Concept Video Creation for Video Prototyping
For the dynamic prototype, we decided to create a video prototype to show the role of our design in students’ in-class work session experience and how the students will interact with our design.
We have chosen this video prototyping method because it is quick to build and inexpensive. It also requires us to think more about the details of the interactions between the user and our design. The concept video can show the context of use, providing a rich and vivid narrative of the experience.
I took my past experience of shooting videos into the creation of this concept video. The creation of the video can be divided into three phases: pre-production, shooting, and post-editing.
Pre-production: Treatments and Scripts
Before shooting the video, we have to plan ahead so that the shooting process would go smoothly. A very important step is to create the treatments and scripts based on the storyboards that we have. The treatments and scripts will be the guide in the actual shooting. It’s like a checklist so that nothing will be missed during the shooting.
I am using a four-column chart for my treatment and scripts. The four columns are scene number, script, visual, and duration. These four elements are the most basic elements when it comes to video creation. With these four elements, anyone reading the treatment and scripts (most likely your “actors/actresses”) can imagine the scene in their minds so that they could act our exactly what you are trying to convey with the video.
After the creation of the treatment and scripts, it should also become clear what kind of props and equipment are needed during the shooting. Therefore, creating the treatment and scripts is a good way to make sure that you will have everything and are ready to shoot the video.
Shooting the Video
Since our design is not actually implemented at this time, we would have to “fake” it. The way that we did it is to use green screens which are common in the film industry. Due to the limitation of funding, we decided to use green construction papers as the green screens, which turned out to work well.
For the shooting, I had the “actresses” read over the script first and explained to them what the scenes will be. I also explained what should they imagine to appear on the green screen. Imagination is the key here. It would also be useful if the actors/actresses can take a look at the storyboards in advance.
We took several takes for each scene to make sure that we have enough raw footage in the post-production to work with. The shooting took about 2 hours in total.
Post-editing
For the post-editing, I chose Premiere Pro to cut and add in the screens. I first did a rough cut of the video to see if the pieces come together nicely. Then I used ultra key to key out the green screens so that I could add in the screens. The screens were recorded using the hi-fi prototype interfaces. By manipulating the speed of the original video and the interfaces, I was able to match them to create the effect as if the actresses are actually interacting with the big screens on the whiteboard.
