Terms Sequence - a term used in gathering video and editing. It refers to a series of related shots. For example, a sequence could be a wide shot of the Bay, followed by a medium shot of a few windsurfers, followed by a single windsurfer zipping through the water. Length of shot - How long you show each shot depends on what's going on in the shot, and what you're trying to accomplish. If there's a lot of action or movement in a shot, you may use 20 seconds of it or more. If nothing is happening in the shot and you're showing a still scene, you may only use three seconds. When deciding how long to make a shot, keep in mind that your goal is to gain and hold the audience's attention and understanding. The Storyboard - usually a series of drawings depicting what you plan to do. See the Story Boarding Activity. The Shot List - a list of shots you want to gather The Script - a written description of the video and audio you want to get. Check List - part of planning your video shoot is making sure you have everything you're going to need (cables, lights, microphone, video tape, tripod, camera, shot list, etc.). Test all equipment before you get out in the field. Better to replace a dead battery before you leave for a shoot, than have to cancel the shoot when you get there. Talent - this often refers to the main person on the screen, such as a news anchor or an interview show host. Talking head - this refers to a full screen shot (usually medium or close up) of a person talking. Often a derogatory term "just a bunch of talking heads," meaning that it wasn't very interesting visually. Note: Be careful when setting up an interview to make sure that there is nothing in the background that might look odd. For example, if there is a tree in the background, be sure that it doesn't look like it's growing out of the subject's head. Tree full of owls - The crowd watching you work. Picture this - you're interviewing someone for a story. Behind that person are a bunch of people watching you interview this person. They are the owls. You're bound to run into this - people are attracted to video cameras. Point of View - the perspective from which you are shooting. For example, you might be a neutral observer, recording events without taking sides. Or you could be omniscient, showing all points of view. Or perhaps personal, from one person's point of view. Cut - The instantaneous, direct switch from one picture to another. Drop Out - video tape images and sound are recorded on magnetic oxide on the tape. A drop out is a place in the tape where the oxide is gone, so instead of video there will be a disturbance on the tape. Drop outs occur over time and their chances increase with the number of times the tape is used. That's why it's always a good idea to use good quality new tapes to record something important, and to only reuse a tape 2 or 3 times. Monitor - A CRT (cathode ray tube) without a tuner (for receiving broadcast TV signals) that accepts video and/or audio signals; basically a TV that only accepts video from a source attached to it. The monitors are hooked up to VCRs |