How I Made the Conversation Videos

I love to be a film maker. But I didn't have the opportunity to go to film school. So the best lessons I have gathered up here were my mistakes! Every now and then I try to figure out where I’m going wrong and what do I need to do more. Since I’m teaching English, I can work on improving my video-making skill. School has given me  an opportunity to combined teaching and directing! At least one week before the video-making, I always make sure that my students understand the most important rule I’ve set for them– “no filming happens if they don’t memorize their parts.” So I make sure everyone is well-prepared before shooting, to avoid wasting our time.
Usually, we talk about the schedule and I sometime let them chose their own convenient time when to film and where I could meet them. For some videos that need special costumes (like being doctor, teacher) we talk about what they should wear. But no makeup and other beauty enhancer involved.

And also no lighting and other effects were involved in the process of the making. So everything is natural. This means no budget! I solely depend on the daylight when shooting outdoors and the normal house light when shooting indoors- for example, inside the house.

Normally, during the filming, the students should act out on the same scene at least three to four times, since I have only one video camera and I have to take many different angles. The repetition of acting on the same scene is good for the performers so they can master their parts- I always after on what they have learned throughout the whole process of shooting.

So I shoot three different angles in each scene. First is the wide shot where all performers and place can be seen. Second is the medium and third is the close up. The close up shot is to focus each actor. This means I’m moving the camera to where I’m focusing (side to side). So the actors must repeat the same action at least three to four times! But if their performance did not satisfy me, they have to do it over and over again.

Anyway, we all have fun throughout the entire process!

Alejandro

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