This month, Backstories is all about Backstories. Have we run out of ideas? Developed an overblown view of the column's importance? No, the story this month is simply how you too can
create streaming video for the Internet with no real budget. You can make useful, quality, even entertaining videos for a modest investment in time and production tools. With Windows
Media and today's array of tools, the sky really is the limit. The following videos take you through the production process, and show you the tools involved.
Making Backstories: Part 1
Producer Bill Birney shows how Backstories or any small video production gets off the ground, and then takes you through the shooting and logging stages.
In the post-production stage, footage is captured, the raw elements are assembled with a video-editing program and the final Windows Media Video files are encoded.
The Backstories videos are produced by following these basic steps:
Concept. A story topic is conceived, based on user input from e-mail and forums. Then, experts are identified who can provide a real-world solution for the problem, question,
or need. (2 hours)
Pre-production. The experts are contacted and time is scheduled to shoot interviews and other footage. This can usually be handled with e-mail and a few phone calls, and in
some cases, a quick meeting to scout the location. (1-2 hours)
Primary shoot. Interviews and extra footage (called b-roll) are shot. Time is estimated at 30 minutes per interviewee, plus 30 minutes to shoot the b-roll. (1-2 hours)
Logging and edit preparation. The producer plays the footage, and makes notes about the content, noting time codes. Then the interview clips are edited together on paper. Additional
audio and video elements are produced and located, such as screenshots of software, animations, and still images. The voice-over is written and recorded. (3-4 hours)
Editing. The Sony Vegas editing program is used to assemble, layer, and process the elements into the final videos. The experts review the final edit. (2-3 days)
Encoding. The final Windows Media Video files are encoded in a batch process using the Windows Media Encoding Script command-line tool. (1 hour)
Sony 3-CCD camcorder (the inexpensive one) with tape, batteries, and charger.
Tripod with a fluid head (which enabled Bill to pan the camera smoothly).
Sony lavalier microphone. Bill used an adapter to plug the professional XLR connector into the eighth-inch TRS connector on the camcorder.
Earphones. Bill used some cheap and light ones, so he could make sure sound was being recorded, but didn't have to worry about them being lost or broken.
Grip/lighting kit. A portable case that contains 2 Lowell film lights with stands and barn doors to help focus the light. Also, umbrellas to soften the light, a small package of daylight-balanced
(CTB) gels and filters, various clamps to attach lights to the ceiling or other objects, extension cords, AC splitters, and duct (gaffer) tape to hold things down. Bill clipped the
CTB gel in front of a light when he wanted to mix the light with daylight.
Bill captured and edited using the following tools:
Computer running Windows XP Professional: Pentium 4 with a 3.2 GHz CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and a 130 GB hard disk.
Sony Vegas 5 editing program.
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series.
Camtasia Studio 2 for recording off the screen.
PaintShop Pro, an inexpensive graphics program for creating simple still images.
DVD burner. After a story goes live, Bill archives the video project to a DVD disc and deletes it from his hard disk. Vegas has a function that creates an archive project automatically.
Two 19-inch monitors.
IEEE 1394 PCI card for capturing video from the camcorder.
Bill Birney
Bill has worked as writer, director, and producer on numerous film and video projects, as well as music composer, sound designer, and disc jockey. He's co-written several books for
Microsoft, including the Windows Media Resource Kit.
Back to the top
Back to the top