Video Production Transitions Certificate Program

In this one-week certificate program you will learn how to produce professional quality video using state-of-the-art equipment including cameras, audio and lighting gear. This class will give you all the necessary skills to be a videographer in a professional environment.

Program Description

This one-week intensive is designed to get you up to speed with using modern digital video cameras and lighting, with the ultimate intention of you finding work as a videographer or enabling your creative vision. The classes will take you through the ins and outs of shooting with today's digital video cameras, both tape and tapeless. You'll learn the essentials like shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and composition, then go much further to good professional audio using a variety of microphones and setting up and creating professional video lighting.

You'll learn recommended workflows for tape and tapeless acquisition to be ready for real-world, professional editing. This course emphasizes shooting for the edit, essential to telling a good story.

Read more about what makes our Transitions Certificate Programs unique.

Equipment

You are strongly encouraged to bring your own video camera if you have one; however BDA will provide several industry-standard professional video and DSLR video cameras for you to use. In addition you'll have plenty of hands-on learning time with the entire range of professional video production equipment including camera support, lighting and grip gear, audio and monitoring.

After You Register

BDA is committed to making learning process as enjoyable as possible and making sure that you can focus on your learning. After you register you will be contacted by our staff who answer questions you might have and assist you with any logistical and travel concerns.

Schedule

Monday

We'll start by exploring the strengths and weaknesses of different cameras for different jobs. You’ll learn about lenses and the four factors that determine depth of field and getting the "look" you desire. We’ll discuss camera sensors and the pros and cons of various sizes. After a very brief history of video, we’ll go over the most common formats in use today and help you understand tech terms you need to know without going into geek overload.

We'll take you through a camera's menu and go over basic functions such as white and black balance, explain color temperature, auto vs. manual mode, iris, exposure tools such as zebra and the waveform monitor, focus assist, shutter speed, gain, gamma, knee and much more.  You’ll then have time to practice getting a good white balance on your own camera and going through its menu. 

12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break

Since lighting and interviews are vital to most documentary and corporate productions, the instructor will set up and demonstrate basic interview lighting using classic 3- and 4-point lighting. We’ll discuss the different types of professional lighting instruments (tungsten, fluorescent, LEDs and HMI’s) and when to use each.

We’ll create various looks by moving and diffusing the key light and show you different ways to create fill light. You’ll learn how to deal with glares caused by glasses and bald heads. We’ll also work on controlling and shaping light with flags and C-stands, as well as using a monitor.

After the demonstration, it’s your turn to practice lighting for an interview and framing up the camera. We’ll be working on composition and framing wide, medium and tight shots. Then the instructor will demonstrate how to light a greenscreen background.

Tuesday

Interviews are the foundation for many video productions so we will discuss successful techniques and then practice interviewing each other. We’ll explore clothing, what to avoid and why, along with the importance of make-up and other tips to help interviewees look and sound their best.

You’ll learn about the tools needed for location audio recording, including wireless lavs, shotgun mics, hand mics, mixers and cables. You’ll get practice attaching a lav properly and using a shotgun mic on a boom. You’ll also get some hands-on with a mixer and headphones in preparation for the afternoon sessions.

12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break

1pm - 3pm: Shooting an Outdoor Interview

Since a videographer is often required to shoot an interview outside, the instructor will demonstrate techniques to help you control the sun and shadows to get good-looking results. You'll get experience using a silk, bounce cards, reflectors and daylight-balanced lights.

Then it's your turn to put the mic placement techniques you've learned into action.

Next, we’ll go back inside to the lobby and learn how to manage daylight for interior shots. You’ll get more hands-on experience as you set up for an interview and the instructor demonstrates three ways to make daylight work for you instead of against you.

Wednesday

You’ll learn the six “Ps” and the essentials of professional video production. We’ll start with Pre-Production: the script, shot list, call sheet, location scouting, budget, timeline, delivery formats, managing the client and prepping for the shoot. Then we’ll go into Production: the actual shoot. We’ll go over crew protocol, from Director to PA. Next, we’ll touch on Post-Production workflow: transferring, digitizing, organizing the footage, transcribing, the rough cut, the final cut and (at last) delivery! Finally, you’ll get to conduct a site survey.

We’ll discuss your site surveys, then watch a short video and analyze the various shots it uses to tell the story. You'll learn how to “shoot for the edit” and build a sequence when shooting b-roll. You’ll then get practice designing the key elements of a promo video for a theoretical company.

12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break

In this session, you’ll get to set up and practice dolly shots, jib shots and slider shots, as well as on-tripod tilts and pans. We’ll discuss how movement can enhance and add value to a production, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. We’ll also talk about other movement options such as Steadicam and helicopters.

Now we’ll put your practice to the test. We will design a short scene that will utilize a dolly shot, a jib shot and a slider shot. We’ll rotate positions so everyone will get experience using the support equipment. The instructor will then demonstrate how to showcase a product using camera movement.

Thursday

Whether you’re going to work freelance, as part of a production company, or in a department within a larger corporation, you need to know about marketing your services, putting together job estimates, keeping track of your expenses, buying insurance, drawing up contracts, paying taxes and getting paid, along with many other details. Keeping up with the business side will enable you to make a living doing what you love to do.

The DSLR has been called a “disruptive” technology because it came out of nowhere to rock the video production industry. In this session we’ll explore the most popular DSLRs in use today and go through the basic menus. We’ll talk about lenses, rigs, cages and audio recording options then give you hands-on time with several different cameras.

12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break

1pm - 3 pm: Audio for 1-Camera Interviews

In this session we’ll practice location audio recording for video by setting up an interior interview scenario, using the lighting style we learned on Monday. Then we’ll mic the interviewee, demonstrating proper mic placement techniques with a wireless lav, boom mic, and mixer.

Now we’ll adjust the lighting to create a 2-camera interview scenario. Again we will demonstrate proper mic placement and different ways to mic two people. Students will rotate positions to get hands-on lighting set-up and audio recording experience.

Friday

In the morning session you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions about anything covered so far. We’ll then look at some videos and analyze them for shot usage and style.

Now we’ll begin planning for the afternoon exercise: shooting elements for a marketing or promo video! You’ll help make a shot list for B-roll footage and plan out a sequence to showcase a local entrepreneur. We’ll discuss a site survey of the location and work out the production schedule.

12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break

Now we’ll set-up at our location and go to work. You will participate in all phases of the production: lighting, camera placement and movement, audio recording and operating the camera.  We’ll work on shooting for the edit by creating sequences that will be easy to cut.

You'll get to put all the techniques you've learned during the week into action!

After we get all the shots we need to tell the story, it’s wrap time! You will then be awarded your Certificate and enjoy a well-deserved break to reminisce about the week. Congratulations! You made it! 

Instructor

With 35 years in the film and video production world, Lowel Pierce has done a little of everything and enjoyed the variety. A Colorado native and graduate of CSU in Technical Journalism, Lowel has worked as a TV news photographer, a cinematographer in Saudi Arabia, a partner in a video production company. As both one-man-band and freelance Director of Photography for 22 years, Lowel has worked on indie features, shorts, documentaries, TV commercials, and high-end corporate productions earning a CINE Golden Eagle, Heartland Emmies, and Videographer Awards of Distinction.

Location

This certificate program will be held both at the BDA Arapahoe Facility, and also at the Boulder Digital Arts Production Studio.