How to make a video for SpunOut.ie

Are you interested in sharing your opinions, advice and experiences with 16-25 year olds across Ireland? Do you want to do this through a video on SpunOut.ie? If so, take a look at the below steps. We can work with you to develop your ideas, record and edit your video and post it on SpunOut.ie.

Your videos can focus on any topic that interests you and that you think will interest other people your age. For example, you could focus on mental health, school/college/work, finding a job, relationships, alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex & sexuality etc.

Steps for making a video for SpunOut.ie

1. Get in touch with us

If you’re interested in making a video to be posted on SpunOut.ie, send an email to [email protected] and Heather will be able to provide you with support and guidance throughout the process. Heather is the skills development officer in SpunOut.ie and works with all our volunteer contributors.

You need to be between 16 and 25 years old and living in Ireland to have your video posted on SpunOut.ie.

2. Develop your idea & research the topic

What topic or story do you want to highlight in your video? If it’s very broad, can you narrow it down any more? Is there a personal element to the story that you want to get across?

If you’re focusing on a particular topic, do some research to see what others have to say on the topic. Are there any interesting facts or statistics you want to focus on? Having a clear idea on what you want the video to focus on will help in the upcoming steps.

It’s important that all the information on SpunOut.ie is accurate and comes from legitimate sources. Keep note of where your information has come from so it can be double checked by SpunOut.ie at a later stage.

3. Decide some specifics

For example: 

• What do you want the video to look like at the end? Will you be talking into the camera, interviewing others, having people act out a script, or showing images with a voice over?
• How long do you want the video to be? Most people watch videos for 2-5 minutes on average. The more details you decide at this stage, the easier the next steps will be.
• What tone do you want to set in your video? Is it an uplifting piece with energetic music in the background or is it a serious piece with neutral music or no music at all?

4. Write a script

Once you have thought about the topic for your video and what you want the final product to look like, start drafting a script. If you’re talking directly to a camera, what are you planning on saying? If you’re filming the characters having a conversation, what do you want them to say and do?

Developing a script at this stage will make it easier when it comes to storyboarding and filming.

5. Create a storyboard

A storyboard maps out what images you’d like to show in your video. Your storyboard can be made of basic sketches that you put together before a shoot, which allows you to see what shots/angles you need. Think of it as a sort of camera script. Having this plan means you won’t miss anything important when you start shooting your video.

6. Send your plans to SpunOut.ie

Once you’ve developed your idea, script and storyboard as much as you can, send them to [email protected]. Heather can provide feedback on your plans and can help you develop your plans if you need help with them.

If the video may have a health impact on a viewer, we will send the plans to some professionals to review. For example, if you’re making a video about anxiety, we will send your plans to professionals who work in the area of mental health to make sure the information is accurate, the messaging is appropriate and that there is nothing triggering or stigmatizing.

7. Shoot your video

You can arrange a time and date to shoot your video with the SpunOut.ie team. Our multimedia team has most of the equipment you might need for shooting a video and have lots of experience shooting videos themselves.

You might prefer to shoot the video yourself. If you do, take a look at our video submission guidelines for some tips on what to consider when making your video. One of the most important parts of making a watchable video is to make sure the sound quality is good. If people cannot hear what is being said in a video, they’re unlikely to watch it. If you have any questions about how to make sure the sound quality is good, get in touch with us.

8. Edit your video

When editing your video, think about the look and feel you want for it. It’s important to also think about how long you want it to be. Too short and you might not get your message or story across. Too long and people might lose interest.

When editing the video, you want to have a smooth transition between the shots. If you have a voice over, you want it to sync up smoothly with the images. If you’re adding music, make sure it suits the tone of the video.

The SpunOut.ie content team can also help you edit your videos.

9. See your video on SpunOut.ie

We’ll then post your video on SpunOut.ie and may promote it on our social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat).