Common Craft Blog
Making the Election Video: Behind the Scenes
By leelefever on September 02, 2008 - 1:03pm
People often ask for a look at how we make the videos. When we were putting together the the "Electing a US President" video, I made a special point to take photos of the process. Here's how it works:
Every video starts with a script. If there is "secret sauce" it happens in writing the script because the script drives the video. We use Google Docs to collaborate until we feel like the script is close to finished. Then, we start looking at a thumbnail storyboard.
I draw the scenes for the thumbnail storyboard. It's our first attempt to represent the visuals.
After a couple of rounds of thumbnails and lots of talking between us, we make a list of all the elements that need to be drawn for the video. At this point, I start drawing and digitizing the images. Of course, with the maps in this video, I resorted to tracing.
Once the images are drawn and digitized, we set up a new storyboard using purely digital images. This way, we can manipulate sizes easily and see how everything fits together. Once we feel confident, we print out the materials and start cutting and coloring.
Sometimes, we leave things laying around and our dog decides to put them in his mouth.
Before shooting the video, we assemble all the materials and take them to the studio. We iterate at every point in the process. The script and visuals change every day.
Once production begins, we follow the storyboard and slowly lay out each scene. Often, scenes are revised on the fly. You can never really see how it will work until you see it on the screen.
Each video is different. Sometimes we go down a road, only to find a dead end. We are both prepared to throw away our work and start over if it doesn't feel right. It's painful, but necessary.
Sachi takes over control once we get to the studio. She runs each scene, the camera, lights, etc. She manages the voice-over and all the post production work. Editing is a huge part of what makes the videos work and those decisions are Sachi's. While she's doing that, I start this process over for the next video.
All these elements come together to create this video (on Vimeo, YouTube and dotSUB):
Excellent
I wondered what went into the process. You made my day!
superbly done
Hey Lee - Its J.P. Taylor from meritflorist.com we spoke shortly at Gnomedex! I love this video. This would be fabulous to have in the school districts all over. I will talk to my wife who is a school teacher and I will see if I can pass this along to the Houston school district. I would love to see the districts purchase the licensing. What a wonderful video about the electoral process - this is a gem!
all my best,
J.P. Taylor
aka - @4four1ones
meritflorist.com
theleetgeeks.com
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for showing us behind the scenes. The final products are amazing and it is cool to see the process behind them.
I agree with J.P's previous comment, schools can really benefit from this learning style (media) option. Text books don't work for everyone. I also really appreciate how you boil the content down into simple and concrete messages.
Keep up the good work!
great to see the mess that makes the greatness
Lee,
Really liked seeing this as it made me have even more respect for your videos.
The end result is so simple and clear, it is easy to underestimate the production steps required.
- Baynard
Thanks for the inspiration
Lee, I just wanted to say thank you for your inspiration and openness in sharing your work. We contacted Common Craft a few months ago about doing a video for our product. Understandably, you guys were busy with other projects and launching The Common Craft Store. So we set out to make our own video. We read through your blog and watched lots of videos. We found that it definitely pays to put alot of time into getting the script right from the beginning. We had a ton of fun in making the video and we're pretty proud of our work. Here it is:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/switters/videos/3/
Thanks again.
Thank you
Great script . . . great video.
Many thanks,
p
Process
Hey Lee,
So who long does it take from start to finish? These videos are extremely entertaining.
Cheers,
Christian
Fantastic!
As with other comments, I've often wondered how they're made. Like Pete (below), I'm also keen to follow in CommonCraft footsteps to create some of my own for educational purposes.
I'm a university lecturer and find the Plain English guides really useful for my students who aren't using RSS or wikis etc, and they love them too!
Also keen to know how long it takes you, for both the storyboard idea and for the actual filming!
Thanks Leelefever
This stuff is great! Really inspiring
Process Part II - Return of the Previous Question...
Please answer the total time involved question. I’m trying to convince the communicators where I work that “Plain English” requires “hard work”. Simple does not mean easy! We have your whole series and love it.
Thanks,
ScottO
Time Involved
Thanks for the comments! We have never been able to come to any specific data about how long the videos take. We work from home and our work and home life are bound together. We work on videos over dinner, in the middle of the night, on walks, etc. It would be impossible to log time in this context.
Let's see what I can share...
Once we decide on a subject, it can take over a week of iteration before we feel like the script is ready to storyboard. The drawings can usually be done in 2-3 days. Storyboarding, including more revision takes another couple of days, shooting takes a day and editing 1-2 days.
FWIW, I think that making a video and creating a compelling explanation are 2 different things. We could create a video quite quickly, but it may not be a good explanation. What takes time is refining the script and visuals and constantly looking for clear ways to present ideas. The Social Media video, for instance, took weeks and weeks. We created 3-4 complete storyboards and threw them away before finding the story we wanted to tell.
I wish I could be more specific - we wonder about the time it takes too.
Good Job
I am not from the US and you sure made me understand the system. I got to know about your work via a link on a blog to your Wikis In Plain English video, which is very good. Why make it wordy and difficult if it can be simplified....the less cognitive load our brain has the better for understanding...keep up the good work.
Great Work!
Learning about how these videos are made is inspirational. Love your work!
Visual Thinking
Thanks for providing a behind the scene look. I am very much inspired by your work and the awareness you have created in Social Media and visual design. I know it is hard work -
We are creating a Visual Online SEO course. All concepts, processes and methodologies will be explained via interactive Flash. The course PDF are filled with infographics. Take a look at some interactive Flash we have created. Any advice will be appreciated.
Keyword Research Process
http://www.onlinevideopunch.com/blog/index.php/keyword-research-process-...
Search Engine Factors
http://www.onlinevideopunch.com/blog/index.php/search-engine-ranking-fac...
All the best and good luck.
Sandeep Arora
CEO
www.Telezent.com
So impressed
Hi Lee
You have moved to a new level in making the complex simple (new word = simplexity?).
I have tried to read about the presidential process and get it in my head and always failed. Now I understand!
Your videos provide me with Ah-ha moment regularly.
Warm Regards
Geoff
Where have you been?
I have been a techno-phobe since my teens, reluctantly adapting to and trying to accept technological advances in small doses as required. I only jump in with a new thing if I get the chance to watch someone else sample and experiment or if I have an instruction manual/guidebook to fish through before sampling myself. Once I'm in, I'm fine and love the convenience. The learning and adaptation is excruciating, though.
Your simple, but thoroughly instructive video explanation help to take the "new" out of the technology. They are the new mini-instruction manual for me. I can not tell you how much I appreciate this helping hand as I venture out into the cyber-jungle. Your showing me that the chaos can be tamed.
One question: do you take requests? =0)
Incredible
Wow, can't believe how much you put into this stuff. I'm trying to make some good videos for a t shirt screen printing company and these will serve as both great inspiration and very helpful advice.
Real Estate Uses?
Folks:
First, I'll be featuring you in my newsletter and blog. Together, they reach about 18,000 real estate folks.
Second, please give me an idea of your prices.
Your videos are unique, and I see a lot of uses for the real estate industry: steps to buying a home, an agent's marketing services, etc.
Regards,
Allen F. Hainge, CRS
http://www.afhseminars.com
I was wondering how to make
I was wondering how to make videos. Now, when my team makes videos, I can take a more hands-on role. Thanks.
Sound Recording
Hi. I've been inspired by your videos to try and create one myself - a little daunting as I've not done anything quite like it before. I have a (possibly quite dumb) question concerning the voice-overs though. Do you record them at the same time as the visuals or do you do them entirely separately after the event?
Thanks
Matt