cets 2011, greg owen-boger, handout for down & dirty video

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

Facebook.com/TurpinCommunication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 1 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down & Dirty Video: Practical strategies for producing engaging E-Learning video on a budget

Video Production

Basics

Video Production Principles for E-Learning

1. Start with a well-planned instructional design

with clear goals & learning objectives

2. Consider your brand

Then:

• Identify video opportunities to support #1

• Shoot video consistent with #2

• Eliminate distractions for both

Camera Type, Placement

Angle & Framing

The rule of thirds

When choosing a camera, consider:

• Standard vs. high definition

• Media storage and communication with editing

software

• Audio quality & capture method

Place the camera a good distance from you and zoom

in. Putting the camera too close can distort your facial

features.

Angle the camera so that it is at eye level, which is

the most natural placement from the viewer’s

perspective. Placing it too high or too low can look

strange.

Frame yourself in an interesting way. Follow the rule

of thirds and position your head within the frame at

roughly the intersection of the lines in the illustration.

Allow some headroom and looking room so you

don’t appear cramped.

Adjust the tilt so that horizontal and vertical lines in

the shot appear level.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 2 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Lighting that Flatters

3-point lighting

Flatter your facial features by lighting yourself

well.

It’s best to start with a dark room and build a 3-point

lighting plot from scratch.

Point 1: The Key Light (brightest) should be positioned

behind the camera, off to the side and at roughly a 45

degree angle above your head.

Point 2: The Fill Light (second brightest) should be

placed on the opposite side of the camera and used to

fill in the shadows created by the Key. It too should be

about 45 degrees above your head.

Point 3: The Back Light (dimmest) should be placed

behind and to one side. It provides dimension to the

video by lighting your hair and shoulders.

Diffuse the light to soften the shadows. Use diffusion

materials purchased from a camera store or improvise

using parchment paper or vellum.

Everyone’s features are different, so start with the 3-

point lighting scheme and make adjustments for your

particular situation.

Audio Capture

Built-in microphones may not be good enough.

If using an external microphone, place it a natural

distance from you to capture the volume level

suggested by the camera. It should not be in the shot

nor create shadows.

If the audio you capture has a thin quality or has faint

echoes, do what you can to soften the hard surfaces in

the room. Hang acoustic foam panels or draperies on

the walls, and lay down carpeting.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 3 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Setting Up Your Studio Consider the best location to meet your goals.

Shooting in the learner’s natural habitat is often a good

way to connect with them.

• Should you be in an office or out in the field?

• Would it be better to be in a branded or green

screen studio?

Decorate your set to work in harmony with your

brand, try to keep things balanced and eliminate

distractions. Avoid sets that look too sterile, staged or

cluttered.

Wardrobe, Hair &

Complexion

Keep your appearance appropriate for your

organization, choose items that flatter and

eliminate distractions.

When choosing your wardrobe, opt for solids that

contrast with each other and your surroundings. Avoid:

• Loud patterns and stripes, which can cause video

“noise.”

• White, which can negatively affect the white

balance setting on the camera.

Pay attention to your hair. Keep it off your face, and

get rid of fly-aways.

The camera and lighting can make your complexion

look unattractive. Improve your skin’s appearance by

applying a light layer of skin-tone powder. Reapply

often to tone down shine created by the lights.

Editing

When editing, keep things simple. Avoid the

temptation to use fancy transitions and effects. They do

little to advance the learning, and call too much

attention to themselves.

When shopping for editing software, look for the ability

to:

• Export and work with course-building software,

SCORM and LMS

• Import a variety of video & image formats

• Run multiple video & audio tracks

• Edit sound including noise reduction

• Add text & titles

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 4 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 5 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Engaging

Learners On Camera

Find your focus.

Be yourself.

Only better.

The key to looking & sounding natural on video is to

be engaged. This means you need to be in control of your

thoughts, your movement and your speech.

To do this, work hard to:

• Find your focus: Pause to calm your racing mind

and to think clearly.

• Be yourself: Make sure the person captured on

video looks, sounds and acts like the most

professional and conversational version of the real

you.

• Only better: You may need to adapt to the

complexities of video by slowing your speaking

pace, moving less, smiling more, and so on.

Identify Who You Are

Talking To

Address a single person with whom you have a

friendly relationship.

Doing this, rather than speaking to a faceless group of

people, will make your video feel more personal. It will

also positively affect your tone, enthusiasm and word

choice.

Make solid eye contact with the camera’s lens. Avoid

looking to the side or beyond the camera; both will make

you appear as if you’re disengaged or reading from a

script.

Find your focus. Be yourself. Only better.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 6 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

Be Clear, Concise,

Conversational, Not

Scripted

The first step to a successful video shoot is to start with an

excellent instructional design from which a script or

detailed outline can be written. (see handout, page 7)

Then, the key to sounding spontaneous and conversational

is to wean yourself off of it by creating notes from which

you can improvise.

We recommend this process.

Other Recommendations Do not use a teleprompter.

Learn to sneak a peek.

Be patient & ask it of others.

Take breaks.

Break it down into manageable clips.

Understand what can be edited & what can’t.

Do as many takes as it takes.

Do not settle for just OK, but do not strive for perfection

either.

Smile, Engage Your Friend, and… Action!

Review Out Loud

Create Notes as Cue Cards

Gather Thoughts, Make Connections

Write Script or Detailed Outline

Start with Excellent Instructional Design

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 7 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

SAMPLE Excerpt from a Shooting Script

Clip Visual Content Notes

Clip 6 Video of Greg Once you’ve zeroed in on the one person you’re speaking to, you’re more likely to sound conversational and natural. However, if you’ve done your planning, you probably have a script or at least an outline that you’re working from. So, how do you follow your script, engage your friend AND sound conversational? The answer lies in not memorizing your script or using an ad hoc teleprompter. While these ideas may seem logical, they don’t work because:

• Stiff

• Unnatural

• Reading Instead make notes for yourself and improvise around them. Now, I’m not recommending never writing out a script. The exercise of writing it out can really help you focus your thoughts, surface new ideas and logically string concepts together across multiple video clips. But once the camera is rolling you need to abandon the script, scribble notes, place them within eye sight, and improvise your way around them.

Clip 7 Cut, fade back to Greg

Here’s how I do it.

• For me, no more than 2/3 page

• Before camera rolls I look at my script Here’s my script for this shot you’re watching right now. I have it right here out of the shot so I can reference it at any time. But before we turned on the camera, I jotted down some notes on a white board and placed it right there (point to white board placement\). Before hitting record:

• Review notes, get my head together

• Engage the camera

• Go Sometimes I can get through the entire clip without any trouble. Other times I need to sneak a peek. (Show example.) It should look like I’m looking into thin air and grabbing a thought. But it’s a learned skill, and I’m not always successful. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pull script into view and refer to it. Should I write on the white board? Just hold a marker?

Clip 8 Fade through black, back to Greg

As I’ve said, the goal should be to sound conversational. This can be challenging if your script is too long. Now, you may have noticed that we just faded through black in the edit. This is a technique you can use to cut your script into more manageable chunks, which will make you more likely to sound conversational and natural.

Use this fade as an example of what to do to break a clip into manageable chunks.

Down Dirty Video handout draft 1.docx page 8 Copyright ©2011 by Turpin Communication

About your Presenter – Greg Owen-Boger

Greg Owen-Boger is the Vice President of Turpin Communication, a presentation and

facilitation skills training company based in Chicago. Schooled in management and

the performing arts, Greg brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to the

organization. He joined Turpin in 1995 as a camera man and quickly worked his way

up. He now serves as a communication trainer and coach for Turpin’s largest clients.

He also oversees all aspects of their E-Learning

(www.onlinepresentationskillstraining.com) and blended learning

(www.turpincommunication.com/ecoach.php) platforms including instructional

design, script development, production and LMS deployment. He also appears on

camera as a subject matter expert.

Most recently Greg partnered with KinetiCast, a unique sales video/presentation tool, to provide their

users with practical online how-to videos to help them shoot better on-the-fly video presentations.

greg@turpincommunication.com

773-256-9406

www.linkedin.com/in/gregowenboger

Founded in 1992, Turpin Communication is a presentation and facilitation training company based in

Chicago.

We take a personalized and comprehensive skill-building approach to our work. This means that

learners always work on their own real-life content, and over the course of a 12-month blended

learning program, concepts are introduced, practiced, refined and reinforced.

Here are some guiding principles woven into the fabric of all we do.

Business presentations are not the same things as speeches. Presentations should be thought

of more as “orderly conversations.” Orderly because they should be carefully planned; conversational

because they need to have the lively quality of spontaneous dialogue.

Everyone has what we call a “Default Approach” to presenting. Some default to the orderly

side of presenting, others to the conversational. Understanding one’s default – and making

appropriate adjustments to make up for the associated weaknesses – is key to a presenter’s success.

Engaging listeners, that is calming the racing mind and connecting with the individuals in the room,

is critical to every presenter’s ability to successfully manage all of their orderly conversations. When

presenters are engaged, their natural skills and personalities emerge. They are self-aware and able to

manage the complexities of presenting.

Facilitating is an extension of presenting. No matter the purpose behind any facilitated event, the

content needs to be organized and introduced appropriately. Doing so requires the same skills as

presenting. Therefore, facilitation sessions begin by developing those skills.

TurpinCommunication.com OnlinePresentationSkillsTraining.com

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