Tot Foster
I work with small charities; producing video content and mentoring staff in video techniques. I also work in community heritage, and university-based research. Find out more at wildmanherring.com
Location Bristol, UK
Activity
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Tot Foster replied to Harry Nichol
Its great - it has a real story to it - at first I thought it was instructional, then the fall came as a surprise, then I got worried about the rider, then you told me she was OK. Shows what you can do with one shot only
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Hi Harry, they dont last forever and as soon as you have problems it makes video shooting really stressful - sorry to hear it
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Tot Foster replied to Tot Foster
@HarryNichol Hi Harry, you can make vtt files - there are companies that create them very cheaply and remotely if you send them transcripts and the video
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Hi Luana, record the sound and video separately - then for the sound you can go to a quiet place and for the pictures you are not having to concentrate on so many things at the same time
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Tot Foster replied to Luana Almeida
Hi Luana - wow, your video is great! You have really kept things moving, explained them well and used colour and text in a very clear and direct way. It must have taken you a very long time using ppt. Try the paper cutouts - you might be surprised how easy it is
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Hi Luana, I hadnt heard of Pexels before this course - thank you for sharing
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Tot Foster replied to Harry Nichol
HI Harry, you certainly have a lot of experience to bring to this. It is a very common thing to not know how to stop someone who is rambling or going off-topic - I still find that tricky
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Tot Foster replied to Harry Nichol
Hi Harry, thanks for your great advice. I try to make the relationship between myself and an interviewee one that exists between us two people in that moment rather than focusing on the equipment and the act of recording
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Tot Foster replied to Harry Nichol
Hi Harry, thanks for sharing. Some people just find it really hard to get over their shyness - many times people who I have struggled to interview suddenly come alive as soon as the camera is turned off - some people just feel uncomfortable and there is little you can do even when they arent having a bad day
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Thanks Sally for your suggestions. I used iMovie a lot as it is so simple but does everything you need. I also often edit audio in a video package so that I dont need to transfer files between softwares and also because once Ive used an editing package a lot it becomes second nature
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Hi Angee, Premiere Pro is good software - have you had some training to use it as it is a little complicated. In week four we look at how you can develop your editing skills - I think 2 minutes is a really good idea - many peoples attention span is very short
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Hi Kshitij, Next week covers some scripting but one of the best ways to learn scripting is to analyse videos that you think have done it well - many YouTube videos have closed captions which you can use to see how people write the script
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Hi Angee, there are some tips on scripting in week three which might help
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Hi Bikash, I'm glad you're finding the course useful. When I worked in broadcast we used to think of our production schedules as 40% planning, 20% shooting and 40% editing - I think sometimes its easy to go too quickly to the fun bit (which for me is shooting and editing) and skip through some of those earlier stages
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Tot Foster replied to Sylvia M
Hi Sylvia, when you get more confident with video you may want to think about building a library of footage about the activities of your organisation. Then when you want a piece of video you can go to your library and quickly find relevant footage. You can put the films made before in the archive too. Again, what you describe is a very common experience. This...
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Hi Sylvia, your experiences that you describe here are very common I think. Video can be whatever you want it to be - promotional, educational, informational, celebratory - in this week you are asked to think about your audience, purpose and message - this will hopefully help you determine the tone and feel of the kind of video you want to make
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Tot Foster replied to chandni sharma
Hi Chandni, and welcome to the course. Its great to hear you want to stretch your creativity
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Tot Foster replied to Sunaina Meena
Hi Sunaina, we cover editing in the fourth week of the course which is already open. I hope you enjoy it
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Tot Foster replied to Aaryan 0
Hi Aaryan , I hope you enjoy this course
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Tot Foster replied to Kedar Danapnoor
Hi Kedar and welcome to the course
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Tot Foster replied to Sylvia M
Hi Sylvia, it sounds like you have a fair bit of experience - welcome to the course. One of the big mountains to climb with video is developing confidence - I hope this course helps you do that
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Tot Foster replied to Lisa L
Hi Lisa, you've come to the right course to learn basic skills for video on your phone - welcome and I hope you enjoy the course
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Tot Foster replied to Dharma Kashyap
Hi Dharma and I hope you find the course interesting
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Tot Foster replied to Deb Scotton
Hi Deb and welcome to the course. I hope you find some new ideas here for working with your students
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Tot Foster replied to Abhishek Pandey
Hi Abishek, Welcome to the course. Although the cases presented during the course are from the charity sector I think you will find much is relevant to video journalism
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Hi Bandita, Yes some people see it as a reductive process - making lots of something smaller by cutting bits out, but I too prefer the idea of building something up by choosing the best shots and sound to tell the story
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Tot Foster replied to Gee W.
Hi Gary, it sounds like your version was more entertaining than the intended one
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Tot Foster made a comment
Thanks for your compliments on this video - it really is a lot easier that it looks. If you give the animation a go let us know and upload it
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Hi Dana, youre right a good script really helps especially if you are using drama. Sometimes I find I have a good script but in the process of production I might have to change it and be flexible - to respond to what happens when I film and edit, and what feels right
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Is that the phrase 'keep it simple?'
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Tot Foster replied to Emmanuel Thliza
Hi Emmanuel, here is a video made by a child with the support of a filmmaker that you might be interested in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9GYMtElMpY
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Tot Foster replied to Pranali Kalange
Hi Pranali, these are two of the key audiences for organisational videos - sometimes people think they need to produce something for 'the public' but it is so important to really break that down and understand who are your priority audience
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Tot Foster replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hi Divya, Yes, research shows that many people prefer to learn visually
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Tot Foster replied to Anshu Rani
HI Anshu, absolutely! I think visual media can really help with sparking imagination
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Tot Foster replied to Ross Jackson
Hi Ross, welcome to the course - I hope you find some ideas here
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Tot Foster replied to Janet Loyst
Hi Janet, if you are making a video about visual artists you have a brilliant visual resource in their work of course which you could use in the video, and a great idea to open up their work to a wider audience
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Tot Foster replied to angee cardoso
Hi Angee, that sounds amazing. Good for you!
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, the options are still very evenly spread. It just goes to show there are so many different ways to make a video and that different people have different preferences when it comes to storytelling.
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Hi Anjali, I think its a great idea to keep putting yourself in the position of the audience even as you move into being a producer of content. You have such a good understanding of how video affects us as audience members
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Hi Nina, I love your word 'imagination'. I think you're so right. What often works for me is to seek out other peoples work and focus in on videos I think work well and then borrow ideas from them - theres more about that next week.
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Hi Nathalie, for sure editing is the most difficult part of the process. I think its important to start small and take filmmaking step by step - because filming is perhaps easier sometimes you can be over ambitious when it comes to giving yourself an editing task by making the filming complicated
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Tot Foster replied to Aasif Ali
Hi Aasif, yes I think you're right about video skills becoming more and more important. I hope you enjoy the course
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Tot Foster replied to RAVI PANDEY
Hi Ravi and welcome to the course
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Tot Foster replied to Neha Yadav
Hi Neha Yadav I hope you find the course interesting
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Tot Foster replied to Ajay Bankar
Hi Ajay and welcome to the course
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Tot Foster replied to Nina Collins
Hi Nina, you're in the right place for video production on limited resources. So many organisations are in your position where they need to find ways of making their own content creatively because hiring people in is not an option with their limited resources. I hope you enjoy the course
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Tot Foster replied to Anna Maria G
Hi Anna Maria, editing is the focus of week four - I hope you enjoy the course
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Tot Foster replied to Nathalie Lacaze Campbell
Hi Nathalie, Welcome to the course - you are so far away from where I am based in the UK its great that we can all share our experiences. In my research on charity communications I found that many charities very much want to make videos as they know they might be necessary to compete/communicate/facilitate work with beneficiaries/increase reach but many people...
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Tot Foster replied to vikas dixit
Hi Vikas, I hope you enjoy the course and develop your channel further
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Tot Foster replied to Meenakshi Chaudhary
Hi Meenakshi and welcome to the course
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Tot Foster replied to Jai Chand Dandotiya
Hi Jai Chan, that's a great start. I hope you can learn some new techniques in this course
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Tot Foster replied to Pihu Patel
Hi Anjali and welcome
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Tot Foster replied to Rupam Das
Hi Rupam, hopefully this course will offer you some creative ideas. I hope you enjoy it
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Tot Foster replied to Vikas Singh
Hi Vikas, Welcome to the course and we hope you learn new skills
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Tot Foster replied to سامية السلمي
Hi and welcome to the course
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Tot Foster replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hi Divya, We hope you enjoy the course - there are several simple techniques for using simple materials in week 3
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, we are grateful for any feedback on the course so let us know your thoughts! I hope you enjoyed it and learned something new
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, Heidi has taken the trouble to share some very good advice which adds to the course content. YouTube has a scheme for nonprofits if you register for a nonprofit channel - if you are a large organisation you can even use some facilities run by YouTube. They provide lots of advice on how to make your channel searchable - one of the things they...
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HI Heidi, you're so right. Premiere is at the more complicated end of the editing software spectrum but it can do so much and I know plenty of people who love it - but throwing deadlines into the mix is a recipe for stress when youve got it all to learn
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Dear Luana, thanks for the suggestion, I'll look it up
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Great, you may want to adapt it for your own specific needs
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Tot Foster replied to Becky R
Hi Becky, I think simplicity always works well because if you restrict your stylistic options your video will actually become more stylistically distinctive - a classic example of less is more perhaps
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Hi Sandhya, yes confidence is a big issue for many people. I think that's one reason why its important to develop your skills step by step and not be too ambitious to begin with - start small and take it slowly - I'm sure you'll get there
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Hi Yuleidy, thats a great start, you will have picked up many skills you may not even be aware that you have
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Tot Foster replied to Yuleidy Mateo
Hi Yuleidy, you're right, and it's often thinking about working within existing resources that is the part of planning that gets forgotten
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Tot Foster replied to Fiona Thomas
Hi Fiona, that's such a neat way to put it. I had thought before how it made me feel freer to have a good plan but because I could relax because I was confident I knew what I was doing, but I think what you say is actually a better explanation and I had never thought of it like that - thanks
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Hi EJ, I hope you found the download of some other music sources in step 3.15 - there are others too of course
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@RussellMoore Hi Russell, that's great. My feedback is that your voice is very clear and direct and your language use not complicated - these are all great positives. I found the video a little long, and perhaps you could film yourself drawing the freehand elements so there's a little more action on screen?
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, if anyone has any queries when you try your skills out just let me know and I will answer to the best of my knowledge
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Tot Foster replied to Heidi Mueller
Hi Heidi, sorry about them not being on long enough - I'll bear that in mind ofr next time. You can hit pause - I have to do that sometimes when Im watching videos as they go too fast for me too
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Tot Foster replied to E J Simpson
Thanks EJ and we will take on board your good advice for the next projects
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Tot Foster replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hi Beatrice, there's nothing more you can really do if people are aware of the content and choose not to watch. You can signpost videos in many ways but some people its just not their thing.
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Tot Foster replied to E J Simpson
Hi EJ, thanls for the really useful insights. I am working on some projects at the moment and your advice about what should be considered for a video to be inclusive for people with these particular needs is very welcome
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Tot Foster replied to Randal Oulton
Hi Randal, that sounds very challenging and not a little scary so I can see what your need to safeguard is absolutely paramount
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EJ I absolutely agree. I often say to people when I am shooting that if there is anything I have filmed they dont feel totally comfortable with I will delete it right now. I also say that people can withdraw consent at any time - even after the film is in the edit as nothing is as important as their consent, even if that means sacrificing time and money...
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, Beatrice's comment about not expecting too much of yourself when you start editing is an important one. Remember too that if you are new to shooting footage you often give yourself a slightly harder job as an editor because you are not used to collecting shots that fit together - often people dont shoot quite enough different shots when they start...
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Tot Foster replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hi Beatrice, montage to music is a great technique. My advice is still to try to tell a story but the structure of that story may be different for a montage. Dont forget you can always use 'intertitles' - that is text to divide up groups of shots - just as you see in Sorrels video which is edited in this step. If you do a montage to music pay attention to the...
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Tot Foster replied to Randal Oulton
Hi Randal, it is - I have never watched TV the same way again since editing! I particularly spot all the continuity errors and when I can hear where the edits in the soundtrack are. I also note how many people are using drones at the moment to get soaring shots - once you notice them you see them everywhere. The Eating Disorders video has an 'event' - that is...
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Tot Foster replied to Russell Moore
Thanks Russell. This is just a start though. I do recommend that learning one or two commands at a time, getting used to them before you move onto the next commands is a good way to learn. Then once you've got the basics sorted you can then learn new commands as and when you need them.
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone and welcome to week four. I hoe you enjoy it
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Tot Foster replied to Heidi Mueller
Hi Heidi, it is a lot - you could do a whole course on interviewing for video alone - but hopefully this gives you some starting points on different styles
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Tot Foster replied to Heidi Mueller
Thanks for the tip Heidi
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Tot Foster replied to Gee W.
HI Gary, I think the edited version makes it clear how you can condense time too in an action sequence.
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Tot Foster replied to Heidi Mueller
Hi Heidi, it is difficult on both sides - but as the interviewer you dont want to make your interviewee uncomfortable with your own nervousness or technical hitches. I often ask the interviewee to leave the room whilst I set up my kit - I suggest they go and get a refreshment or answer some emails - so that I have the headspace to set up without having to...
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Tot Foster replied to Gee W.
Hi Gary, it sounds like youve experienced several different interview situations. Interviewing for news is completely different as you just want tiny soundbites as you say. It's good to have an idea of how the finished interview will feature in your video so that you capture the suitable duration of answer.
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Tot Foster replied to Heidi Mueller
Thats great advice Heidi, thanks
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Tot Foster made a comment
Thanks everyone for all your suggestions - it shows just how many products are available. There is one that will suit you out there somewhere!
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, I have to admit I hate filming myself and seeing myself too. If you really hate it then, as EJ says, there are other options, but on the other hand it may be engaging for an audience to be able to put a face to the voice too. What I have come across in my experience is that if the person who is making a video says 'I hate seeing myself and I'm not...
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Yes, I agree for sure. As we've been discussing you cant fit a huge amount of dense information in a video so having a download to supplement can often work well
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Hi Becky, there is some more info on how to put together voiceover in week 3 but the best time to do it is when you edit as you can refine and refine the words until they are exactly what you need - nothing extra but all the information the audience need to understand the story clearly
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Hi EJ - yes I think sometimes things move so fast in technical terms it is hard for charities to keep up and to realise that they can make content for themselves
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Hi EJ, yes there was just too miuch information to put in one video - it would have been half an hour long and no-one would have made it to the end. It also gave members of the audience some agency - they could choose to watch the links that were most relevant to their personal situation
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, Becky in her comment has really looked at the shots and found ways to describe them. Looking and analysing other peoples work is really useful in beginning to understand different styles - how are they actually constructed. Then this helps you make shot lists when you go out to gather your material.
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Hi Becky, you've really pulled this apart. Its so helpful to analyse what other people do.
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Tot Foster made a comment
Thanks for your thanks! Any feedback on the course is gratefully received, including things we could do better in future
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Tot Foster made a comment
Thanks everyone for sharing your plans - it really brings your projects to life when we can see your purpose, message and audience. I dont know how you all feel about reading them in these comments but personally I feel that in a few words I can really see what these films are about.
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Tot Foster replied to Becky R
Hi Becky, That sounds brilliant. I'd love to see it when you make it.
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Tot Foster made a comment
Hi everyone, you've been doing a great job of defining your audiences. On thing I notice is that you are being very specific - which will really help you make decisions about what your video needs to be like, and about how to distribute it - and also some of the audiences you are aiming for are quite small (eg Beatrice's students in the school in which she...
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Tot Foster replied to Alexander Sen
Hi Alexander, that sounds great - peer skills sharing is something that can be very well shown through video as it is a process which brings about change (therefore has a narrative), it involves people (so you get the human side), it is visual as you see them working together etc
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Tot Foster replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Hi Sejal, When you have many things you want to achieve with video sometimes its best to make lots of very short videos that people can navigate between rather than one longer one. For example if you had a webpage and added these three videos and labeled them as 'the physical benefits....'the mental benefits' and 'controlling your emotions' then already people...
