Sep 30, 2015

Sequences are considered by many to be the building blocks of video storytelling. If ‘sequence’ is a new term to you in this context, it’s defined as showing a process from start to finish through a series of images, or video clips. Building a good sequence requires that you understand the process that you’re filming, that you get a variety of shots (wide, medium, tight, different angles, etc.) and that you can move to quickly set up your next shot.

I recently filmed a sequence of Venezuelan arepas being made at Alma Cocina Latina in Canton, and through the screenshots below, you’ll see how it was done.

: 01 – Opening shot: Usually a wide shot, showing our subject in some preparatory act.

: 02 – A detail or additional angle of that opening shot

: 03 – Introducing the arepa dough.

: 04 – Second angle of arepa dough.

: 05 – A wider shot with a unique angle shows our subject placing the pre-cooked arepa dough onto the griddle.

: 06 – A medium shot gives a close-up of the dough on the griddle.

: 07 – And an even closer detail shows us the dough hitting the griddle.

: 08 – Back to a wide shot as the dough circles are assembled on the griddle. This helps us pass time. Where it may have taken a minute or two for our subject to place the dough on the griddle, we’re able to reduce that process to about 10 seconds.

: 09 – Now on to making the dough from scratch. Again, we start with a wide shot of our subject (executive chef Enrique Limardo) pouring water into a bowl.

: 10 – A close-up of the water as he finishes pouring it.

: 11 – Time for a new angle. My space was a bit limited in this situation due to the constraints of the kitchen, but I essentially had two areas to work with — straight on, and left side.

: 12 – As he pours the corn flour, we get a detail shot.

: 13 – And then we get another shot of the flour after it’s been poured.

: 14 – Back to wide as he begins to scoop the flour and pour it into the water.

: 15 – Close-up measuring cup.

: 16 – Close-up as he begins to mix the ingredients (close-up/detail shots are key in sequences!)

: 17 – Now to another angle as he continues this process. Again, we’ve shortened something that takes a couple minutes to 10-15 seconds.

: 18 – As Enrique begins to knead, we pull back to watch.

: 19 – And then go in close for some kneading detail.

: 20 – We also need to make sure to turn the camera back up to get the “reaction” shot. If you show detail after detail shooting in the same direction, you run the risk of having a jump cut. The reaction shot will save you.

: 21 – We’re back to a wider shot from position 1, showing the progress he’s made in forming the dough.

: 22 – A detail shows us more closely the progress.

: 23 – Back to position 2 now, Enrique advances the story by pulling off a piece of dough and preparing to roll it in his hands.

: 24 – This wide shot as Enrique continues to roll reminds us that there are arepas still frying on the griddle.

: 25 – Then we return to see a close-up shot of the rolling process.

: 26 – A second, over-the-shoulder angle as he begins to turn it into a patty.

: 27 – Another detail as he rounds out the edges of the patty.

: 28 – And now we bring that patty to the griddle with the rest.

: 29 – Onto the next step, we again start wide as Enrique flips the patties to grill on the other side.

: 30 – We, again, show this in close-up. The trend here is that most steps should be shown in 2-3 different ways.

: 31 – We go back to wide as he brings the arepas into the oven.

: 32 – Close-up of the same process.

: 33 – Here we see the cooking temperature and that they are baking away.

: 34 – While the dough bakes, Enrique works on the fixings. In this case, skinning and chopping an avocado.

: 35 – And a wide shot as he finishes slicing. (I wasn’t quick enough to get him skinning the avocado, so I had to start with the close-up. Fortunately, at this point, the audience already understands what’s going on so the detail is OK.)

: 36 – We return to the oven to remind our viewer that the dough is still baking.

: 37 – More ingredients provides some foreshadowing, as we near the end of the process. This tells the viewer that we’re going to be headed back here to insert some of these items when we’re ready.

: 38 – Now, the arepas come out of the oven and we’re ready to scoop out the center and fill.

: 39 – We get a wide shot of the scooping process, followed by…

: 40 – …a detail

: 41 – We’re back at the station of fixings, putting in sauces, meats and vegetables.

: 42 – The meat is placed into the arepa pocket.

: 43 – A wider shot shows him continuing to place items into the arepa.

: 44 – Almost…

: 45 – We finish as the arepa is completed, with a smile from our subject.

So, we’ve taken the process — which took about 19 minutes in real time — can be reduced to about two minutes. Of course, when you add the interview, it gets longer. But you can see how it all came together in the video below.

How to shoot a video sequence

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