What’s new
We're currently building the Web Hub, Bates Social, Bates Voices, and Bates Updates programs.
We continue to improve Home 4, Bates Views, and Explore Bates.
Pages
Recent page updates
We're currently building the Web Hub, Bates Social, Bates Voices, and Bates Updates programs.
We continue to improve Home 4, Bates Views, and Explore Bates.
Bates College is widely regarded as one of the finest U.S. liberal arts colleges.
Alumni frequently cite the capacities they developed at Bates for critical assessment, analysis, expression, aesthetic sensibility and independent thought.
Bates was founded in 1855 by Maine abolitionists, and Bates graduates have always included men and women from diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Bates' Web Communications staff, students, and colleagues are envisioning, architecting, and building next-generation Web experiences.
Our vision: all online media (Web, email, text, mobile) should deepen connections between members of the College's many communities.
We are grateful for our colleagues in Communications and Media Relations where we work and thrive.
Bates College
Web Communications
141-145 Nichols Street
Lewiston, ME 04240-6028 USA
(207) 786-8248
Via RSS
Via e-mail
Bates Voices production tips
Equipment
Video can be recorded with pocket camcorder (such as the Kodak Zi8 or the Flip Mino HD, both around $200) and a small tabletop tripod or articulated tripod. Just attach the camcorder to the tripod, position it, power on and hit record. It’s that easy!
Location
Select a setting that is relevant to the speaker or topic. Camcorder microphones do not cope well with ambient noise. Choose locations that are (1) quiet, without much ambient noise and (2) not cavernous.With the Zi8, you might want to add a lavalier microphone.
Staging
Seat your subject somewhere comfortable with his or her body at an angle to the camera. You’ll know you’ve done this correctly if the subject must turn his or her head to look directly into the camera. Also, because camcorders have such short lenses, consider placing the subject against a simple, undistracting background.
Show your subject’s head and shoulders, and place them just off center, so there is extra space, “lead room,” in front of them.
Recording
Ideally, the camera should be attached to a tripod and placed in a fixed position, such as on a desk or table. If no alternatives exist, handhold the camera.
Do not use the camera’s integrated zoom feature. If you would like to change the way your subject is framed, move the camera until the composition looks good.
Position the camera so that it is slightly below the eye level of your subject (i.e., the camera should be aimed slightly upward). Frame the subject from the sternum to just above his or her head, keeping him or her slightly off center. Leave more space in the frame on the side your subject is facing.
Directing
Give the subject a minute or two to think about each question, and then ask him/her to answer, or to pass on that question. This will ensure that the speaker has a good idea of what to say with out too much thinking.
Listen carefully to the speaker and, if needed, ask the candidate to repeat a particular part so that it is shorter and even more to the point. Try to keep main idea to 30-60 seconds.
Sharing
Use the software that came with the camera to upload your clips onto your computer. Pick the best ones, and upload to YouTube. Then, send us the URLs so we can add them to our collection of favorites.
More
[Joseph Kibe, 10/19/09. Jay Collier, 2/7/10. Andy Beckman, 3/9/10]