As tempting as it is, you cannot simply switch on your movie camera without first creating a script for your video.
The script should follow the same rhythm we are all used to in conventional TV documentaries. The first few minutes should consist of a short introduction by the presenter. If you've watched the TV news you'll know they use "nested loops". These are, effectively, headlines about the item coming up. The idea is to grab your interest and keep you watching the whole program. So they put the most intriguing and enticing items at the end.
If you use this format, it makes it easy for the viewer to follow the information you're presenting, particularly as it follows a familiar pattern.
In keeping to a familiar pattern, we must remember that most TV is punctuated by commercial breaks. So, we should also follow the same pattern to avoid information overload. Once the viewer has lost their way, you are unlikely to recapture their attention.
But, instead of inserting "a word from our sponsor", you should segment your video by using chapter breaks.
These can take the form of a title page for the next section, shown for a minute or so, with buy out music – royalty free music you can use with a clear conscience when making dvds. These can be set as chapter points, when dvd authoring, so the viewer can locate the start of a sequence at any time, without having to scroll through the whole dvd.
Make sure each section builds on the knowledge shown in the previous section. That way, you "snowball" the knowledge and the viewer will feel they are constantly making progress, but at a pace where they don't feel out of control.
When videoing the introduction, take great care with your "set". This can be little more than a plain background, with perhaps a plant to one side. For more information on building your set, click here.
Script example: Here's an example of the introduction script I used in my DVD about coupling automatic responders with your website.
The main video was made using Camtasia, but this introduction was videoed outside against a background of trees, with birds singing. As this is one of a series there was no need to introduce myself. Had this been a one- off production, I would have introduced myself.
<the script begins>
Hello again,
It's a beautiful early spring day, so I have decided to take the afternoon off. But I'm not worried about the work not getting done back at the office, because it's all going along as usual, although I'm not there.
Nor am I concerned about the staff slacking or taking a long lunch break because the boss isn't around. .
You see, my staff are all auto responders. So they carry on regardless of whether I'm there or not - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
In this DVD, you'll discover how simple it is to set this all up.
We'll begin with a look at the basic auto responder and how it's triggered by a visitor to your website, typing in their e-mail address.
Then we'll look at setting up a pre timed sequence of messages.
Finally we'll look at how easy it is to send a broadcast to your entire mailing list, perhaps sending out your newsletter or a special offer.
Creating the sequence list: When writing a book, the usual procedure is to create an outline. This lays out a plan of the book and the points it will cover. These usually then form the chapter headings.
When making a video we can follow the same pattern and here our outline can form not only the basis for our script, but also the titles of our chapter points.
Here's an example of an outline for the DVD on auto responders.
· Introduction with presenter in strudio
· What an auto responder is and how it works.
· An introduction to the particular brand of auto responder I'm demonstrating.
· Setting up the ingoing and outgoing fields that will show on the message Camtasia screenshots.
· Optin lists.Camtasia screenshots
· Setting up a single message Camtasia screenshots
· Linking the auto responder to your website Camtasia screenshots
· Testing the link.Camtasia screenshots
· Setting up a sequence of messages to be delivered over a period.Camtasia screenshots
· Setting up, testing and sending a broadcast e-mail Camtasia screenshots
· Summary and closing thoughts with presenter in studio.
In practise you would shoot the first and last sequences right after one another, with the Camtasia moving screenshots making up the bulk of the production captured together, in sequence. To make that even easier, you can shoot the Camtasia video and add a voice over commentary later.
Copyright © 2006 InternetMarketingMagician.com and Paul Hooper-Kelly
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