Film styles

Vox Pop - this is a single hand held mic interview where a presenter questions a person and gets responses from that person

Pop Promo - This is laying a music sound track down then editing pictures to tell your story - you can mix this with Vox Pop by lowering the music audio track and laying the voice over sound track on the top

Action – this is editing together fast action shots to tell a story

Documentary - this is choosing a subject and then researching it from all points of view. Generally documentaries are hosted by one or several presenters. Start your video with a statement of what your subject is about. As a director never just put your view across.

Drama - Create a story with a beginning, a middle and an end. Make characters that have their own points of view. From a simple story try to make your audience aware of all the information concerning your subject.

Other possibilities:

Series of comedy sketches
Filming a debate
Commercial / advert
News report
Animation
Silent movie
Soap opera
Double ended drama – two possible conclusions and left for the audience to decide
Gameshow
Adapting the play Nobody Lives Forever – create a new ending, a new scene.

Making your film

1) Storyboard
Layout a simple sketch of each scene in a chronological order, as you would see it appearing on the screen.
This should be a simple layout of one shot to the next.
You must be able to present your storyboard to explain your film concept.

2) Recording
Start your camera recording and let it run for 5 seconds before you cure your action or speech to start.
At the end of action or speech let your record run for another 5 seconds.
These two actions will allow your editor to cut in and out of your action or speech with no problems.

3) Location
Make sure you have enough room to place your camera.
Check your lighting levels - too dark and you will need lights - too much light adjust your camera iris.
Check your sound levels - too much ambient sound will confuse your audience.

4) Camera Composition
Camera control - when using the zoom, try to keep it at a constant speed.
Try to keep all your shots steady - any camera shake will irritate your audience - use a tripod where possible.
When panning your camera try to keep it at a constant speed.
Headroom - make sure your subjects top of head is always the same distance from the top of the picture.
This means keeping the same distance between the top of head and picture whether it is a tight face shot or a wide head to toe shot.
Talking head shot - if the subject is talking into the camera , place subject in the middle of the picture.
If subject is talking in a profile shot - always place subject looking across the picture.
Try not to edit one talking head shot straight into another - go to a cut away, e.g. to a wide shot first and then back to the second talking head (of an alternative solution).

5) Cut and mixes
When editing try to use cuts when on a subject.
If you are changing subjects fade to black or white then fade back to your new subject.
Adjust the timing on the fade to make it feel better on the eye.

6) Words and Graphics
When using words or graphics always keep them safe inside the picture edge.
Try not to lay words or graphics over the subjects face.
Never adjust corporate logos - unless the owner of the logo agrees.
Please do not use the logos of the Royal Albert Hall or Y Touring Theatre Company
Schools can use their own logos wherever and whenever they wish on their own films.
If you wish to include credits at the end of your film please do so but this has to be within the 4 minute maximum time frame.
If you wish to add a title or the name of your school on the beginning of the film this is also fine; all films shown at the Hall will begin with a holding frame designed by the Royal Albert Hall.

7) Music
You must only use music which is copyright free and if you are granted permission to use a certain piece of music then we will need proof that this permission has been given should we screen your film at the Royal Albert Hall.

Download as a Word Document

	For further information about this project, email our Tour Producer David Jackson