Consider using this curated collection of clips to speed up or slow down the transitions in your next people-focused video project.
Working with stock footage might seem like a boring, corporate way to approach video work. You’re not wrong: it can be a daunting, sometimes soul-crushing endeavor that if approached improperly can result in frustrating revisions and edits. If you’re new to video editing or video production, making use of stock footage can be difficult for many reasons. How do you search for the right clip? How do you know what to search for? Different films, videos, commercials, and shorts all require different types of stock footage. Using shots with people in the footage can either pull your audience into the story you’re telling or immediately pull them out of the moment. So let’s check out how to thread this needle and use stock footage like a pro.
Looking into the Camera
Image via wavebreakmedia.
One of the biggest production similarities that documentaries and narrative features share is the focus on a few specific subjects or characters. That being said, while you tell your story, dipping in and out of B-roll, interviews, dialogue, and basically any shot that features a human in it, it’s important to distinguish how your audience will recognize each face once it appears on-screen.
So, if you’re working on a narrative film or documentary, it’s best to not show large, distinct faces looking directly into the camera. You’ll often see this tactic employed best for commercials and branding material. If you do cut to a shot of people talking or interacting in any daily ritual, find clips that don’t focus on the actor’s face. This will immediately tell the audience to which degree they should pay attention to this subject, whether you want them to or not.
Groups of People
Image via g-stockstudio.
Whether you are or are not using shots of people looking into the camera, consider the alternative. However, consider more than just individual subjects. Rather, experiment with groups of friends, families, and peers doing ordinary things in public. These shots absolutely kill for branding and advertising. Used as snippets and shots over which to place a businesses graphic, this footage can tell micro stories that contribute to your overall effort.
These shots are all about community, happiness, and progress. So if you’re trying to decide between shots of individuals and multiple people, like always, think about what you’re trying to tell the audience. Think about what you’re selling, who you’re selling it to, and what type of shot represents your client’s needs.
(Side note: Its also important to consider the type of soundtrack you are going to use and select the footage according to the pace and style of the music.)
Transitions
Image via Tyler Olson.
You should always experiment with new ways to transition scenes — whether that means in your actual edit, which motion graphics you use, or which clips and footage you use as transitionary scenes. Stock footage can play a big part in the pacing of your film or video. You can use it to speed your video up by including minimal shots of B-roll and establishing shots, and you can extend your video’s length to get you to that festival submission-length you need.
Consider the types of clips you’re using as B-roll. The content of the clip can often determine the feeling you will convey while pushing the story forward. For example, instead of using establishing shots of buildings, parks, and streets, try using clips of people frantically commuting, running around town, walking down a street, riding a bike, or going for a jog. Footage of pedestrians on the move is an excellent way to give your video that added boost of energy instead of showing lifeless buildings and landscapes.
(Another side note: If you need sound effects for background noises, distant conversation or city sounds, check out our full library of SFX and Music Tracks.)
Check out our entire collection here.
Top image via View Apart.