Calling All Cave Videographers

[Caver Keith]

I can't see times mentioned? I'm guessing evening what with it being a Monday?

Good point. I will post chapter one sometime during the day. Will need to get myself out of bed first and take the dog for a walk, probably have elevenses and then turn on the computer so should be about lunch time-ish.

Keith

 

[ttxela2]

I can't see times mentioned? I'm guessing evening what with it being a Monday?

Good point. I will post chapter one sometime during the day. Will need to get myself out of bed first and take the dog for a walk, probably have elevenses and then turn on the computer so should be about lunch time-ish.

Keith

Your Mondays sound better than mine..... 

So it's not a 'live' event as such? Just something we read as and when?

 

[Caver Keith]

So it's not a 'live' event as such? Just something we read as and when?

Exactly.

 

[ttxela2]

I've added these dates to my calendar 

 

[Caver Keith]

Pre-course reading/viewing

I have no qualifications in film production and neither do I have any sort of background in the industry, but I do love making films and quite a few people seem to like watching them, which is fantastic. People are investing their precious time in watching my videos, and making comments so I can only assume that I must be getting something right.

These days I make films to satisfy my creative urge and I enjoy all aspects of the creative process - scripting, planning, filming, and most of all editing.

In November 2019 I uploaded a video titled, ?My Caving Videos: How I Make 'Em - Part 1 Equipment?

http://youtu.be/Q6bnUome1SU

This was going to be part one of a three part series but part two which was going to be top tips for budding cave videographers was put on the back burner as during the pandemic I?ve had very little opportunity to film anything new. Now with the infection rate starting to fall and the COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out I?m feeling more optimistic that I will be able to begin filming again it this year. With this in mind I started work on the storyboard for the video and as a framework I used the 5 phases of film production. What was going to be a few tips has grown into something more akin to an A-Z of film production, and as well as providing the script for the film, I feel that it also could provide material for a cave video workshop, or at least a stimulus for a discussion amongst cave videographers.

It is based on what I have found has worked for me and what I?ve gleaned over many years of film-making. It?s illustrated by references to my videos.

I?m not presenting this as a definite work on how to set about producing a caving film, I couldn?t, I?m not qualified to do so. However I do hope readers will find it informative, educational and thought-provoking. My intention is to encourage and support anyone starting out on the journey, to give them a few tips and pointers, things to think about and consider.

I hope aspirant film-makers will find it useful, but it?s not a rule book. Go out there do and what you want, try things out and experiment. That?s what I have done.

 

[Caver Keith]

This is chapter 1 in the sort of online workshop thingy.
Feel free to discuss, agree, disagree or question.
I will post Sid Perou's comments tomorrow.

Stage 1. Development

This is the first step of film production. It is where all the initial details of the movie are weighed and considered.

1.1: Have an audience in mind.
Who are you making your videos for?

?Think about who is likely to watch your videos. A few things to think about are:
Is your audience likely to be cavers or non-cavers? Are you recording the environment for future generations to see what it used to be like? Is your video telling a story? Is about cave conservation or a new discovery? Is it to promote caving? It is the history of cave rescue? Or something else entirely?

When I began my only reason for taking video was purely to show other people, mainly non-cavers, what it is like to go caving.

So who do I now make my films for? I must admit that I don?t always have a particular age or demographic in mind, so unless I?ve been commissioned to produce something, I simply make the films that appeal to me. However for a film to get beyond the initial planning stage it is a good idea to have an audience in mind. For example my film, So You Want To Go Caving? was made specifically for newcomers to the sport.

https://youtu.be/dB-4qX9zFVM

Thanks to YouTube Analytics I know exactly the type of person who is most likely to watch my videos. They will be male in the age range 25-34 from either the United States or India and 82% of them will watch the videos on a mobile phone! From the comments I receive I can tell that the vast majority of them have never been caving and have absolutely no intention of ever doing so.

1.2: Competitions
Getting your work judged

Of course you may be making your video to enter in a competition but the same production processes still apply. To see the types of video that have been successful in competitions have a look at the Hidden Earth Video Archive at https://www.youtube.com/hiddenearthvideoarchive.

If you are intending to enter a film in a competition then read the entry conditions very carefully, not only to ensure your film is suitable for the competition but also that it will be looked on favourably by the judges. Below is an example of the sort of thing you might come across.



Films entered in this competition should have a story, or a narration of some kind, or have an interesting theme. It is also expected that the majority of the film will have been shot underground.
Videographers should state the audience that their film is intended for, the aim(s) and/or objectives of the film along any difficulties they may have encountered and how they overcame them.
The maximum length of films that will be accepted in this competition is 20 minutes.
Films will be judged on the following criteria:

• Suitability for intended audience and watchability
• Stated aim(s)/objectives met
• Technical filming quality, including effective lighting
• Post production editing, including both images and sound
• Overcoming encountered difficulties.

1.3: What are the aims of your video? What?s the story?
Be clear about what you are filming and why you are filming it.

A number of caving videos uploaded to YouTube shot with a single helmet mounted camera appear to be nothing more than random clips taken on a caving trip. For a film to be successful and gain viewers it needs to have a story, or include a narration, or have an interesting theme. Generally I?m not very good at doing this. Often I set off on a caving trip with my video gear and with no real idea of what the end result will be. However I treat these trips as an exercise in capturing stock footage1. Recently I?ve used stock footage a lot in my films as I haven?t be able to capture anything new. The Story of Caves was made entirely from stock footage and stock photos.

http://youtu.be/SUNvs4-tNSY

Films where I have had definite goals to fulfil include The World of Caving which I made to open the conference, 50 Years of British Cave Exploration and Science, and the film I made to show to scouts and their parents when they are thinking of signing up for the Caver Activity Badge.

http://youtu.be/dkKuxRRIEvY

http://youtu.be/0-1T4hyY1jA

1.4: Get some inspiration
Look at other people?s videos and don?t be afraid to steal ideas. It?s one way we learn.

Many of my videos, along with possibly the majority of caving videos on YouTube, are documentary style videos showing a caving trip in a particular cave system, and a lot of my views are from people looking to do a certain trip and wanting to see for themselves what it entails. However although caves are all very different this may have led to my videos becoming quite samey. So I regularly look at other people?s work and if I see a camera technique I like, or some imaginative or atmospheric lighting, or perhaps a style of editing that works well, I attempt to copy it in my videos. I really have learned a lot by looking at the work of other videographers.

1.5: Consider different genres
Documentary, drama, comedy, etc.

I like to think that I am a little unpredictable and I hope it keeps my audience interested and engaged. I?ve produced a variety of different video styles and genres - documentaries, music videos, promotional videos, pastiches, drama, comedy, factual, spoofs and even a five part mini cliff-hanger series. I've also incorporated in my videos special effects including green-screening and animation.

My most successful caving video, Caving Claustrophobia Kill or Cure was made in response to a Red Bull video, This 60-second clip makes you feel claustrophobic (although mine lasts 85 seconds), to show some of the adrenaline filled moments of caving. I made it for something to do when I was recovering from a very serious injury. It consists of short clips cut to the beat in a piece of dramatic music. It was very simple and quick to produce and yet it?s the one video that my audience watches over and above everything else I?ve produced. So the message is simple: All videos don?t have to be as long as War and Peace, begin with something simple and easy to achieve, but most of all do it for the enjoyment.

http://youtu.be/lG0WJkmOwd0



1 Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures, and file footage is film or video footage that can be used again in other films. Stock footage is beneficial to filmmakers as it saves shooting new material. A single piece of stock footage is called a "stock shot" or a "library shot?. Stock footage may have appeared in previous productions.



Chapter 2: Pre-production will be posted on Monday 8th March

 

[ttxela2]

Thanks Keith, that was well worth reading and made me think a bit.

I've not ventured into the world of video competitions, this sounds a little different to general youtube vlogging. Since my own channel is mixed content on a number of themes I don't have to worry quite so much about 'sameyness' and most of my underground videos are simply records of trips undertaken.

Much of what you've said though I think applies to any video not just a caving themed one.

I think an additional thing to think of at this stage is what not to show or whether indeed to make the video at all! This seems especially relevant in the mining world where there have been problems. These days I tend to avoid naming sites and showing entrances.

Good points about having a clear theme (even if it is just simply to document a trip) as much as I love mines there is only so much trudging down a straight level adit in real time POV shot with muffled unintelligible conversation that can hold my attention - and there is a lot of content like that about!

 

[Caver Keith]

Much of what you've said though I think applies to any video not just a caving themed one.

Agreed. Most of this workshop will be generic, although in stage 3 (the filming bit) there will be a number things that are cave/mine specific.

I think an additional thing to think of at this stage is what not to show or whether indeed to make the video at all! This seems especially relevant in the mining world where there have been problems. These days I tend to avoid naming sites and showing entrances.

A point well made. There is a CK video that has never been uploaded to YouTube as it features a mass of very long straws in a narrow rift passage and I decided that it's location was best not publicised.
The Americans jealously guard all cave locations and anything in a video that might hint at where a cave might be situated is a definite no.

 

[Caver Keith]

Comments on stage 1 from Sid Perou: It is interesting that 82% watch on mobile phones. It is why your videos score much more highly than mine or Andy?s. We tend to make long documentaries, which, although I think are still important, will not appeal to the casual watcher on a mobile. I generally aim my videos at both cavers and the general public, but trying to go too far making it accessible to the public can make it less appealing to cavers and vice versa.

A director once asked me, "but will granny watch it?"
I replied, ?Bugger granny!?

TV often makes the mistake of trying too hard to please the marginal ends of the Audience Spectrum and finishes up shooting itself in the foot.

I never made a film with competitions in mind. There are many factors involved in choosing the winner.

1.3 Technology is changing the world. Go-Pros on a helmet have their place but these, unless included in an edit, are not films they are video clips (sometimes too unstable to watch) designed for a limited audience.

 

[Brains]

A "stock shot" of Granny being buggered 
She doesnt look too well...

 

[Caver Keith]

A "stock shot" of Granny being buggered 
She doesnt look too well...

I'm not quite sure how I might be able to make use of this in a fillum. 

 

[ttxela2]

A "stock shot" of Granny being buggered 
She doesnt look too well...

I'm not quite sure how I might be able to make use of this in a fillum. 

I have heard tell of specialist websites......

 

[ttxela2]

Comments on stage 1 from Sid Perou:

1.3 Technology is changing the world. Go-Pros on a helmet have their place but these, unless included in an edit, are not films they are video clips (sometimes too unstable to watch) designed for a limited audience.

I once filmed an underground trip with a helmet mounted camera accidentally set to time lapse. The result was a rather trippy disturbing sort of video. It's still up on my channel, not many folk watch it though  :-\

 

[Caver Keith]

Hopefully budding videographers, having read and inwardly digested the first stage of film production, will now have a film that they would like to make in mind.
They will also have:

• decided on who their intended audience is,
• chosen the film's genre,
• firmed up their aims and objectives and
• been inspired by watching the work of other cave videographers.

It would also be great if they are aiming to enter it in this year's Hidden Earth Video Salon.

The next instalment which is be about Pre-production will be posted on Monday.

 

[Caver Keith]

Stage 2. Pre-production

This stage focuses on research, casting, and location scouting.

2.1: Storyboard Your Video
What is the plot?

A storyboard is a visual representation of a film sequence. It is a series of ordered drawings, with camera direction, dialogue, or other pertinent details. It sketches out how a video will unfold, shot by shot.

Unless you are thinking of making a blockbuster movie this is a little over the top, but at least have a brief story outline in your head before you start filming. Where will you be filming and what will you be filming at each location?

When I made My Caving Videos: How I Make 'Em - Part 1 Equipment I used a simple table like the one below to set out my ideas.

Storyborad by dcrtuk, on Flickr

2.2: Assemble a team
You can?t do it all by yourself?

I?ve been very lucky over the years in that I?ve caved with a great bunch of people who have been highly supportive, even when I have had one of my bonkers ideas. They have carried equipment, performed in front of the camera and held video lights. On top of this they have further helped by suggesting good places to take video and possibilities for lighting different shots.

However there are members of Dudley Caving Club, possibly the majority, who are not so supportive. They enjoy caving for caving?s sake, don?t see any need to capture their adventures on film, resent the time videoing adds to a trip and resent carrying extra unnecessary equipment through a cave. It is therefore essential to ensure members of your team know what they have let themselves in for and what their role(s) are likely to be.

2.3: Think about any props/additional equipment you may need
And consult with the costume department

For most cave videos there will be no props and no additional equipment needed but it is worth giving it some thought. Amongst the things I have used in my videos is a selfie-stick, bathroom ducks, a custom made leg mount and a telephone.

I?ve used the selfie-stick to hold the camera out over pitches to capture a shot that otherwise would not have been possible. I?ve also used it for its intended purpose to video me going through ducks and squeezes. For this I?ve cable-tied a low power torch to it. I?ve used the leg mount to great effect on abseil shots and for shots on a zip line. To see why the ducks and telephone were needed you will have to watch my videos.

It?s also worth assembling at this stage any maps, surveys, diagrams, photographs or pictures that you may want to edit into your video. I?ve made extensive use of survey snippets in my videos. I feel that they really enhance the viewing experience by guiding my viewers through the complexities of cave systems.

What your team of cavers wear is important to think about too. Yellow PVC suits are highly reflective and getting the lighting right for the suit may leave the background too dark, whereas lighting for the background may cause a lot of flare from the suit. On shots where the caver is some distance from the camera I?ve found that PVC suits work well as they stand out. Cordura suits being non-reflective are much easier to light but as they attract mud they often do not have sufficient contract with the cave background. I have found it useful to have a mixture off over-suits on a trip and then I always have a choice of who should appear in a particular shot.

2.4: Decide on locations
Where are the best places to capture video?

Before you set off, plan the locations where you intend to take video. This will largely be determined by your storyboard and the overall aims of your film. Let us say, for example, your aim is to video a unique formation located deep within a cave system and you also want to show the difficulties that have to be negotiated getting to it, because that is the reason why it is so rarely visited. It?s not possible, let alone desirable to video the complete cave system so you will have to plan which parts of the journey will feature in your video. It might include a difficult climb, a very committing squeeze, a horrible duck and a beautifully sculptured passage.

You will also need some bridging2 shots which will indicate the passage of time between each featured location.

You may also want to show some of the cavers? reactions as they encounter or tackle each obstacle. In my video of Lesser Garth Cave we encountered a squeeze which one of the team christened The Coffin. The reactions I captured go something like this:?A caver goes through first, and the second caver says, ?I?m not sure I?m going to like this.?
Caver two then starts to enter The Coffin feet first but obviously feels very apprehensive and so almost immediately backs out, and shouts to caver one, ?DOES IT GET ANY BETTER??
Caver one replies, ?Do you want me to lie to you??

I believe that snippets of conversation like this help to maintain the interest of my audience and help them to feel what it was like to actually be there.

2.5: Narration
What are you talking about??

Are you going to add narration to your film to convey information to your audience? Many of my videos are narrated. An alternative is to use captions. It really depends on how much information you need to impart although it?s worth bearing in mind that too many captions can distract your audience from viewing the images.

If you do decide that your film will be narrated then it?s worth scripting it before you begin filming. It will help you firm up your storyboard and your filming locations. It?s also a good idea to do a rough recording of it at this stage. This will give you timings for each part of your video. When I?ve left recording the narration to the edit stage I?ve sometimes found that I haven?t got all of the video I need to match the narration at some locations.



2 A shot used to cover a jump in time or place or other discontinuity. Traditionally this could be the hands moving on a clock or animated calendar pages. In the context of a caving video this might be cavers moving along a passage, splashing through water, crawling and so on. Close-ups of boots, hands or faces can be effective too.

 

[ttxela2]

Great stuff, I recognise a few things in that that I sort of do on occasion.

With regard to using sections of survey in videos, presumably one must get the surveyors permission and credit them somewhere?

 

[Caver Keith]

Great stuff, I recognise a few things in that that I sort of do on occasion.

With regard to using sections of survey in videos, presumably one must get the surveyors permission and credit them somewhere?

I only use survey segments and the ones I've used have all been re-drawn but I do also add a credit. I'm afraid I haven't sought permission, I really should have.  :doubt:

 

[Caver Keith]

Comments on stage 2 from Sid Perou:

2.1 In order to get a commission, I would often write an outline not dissimilar to your table. It helped to sort my own mind out, but would often change as things progressed. Never be afraid to change and adapt your original ideas.

2.5. I never pre-wrote a narration, it is too rigid, but during the filming process, I found it helped to have a rough idea what the commentary might be saying.

 

[Mark Wright]

I have a GoPro Hero2 with Wifi Back, Double Battery Back and LCD Back as well as 3 x batteries and loads of different housings and fittings.

Free to a good home.

Can arrange caverpost from Sheffield.

I thought this might be the best thread to post on with so many budding videographers watching.

Mark

 

[Caver Keith]

After pre-production is complete, shooting can commence.

Stage 3. P is for Production (Filming) will be posted tomorrow.