Videos of people
The video studio can produce recordings of up to four people with three cameras at the same time, and offers numerous possibilities for presenting these recordings, from the background to accessories and even post-production work.
The following overview shows each of these settings in a video example and lists the requirements and features, including advantages and disadvantages.
Statement
A (video) statement is a direct communication with the audience, meaning it is strongly associated with the personality of the speaker; this feature can be used for various scenarios:
- Greetings and video messages use the physical representation of the video to show presence, where appointments, economical or ecological considerations prevent this in reality.
- In the area of communication, statements can be used for testimonials (promotional references) as well as for invitations or requests, which have an appellative character.
- Statements can also be used as supplements to documentaries or image films, where other shooting locations are not possible for logistical or cost-related reasons. A special form of such videos are (lead-in) presentations for video contributions within a film.
- In a teaching and learning environment, statements provide personalisation, above all in areas where content videos are primarily used, such as introductory, personal addresses to students and the introduction of (teaching) staff.
- The overlay combines a lecture and associated content.
Experienced lecturers can be provided with an teleprompter for longer statements, from which the text can be read. For statements with more than one person, see also interview.
...in front of the corporate background
The background was designed together with Corporate Communications and uses elements of the key visuals of ETH Zurich. Statements in front of this background therefore have an official character.
Additional information
- Persons: 1-2
- Cameras: 1-2
- Setup/disassembly: minor effort
- Post-production: minor effort
- Costs: low; with efficient production, a short statement can be produced in one hour, total costs start at CHF 275
- Risk: the quality of the statement is based to a large extent on the rhetorical skills of the speaker
- Experienced lecturers can be provided with a autocue for longer statements, from which the text can be read.
- Preparation: Download Code of practice: on camera (PDF, 85 KB)
...in front of a neutral background
The white background can be illuminated in different colours using the light system, which can also produce different colour grades across the filmed area. This in turn provides a great deal of flexibility when designing the background.
A neutral background is also more suitable than the corporate background when additional content is used (text, images). The legibility of content on all end devices must however be ensured.
Additional information
- Persons: 1-2
- Cameras: 1-2
- Setup/disassembly: minor effort
- Post-production: minor effort
- Costs: low; with efficient production, a short statement can be produced in one hour, total costs start at CHF 275
- Risk: the quality of the statement is based to a large extent on the rhetorical skills of the speaker
- Preparation: Download Code of practice: on camera (PDF, 85 KB)
...in front of a bright white background
The statement in front of a bright white background represents an aesthetically appealing reduction of the background – which in turn accentuates the speaker and increases their importance for the quality of the video. Additional content (text, images) is also possible, but the legibility of content on all end devices must be ensured.
Additional information
- Persons: 1
- Cameras: 1
- Setup/disassembly: considerable effort
- Post-production: considerable effort
- Costs: medium; a short statement requires slightly more effort, above all due to the setup and post-production activities, total costs start at CHF 375
- Risk: the quality of the statement is based to a large extent on the rhetorical skills of the speaker
- Preparation: Download Code of practice: on camera (PDF, 109 KB)
- Possible – but requiring even more effort – are full-body recordings with a front-on camera in front of a bright white background without a visible horizon line ("concave").
...with corpus
The corpus takes the strain off the speaker for a number of reasons: It offers somewhere to place your hands and therefore keep your arms more relaxed. Any movements of the body are partially covered by the corpus. And it automatically draws some attention away from the protagonists - making it a recommendable extra for people with little experience. Finally, objects, which should relate to the content rather than being purely decorative, can also be placed on the corpus.
Additional information
- Persons: 1-2
- Cameras: 1-2
- Setup/disassembly: medium
- Post-production: low
- Costs: low; total costs start from CHF 275
- To be clarified in advance: type of corpus
Interview
Interviews can be different forms of dialogue between two people; the traditional interview with questions and protagonists as well as a (specialist) tasks with scientific topic. The conversational nature of the discussion must also be reflected in the visual implementation, which means more than one camera is needed. The interview requires joint preparation by the participants, in order to clarify certain actions and routines (line of vision, speaking order, direction of the body) in advance.
Additional information
- Persons: 2 or more
- Cameras: at least 2
- Setup/disassembly: considerable effort
- Post-production: medium
- Costs: medium to high; a short interview can be produced from around CHF 375, a more elaborate one with multiple persons can generate four-digit costs
- To be clarified in advance: type of corpus seated or standing? background?
Round of talks / Panel
A discussion with multiple people requires mor thorough preparation than an interview, in order to ensure everything runs smoothly with as few interruptions as possible, and with participant behaviour that is in line with the visual habits of the chosen format. Discussions between peers are possible as well as constellations with a moderator, whereby the moderator has more responsibility.
Additional information
- Persons: 3-4
- Cameras: at least 2
- Setup/disassembly: considerable effort
- Post-production: medium to considerable effort
- Costs: tend to be higher
- To be clarified in advance: seated or standing? background?
Green screen - full body recording
Recordings in front of a green screen enable this background to be replaced with any content (pictures, videos, the suitability of which should be tested in advance, though), during post-production. Such green screen productions are the most technically demanding and are correspondingly expensive and time consuming. They should therefore only be used for specific content or for achieving a specific goal (e.g. conveying a relevant point of view).
Additional information
- Persons: 1
- Cameras: 1; only frontal camera positions are possible
- The video studio can only offer green screen whole body recordings to a limited extent due to its dimensions. Please clarify the feasibility and requirements in advance with us.
- Efforts for setup/disassembly, post-production (keying): very high
- Costs: high
- Image / moving images as background: must be checked in advance to see if it will fit
- Make-up artist: the relatively strong light can quickly lead to an unflattering shine on the skin, we therefore recommend using a make-up artist (additional costs, organisation).
- Preparation: Download checklist green screen (PDF, 86 KB)
- Preparation: Download code of practice: on camera (PDF, 109 KB)
- Risk: content-specific context between the protagonists and background to weak, visually unsuitable background or loss of spontaneity through the central role of technical aspects.
Green screen - close-up
The external page (partially) close-up setting is similar to the natural viewing habits, which makes realistic facial expressions and partian gestures possible. At the same time the focus on the person or the role of the person in question is increased. Green screen close-ups dispense with the feet, floor and horizon line; this means they often require a lot less effort than full-body recordings.
Additional information
- Persons: 1
- Cameras: 1; only frontal camera positions are possible
- Effort for setup/disassembly, post-production (keying): high
- Costs: high
- Image / moving images as background: must be checked in advance to see if it will fit.
- Make-up artist: the relatively strong light can quickly lead to an unflattering shine on the skin, we therefore recommend using a make-up artist (additional costs, organisation).
- Preparation: Download checklist green screen (PDF, 86 KB)
- Preparation: Download code of practice: on camera (PDF, 109 KB)
- Risk: content-specific context between the protagonists and background too weak, visually unsuitable background or loss of spontaneity through the central role of technical aspects.
Recording of a person with a moving camera
The moving camera generally increases the attractiveness of the images, the camera movement itself does this im a serious and calm manner: the camera moves over a track system in the studio, and in doing so moves in different ways and with different intensities vis-à-vis the person being recorded. The persons can remain passive or interact with the camera movement.
Additional information
- Persons: 1-3
- Cameras: 1
- The video studio can only offer moving camera recordings and special camera movements to a limited extent due to the dimensions. Please clarify the feasibility and requirements in advance with us.
- Effort for setup/disassembly, post-production: high
- Costs: high
- Risk: Interaction between the protagonists and the camera requires good preparation, a lot of concentration and possibly multiple recording attempts.
