Videos are an important component of telling the CSU Channel Islands story. However, producing videos can be an arduous process if not approached correctly.
It is Important To Consider a Few Items Before Embarking On Your Video Project
- Before anything else, ask yourself if video is the best medium for the project?
- Why is the video needed?
- Will this be a long form unedited video (no editing)?
- Will this be an edited video?
- How will the video be used?
- Is there a broader scope?
- Are you trying to market a series, topic or program?
- What channels will be utilized for placement/viewing of the video, e.g. University website, YouTube, special event, or other presentation?
- What is the story and have you developed a storyboard and timeline?
- Is there a theme for the video?
- What are the key points to convey?
- What should people walk away with?
- Who will be filmed?
- Will you have a narrator or interviews?
- Students, faculty, staff, donors, President? It is best to be diverse in choosing participants.
- Will they be told what to say or will they be asked questions?
- Conduct Pre-Interviews
- Helps you identify the types of questions you want to ask.
- Helps you identify how your interview subjects will answers the questions.
- Helps you develop a preliminary script to work from.
- Helps to determine what additional footage is needed (called B-Roll).
- Schedule Interviews
- Try to schedule interviews around the same time if at all possible.
- Try to see if subjects can commit to a minimum of 30 minutes for the interviews.
- Even though they may only be there for ten minutes, this allows the subject time to relax and properly gather their thoughts without filling rushed.
- Interview Questions
- Write down your questions before the interview. (Preliminary script should be written by this point, so that can also be used)
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Ask interviewees to include the questions in their answers.
- If you are not using a narrator, make sure that at least one of your interview subjects gives you something you can use as an opening statement and a closing remark.
- If needed, Communication & Marketing has a teleprompter that can be used if the subject will be talking directly to the camera.
- Clothing Suggestions
- Ask the subjects to wear warm, cool, or neutral colors.
- They should stay away from dark and bright colors like black, white, navy, and neon colors.
- They should also stay away from tight patterns like pinstripes, hounds tooth, paisleys, herringbone, etc.
- Video Length
- During your interview it’s important to keep the answers to approximately 20 – 30 seconds in length.
- Edited videos should be no more than 2 minutes long.
- All videos need to have closed-captioning capability. Closed-captioning services need to be planned with an additional 4-5 business days for completion.
- Videos longer than 2 minutes will need a separate budget provided by the requesting area for editing to be completed by an external vendor.
Requests to film an event, speaker or activity for archival purposes only cannot be completed by Communication & Marketing. However, easy-to-use video equipment may be checked out at the Broome Library.
Still have questions? Contact the Communication & Marketing office at communication.marketing@csuci.edu or 805-437-8415.