Making a Video

Three minutes will go by fast! A little organization will keep your video brief and engaging.

• Outline the key steps in your story, from the recipe selection to the ingredients you are using, the preparation steps and the final product. Show us these key steps.
• You will probably not be able to show us everything, but you can use captions or narration to help us understand some of what happens off camera.
• Set up your ingredients and equipment ahead of time so you don’t have to waste valuable camera time. You can pre-measure some of your ingredients into small dishes to have them ready.
• When setting up ingredients, position them in a way that prevents viewers from identifying the brands and products you are using. If that is not possible, consider pouring them in bowls, cups and plates instead.
• Make sure we can see and/or hear the participants interacting.
• Set up your work station so that it takes advantage of available light or other light source. We’ll want to see what you’re cooking! Avoid backlighting—having the light source behind your subject makes your subject dark and hard to see. It’s best if the light source is behind the camera (i.e. In front of your subject).
• Minimize distracting noises as much as possible. Turn off ringers on phones, avoid using the fan on the stove, and try to minimize outside noises by closing windows during filming.
• Limit panning and zooming. This can become distracting if used too often.
• If you have a tripod, use it. Otherwise, set your camera on a fixed object at a height and distance that will capture your subjects well.
• Consider removing distracting clutter. Focus in on the action as much as possible.
• When editing the video, aim for a final time of 2:58 minutes as uploading it on YouTube may add a second or two. This will ensure your video remains in the 3 minute timeline, which will be strictly enforced.