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story Archives - Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman
In If you’re new to video, Feature Film, Your Questions Answered

Getting from Idea to Documentary

documentaries need story

I’m making a short documentary for my college doc course. My idea is to document my thought process while experimenting with sound design. The documentary would end with me having created a new and out-of-the-box piece of music.

Two questions:

  1. What makes a documentary valid? I’m afraid my idea could be perceived as a random youtube video about music production.

  2. Does my documentary need to have a message?

–Johnna

“Documentary” generally means that a piece has been created by filming what is actually going on in the real world, as opposed to a fictional “narrative” story, where nothing is real. … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, For Pros, Your Questions Answered

Adding a Story After the Shoot

I bought your book last Saturday and have already read most of it!  I have a question about creating a story for a book-signing that I shot on Saturday to promote my friend’s new book.

Using your story formula, I know my hero is the author. But what’s the story? Should the video tell the story of how she breaks into a new genre of writing?  Or should it focus on the story of her book?  I’m confused.

Can you help me get to step two with my video?

Babs Hogan
Arlington, TX

Thanks for reading the book, Babs. Great … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Better Home Video, Feature Film, For Pros

Better Call Saul: The Devil is in the Details

There is no better show on television than AMC’s Better Call Saul, from Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, ex of Breaking Bad. All four seasons are spectacular, but if you haven’t watched (or even if you have) it’s worth considering what makes it great.  Great writing and acting, sure, but for me the best part of Better Call Saul is that every shot, every sequence, every episode is about intrigue- built by lensing in to the details.

Season 1, Episode 1 doesn’t start with anything as obvious as an establishing shot of a shopping mall, or a freeway sign … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, If you’re new to video, Better Home Video

Mothers Day Video Tips

Ah, Mothers Day!  Burnt toast and coffee made with hot tap water in bed (“We aren’t allowed to use the stove.”) .  Macaroni-art “I love You Mom” cards.  Perhaps a meal at Mom’s favorite restaurant–say, Chuck E. Cheese.  The day is loaded with great material that can become memorable video.  Video you can use 15 or 20 years from now in that mandatory embarrassing/cute wedding video.

With that in mind, here are a few Mother’s Day Video Tips for the Dad behind the camera:

Find the Story: “Mother’s Day 2017” isn’t a story.  Stories are about people and action.  … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, If you’re new to video, Better Home Video, Your Questions Answered

Story as a Magical Organizing Force

I have a brain that likes things logical, nicely ordered and in line. You follow the rules, you get the result. I can’t get my head around the order of shots, stories and putting it all together.

Once a week we go to the grandparents house for dinner. We have a niece and nephew, 4 and 1 respectively, who come over as well. It is a good time had by all and I want to capture the moments as they learn and grow. I just can’t figure out what the story is. I get that I should take short shots

… Read the rest
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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Teaching and Training, Your Questions Answered

Can a Teaching Video tell a Story?

How can I better use storytelling techniques for teaching science? Does numerical data contribute to the story, or is having a data table in a video a sure recipe for having viewers click away?

By the way: your book is awesome. In the video I’m working on now, I keep counting to make sure I’m not violating the 10 second shot rule!

–Glenn Wolkenfeld

Nice job, Glenn. This is a fast-moving, clear, well-produced teaching video covering a bunch of cool stuff about surface area. For those of you to whom it did not occur that there was a bunch … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Video Marketing, Teaching and Training, For Pros

Free Download: The Power Of Story

Have you had this experience?

You grudgingly agree to watch a friend’s video. You click on the link. The first few shots are good. Cute kids. But about 10 seconds in you start to get a sinking feeling. This video isn’t about anything. It’s a bunch of shots that aren’t leading anywhere. And you’re stuck having to watch enough of it to lie to your friend about how much you loved it.

You are watching a video without a story. Your friend took out a camera or phone, pointed without thinking, and shot for a while, also without thinking. The … Read the rest

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Steve Stockman
In Tips and Tricks, Feature Film, Television, For Pros, Your Questions Answered

Adding Information to Your Video

What’s the best way to shoot a stunning place, like a summit with great views in all directions?

I have tried slow panning for 360 degrees a couple of times, but I am not satisfied. If we pan slowly for better view, the whole 360 takes substantial time– if we pan fast…not good either. If we just record short clips 5 secs each in several directions, people might not get the idea of how stunning the place really is.

What do we do?

–Milosh

Instead of shooting stories like most people, you shoot a genre we in the business call … Read the rest

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