Summary
After going through this week’s material, I feel like I understand the basics of video storytelling much better. The lighting chapter showed me how lighting can guide the viewer’s attention and set the mood of a scene, even with a simple setup. The chapter about actually shooting reminded me that planning matters, but being flexible and paying attention while filming is just as important. Together, they helped me see how creative choices and technical choices work side by side to make a story feel clear and complete.
Looking at different examples of well produced storytelling also helped me recognize what strong pacing, good framing, and intentional b roll look like. When the visuals match the message, and the structure supports the narrative, the piece becomes much more engaging. Noticing what worked well and what needed improvement made me more aware of how each choice, even something small like uneven audio, affects the entire feel of a project.
All of this connected directly to my own pre production planning for my mini documentary. Thinking about lighting, shot variety, and the flow of the story helped me approach my planning with more intention. Even though I am anxious about filming and still figuring out how to adjust my ideas based on the footage I was able to get, I now have a stronger foundation for deciding what will make the documentary feel natural and clear. This week gave me a better sense of how to shape the story of Nyasia’s life through visuals, interviews, and everyday moments, and it made me more aware of the choices I need to make once I actually start filming.
Reading & Writing
The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video (Chapters 7 & 9)
Chapter Seven- “Lighting”
In The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel, Chapter Seven, titled “Lighting,” focuses on the idea that lighting is not just a technical step but a major part of how a story is communicated on screen. Schroeppel explains that the purpose of lighting is to make the subject visible while also shaping the mood, tone, and focus of the shot. The chapter introduces the basic concepts of exposure, contrast, and direction of light, showing how each one affects the way a viewer reads the image. Even simple adjustments, such as changing the angle of a lamp or softening a harsh light, can change the feeling of a scene and make it look more professional.
The chapter also goes over the three-point lighting setup, which uses a key light, a fill light, and a backlight to create depth and separation between the subject and the background. Schroeppel emphasizes that good lighting does not always require expensive equipment. Even household lamps or natural light can be shaped and controlled with reflectors, diffusion, or thoughtful placement. Overall, the chapter encourages filmmakers to be intentional with every light source because lighting guides the viewer’s eye, builds atmosphere, and helps the story come across clearly.
Chapter Nine- “Doing It”
In The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel, Chapter Nine, titled “Doing It,” highlights the practical side of putting everything together when shooting a project. Schroeppel explains that planning is important, but the real learning happens once the camera is actually in use. He describes how being on set or in the field forces you to make quick decisions about framing, lighting, sound, and movement.
The chapter also encourages filmmakers to stay aware of what is happening in the viewfinder, keep shots steady, and watch for small mistakes such as distracting backgrounds or awkward angles that can weaken an otherwise strong moment.
Schroeppel highlights the importance of shooting with the edit in mind. He reminds readers to capture a mix of shot types, gather extra b roll, and avoid relying on a single take to carry the entire scene. Flexibility is a major theme in this chapter. Things rarely go exactly as planned, and the filmmaker has to adapt, solve problems on the spot, and stay patient.
Research to Inform
I spent time searching for examples of strong video storytelling and focused on finding pieces that felt inspiring and well produced. I looked for videos that used clear pacing, thoughtful visuals, and storytelling choices that supported the message. As I watched, I paid attention to how interviews were framed, how b roll was used to support the narration, and how the structure of each piece kept the viewer engaged.
I also made sure to find at least one video that was solid overall but still had a noticeable issue holding it back. Identifying what went wrong and thinking about how it could be fixed, whether through better audio, lighting, b-roll, or editing choices, helped me understand what separates polished work from something that feels incomplete.
- The Twinkles: Chasing Perfection (2013) – Full Documentary
- I first watched the documentary World Cup Twinkles when I was around ten or eleven years old, and let me tell you, it was life-altering. It followed a young competitive cheer team through their season, showing both the triumphs and the challenges. The film did not just focus on polished performances or big wins. It also highlighted the hard practices, moments of struggle, and the personal obstacles faced by the athletes featured. I was especially drawn to the way the video creator captured the individual personalities on the team, showing how each member handled pressure differently and how their relationships with each other evolved over time. The mix of excitement, tension, teamwork, and vulnerability made the story feel real and relatable. It was not just about cheerleading; it was about dedication, growth, and resilience, and that is what made such a lasting impression on me.
- The Truth About Tanacon (2018) – Shane Dawson
- I know, I know, Shane is not the greatest of people, and I know he has been cancelled many, many times for some of his videos, but I cannot ignore the fact that he still made this masterpiece. The Truth About Tanacon is a fascinating example of video storytelling because it combines interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and narration in a way that keeps the viewer engaged from start to finish. Even though the subject matter is chaotic and the events themselves were messy, the way Shane structured the documentary makes the story easy to follow. He includes multiple perspectives, highlights key moments, and uses pacing and editing to build tension and curiosity. What makes it really effective is how he balances humor and drama without losing the viewer, creating a piece that feels both entertaining and informative. Despite my awareness of his controversies, I have to appreciate the technical skill and storytelling choices that went into making this video my guilty pleasure.
- Top 20 Hilarious News Reporting Fails (2019) – (2:57- 3:45)
- At 2:57 in this clip, the b‑roll shown does not match what is being talked about. The visuals are unrelated to the narration, which makes the story feel confusing and less polished. I actually could not find any examples of a mostly good video with a minor flaw, other than a video made entirely of bloopers and mistakes. Even though the content is interesting, the impact is weakened because the audience cannot clearly connect the audio and visuals. To fix this, I would replace the unrelated footage with clips that directly show what is being described. If relevant b‑roll is not available, it is better to stick with the main footage until a proper visual can be added. This example shows how important it is to match visuals with narration to keep a video clear and engaging.
Create
Mini-Doc Pre-Production Planning Document
I want to be completely honest and say that I have been feeling nervous about creating this mini documentary. It is not that I dislike filming or that I do not want to tell a meaningful story. The timing of this assignment has made it challenging, especially since finals are coming up and it feels stressful to ask people who are already busy to help me or be the focus of my project. I am really grateful that my roommate, Nyasia, agreed to be my main subject. She is an incredibly talented Division One track athlete, and her life represents the kind of story I want to capture. She balances athletics, schoolwork, a job, and a social life, and I plan to structure the documentary around how she manages all of these responsibilities while still staying motivated.
I tried to get some footage of her during her track meet this week so I could start gathering b roll. I thought it would give me a good head start for the visual storytelling part of the project. The problem is that the only place I could film from was pretty far away, and my phone was fully zoomed in. That made most of the video come out blurry, and it is hard to tell how usable those clips are going to be. I also could not get close to the track because there were a lot of people in the way, so I did not get as much footage as I expected or hoped for.
I had originally planned to center the documentary almost entirely on Nyasia as an athlete. Most of my pre-production planning was based on that idea, and I wrote everything with the expectation that I would get strong footage from her meet. After seeing what I actually captured, I realize I will probably have to adjust some of what I wrote earlier. Since the clips from the meet are blurry and limited, I cannot rely on them the way I thought I would. Because of that, I think I am going to shift the focus and include more of her life at home, her schoolwork, and the personal side of how she manages everything. It feels a little stressful to rethink parts of the project at this stage, but I also want the documentary to feel natural and complete, and these changes seem necessary based on the footage I have to work with.
Here’s the planning doc: (note some things have changed)
A Master in the Making 
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