My Course of for Recording Quick-Type Movies

I’ve recorded greater than 270 movies (give or take) since I began my short-form video journey about six months in the past. I’m usually requested about my course of for recording short-form movies, and I really feel like this can be a good time to do a reveal.

In truth, I didn’t really feel all that snug saying a lot throughout most of this journey since I knew that I used to be nonetheless so early in figuring all of it out. I used to be studying and evolving, and I knew that no matter course of I had was more likely to change as quickly as I talked about it.

At this stage, although, I really feel fairly good in regards to the course of I’m following. It’s constant. I’m certain a lot will nonetheless change to how I do issues over the subsequent yr and past, however the price of change will seemingly sluggish. I’ve discovered what I like and what makes me environment friendly for now.

Under is my present course of for recording my short-form movies. It’s not good. Nevertheless it’s what works for me.

If you wish to be taught extra about what I do and learn how to get began with short-form video, check out my new training course!

Scripting

I do know there are plenty of theories on this, however I principally don’t script something.

Often, I’ll write down some ideas and I’ll even write out bullet factors. However I actually assume my movies are extra conversational if I don’t have a script.

I’ve a purpose in thoughts, after all. I do know what I’m going to speak about. After which I discuss.

I’ll get to {that a} bit extra later.

Lighting

I received’t get into all the particulars about lighting right here as a result of that’s a separate matter of its personal, however listed here are three main issues that I do…

1. I activate my two LED panels which are mounted on both facet of my desk.

2. I flip off my ceiling lights.

3. I activate my RGB gentle that’s laying on the ground for a splash of coloration to the partitions and ceiling.

The RGB is pointless, however I’ve discovered it provides a bit bit of favor and variation. My movies are certain to look similar to each other, so switching up the colour every single day tends to assist.

My Digital camera (My Cellphone)

Some persons are stunned to listen to this, however the main video supply is my cellphone. It’s not a particular DSLR or fancy digital camera.

In fact, I do use an iPhone 14 Professional, and I can see a noticeable enchancment over my previous iPhone 12. I additionally use the Cinematic video setting to make the background blurry and provides it a bit {of professional} polish.

I perch my cellphone on a small tripod in entrance of me on my desk. I take advantage of the rear-facing digital camera as a result of it produces barely higher high quality. To try this, I join my iPhone to my MacBook and open up QuickTime. I begin a brand new video and choose my cellphone in order that I can see what I’m recording from there.

Many have reached out and instructed me that I don’t must do it that approach, however I do as a result of I’ve an older MacBook from 2016. Newer ones can mirror to the laptop computer with out hooking them up.

I take advantage of a bit distant that when got here with a tripod to begin recording. Couldn’t price greater than $10.

Past that, I line every little thing up in order that my desk doesn’t seem within the shot and my eyes land on the highest horizontal line of the grid device.

Screenflow Recording

Whereas I file with my cellphone, I additionally file with Screenflow, a desktop video enhancing app.

Many individuals ask what I take advantage of for enhancing, and I’m at all times hesitant to inform them. The reality is that you are able to do the identical factor with so many alternative apps, it actually doesn’t matter. Use what you’re snug with. I’ve used Screenflow for greater than a decade.

I file not less than my exterior mic from Screenflow. This may change my cellphone audio to enhance the standard. If I’m doing a tutorial, I’ll additionally file my display screen.

What which means is that we’ll have not less than two recordsdata to work with after I’m enhancing. Since there will likely be audio from my cellphone’s video file, I’ll line up the cellphone’s audio with the audio from my exterior mic earlier than deleting the cellphone’s audio file.

The Sit-Down

Right here’s one thing you want to perceive: Whereas the ultimate product is a clear edit, it was something however that after I sat down and hit file.

I may create a blooper reel for each sit-down I do. I’m not kidding.

I do know that this is likely one of the issues that retains individuals from creating movies. They see the ultimate polish they usually assume that’s the way it seemed when it was recorded. That may be intimidating.

My authentic video recordsdata are anyplace from three to 6 minutes. And actually, three and 6 nearly by no means occur. It’s normally between 4 and 5.

To recap from earlier, I arrange my cellphone in entrance of me and hit file. I’ve a normal concept of what I need to say, however I don’t script something out. I simply discuss.

To simplify, I’m actually enthusiastic about the subsequent sentence I need to say in my head. I’m not all that nervous in regards to the full message.

I do know I’m not alone on this, however I fumble with my phrases so much. I usually want to try to say the identical sentence 5 – 6 instances. It’s irritating, however that stuff will get edited out.

I say a sentence, after which pause and assume. I say one other sentence, pause, and assume. I repeat it if it comes out awkwardly. Generally I say sentence fragments and pause after which full the sentence. I can splice the fragments collectively later.

Enhancing

I received’t get into the small print of my enhancing right here, however only a few fast factors.

I’ll reduce that three to six-minute tough file all the way down to not more than 60 seconds. No exceptions. You’ll discover that a lot of my movies are 59+ seconds. This isn’t by chance.

After lining up the recordsdata, I make a first-pass edit. That is after I simply clear up the errors and pauses.

In fact, that nearly at all times ends in a video that will likely be longer than a minute (sometimes 10 to twenty seconds over). Meaning I want to return by and prioritize. That is the place I take out elements that aren’t utterly essential to the message.

As soon as I get it all the way down to 60 seconds, I then add a remaining polish with bounce cuts and zoom video actions.

The ultimate step is that I export that file and import it into CapCut so as to add the captions.

Scheduling and Publishing

I publish my movies to 6 completely different platforms (hyperlinks to my profile for every):

It’s so much. I’ve experimented with utilizing numerous scheduling and repurposing apps, however I’m at the moment again to scheduling nearly all of them natively. I simply don’t discover it takes all that a lot time to wish a separate app.

There’s at all times the talk about whether or not third-party apps damage your attain, too. Personally, I solely have suspicions about YouTube Shorts. Whether or not a coincidence or not, I’ve seen that my movies constantly carry out much better when scheduled or revealed natively from YouTube.

Not that my movies do nice from YouTube. However I used to be repeatedly seeing 50 views or much less per video when utilizing a third-party app, however I constantly see greater than that when scheduled natively.

Every part else is trial and error and private choice. I publish not less than as soon as per day, and it’s sometimes within the morning.