Shooting For The Internet

Here's the link to a great article by Jan Ozer which appears in the August 2008 issue of event DV magazine. Ozer addresses the unique issues that arise when shooting talking head video for the Internet.

Why should Internet delivery matter? Because if you're not careful, the codecs and bit rates used for Internet video can render your piece unwatchable.

In this example, Ozer demonstrates how striped patterns in clothing are unsuitable for the Internet. Notice the rainbow and smeary artifacts in the shirt.

In addition to clothing Ozer reviews lighting and backgrounds. To sum up, keep it simple. Most video codecs handle simple images and lighting much better than complex scenes.