What Makes a Good Video Story?

There are many types of video stories. In this lesson we will explore four different storytelling styles:

• News packages
• Video profiles
• Explainer videos
• Short documentaries

A good video story will have some or all of the following six essential elements:

• Powerful visuals
• Element of surprise
• Natural sound
• Compelling characters who are comfortable on camera
• Conflict (tension or mystery)
• Emotion and empathy

Estimated time to complete: 30 Minutes

Explain to students that they will watch four different types of stories: a news package, a video profile, an explainer video, and a short documentary. Play them in random order without revealing the type of video stories. The purpose of this exercise is to see if they could identify each type of story based on prior knowledge.

• News package Can West Virginia's pipeline jobs keep youth in the state?
• Video profile Darwin’s Journey
• Explainer video How sitting all day can lead to some serious health issues
• Short documentary Four Years Later

After watching all the stories, have students IDENTIFY what type of story they are.

Using this JAMBOARD, have students place sticky notes in the box with the corresponding story type on SLIDE 2.

Note: Jamboard activity could be substituted with classroom whiteboard and markers/stickies.

SLIDE 2:

Boxes (story types): Explainer, News Package, Documentary, and Profile

Sticky note (labels): DACA, PIPELINE, HEALTH, SCHOOL SAFETY

SLIDE 3-6:

Have students place sticky notes with video and storytelling elements they recognize. Examples include b-roll, photos, narration, statistics, interviews, music, etc.

Possible characteristics. Please note there could be a combination of some or all in each category:

• News packages: Newsworthy issues/topics, factual information, balanced reporting, research, voice overs, soundbites, b-roll footage, infographics, reporter standup, nats.
• Video profiles: The story of one person, it could include voiceover (VO) or the person narrating, b-roll, pictures, nats (natural sound), interviews of family members or peers of that one person.
• Explainer videos: Narration and/or voiceover (VO) with a host, commentary, research, personal experiences, explanations, infographics, nats (natural sound), music, entertainment.
• Short documentary: Narration and/or voiceover (VO), scene reconstructions, archival footage, nats (natural sound), b-roll, images, research, lengthy interviews, soundbites.

Estimated time to complete: 30 Minutes

EXPLAIN each of the six essential elements of a good video story by using the definitions below. Then, WATCH each video example again and have students fill out the SIX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS RUBRIC. Students will use a five-star rating and list elements that were present in each video.

Example: Powerful Visuals: aerial shot of the pipeline, workers welding, map of the pipeline.

SIX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:

• Powerful visuals could be supplemental video (b-roll), motion graphics, and info charts that help the viewer understand the information presented.
• Element of surprise will reveal unexpected information. You want your audience to experience curiosity.
• Natural sounds put the viewer in the place the story was told by enhancing the scene(s) with video-containing rich audio such as a coach giving an inspirational speech in the locker room, a musician singing at a train station, a storm approaching, or the sound of a tractor plowing the field.
• Compelling characters who are comfortable on camera will be able to share their experiences, knowledge, and give you the details that are essential for the story.
• Conflict includes a character overcoming an obstacle, facing an opposition, wanting change, etc. Many stories are born out of conflict.
• Emotion and empathy connect the character in the story with the audience. You feel a connection to the emotions that the characters are feeling.

After identifying what makes a good video story, students will now be able to apply the essential elements to their own story. They may use the rubric as a guide to plan each element in their own stories. Ask students: Which element do you think would be the most challenging for you to capture?

Write down the six essential elements of a good story. Explain which one you think is most important and why.