Shot logs are a great tool to have and use while editing. A shot log is usually compiled during production and will provide you, the editor, with important information about each shot such as scene information, time code in and out points, and notes on the quality of the take. However, not all production teams feel the need for shot logs, or sometimes forget to fill them out. In the case of one-man bands, there just aren’t enough hands to direct, operate the camera, monitor the audio, and jot down notes. This often results in the editor receiving a ton of footage with no idea as to what it consists of.

As an editor, you’ll most likely want to dive into the project and immediately start cutting. Not having a shot log will slow down the editing process significantly since you will be forced to scrub through all the footage in search of usable shots. Since you’re going to have to watch the footage anyway, you might as well be logging those shots. This will allow you to become more familiar with the footage, which will make shot retrieval quicker and will help you make better editing choices.

If you do log your footage, be sure to indicate on your shot logs the corresponding date and name of the shoot. You can then label your edit bins accordingly, creating a organized system that is easy to follow. With great organizational techniques and shot logs you’ll always be able to locate those great shots with ease.

Shot logs are one of the many types of forms you will find in the Videomaker Book of Forms. This book contains 91 essential forms to help keep your projects legal and organized. To find out more click here.

Interested in more tips on editing? Sign up for Videomaker’s free Video Editing Course. This free tip series is designed to help you improve your video production skills, fast. Learn More.

You’ve completed production on your documentary, and now you’re ready to start post production. The only problem is you’ve got so much footage and archival elements it’s hard to keep everything straight, let alone organize it into a cohesive story. An easy way to sort through your thoughts is by using index cards to outline your story.

The first step to this process is to write each of the basic elements of your story on its own index card, including any photos or archival footage that you have acquired. Once you’ve completed this step, lay the individual pieces of your story (written on the index cards) out in front of you in a way that you imagine the story unfolding. If a story element doesn’t seem to work, move it to another place, or pull it out completely.

By using index cards to outline your story, you’re able to mix and match the individual pieces of the documentary’s structure. This will help add to the creative process by breaking the confines of a word document outline. So, take a moment to step away from the computer and mix things up – you may be surprised at what you come up with.

Learn how to plan, organize, and distribute documentaries successfully from our eBook The Videomaker Ultimate Documentary Set. Planning is the first step to creating your documentary and we show you where to start. In the second part of this PDF, we take a look at details such as casting, shooting, sound, and more. For the third part, it’s time to share your story, and not just with your friends. We explore several different avenues to get your documentary out there, from film festivals to public TV and the Internet.

Interested in more tips on Documentary Production? Sign up for Videomaker’s free Documentary Course. This free tip series is designed to help you improve your video production skills, fast. Learn More.

Still photographs provide a great window into the past. Incorporating them into your documentary is sometimes necessary due to a lack of content. Other times it’s purely an aesthetic choice or simply a means to enrich the content you already have. No matter the reason for using photographs in your documentary there is always the question of where to acquire the photographs needed.

The topic of your documentary will usually determine the source of your photographs. If you’re putting together a family history, you’re more than likely going to have access to old photos the family already has. Asking to borrow, or copy these photos shouldn’t be a problem assuming the family is in support of what you are making.

If you’re making a documentary about a historical event or person the answer may not be as easy as asking your grandmother for photos of her childhood. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a difficult task. The internet is full of useful sites that offer pages of archival and stock photographs that will meet any need you have. Be sure to consider your budget when visiting these sites. Most of them (if they are not a public domain site) will require you to pay a fee in order to download and use the copyrighted photographs.

Finding the right photographs for your documentary is as easy requesting access to your subject’s photo album, or using the internet to download what you need. Do be sure, however, that you understand the terms of use and are obtaining the photographs legally. This will help you avoid copyright issues down the road.

Telling your story through photographs can be an effective and entertaining technique, if done skillfully and with flair. Videomaker’s Documenting History Bundle explores three creative ways to make your photographs come alive with detailed step-by-step tutorials to guide you.

Interestd in more tips on documentary? Sign up for Videomaker’s free Documentary Course. This free tip series is designed to help you improve your video production skills, fast. Learn More.

Being an independent videographer usually means all expenses are coming out of your own pocket. Whether you’re just starting out as a videographer or have been making videos for some time, there probably are occasions when your greatest obstacle is working around a tight budget. The secret to making your budget stretch as far as it can is getting a handle on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects.

DIY projects can save you handfuls of money while allowing you to achieve the look you want. One example of a fairly easy project is making your own green screen. The folks at Indy Mogul explain how you can build a portable green screen with PVC pipe, material and a budget of only $40.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZQq156MDM

Once you have your green screen constructed, you’ll be able to recreate the same effects as the big-budget Hollywood movies. But don’t stop at the green screen. There are many more DIY projects that can increase your production value while keeping your costs down and your wallet happy.

Don’t know what to do with your green screen once you’ve got it built? Check out our green screen articles, tutorials, and Tips and Tricks videos which will help you get the most out of your newly constructed green screen.

Reprinted from an Blackmagic Design press release:

Blackmagic Design today announced a new lower price on its popular Studio Videohub 3 Gb/s SDI router with 16 x 32 SDI routing, 16 x 16 RS-422 deck control, full SDI re-clocking all in a compact design less than 1 inch thick.

Studio Videohub is perfect for small post production workgroups where people need to share a broadcast deck as well as system integrators who are building custom video facilities. Studio Videohub can also be used to compartmentalize sections of a facility from the main router such as a small graphic design group in a large broadcast facility. Studio Videohub is available now for US$2,995 or €2095.