"Alone we can do little; together we can do so much." -Helen Keller
Common Craft Style Video
Common Craft a leader in online explanatory film shorts, has contracted your class to create a series of In Plain English style videos. Common Craft Style Videos are made using a Flip Camera, camera that takes video. The idea and inspiration for using common craft style videos comes from Common Craft, LLC.
Common Craft has left you this list of requirements (DESIGN SPECS):
Your product must...
- be no more than 3 minutes
- Include Common Craft elements
- use the correct vocabulary
- be organized in a professional manner
- be performed with enthusiasm and collaborative effort
- Tell a Story that will Focus on Explaining a Topic
You’ve seen the videos before. The ones with the hand-cut paper cut-outs and the matter of fact voice explaining how something is working. Some of them are fantastic startup videos. Here is an example from a while back for Google Docs: Google Docs in Plain English Link to teachertube
It’s a great video. Nothing complicated very simple. Tells a story. Google Docs. I get it. It’s a few years old, but it holds up. You still get the gist of what Google Docs does. Those videos are called Common Craft videos. They are an original style created by Lee and Sachi LeFever. Common Craft kicked off the industry, and created a fabulous set of videos explaining both products and educational topics (like what is copyright). There’s nothing particularly technically complex about Common Craft’s videos. They demonstrate an application of established rules on timing, pacing, explanation and storytelling. You know, craft.
Requirements: Your Videos Need to Tell a Story and Teach your Element at the Same time
1. Completed Storyboards (additional handout)
2. Drawings, Icons & Cutouts for each scene
3. Script for each scene
GROUPS will... Follow the progression of
Pre-Production: We will start a Google Drive Folder that is shared out with all group members, a shared Daily Learning Log, and a shared script. The folder will house all of the documents for the group.
Post-Production: edit your video footage in Windows Movie Maker or Sony Vegas Movie Studio. Record your voice if you cannot hear!
So let's recap:
Common Craft has left you this list of requirements (DESIGN SPECS):
Your product must...
- be no more than 3 minutes
- Include Common Craft elements
- use the correct vocabulary
- be organized in a professional manner
- be performed with enthusiasm and collaborative effort
- Tell a Story that will Focus on Explaining a Topic
You’ve seen the videos before. The ones with the hand-cut paper cut-outs and the matter of fact voice explaining how something is working. Some of them are fantastic startup videos. Here is an example from a while back for Google Docs: Google Docs in Plain English Link to teachertube
It’s a great video. Nothing complicated very simple. Tells a story. Google Docs. I get it. It’s a few years old, but it holds up. You still get the gist of what Google Docs does. Those videos are called Common Craft videos. They are an original style created by Lee and Sachi LeFever. Common Craft kicked off the industry, and created a fabulous set of videos explaining both products and educational topics (like what is copyright). There’s nothing particularly technically complex about Common Craft’s videos. They demonstrate an application of established rules on timing, pacing, explanation and storytelling. You know, craft.
Requirements: Your Videos Need to Tell a Story and Teach your Element at the Same time
1. Completed Storyboards (additional handout)
2. Drawings, Icons & Cutouts for each scene
3. Script for each scene
GROUPS will... Follow the progression of
Pre-Production: We will start a Google Drive Folder that is shared out with all group members, a shared Daily Learning Log, and a shared script. The folder will house all of the documents for the group.
- write an approved script
- create a storyboard for script
- create paper characters and labels
Post-Production: edit your video footage in Windows Movie Maker or Sony Vegas Movie Studio. Record your voice if you cannot hear!
So let's recap:
- To make a video follow the film making progression of: pre-production, production and post-production.
Don't skip any steps. - Pre-production phase, create a script, create a story board, and cut out your paper characters.
- Production you need to use your Camera or Flip Video to record your video footage and take any and all necessary film shots.
- Post-production, edit all your footage in Windows Movie Maker or Sony Vegas. You may even need to go back and re-record certain footage.
- Always be conscientious of your schedule and due dates. The clocks is ticking so get started early and avoid rushing the project.
Common Craft Style Videos
Since these are videos we will have to use the old fashion assignment drop box to turn if we need to them in and the final products just don’t reflect the amount of work that is needed. Watch the Video below to learn about the process of creating a Common Craft Style Video