MAKING SOCIAL VIDEO WORK FOR YOU

STEP 1: CREATING A STORYBOARD

You might think that creating a storyboard is strictly for seasoned creatives but we can tell you this is not necessarily the case. A storyboard is simply a visualisation of the shots that you will need to capture to tell your story, usually with the script for any audio written underneath each frame. Obviously, if you have a designer to hand who has the time to help you out, get them signed up. But if you’re going solo on this, don’t worry, a degree in illustration is not required, stick figures are fine.

You need the story board for two reasons:

1) to plan your shoot – without it you could end up wasting time and money, and even failing to get everything you wanted to

2) to communicate your idea to others – you’re bound need buy-in from your colleagues and you definitely need input, the storyboard can evolve over time as you incorporate what they have to say.

STEP 2: SHOOTING YOUR FOOTAGE

– If the camera is not supposed to be moving while shooting, use a tripod (available for smart phones) or a wall etc.
– If you’re outside, make sure the sun is behind you. If you’re inside, your subject (people or otherwise) need to be well lit.
– Make sure your shot list accounts for the needs of the channels you’re going to publish your content on, e.g. are you capturing a widescreen video but making sure a square crop for Instagram can be made from the footage?
– Having done some solid planning prior to the shoot day, you can probably allow yourself a little freedom to experiment. Don’t waste hours but try things like switching from filming at a distance to getting up close to the action.
– If you are using an animator, you obviously have a decent budget. Be frugal with it by making sure the plan for the animation is crystal clear before starting.

STEP 3: EDITING YOUR VIDEO

Your narrative will really take shape in how you cut from one shot to the next. Whether you’re doing the editing or a colleague has volunteered, as the project owner, it’s critical that you are happy at this stage. Here are some great tools to help you out:
Lightworks: A free tool that has been used on Hollywood feature films and is intended to offer professional software to everyone. Arguably the best option available but tricky to learn, particularly if you’re not familiar with video editing.
Hitfilm Express: Pro quality features in a free tool including lots of filters and masking options, and if you need more from it later you can upgrade by paying for additional features. The only draw back is that you will need a fairly powerful computer. 
Filmora: A paid tool but very reasonably priced with a free trial, and you only buy once with no subscription required. Really easy to learn and you can export directly to any social media channel.