Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

Critique of Video Production

My critique of the Video Production will focus on: shooting, time, transition and audio.

Shooting
Storyboard
In planning for the shooting, I prepared a storyboard (at appendix 1 below) which
identified my audience, their interest in the subject matter and the purpose of the message
to be communicated in the video. My audience includes persons who want to improve
their public speaking skills. I am informing them that they can get help from Toastmasters
International resources. These resources include a Competent Communications Manual,
monthly magazines, live club meetings and supporting mentors. As a member of Nova
Powerspeakers Toastmasters Club 1045 in District 81, Kingston Jamaica, I received help
with a recent speech that I was invited to do at Knox Community College, my alma mater, in
Jamaica.

Location & Lighting

I arranged the location (my home living room), and the time of day (to reduce shadows by
using both natural and overhead lighting, but controlled glare from windows with blinds
and curtains.

Page 1 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

Props
Using Toastmasters International manual on Competent Communication as well as the
monthly Toastmasters Magazines, I created a centre piece display that was used as props
on two small tables. I also used a pre-recorded Toastmasters Club video that introduced the
help that a Club meeting provides. This was played from the www.toastmasters.org
website on a flat screen TV and recorded using a Samsung 5 smart phone. I am not sure
about the copy rights protocol here, so the edited video was created as private using the
YouTube video editor. I did make explicit reference to the source of the video, however.

Performers
It was challenging being the only performer and shooting the video at the same time, so I
got some help from my daughter with the first two shots.

Shots & Angles

A combination of Long, Medium and Close up shots were used in shooting the background
(the living room) and of the presenters upper body and details of the Toastmasters props.
Normal angles were used for most of the shots, except the shots of the TV screen with the
Toastmasters video which was taken as a Low Angle, (from below the TV screen) to
compensate for the angle of the wall mount of the TV screen and the lighting reflection on
the screen. Unfortunately, all the shots except the first one, came out horizontal rather than
vertical. I am not sure why this happened because all the shots were taken with the
SMASUNG 5 smart phone held in the vertical position. Two black vertical borders also

Page 2 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

appeared in each video clip when they were downloaded from the smart phone camera and
saved as a Windows Media Movie file. These were corrected in editing.

Focus & Camera Movements

Auto Focus was used in all shots because the SAMSUNG 5 Smartphone does not have
manual focus. However, I since learned that there is a selective focus feature that can be
used after photos are taken but I am not sure how that works for videos. Camera
movements did not include pan, but tilt was used to compensate for the angle of the TV
screen shots and zoom was used for the close up shots. Shot number 5 (TV Screen shot
with Toastmasters Video) was a bit shaky toward the end. This was reduced during editing
using the YouTube editor stabilization feature.

Frames and Composition

In most of the six shots, there was a tendency to centre the subjects in the small curved wall
space in the living room during shooting. This nearly resulted in all the subjects being
centred in the frames of the shots. However, whether by design or by chance, the physical
background created a natural frame so that the rule of third was not completely violated.
If I were to do it again, the rule of third would be a deliberate planning consideration.

The rule of thirds states than an image is most pleasing when its subjects or regions are
composed be at the intersections of imaginary lines which divide the image into thirds
both vertically and horizontally. For example, in the first shot, the certificate of
appreciation was held in the cross lines of a left quadrant. Another example is the display of
Page 3 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

the Toastmasters Competent Communication manual in the middle third above the lower
display of the Toastmasters Magazines.

The composition of the six shots is informally balanced. This is in terms of the combination
of supporting Toastmasters materials used to convey the message. According to one the
website:
Balance when composing an image requires the correct combination of colors,
shapes, and areas of light and dark that complements each another Formal balance,
also called symmetrical balance is when one or more identical or similar subjects are
repeated symmetrical on each sides of a given point The formal balance is most
often recognized by subjects that are uniform in shape. Informal balance or
asymmetrical balance is when one or more dissimilar elements are balancing on each
side of a given point. See http://www.digitalphotographytipsonline.com/balancein-photography.html.

On reflection, the third shot with the display of Toastmasters Magazine on the lower table
top could be potentially considered as extraneous materials if they distract focus from the
Toastmasters Competent Communication Manual. Thats why the manual was elevated
above them. During editing, a few seconds of extraneous information about toastmasters
meetings was removed from the last two video clips of the Toastmasters video footage shot
from the TV screen.

Page 4 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

There were no leading lines.

A leading line paves an easy path for the eye to follow through different elements of a
photo. Usually they start at the bottom of the frame and guide the eye upwards and
inwards, from the foreground of the image to the background, typically leading
toward the main subject. See http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-useleading-lines-for-better-compositions/

Time
The length of the video (shots 1-6) is 2 minutes, 40 seconds, within three minutes limit.

Transitions
It is expected that the video should contain coherent transitions from one image to the next
that do not distract from the presentation. It is also expected that the transitions are
limited to 2-4 types of transitions.
A film transition is a technique used in the post-production process of film editing and
video editing by which scenes or shots are combined. Most commonly this is through a
normal cut to the next shot. Most films will also include selective use of other
transitions, usually to convey a tone or mood, suggest the passage of time, or separate
parts of the story. These other transitions may include dissolves, L cuts, fades (usually
to black), match cuts, and wipes. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_transition

The unedited video shots were recorded as separate files in sequence using the storyboard
at Appendix 1 below. These separate files are cuts. Shots 1-4 recordings were stopped at
appropriate points to achieve visual continuity. However, shots 5-6 were stopped in mid
Page 5 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

speech and will therefore need editing using match cuts that aim to disguise the cuts from
the viewer by joining two shots with similar frames together.

Audio
It is expected that the video contains audio that significantly adds to the presentation. The
audio should also help to enhance the understanding of the ideas presented in the video. Audio
volume should complement the presentation and match the video.

Audio was included in the shooting of each video clip. This included both in several forms: as an
introduction of the topic and the presenter (myself), as a sample opening of a speech as a guest
speaker; narration of prior events in the speech preparation process and a recording of a video
footage being played on a television from a website. The audio significantly adds to the
understanding the message, given the purpose of the video encourage listeners to improve
their public speaking skills. The source of the audio from the www.toastmasters.org was clearly
stated in the video. I am not sure if this would still require permission for use from the creator
of the video.

Page 6 of 7

Garth Williams

EDID6508 ASSIGNMENT 2

19/3/2016

Appendix 1
Storyboard for Video Production
Intended audience
Persons who want to improve their public speaking skills
Purpose of Video
To inform persons who want to improve their public speaking skills how they can do so by joining
Toastmasters International.

Shot 1: (Gift basket with card from Knox)

I just got this gift basket as a token of appreciation for being
guest speaker at my alma mater, Knox Community College a
few days ago.

SHOOTING:
A Medium Shot of Garth holding
gift basket and Certificate of
Appreciation from Knox
Community College
Close up shot of the Certificate

Shot 2 : (Garth giving the opening of his speech)

A Long shot of Garth standing

and speaking

Master of ceremonies, Principal, Teachers, Students, Ladies

and gentlemen, this is our time to live, to learn, to lead and
to leave a lasting legacy
That was the opening of my speech to over 200 high school
students who will be seeking to enter college after
graduation this year.

Shot 3: (Toast Masters International Competent Communication

Guide )
In preparing my speech I sought help from my Toastmasters
International guide on giving speeches.
Here is the manual on Competent Communication that I
used to guide the preparation of the speech.

A Medium shot and Close Up

Shot of the Toastmasters
Competent Communication
Guide book cover on vertical
display on top of a small table in
the living room

Shot 4-6: (Video of TV screen with Toastmasters International

meeting)
I got practice of the speech with evaluation and feedback
from a more experienced Club member s and my mentor
Essie who is a Distinguished Toastmaster at my Club.

Close up shot of TV screen with

Toastmasters meeting
background.

Page 7 of 7