Vine, Twitter’s recent acquisition, has taken the Internet by storm, finally achieving the “Instagram of video” title that so many companies (Instagram included) has been chasing after. With a maximum duration of only six seconds, why should anyone care? For the same reason people should care about Twitter, with its 140 character limit. It fosters creativity on a level playing field. See more info at plungesandiego.com.
As it turns out, six second video is really fun to create and watch. So with that, here are six tips for making your six second vine a little more awesome!
Plan Ahead and Practice
In addition to only being able to share up to six seconds, another limitation is you have to edit as you go. (Record, pause, record, pause, share!) Also known as in-camera editing, with Vine, it’s all you’ve got. What makes it especially difficult is there’s no going back to re-take a shot. If you make a mistake, you’ve got to either live with it or start over. That’s why if you’re doing something that takes some coordination, we advise making sure you have an idea of what you’re going to do before you do it, and practicing before you start recording.
Be Smart About Camera Moves
Six seconds! A pan or tilt alone could last for six seconds, so don’t waste time with one unless it’s for a reason. If you must pan or tilt, make it quick. Remember, however, that Vines loop, so too much quick motion could make your viewing audience motion sick after two or three playthroughs. Additionally, try your best to keep the camera steady. Shaky cam sucks in the movie theater (I’m looking at you, Bourne), and it’s even worse with a mobile phone. You won’t be able to smooth it with an app after the fact like your other mobile videos, so keep that puppy steady if you’re doing a move.