A video podcast is a video file distributed over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

How do you create a video podcast?

A video podcast can be created on a cell phone, a video camera, a webcam, or any device that records video. The process can be as simple or complex as you wish, edited or unedited, with music or without.

Pre-production

Start with a plan

The first thing you want to do is ask yourself some key questions, such as:

• What is the main message you want to convey? Will it be fiction or non-fiction?
• What style (realism, stylized, abstract) tone (serious, light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek) and genre (drama, documentary, docudrama, mockumentary, comedy-parody, satire or slapstick) will best connect your audience to your message?
• What visuals and technical elements, such as sound or camera angles, will support your story and help get your message across?
• What other elements may affect your story such as location, people who can help you and specific props? Sometimes it is a wise choice to plan your ideas around these elements.

Interviews

If you are writing interview questions, these questions should:

• Elicit conversational answers and not single word answers like yes or no
• Lead to a discussion or exchange
• Provide information
• Create controversy
• Quell or dispel controversy
• Elicit questions from an audience

Make sure to formally invite any interviewees to participate and verify their credentials. 

Script

Once you have worked out the details of your main message and have an idea of how you hope to get the message across visually to your audience, it is time to commit your ideas to paper. Essentially you will be making a script that will be the blueprint for your video podcast. In the script you need to identify how the sequence of images and audio (dialogue, sound, music) will appear.

If you are creating a non-fiction podcast, then your script will be quite a bit different than a narrative one. Ideas may shift considerably based on the words and actions of the people you interview or the events you are using. Your script will be a list of events and images that you need to collect and record. Remember that if you are using images or sounds that someone else produced or recorded, you will need permission to use them in your podcast.

Storyboards

Once your script is complete, you are ready to create your storyboard. Don’t worry about whether you can draw realistically. Many talented filmmakers create very simple drawings. Storyboards are important for many reasons, including:

• They help solidify the images you want to capture. The process of creating storyboards makes you focus on each sequence, the type of shot, camera angle and camera movement. Please refer to the handout Camera Shots.
• They serve as an excellent communication tool. You can show others (especially the people who are working with you) exactly how the story will unfold. Words can have many meanings and implications, which can cause confusion. A visual representation is much clearer and easier to understand.
• They make it easy to select the order in which you choose to shoot your project. When reviewing your storyboard, make a note of the shots that are similar enough to be covered by the same camera position. For example if your storyboard shots 4, 9 and 15 are close-ups of your subject sitting in the same location, then all three shots could be recorded one after the other. 

Shot list

A shot list is the order in which you plan to shoot your podcast. List your shots in order of location and match ones that have a similar set-up.

In addition to the shot list, you may want to create lists for your sound effects, props, costumes and equipment. 

Finalizing your plan

Here are some quick tips to consider before starting the production phase:

• Make sure you have charged the batteries for any equipment you will be using.
• Bring extra batteries, extension cords, roles of electrical and masking tape, and extra videotape or whatever format you are recording.
• When picking your locations:
• Be sure you have permission to film at the location you choose. If you are filming at your school, you will need permission from your teacher or principal. If you are filming at a business or a private home, you will need permission from the owner. If you are shooting in a park or a public location, you may need a permit. If this is the case please have a teacher assist you.
• If your location is indoors, make a note of the accessibility, location and number of electrical outlets.
• Make a note of what the light and sound is like at your chosen location. Are there any elements (water from a stream, traffic noise, a hum from a ceiling fan) that will cause a distortion in sound? Will you need additional lights for proper illumination?
• If you plan to film outdoors, pay attention to the weather forecast three to four days in advance. You may need to plan around the weather or change the shooting day.
• Do not include scenes containing physical conflict, violence or weapons of any kind. If you plan to shoot a scene of crisis (verbal arguments, emotional distress or staged injuries) in a public place, take extra precautions such as notifying proper authorities, acquiring special permits, involving certified professionals and posting public notices. Please have your teacher assist you if you are planning such a scenario.
• Give advance notice of when and where you will be filming to the people who are helping. Let them know in advance what their roles will be.
• Make sure to let people appearing on camera know that they should avoid clothes that have visible logos or brands, as these are copyrighted images.
• Review your camera’s operating manual. Make sure you are familiar with the key functions that you will need, and practise using the camera before the day of recording. Bring the camera’s operating manual with you in case you need to troubleshoot.
• Have your pre-production notes with you at all times as they will keep you on track while shooting.

Production

Camera

Here are some quick tips when working with a video camera:

• Check the lens periodically to make sure it is free of dust and hair. Use the lens cap when you are not recording.
• At each location perform a white balance. This is a way of ensuring the camera registers colours in a proper manner. Each location will have its own unique lighting scenario, which creates different hues. To perform a white balance, zoom in on a white sheet of blank paper and select the white balance button (or select it from the menu).
• Use a tripod. Tripods will give you steady, professional looking shots that will be easier to match when editing. However, if your intent is to make your story feel realistic (like a home video, documented footage or police drama) then you may prefer a hand-held approach. Practise all camera movements before you shoot. When recording, don’t stop until after you complete the motion.
• Use manual focus. Although automatic focus ensures everything is sharp, you run the risk of losing focus if there is movement near the lens or a change in lighting. To avoid these problems, set the camera to automatic focus, and then zoom in on your subject. Once your image is in focus, switch the focus to manual and zoom out to re-establish your original framing. Your subject will now be in focus for the duration of the shot.
• When setting up for filming, a good practice is to tape down the cords with electrical tape so that people will not trip on a cord and hurt themselves, or unplug or damage equipment.
• Keep a log of all your shots. Include information such as shot number, duration of the shot, and whether you felt it was a good take. This will save you time in editing.
• Keep the subject close to the camera. Your podcast in its final form will be viewed online in a smaller screen size. Extreme long shots will be difficult for your audience to see. Close-ups create a sense of intimacy and importance, and make sound recording easier if you are relying on your camera’s internal microphone. Most video camera microphones will not pick up much sound beyond what is directly around the camera.
• Record longer versions of each shot than you need. You can always edit each shot down, but you can’t make it longer in post-production. Beware that with some video cameras, the tape may roll back when you stop recording, losing some of the footage.
• If your subject is moving either through or out of a frame, wait until she or he leaves the frame before you stop recording.
• Take extra shots for cutaways. These come in handy during editing to insert between sequences that don’t quite match up. Extra shots can be a close-up of a person, prop or hand movement. If you need to establish a location, using shots of the setting, such as an exterior of a building, is an easy way for your audience to identify the location.   

Lighting

Lighting can help your project look professional. Here are a few quick tips.

Working with natural light

• When it comes to making judgements on lighting, trust your video display and not your eyes. Eyes automatically adjust to light levels in ways that lenses can’t. That is why a bright sunny day with lots of natural light appears clear and crisp to us, while on a camera it may appear overexposed and washed out. The best time to shoot outside is when the sun is not directly overhead.  
• If possible, during interior shots avoid windows¾especially placing your subject in front of one. The bright light from outside will make it hard to see your subject. You may need to cover windows and introduce artificial light.

Working with artificial light

Try using a three-point approach:

• The main light used to illuminate the subject is called the key light. The key light is usually the most intense light in the set-up and is placed at a forty-five degree angle from your subject and the camera.
• The fill light is the secondary light used to offset any shadows created by the key light. The fill light is located on the opposite side of the camera from the key light.
• A back light, a light pointed at your subject from behind, is used to distinguish your subject from the background.

Sound

Sound is extremely important. Audiences are often more forgiving of poor quality video than bad sound. Here are a few quick tips that will help you get the best sound possible and additional options for editing:

• If the sound is distorted, cracks or is too loud, then your subject is too close to the microphone. If you are using an independent sound recorder, your levels are too high.
• If the subject is too far away, the audio may be soft and blend into the background noise. If your subject is too far or too close, the sound will be unusable during editing.

Post-production

Editing

Your options during editing will vary depending on what software you use. Here are some general tips:

• Give yourself a lot of time to edit. You’ve worked hard to get to this point and you don’t want to be rushed during the final important phase.
• Make sure the computer has more than enough space for your project. This includes original footage, extra files such as music, and the final product. If space is limited, refer to the shot log and use only the footage you need.
• Keep it simple. Once a scene has made its point, move to the next scene. Don’t include shots just because they are interesting. Let the story be the focus. The podcast is three to five minutes in length so don’t get carried away with transitions or special effects.
• If things are not working, try experimenting. Sometimes just changing around sequences can enhance or clarify the story.

Adding audio

• Use music to create the mood. You will most likely need to create the music yourself, have it created by a friend (or a friend’s band) or use royalty-free music.
• Don’t get carried away with sound effects. You want sound effects to blend into the scene and enhance the environment rather than distract the audience.
• If possible include background sound, recorded on location, to help fill in gaps in the soundtrack.