FILM PSA GUIDELINES
MEDIUM IN THE MESSAGE - -The medium is the message is a phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan meaning that the form of a medium embeds itself in the message, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived.
FILM: is the best way to do a PSA. Film is far better than print. Reading a PSA is active. Watching is passive. But if the message is compelling then the viewer becomes active as well. You must involve viewer.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
FILM METHOD: what is your budget. Find your setting. Use lighting to your advantage. Minimalistic camera movement (NO SHAKY CAM). Be aware of background action. Don’t distract your viewer.
IDEA - Your idea must be powerful.
SIMPLICITY- one sentence test. Or even a fragment.
MINIMALISM- in film technique.
TYPED MESSAGE vs SPOKEN WORD
-This is a CRUCIAL DECISION (Use either/or because it is tough in an editing sense to combine them)
DON’T OVERWHELM THE VIEWER! TOO MUCH IS BAD
TIME - 30 SECS TO 2MIN
MUSIC - Use film soundtracks or ambient music. No vocals.
****YOUTUBE VIDEOS****
President Obama - “The More You Know” NBC PSA
One Take. No Cuts. Slight zoom at the end and we have a logo.
Animoto - you can do this one with Sherry’s link …
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- STUDENT PSA POLLUTION VIDEO. Not a good song.
Anorexia PSA- Okay, but too long, too cheesy, too much of the same theme. The viewer shouldn’t know what to expect.
Bristol Palin’s PAUSE- Great editing, but mixed message? What does it mean?
Don’t make your viewer jealous of you.
Don’t condemn the viewer … condemn yourself … or just inform and CALL TO ACTION
MODEL YOUR PSA AFTER THESE:
Rob Bell - Chairs - Stats with Talking
Make Dirty Water Clean -- 20Liters
Charity Water - Jennifer Connelly - No talking simple message.
Other Water one - 30 secs.
SOUND: Speechless VIDEOS TV / REMEMBER Hollywood Writers Strike of 2008
Woody Allen … Speechless Hollywood video
HUMOR: The Office PSA’s vs CBS Cares “Family Jewels” Valentines Day (only 15 secs) shock ending
