There are many people using video or starting to use video for telling stories, sharing perspectives or promoting a cause, product or service however they eventually reach that creative block, well this article is for you.
Below is a list of what I believe will take your visual perspective on a journey of creativity. In other terms, a list that will outline techniques to push your mind to new creative boundaries within video pdrucition, hoping you have creative control.
Timelapse
Sometimes telling a story with a timelapse showing a duration of time within a short duration, can be used to tell stories of progression type. For example showing a growing civilization or the growth of a beard change of skin texture over a period of months.
Public Domain
This is a much wider heading than I thought. But there are thousands upon thousands pieces of public domain licensed material for use ranging from films, music, art and 3d models, books, etc. How you incorporate the material is up to you, just researching the material may get your creative cogs flowing.
Transitions
Yes, transitions are great, a generic crossfade there, a decent gradient transition here.
It matters on how you use transitions, why are you connecting the two shots? Does it need a transition here, or is a simple cut effective enough? Don’t get carried away by applying the same transitions over and over again.
Effects
Instead of using the overused blur effect to distort, why not split the RGB of a particular subject? The Split RGB effect is a jarring effect which can be used to simulate drug experiences or having a computer glitch, or even a transition effect that scales the composition while splitting the colours. There are many uses for this type of effect, it’s just how can you use it?
360
Shooting with a 360 camera with a 360 format is future proofing, but it also allows opportunities to show multiple perspectives of journeys. This approach of filming scenes and scenarios allows a greater choice for the edit, when exporting for the rectangle view. Using a 360 camera in between a couple on a boat ride on the canals of Amsterdam, allows the editor to move or cut between the couple without changing the clip showing the surroundings.
Lense Distortion
There is a great amount of practical effects to do with the lens (with protection). Putting a layer over the lens to generate an effect such as using vaseline to distort the images and lights, this could by smudging the vaseline around. Another method could be using coloured highlighters to create practical colour smeared filters, that have aesthetic effect that you are unable to manipulate in post.
There is a uniqueness to lens distortions compared to overlays, some
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Overlays
Light Leaks make a great use to transition between shots or assist lights within the composition to appear to be bouncing of the lens. Particles and grain can be used to give still frames a sense of movement. Masks to create cutouts of shapes or to create abstract transitions. Another overlay is VHS styled filters, for a nostalgia 80’s vibe. There is a plenty to choose from and look at, the effects would be complimented by a relevant sound.
Conclusion
The list was a mixture of many elements to push forward the out of the box thinking. It’s key to experiment and take in different methods of filmmaking, because where’s the fun in always approaching projects with the same techniques?
Why not combine techniques?
Are you thinking somewhat more creatively now?
Do you have suggestions that you want to try or have done?