I would like to find a book or other source that provides simple
formulas for shooting short non-fiction videos. I say non-fiction
because I don't want to make cinematic movies--I want to shoot short
interviews, product demonstrations, and news stories.

I have to believe that there are standard methods for doing this. I
-want- a template; I -want- a formula. I know that outcomes won't be
artistic and ultra-creative, but they will serve my purposes. If I had
the time, I would reverse engineer the formulas by watching a lot of
television news broadcasts and industrial films with a stopwatch and
sketchpad...but I don't have the time.

Ideally, the templates will include visual storyboards and sample
scripts, but do the best you can if those aren't available.

I tip for good service and thanks in advance for your help.

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Clarification of Question by alwayscurious-ga on 07 Nov 2004 10:48 PST

I have increased the amount I am willing to pay for an answer to this
question from $20 to $100. Hopefully that will capture someone's
attention.

Let me add an additional piece of information that may appeal to you
personally. I am a teacher who is trying to incorporate video and
video production in classroom instruction. You will be helping me to
help others to learn and to share their stories with others.

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 07 Nov 2004 11:00 PST

Hello Alwayscurious,

Please take a look at the following books and let me know if this is
the kind of information you?re looking for.

Thanks,
Bobbie7


Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos
by Alan Rosenthal
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0809324482/qid=1099853537/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-5751804-9802207

Documentary Storytelling for Video and Filmmakers
by Sheila Curran Bernard
"Sheila Curran Bernard's Documentary Storytelling is an essential,
pragmatic, common-sense approach to making non-fiction films for the
student and/or first-time filmmaker, based on the author's deep
awareness of documentary film history and theory, and her intimate
knowledge of how today's most important documentarians formulate their
works."
- Gerald Peary, film critic, The Boston Phoenix
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240805399/ref=pd_sim_books_1/103-5751804-9802207?v=glance&s=books


Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos: A Practical Guide to
Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries of Real Events
by Barry Hampe 
From Library Journal
An experienced filmmaker, writer, and teacher, Hampe hopes to guide
the inexperienced through the process of making a documentary, or
"reality video," in 25 steps, from idea to post-production.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805044515/qid=1099853537/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/103-5751804-9802207

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Clarification of Question by alwayscurious-ga on 07 Nov 2004 11:45 PST

Hello bobbie-7,

Thanks for asking for a clarification.

The books you highlight are exactly what I'm trying to stay away from.
I've purchased several and have looked through another 50. The problem
with them is that they are too theoretical or too general. Certainly,
if one studied those books, they would understand the fundamentals of
filmography and could develop their own storyline, develop
storyboards, shoot the video, and then make editing choices.

Following this model, each film/video is unique, and probably best
addresses the unique elements of the topic of interest.

The downside is that all of the work above takes lots and lots of time.

I don't want to go to cooking school and develop a menu...I want a
Betty Crocker cookbook with pictures--lot's of pictures.

I have to believe that there is a standard story structure that works
80% of the time and a set of storyboards to go along with it. The
storyboards would incorporate rules of composition that make the video
look great. Whatever I see in the storyboard is what I go out and
shoot.

The closest I have found to what I am looking for are here:
http://education.apple.com/education/ilife/howto/imovie_tips/

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240513983/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/104-8315270-6248735?v=glance&s=books

Both of these sources are lacking, however, because they don't present
a series of 10 to 30 storyboard frames that when shot in the sequence
and according to the composition suggested, will result in an
acceptable interview, product demonstration, news story, etc.

Once again, I thank you for your interest.

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 24 Nov 2004 15:54 PST

Hello alwayscurious-ga,

Are you still looking for an answer?

I?ve done an extensive search for storyboard templates for classroom
use and I?ve concluded that you?re not likely to find any that meet
your requirement of giving a sequence of 10-30 frames that will lead
to quick and easy script and shooting guide for a classroom
production.

On the other hand, my research shows that there is a tremendous amount
of resources available for helping you incorporate video and video
production in your classroom instruction. In my preliminary research
I?ve identified several books and teacher resource portals that
address this issue. I?ve also found a handful of software programs
that have content that can be manipulated by students to produce
pictures, animations, movies and experiments in a variety of subject
areas. Further, I?ve also identified several storyboarding software
tools that would help you and your students develop your own
storyboard templates.

Based on your prior clarifications I believe that this research might
be useful to you. Will you accept these resources as a suitable
answer?

I look forward to your clarification.

~ czh ~

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Clarification of Question by alwayscurious-ga on 26 Nov 2004 18:33 PST

Hello czh,

Thank you for the effort you've put forth to answer my question.

...and I appreciate your offer to provide me information that goes
beyond my initial inquiry. I'll have to turn you down, unfortunately,
because I actually have quite a few of the types of resources that you
describe.