Are you interested in making video media with youth in a classroom or community environment?

If so we at MemeFILMS would like to share three of our prototypes (production styles/methods) that can be filmed VERY quickly, and result in some wonderful and effective media.

One of the key ideas involved in filming good quality productions in very short time frames is to keep the length of the video very short- and make it the highest production value possible (good story, good audio, good camera work). So plan on many takes to get your “film” right but keep the video skit’s length short to keep your whole production team focused.

Three free MemeFILMS prototypes:

1. The Rant: A Rant is filming someone walking and talking directly to the camera, and “telling it like it is”! Our most successful rants are 30 seconds to 1 minute in length. A MemeFILMS style Rant is one continuous “take”! (No editing needed!)

This production style needs a strong actor, a cameraperson with some skill, and the production team’s technical ability to get good, useable audio. We have filmed many of these in under 30 minutes. Some “rants” are loud, while others are intense, and some are very funny.

We suggest you aim for achieving one continuous perfect “take” where all production elements are successful. Plan on 4 to 5 “takes” just to get the blocking of the Ranter and the camera person worked out so you can best use the space in which you are filming. Another 3 takes to refine the script and delivery style, and 5 or 6 more “takes” to get an exciting and powerful story on to videotape that may not even need any editing in post production!

Think about the opening shot that can bring the viewer quickly into the video…and think about how to end it (often it’s the Ranter staring directly into the lens, or it could be your subject slowly walking away, giving the viewer time to think about what they just heard and saw.)

School environments provide great locations for filming Rants (down a hallway, across a baseball diamond, through doors). Edgy, funny, passionate, and personal, the Rant prototype allows young people to vent on a variety of topics: Hollywood’s glamorizing of substance abuse, or tobacco or alcohol industry’s product placement in TV shows, or [fill in your topic here – the sky is the limit.]

What makes a well-filmed rant so successful is the viewer’s willingness to stay tuned in to the story due to the camera’s constant and smooth motion, and the Ranters strong eye contact with us, the viewers. So plan your content, keep it short, find a confident actor, and allow for many “takes” to work out all the problems- and send us the results!

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2. The Intercut: Capture a Big Media moment – a Hollywood film or television scene, for example – and edit young people analyzing it into the mix. We’ve had great success in teaching students to “deconstruct” media, and then figure out fun and clever ways to edit themselves into the middle of Big Media moments, giving a new perspective or media message to their peers.

“Intercut” Prototype production notes:

Big Media TV SHOWS AND COMMERCIALS are constructed very carefully, with plenty of time, money, and creative energy. Do NOT let the BM moment “dominate” your Intercut. Instead, let student voices, analysis, and observations drive the pace and “feel” of your Intercut. A general rule of thumb: for every second of BM scene we see in your meme, you should have 3 seconds of students being seen in your meme.

Experiment with cutting out or “killing” BM music or audio, and adding a wide array of creative “injections” from students.

Unlike most meme prototypes, the “Intercut” is editing-intensive. iMovie and other simple video editing programs work well for teaching students basic editing skills AND producing an interesting “Intercut” meme.

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3. Satirize This: With this Meme prototype, grab a well-known media program – Steve Irwin’s “Crock Hunter,” for example – and adapt it for your own fun and educational purposes.

“Satirize This” production notes:

Be bold, clever, and shameless in adapting and borrowing words, phrases, costumes, and the general “feel” of your popular show for your meme.

Humor is a GREAT persuasive technique to use with “Satirize This,” and be sure to include some vital information to educate, as well.

Find ways to keep the camera and the actor moving slightly so as your video story unfolds you will keep the attention of your viewers. We like the walking and talking style of the on camera person (similar to our “Rants”) for this reason.

For more MemeFILMS information, contact:
Rob Williams (rob@Meme.org) / 802-279-3364
James Valastro (james@Meme.org) / 802-863-9601