6-shot system

Last winter I learned the 6-shot system from Bill Gentile for video storytelling. This system gives videographers a game plan for shooting video.

There is a list of six shots to get, and you can keep cycling through those shots to get everything you need to tell a story.

The shots are:

1. Close-up of the hands

2. Close-up of the face

3. Over the shoulder

4. Medium shot (Waist up)

5. Wide shot (Feet up)

6. Extra-wide shot (Establishing)

Here is a great blog entry from one of my students that gives photo examples of the six shots.

The first exercise I have my students complete is called "Cutting Carrots." This exercise asks students to film someone doing something routine, using the 6-shot system. They then will edit it together in a SEQUENCE to tell a short story.

Here are some examples:

This is what it looks like when applied to a complete news package:



This method for shooting video has given my students a game plan for shooting video. No longer do they go shoot and "Spray and pray." Shooting everything around and hoping to have something great. 

Cool video: Electrathon car

I wanted to share this cool video that a couple of my students produced:


Two things really stood out to me in this video:

1. Storytelling. This video has a clear beginning, middle and end. The video starts with an unassembled car. Throughout the video we see students working on and building the car. The final shot is the finished car driving away out of frame. Story. It is so simple, but something that is so hard to do.
2. Shot composition. We have worked hard on the six-shot system and sequencing. This video is textbook in my opinion. We see a student turn the steering wheel, and the next shot is the actual wheel turning. Another sequence has the student being interviewed while we see a shot sequence of him: close-up of his hands and face, a medium shot and wide shot. There are more sequences throughout, but this does an excellent job.

Here is the blog post by the editor, Sean McPartland, who does a really nice job reflecting on the project.

Challenge: Raven Props

For this challenge, you will talk to a person nominated for Raven Props and have them tell you the story they were nominated for.

When you edit, use the crop tool to cut the video into quick sections, one sentence per angle.

The story should be about a minute long, but still contain the same narrative arc we have discussed in class. You must find a good storyteller.

Supplement it with creative B-Roll.

Here are examples:

ICU: You missed another birthday

ICU: I'm not interested in missed connections

Challenge #2: Cutting Carrots

"Cutting carrots" teaches the basic fundamentals of video sequencing by the cameraman shooting a subject doing something repetitious, such as a person cutting carrots.

Think of your story as an English paper broken down into smaller parts: the shots are like individual sentences. When you string together the shots in a specific order you have a sequence, which is similar to a paragraph. The sequences are combined together to make your story.

Use the 6-shot system to film your shots.

The 6-shot system includes:

1. Close-up of the hands

2. Close-up of the face

3. Medium shot

4. Over the shoulder shot

5. Wide shot

6. Extra wide (Establishing) shot

Hold each shot for 10-20 seconds to get the "action" of the scene. This will give you cutting points when you go to edit.

Once you have filmed your sequence, edit them together in Final Cut Pro. You are telling a story through your shots in an interesting way.

Share to YouTube and embed on your blog. 

Here are examples of the "Cutting Carrots" exercise:

Challenge #1: Audio slideshow

For this initial project, you will work with a partner to interview, take pictures and create an audio slideshow answering the question: How do you contribute to the Raven Nation?

1. Develop questions for your interview. Use the 21 question format. Ask open-ended questions and remember to follow-up where applicable.

2. Interview your partner and record it with your cell phone.

3. Record nat noise to use underneath your interview. For example: if you are interviewing someone about playing basketball, get nat noise of the gym.

4. Using your cell phone, take pictures of your partner doing what they discussed in their interview. You will need 25+ pictures.

5. Use the 6-shot system to take your photos:

• Close-up of the hands
• Close-up of the face
• Over the shoulder
• Medium shot
• Wide shot
• Extra wide shot

6. Switch roles. 

7. Using FCPX, edit your audio slideshow. Edit out your voice asking the questions. Pick the best audio and photos to tell your story. 

8. Tips for making good audio slideshows.

9. More tips for making good audio slideshows.

Examples:

One in 8 million

Fostering Love from Connie Preti on Vimeo.