How-to videos have a large audience so they may help you get the most views and subscribers. Video essays cover certain topics in detail and require research. Choose topics that you’re personally interested in because other people might also have a similar interest. Short comedy videos usually attract a large audience of younger viewers since they’re easy to watch and share with others. If you want to make short films, pick genres you like to watch and make films based on it.
Never steal another person’s content or copy it word for word. Put your own unique spin on the style of video to make yourself stand out. Look at what’s common between multiple videos in that style and then change something to your own. For example, many video essays have people standing and talking directly to the camera. You may choose to shoot from different angles to make your essays more interesting.
If you’re making impromptu videos or recording yourself playing video games, you don’t need to have a script or outline. Include visuals in your outline, like things that you want to film or images you want in your final video.
If you’re filming comedy videos or short films, you may choose to shoot without a tripod for some of your shots. You can use your phone as long as it has enough memory available to record your video. You can buy phone tripods at convenience stores or online. Bring extra batteries for your camera since recording can burn through them quickly.
You can also use natural lighting coming from windows into your space. You can film outdoors, but avoid shooting directly into the sun or else it will look too bright. Your lighting all depends on the space where you’re shooting. Rooms with lighter colors will look brighter than rooms with darker colors.
Lapel microphones clip onto your shirt so you can clear audio no matter where you are in the shot. Directional microphones pick up sounds in whichever direction they’re pointing. Omnidirectional microphones pick up any noise around it.
If you don’t have a clean wall to film in front of, try hanging up a sheet and standing in front of it instead.
Screen-capture programs work great for digital art videos, video game let’s plays, and how-to computer tutorials. Try filming video of yourself even if you’re using a screen-capture program. That way, you have the option to include it if you need it.
If you’re working with multiple actors, run through the scenes a few times to rehearse your script. Don’t be afraid to get rid of lines that don’t work as well you thought they would.
Try to stick to your script or outline so you don’t lose focus while you’re recording. If you’re shooting comedy videos, try to improv a few lines since they could be funny when you edit them later on. That way, you have an option for what jokes you want to include.
For example, if you’re filming a video about a trip to Paris, you may include footage of the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe to show off the landmarks.
You may say something like, “And don’t forget to click the thumbs up if you like this video and subscribe to my channel if you want to see more!” Asking people to like and subscribe may not work well if you include it in short films. You can also ask people to like and subscribe by including text at the end of your video as a reminder.
Common video editing software you can use includes Adobe Premiere, Windows Movie Maker, iMovie, and Final Cut. Don’t upload your video to YouTube unedited since it won’t get as many views. YouTube has a built-in editor, but it has limited functionality.
Cut out any content that you don’t want to include in your video.
You can make your own animations in programs like Adobe After Effects or Blender. Adding visuals and graphics to a short film can help create a unique filmmaking style. Look online for tutorials on how to create certain effects in your video.
Many comedy videos range between 30 seconds to 2 minutes long. Educational videos may be longer than 10 minutes depending on how much information you’re covering.
You can use titles that are clickbait as long as you don’t lie about the content of your video. If you need to include episode numbers on your videos, put them at the end of your title so the important information is first.
For example, if your video is about replacing a tile floor, you may include tags like, “tile flooring,” “replacing tile,” and “home improvement. ” Try linking to different times in your video if you cover a lot of information. This helps viewers jump to the part of the video that they need.
If you don’t make a custom thumbnail, YouTube will let you choose a still frame from your video to use instead.
Plan to have 2-3 videos ready at all times so you can have a back-up video if a different one you’re making takes up more time. Start posting videos to see what your viewers respond well to.
