This section is packed with info that will help you understand the gear that you'll need, and most importantly, how to use it. From cables, mics, lights, and special accessories, you'll learn everything that you'll need to start capturing great smartphone video.

This lecture will lay the foundation for your video production journey. You'll get an overview of the equipment that you'll need to get started. Of course you'll need a smartphone, but to really produce quality videos you'll need cables, a microphone or two, a tripod, and a tripod attachment that allows you to mount your device to a tripod.

This lecture will cover the importance of using light and a tripod during your video productions.

Now that you know how to use a mic, you'll lean how to connect your smartphone to a tripod. It's easier than you think, but you'll need a special attachment to do so. In this lecture, you'll learn what kind of tripod you should use, how to connect your smartphone to a tripod, and basic tripod movement.

Featured Tripod: Promaster 7100 Fluid Tripod

It's important to capture quality sound when you're recording sound, especially interviews. With a mobile device, you need a special cable (4-pin or TRRS) to connect a microphone to a smartphone. This lecture will give you an overview of microphones and how they work, and how you should use them.

Before we even talk about video, you need to have equipment to capture good audio, specifically cables and a mic or two. In addition, you will need a special connector to plug a microphone into your mobile device. This lecture will show you just how easy it is to connect your mobile device to a consumer, or professional microphone.

If you want to really step up your productions, then consider investing in a smartphone stabilization device. These devices allow you attach your smartphone to a tripod, you can attach lenses, and lights.

I cover three in this lecture, the Phocus, the Padcaster, and the iOgrapher.

If you'd like to add another layer of quality to your production, then you may want to invest in a stabilization/tripod mount/lens accessory like the Phocus (SmartPhocus.com). The Phocus comes with two lenses, a wide/macro lens and a telephoto lens, and is really cool to use. In this lecture, you'll learn how to get started with the Phocus, and how to use a professional tripod.

Equipment in this lecture:

Phocus
Manfrotto 501 Fluid Tripod

Tablets like the iPad can also be used to catch quality video, and The Padcaster is an accessory that can enhance your tablet video productions. The Padcaster features and aluminum frame with a rubberized housing that securely holds the iPad. Once connected, a mic can be connected, and the device has a tripod attachment. The Padcaster isn't perfect, but it is a great device to create high quality iPad videos. Check out my full review here:

Equipment in this lecture
The Padcaster
Vericorder 4-pin to XLR Cable

Don't just start recording video with your mobile device. That's a sure way to record bad video or audio. This Demo will walk you through setting up your phone to record. How to put it in airplane mode, how to activate your camera, and how to lock the focus and exposure.

You're going to love this lecture. This video will be key to developing your videography skills. From framing up your shot, to using the sun as a light source, you'll see exactly how to capture professional looking video with your mobile device.

"Lighting is everything." I was on the set during a music video shoot, and that advice was given by the gaffer (the chief lighting technician. Light will set the mood, provide a time of day reference for your viewers, and if nothing else, it will allow your camera to capture visuals sufficiently.

In this lecture, In part 1 of this 2 part lecture, I will demonstrate basic 2-point lighting, and will demonstrate how I set up an affordable light kit in my home studio.

Once your lights are set up, you should set up your tripod, connect your camera, and microphone. In this lecture, I'll also test three mics with the iPhone, an Electro-Voice 635a, and Audio-Technica AT-2005 USBmic, and an Electro-Voice RE-20. This is part 2 of a two part lecture.

Equipment Used:
Electro-Voice 635a
Audio-Technica AT-2005
Electro-Voice RE-20

Interviewing is an art and a science, and this lecture will cover basic techniques to help you shoot good interviews. Make sure the background isn't cluttered or boring and make sure the shot is well framed. Help your subject feel comfortable, and if you're shooting handheld, pay attention to the shot.

Know your mobile device. That means that you should know what it can and can't do. In this lecture, you'll learn some of the limitations of mobile device video production.

This lecture will recap the gear that was covered in this section.
Remember that you need:
Camera
TRRS Audio/mic cable
Microphone
Tripod attachment
Fluid Tripod
Lights

Part 3 will get into visual storytelling basics. Strong visuals, sound, and emotion, make the video world go round. This lecture will give you a basic understanding of the different elements go into compelling stories.

This lecture continues to help you build a strong storytelling foundation by explaining the 5Ws and H. Every story should answer: who,what, when, where, why, and how.

This lecture will share additional tips to keep in mind when you are shooting broll. In addition to shooting the basic shots, try not to overshoot or shot too much video, and shoot 10-15 seconds of still video.

The questions you ask during and interview, and how you ask them is important. This lecture will explain the dos and don'ts of interviewing.

The stand up is your time to shine if you want to be in your story. A stand up is a staple in broadcast news, and there are a few ways they are used. During a live shot the reporter will give a live intro and outro. In taped segments (packages), a stand up is used either as a tag at the end to wrap up the piece, or as a bridge in the middle. It takes practice, especially if you're not comfortable speaking on camera.

Writing a news story is like putting a puzzle together, but you have the right pieces put together in the right order. This lecture will get you started.

In general, there are two kind of new stories, hard news, and soft news. Hard news is generally events like crimes, tragedies, and acts of god like hurricanes.

This lecture will also review the storytelling section.

Are you trying to get started with mobile media apps, but don't know where to get started? This lecture will share some of the best video apps out there. There are always new apps to test and try but this will get you started.

The iMovie 1.0 mobile application was used to edit the Trayvon Martin rally package that was shared at the beginning of this course. In this lesson, you'll see the iMovie mobile application timeline which will include edit points from the clip that were used, as well as the sound bites and b-roll.

This lecture will teach you how to navigate the home screen of the iMovie application. You'll learn how to start a new project and the functions to get started.

iMovie's interface is simple, one you're familiar with it. This lecture will give you a complete overview of the edit canvas.

Now that you know and understand the timeline, it's time to add your first video clip. In this lecture will start editing our story.

This lecture continues the lesson in adding clips to the timeline.

iMovie allows you to make basic transitions. It's easy to add or delete transitions. Watch this lecture to learn.

In this final lecture, you'll learn how to record narration with an external microphone, edit adjust the audio on the timeline, add text/lower thirds and export the video.

This lecture recaps iMovie editing and intros how to edit photos with music and text with iMovie.

Get started editing photos from your iOS device in this lecture. You'll see the timeline, images that were selected, and the transitions that were added.

Get started creating easy videos with photos in your camera roll. You'll learn how to preview, select, and add the photo to your timeline.

The same features that you can execute to video, you can do with photos, including adding transition, text, and music. Watch the final project with music, text, and transitions.

This is more of a speculative lesson. You'll learn how your smartphone can be used in breaking news situations. For this example, a real world spot news situation was captured, the video was edited in the field and uploaded to the Internet minutes after I arrived on scene.

In this lecture, I'll show you the spot news iMovie timeline and explain the shots that were selected, and shared with a local news station in Tampa, FL.

After the video was edited, the clip was uploaded it to YouTube and emailed the link to a local news station. Though they didn't run the story, this is something that anyone can do quickly without a computer or live truck.

In this lecture, I'll cover some of the basic features of the iMovie 2.0 mobile app.

This Mini Movie was shot and edited entirely on an iPhone 4S

This lesson will explain the how the final version of Shades of Fall was created by showing you the iMovie app timeline.

The lesson will teach you how I created a how to styled vlog on my iPhone that used a previously shot movie and commentary that was added. This is a behind the edit lesson.

Now that you've learned how to tell visual stories with your smartphone, it's time for you to start using what you've learned. This lecture will wrap up this class, and you'll learn about other resources for smartphone storytelling.

In this bonus lesson, you'll learn how to use the FiLMiC PRO application. FiLMiC PRO is a camera enhancement application that allows you to white balance, zoom, and change the framerate along with other features.

In this lecture you'll learn how to adjust the settings in FiLMiC PRO. This app has numerous features and setting that allow you to capture and control the image.

This lecture is a general introduction to FXPX editing with the iPhone or other mobile devices. You can edit your smartphone video in any editing software, which is another option for telling your story. This covers the basic interface and how to create a new event.

In part 2 you'll learn how to create a new project in FCPX. The project contains the storyline that is associated with the event where the video assets are stored. Once the new project is created, video clips can be added and edited on the storyline (timeline). In this video, you'll learn how to record a voice over directly to the storyline.

Start editing your story in FCPX. This lecture will show you how to select and add clips to the storyline.

Was this course helpful? Please email: ask(at)webvideochefs.com.

Download or print the Storyteller's Mobile Video Production Guide by Amani Channel.