Video Assignments

2 Minute silent documentary

This was inspired from the 30 second documentary assignment. The object is to make a documentary showing how to do something. Wether that’s how to make something, what your/a job is like, trying something new, showing yourself doing something you are terrible at or even really good at (again, the same idead from the 30 second video but longer for those who have something more complex to share).

Make sure your video has an into “photo” or wording and a credit or statement at the end wrapping the video up. Remember to stay true to the original assignment link and keep it silent. SHOW how to do it. Don’t TELL. And have fun! (:

Where do your shoes take you?

Where do your shoes take you in a day? Tell a story using a video of only your shoes! Take videos of you walking from place to place and make it into a video. Add music or sound effects, be creative!

Green Screen: The Art of Appearing Elsewhere

Create a video using greenscreen in which the replacement background is a video, a still image or even just all white or all black. The appearance of a character against an all white or all black background creates impact and interest for many video functions, such as news introductions, movies, or advertisements. This is typically accomplished using greenscreen and replacing the background with all black or all white. Alternately, greenscreen can be used make your character appear to be on your computer interface or in another location altogether!

Video Double Vision: Being in Two Places at Once

Create a video in which you play two different characters. In at least one image, both characters should appear in the video at the same time.
Many video productions use a single actor to play more than one role. In the old days, think Patty Duke. Eddie Murphey has some some hilarious scenes in which he plays multiple roles. In these movies, he actually argues with the other characters that he plays. There are many ways to create these effects. Seek out some alternatives. Some are easier than others.

Your Dream as a Movie Trailer

We all have a dream of what our life could be. We find this in children especially. But we all hold dreams of what we may become.

Through photos and videos, music and text, put together a :30 trailer to tell the story of your life dream. I used iMovie for a template and created the dream of my child, who wants nothing more than to go into outer space. I created a short story arc and filled it with magic and wonder. It doesn’t have to be about how you will achieve that dream, just what it will look like on your journey there or what it is once you have it. Use your imagination to tell your story, however you dream it up.

mine is called “Jack’s Cosmic Imaginarium”. I would love to see how others envision their dreams on film too!

Period Piece Mashup

Take two period peices (can be movies or TV shows), ideally that tell very different stories, and bring them together so that they tell a new combined story. I recommend starting with longer clips, then alternating with faster ones to create drama.

When It’s Cold Outside

Shoot a video of yourself on a cold winter night. 

#SixSecondArt

Six word stories, six word quotes, and six word poetry are all the rage. So why not six second art? Using any method of video, stop motion, or other visual medium, produce a six second video of you creating art. It could be digital art, physical art, or performance art, just create a six second video of you making it happen! Vine, Youtube, Vimeo, are all great places to host, although Vine happens to a great natural place for this type of work.

Draw a Western Themed Movie Trailer

Create your own Western themed Movie Trailer in 30 seconds or less with a whiteboard and dry erase marker! (Whiteboard $3 at Walmart and Dry Erase marker $2). You do this by recording yourself drawing pictures on your whiteboard, erasing them, then drawing more images to create a video. You end up editing the video by speeding it up and using a “voice over” of yourself to explain what’s going on in your shots.


1. Plan your drawing. Try to sketch it out a bit or plan before in your head.


2. Get everything set up, put your whiteboard on a table and hold your camera from a higher platform facing down as it records your whiteboard drawings.


3. Turn on the camera and start drawing! You don’t have to worry about drawing fast because you’ll edit the video later.


4. After you’re finished drawing, turn off the camera and import the video into your software of preference. Such as iMovie, or any software.


5. Use your video editing software to flip the video (if needed), crop out the edges of the whiteboard, increase the speed of the video, such as a speed of 8x, and add a recording of your voice over the finished product.


Spoil a Movie in 30 Seconds or Less

Create a compilation of the most important scenes or events from a movie. Essentially, combine the major plot points into a short video.