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How-To Videos
This video series is designed for first time users of video for advocacy, but is also a great refresher for more experienced practitioners. The short videos (ranging in length from 3-5 minutes each) highlight strengths and challenges of using video for human rights advocacy as well as key items to consider before you pick up a camera.
Other languages: English, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Burmese
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Getting Ready To Make A Human Rights Film Find out how to identify the goal of your video, link your video to action and understand consent. |
Filming, Audio & Using Cellphones Find out how to film, get good sound and use a mobile phone to film. |
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Filming & Protecting Interviewees Find out how to film and protect interviewees. |
Editing and Distributing Your Film Find out how to edit and distribute your film. |
Filmmaking Tips and Techniques
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How to keep a steady shot minimize the effects of camera shake.
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There are some basic camera movements which imitate the way that we move our head and eyes to look over a stationary object or to follow some action from a static position.
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If you are walking forwards keep your legs bent and your body lowered all the time, this will help you to avoid the rise and fall of normal walking. Concentrate on creating a slow-motion, gliding feeling. Put one foot down softly before you move the next, keeping them close to the ground. You...
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Usually the zoom-in is used to emphasize an intimate or emotional moment, or to highlight an important element or detail in a wider shot. As a program-maker, with the zoom-in you can dictate where your audiences attention should be focused. You can pick out and draw them towards what you...
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Unless you adjust what is called the white balance on your camcorder you may end up with very orange or very blue pictures. Different sources of light produce light of different color temperatures that the white balance can adjust to accommodate and ensure that the colors in your pictures stay...
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All camcorders are equipped with an automated exposure system, where just like your eye, the iris of the camcorder will close down or open up to let in the correct amount of light to collect good pictures.
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Almost every camcorder is fitted with an autofocus facility. This means that you do not have to worry about making sure the image in your viewfinder is not out of focus or blurred. The camcorder will automatically ensure that what you are filming is sharply in focus.
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Most camcorders are good at recording in low levels of light and will automatically accommodate for it. Although the camcorder will record in low-light conditions, the definition of the pictures you collect may be poor or the colors subdued. Shooting outdoors during daylight hours, even on...
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Sound isn't everything, but it can make or break a video. Even if you have shot excellent visual footage it will very often be useless without good sound. Pictures without usable sound will only provide you with half the story.
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Whatever subject you are filming, the classic concerns of composition what is in your shot and where it is placed within the frame are as important to shooting video as they are to photography and painting.
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When you are filming you should be aiming to collect images that when they are edited together will create a credible continuity to events or a sense of direction which the audience will be able to understand easily.
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The camcorder viewpoint can be very informative for your audience. Depending on where you are, you are giving your viewers very different information. Via your camcorder you are giving your viewers an insight into what is occurring. You can dictate whom the audience will identify with by the...
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Almost every camcorder has a small red light that will come on every time you press the record button to verify that you are actually recording. Although this is a very useful facility while you are using the camcorder to ensure that you are actually laying images onto tape it may sometimes be...