Overview: Develop
and produce short web videos with a message to put on your website and
other websites! This is a fun
regular activity of any group or sub-group. It naturally causes
participants to think about spiritual truths while reaching out to
others. Participants will also learn
some great skills. Your
videos should end up in two formats - avi and flash. Normally,
your video will start out as an avi or wmv file during the editing
process. Then it will be converted to a flash file ending in swf
or flv. You should keep the avi file even after you have
finalized your swf video in case you ever need to edit, improve, or grab
a segment. What's
Needed:
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A video camera that does not
use tapes. (Webcams will not work!)
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A tripod.
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Two $10 light stands that have
2-3 bulbs each with 100w bulbs (indoor video).
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Some inexpensive notebooks and
pens.
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Free video editing program to copy
segments (takes) from the camera's file, to add text, to add special effects.
Movie Maker comes with XP SP2. iMovie comes with newer
Macs. Most cameras come with good editors. Article
on other free programs.
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Free "avi to flash" program for
converting your edited file to swf (a popular web format). Some editing programs
can do this step. Normally, you do not want to add player controls in your video,
because most websites have their own. Camstudio
2.0
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Free account with GodTube.com.
Group Leader Note:
Although this is an easy ongoing
format for your weekly meetings, it can require the leader to be
available at other times during the week if you do not have enough
cameras or computers available (see how to prevent this below). The
group leader's attendance with borrowed camera use is dependent on the
ownership of the camera and the age of the users! The leader may
also have to help (or guide to someone that can help) with initial video
editing. The easiest way is for the leader to help/work with the
first sub-group that is ready to edit, so the leader can learn how to
use Movie Maker to be able to help other sub-groups. We hope to provide
a guide for video editing on this page at a later
date.
Typical Weekly Meeting Structure:
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Each week can begin with
worship, short devotion, and prayer. Then the assembled full
group hears video progress reports from sub-groups. This full
group segment allows the leader to encourage, lets other
sub-groups hear good ideas, and provides an indirect accountability
for progress. This is a good time to also have an update report on
the number of views your published videos currently have on Godtube.
In the second segment, everyone breaks into their sub-groups
to discuss, write, rehearse lines, plan props, etc. without leaving
their chairs. Then the last segment allows less structure to
allow sub-groups to rehearse acting, prepare props, schedule
computer access, schedule camera time. If snacks are offered,
announce about 5 minutes into last segment "snacks are
available whenever you are ready" otherwise allow about 10
minutes for this last segment. Bring the group together for a
closing prayer/announcement reminders or just allow them to trickle
out after snacks.
Perpetual Flow Chart (repeats
when finished):
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Sub-group discusses ideas for a
video script keeping in mind spiritual objective, feasibility,
audience interest. A rough outline should be written down by
the sub-group's designated script writer.
-
Sub-group then develops full draft of script.
Characters, setting,
props, costumes needed are written at the top of the page. All dialogue with CHARACTER
name in all caps in front of each line. Wherever needed,
action descriptions and scene information is entered between
lines.
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Sub-group plans necessary
props, setting, choosing characters.
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Characters learn lines and
actions.
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Set time, location, camera
availability, sub-group members availability.
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Have someone hold a paper with
take number at beginning of each video attempt and write down which
take number is a rap to use for editing.
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Use the take list and camera
file(s) to edit into one file. Then add text or special
effects (at least give your group credit somewhere). Save file
with short descriptive name as avi or wmv file.
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Convert avi to flash and upload
to Godtube and give to your church webmaster.
Use .avi, .swf, or .flv videos in PowerPoint or Impress! Click
Here for Flash/PowerPoint/Impress Instructions
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Start over again.
First Week Group Orientation:
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Announce the
idea ahead of time to make sure you have interest.
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Do not form sub-groups until
2nd week! Do not tell them too much about sub-groups or they
will form the sub-group for you and leave someone feeling like the
last one picked for the team!
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Begin orientation with "How
many of you have ever been to Godtube.com?" Allow
feedback from anyone that has with "What
did you think?" Continue with "If
you haven't, check it out the next time you are on the
internet. Have you ever wondered how good of actor you might
be? Well, here is your chance to be actors and writers!
We are going to try to develop videos like those on Godtube.
We need to go over some information today. I need to cover
several items on my checklist so we can get going."
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Write it down! Take a survey
of available video cameras. Sub-groups should be divided
with one camera owner in each sub-group. If working with
youth, have these people get permission for occasional use of
parent's camera.
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Write it down! Take a survey
of people that have a newer computer at home. Newer Macs
have iMovie and newer PC's such as XP
Service Pack 2 have Movie Maker.
Ask them to check to see and report back if
they have either editing program on
their computer or can install it. Camera
owners should be reminded they may have another program that
came with the camera (might even be better). Have them look to
see if it is a movie editing program.
Most usually do. One video editing computer should be
available in each group if possible. You may not know the answer to
this until people can check their computers.
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The basic plan
is to create short videos to be seen by the world. Some videos
on Godtube have hundreds of thousands of views by people. We
want to try to cover at least one of the following goals in every
video:
-
In order for
our videos to get viewed more, they need to be good video quality.
You can look at Godtube to get ideas from the more popular
videos. Notice how long some of the more popular videos
are.
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Keep in mind that props and setting may make some
scripts more challenging or impossible. Quality and high standards
should always be the goal.
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Try to use
everyone in the group's input for a script idea. If one person comes
up with the script idea, then let a different person do it next
time. Maybe try to have everyone in the group come up with an
idea. Try to rotate your actors too.
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Show sample
outline of a script: characters, setting,
props, costumes at the top. All dialogue with CHARACTER
name in all caps in front of each line. Wherever needed,
action descriptions and scene information is entered between
lines.
-
Maybe write job
titles on whiteboard or have handout.
Each sub-group should be made up of a script writer, a videographer,
editor (often the camera owner if video data is not removable),
a prop master, progress reporter to give the weekly
group report (script writer if not enough people). If group is
larger, then add more editors for a team computer effort. All
members will also be involved in development and some as
characters.
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Script
Writer- Responsible for writing down ideas, rough draft, and
final script. This person also acts somewhat like the director
to make sure the intent of the script is captured on the video.
(Sometimes doubles as Progress Reporter)
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Videographer-
Responsible for the safety of the camera, working with the Prop
Master for lighting/take sheets, recording takes, writing down
the take number that will be used, delivering camera to owner,
delivering take record and movie data to editor.
-
Editor(s)-
Uses the take record and movie data on a computer to copy
selected takes and build final file. Also adds text and
special effects. Converts file to flash and uploads to
Godtube or gives file to leader.
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Prop
Master- Manages lighting setup and takedown, makes more effort
than others to accumulate needed props, returns props when done,
responsible for leaving filming area better than when started,
writes take numbers on sheets of paper and holds in front of
camera for vieographer.
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Progress
Reporter prepares and gives progress report of current project
for each week's full group segment. Checks with Godtube
for previous videos to see the current views to include in the
report.
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Finish with a reminder to look
at Godtube.com to get some ideas.
Second Week:
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Prepare a handout that has job
descriptions, perpetual flow chart, and appropriate parts of the
tips section below. Also have a pen and spiral notebook for
each sub-group.
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Explain weekly structure- Meet
as large group with worship, devotion, prayer, etc, then move into
our video project as a large group for just a few minutes before
breaking up into smaller groups. After about 10-20 minutes of
small group work, snacks. Wait until toward the end of
your small group time to do walkthroughs and work on props so it
doesn't distract others. Encourage brief prayer at the beginning of
sub-group time.
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Guide the formation of your
sub-groups with a camera owner and computer person in each group.
Groups can be from 4-6 people. Figure the number of sub-groups
you might have based on total group size and the number of potential
cameras and the number of available computer editors (with
computer). If you do not have enough cameras, talk to whoever does
have a camera to see if they would be the videographer for more than
one group. Start building each group with a camera person,
then a computer editor for each camera, then offer "we need 2-4
more people for this group?" and you will likely get volunteers
(friends will usually volunteer together) to fill the rest of the
group. Then repeat with other groups. During the group
formation, announce that small groups will probably change around
later.
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Distribute handouts and
notebook to each sub-group..
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Have groups determine job
titles. Remind them if they have more than 5, have more than
one computer editor. Editors will need to work together
off-site. Remind them if they have 4 in the group, the
Scriptwriter will also be the Progress Reporter.
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After determining jobs, discuss
ideas for a video. The script writer should take
notes.
Third Week and After:
Leader Duties:
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Keep structure of weekly
meeting to ensure progress and reduce confusion.
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Watch for mis-matched sub-group
members and occasionally regroup keeping a camera and computer in
each group.
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Remind group members to try to
incorporate ideas from every member.
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Remind group members to always
work toward a high standard that will minister.
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Get the completed flash video
to your church's webmaster to also display on your church
website. Communicate with the church what the group has
accomplished with the video ministry to publicly praise them.
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Help visitors to your group
know which group they can sit in on or help, so they are not left
hanging.
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Watch for interest deterioration,
loss of control, lack of finished videos. Repair or
restructure problem areas. Leader should briefly join each
sub-group for a minute or two to get a feel for things and offer
counsel. Adjust for more time or less time during your
meetings. Remind them of the number of people that have watched
their videos. Recognize when it is time to use a different
focus or format for your group.
Tips:
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Fast movement is trickier to
have good web quality.
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Lots of light make the video
better.
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Try to assign two editors to
each sub-group so more than one gets good at it in each sub-group.
The prop master or videographer can double as an editor. The
editing process will hold up a finished video more than any other
reason. Group members will lose
interest if they do not see their videos
on the web shortly after filming. Special effects take a
long time, so encourage editors to keep it simple until they can
complete them faster.
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Go for professionalism so more
people will see your video.
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Keep videos shorter and make
sure interest level is kept all the way through. You will have less
trouble with smaller file sizes.
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Some editing programs have ChromaKey features that will let you do
greenscreen effects (change the background to anything). You
can usually buy inexpensive green fabric to tack to a frame or wall
for your greenscreen. During editing, you can use a picture or
another video for the background.
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Newer computers with a larger
frontend bus, 1+ gig ram, 256-512mb video card, Pentium D or higher
will speed up work significantly. However, older/smaller
computers will work as long as they meet the video editing program
requirements. The avi to flash converter program will usually work
on any computer.
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Be careful borrowing another
person's (parents') camera! Let the person who borrowed it be
the cameraman.
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Let visitors or new people join
in with whatever group they want.
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