Science in Society

How do I plan the structure of a short video?

Science in Society • How do I plan the structure of a short video?

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A short video typically includes interviews with researchers (and others) and b-roll footage (supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot).

If you are shooting informal footage with your cell phone in the field, always use the phone in landscape format by tilting it on the side:

It helps to conceptualise a video structure before jumping into more formal interview shoots to avoid a laborious video editing process later.
All shoots at specific venues need to be planned carefully to make sure the weather allows and entrance is possible. If the videographer is hired or researcher is flown in, your lack of planning may be costly.
To avoid a series of talking heads, the video interview footage is enriched with b-roll footage, e.g. footage of a Protea flower swaying in the wind while the researcher speaks about climate change affecting Cape fynbos. B-roll footage in the field shot in landscape mode on your phone is extremely valuable.
Short video productions need to be very tight (2-5 mins) to retain the attention of a popular audience. They can be super short 30s clips too, depending on the platform. Longer versions may entail creating programmes on topics, which is a specialist field for broadcast journalists and documentary film makers.

Example of planned steps:

1) Conceptualise the video structure (order of story elements), also who to interview on which subject, estimated venue, transport and other logistics, b-roll photographic footage and infographics needed. Such a structure could look like this:

Enter with b-roll footage taken on Robben Island while the introductory voice or text speaks to a challenge (short text, done by voice-over artist, the researcher during the interview or by a community member affected by the issue)
The frame then shifts to the face of the speaker and interview with researcher who will talk about the HSRC work done.
Researcher explains the research findings ― frames alternate between researcher’s face, b-roll footage and infographics.
Frame shifts back to the researcher’s face who talks about what these findings mean and why they are important
Then shifts back to community member’s face who speaks about impact/collaboration ― we can include more b-roll
Addressing the conclusion and What next? Question: researcher’s voice with face then roll out with some b-roll footage and final HSRC/DSI branding frame.

2) Book videographer, interviewees and venues

3) If you are directing the video, be present at the shoot to guide reshooting of sections where serious errors are made. If you are being interviewed, ask the interviewer for the planned script in 1, so you can prepare some answers.

4) The videographer will clean up the recording and insert the b-roll footage in the appropriate places. He will also help with infographics and the correct branding elements.

5) At this stage, the video clip is likely to be too long. The footage is then cut and edited for length and flow. If the story structure is badly planned or unplanned, this editing may be time consuming, requiring that sound bites are moved around and costly voice-overs arranged to fill in crucial missing bits. In some cases, the videographer needs to shoot more b-roll footage to cover visual errors.

Impact Centre colleagues are available to support your efforts to produce science communication videos. Antonio is the HSRC’s videographer and is available to assist with the technical aspects, Antoinette/Andrea/Kim are available to provide support on structure, scripts, directing and platforms.

The HSRC’s YouTube channel is available to host your video