long to hold a shot. As simple as it sounds, there are endless possibilities. Cutting a scene three frames too long can create an awkward lull, while cutting a scene three frames too short can be too abrupt, depending upon the mood of the subject.

Transitions are crucial to the editing process, and choosing which transition to use is an art in itself. All of us have been guilty (at one time or another) of using the wrong transition or too many transitions, when a few simple cuts were all that was called for. Jim Stinson explains the rules this month in "Edit Suite."

Multi-track audio should be used whenever possible. The natural sounds captured while videotaping are sometimes simply not enough to communicate the entire message. The added sound of birds chirping reinforces the fact that the story is taking place outside in the summer. The addition of background music has a profound impact upon the emotions of the audience.

On-camera talent is challenging to find and equally as complex to direct. The person must not only look good, but also be a competent performer. Often, it is a distressing task to find those two qualities wrapped up in the same package. Talent then becomes the primary consideration since make-up and wardrobe can often meet the needs of any project.

Planning covers just about everything in video production. Each of these disciplines requires selections and scheduling to keep the ball rolling. This is one skill set that is particularly elusive to the creative people who are drawn into video production.

Screenwriting is the conversion of a story into a form that can be presented on a TV. There are an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to deciding exactly how to portray any particular story on a TV.

No matter what video gadgets you find attractive, powerful or compelling, nothing compares to the value of these basic skills that need to reside in your head.