Saying It Without Saying It, Can You Do It?

               Communication is the foundation of all interaction despite what form of communication it is. Verbal communication is usually the most common amongst all forms, however, other forms of communication are still commonly used. Visual communication, which includes body language and gestures, are commonly displayed in theater acts which include plays, movies, videos, and other acting scenes. Although these types of visuals normally include verbal communication as well, some of them can still get a point across with no words at all.

               Making a video with or without words is a process in itself. Prior to filming anything, knowing the topic and direction that the video should go can become very frustrating. Having a multitude of ideas and plans can be very beneficial but can be annoying in the same breath. Some ideas can be more well-rounded than others while other ideas may struggle executing the desired message. The key to a successful video is making sure the video has a plot that makes sense and easy to identify and understand what is happening. The reward of this success is knowing the viewer can recognize the theme, purpose, and message within the video without being told. Outside of determining a theme and plot that chronologically makes sense, other challenges tend to come about when the filming itself begins.

               When filming a few things should be considered – sufficient lighting, proper body language, and that the scene will flow with the theme. When making a home video, lighting can become the most frustrating things to deal with. Imagine capturing a perfect scene in the perfect moment and not having decent lighting. This can potentially throw off an entire scene because it can give off a darker message than intended. Proper lighting can make a noticeable difference between scenes that are supposed to display a happier theme opposed to a depressing one. Although it may not be intended that way, from a viewer’s point, more light can indicate a happier time because that’s what past trends have shown. When dark lighting is used viewers typically associate it with a dark and sad time. Body language and scene flow are also key components in a successful video. Making sure gestures and body language are compatible with the story being told is necessary. The wrong body language can give a different impression than intended, especially a video with no verbal communication, ultimately making the video more confusing. This is where things can get difficult from a creative aspect.

               Making a video with absolutely no verbal communication but intending to clearly send a message needs a creative advantage. Since there are no words to insinuate the purpose of the video, the creative impact needs to take its course. During this portion, actions will tell the story since there is an absence of words. Determining the proper way to physically express a theme or emotion will be the largest challenge. Being careful to not mistakenly give off the wrong expression other than the one intended will have to be a constant reminder to keep the flow of the video clear and concise.

               Using video as a preferred method of communication opposed to writing or photographs has its many pros and cons. The disadvantages, based upon preference, are the extra creativity needed to fill the space for the lack of verbal use. This can become frustrating in the instance a person begins to deviate away from the theme because all routes have been exhausted. The advantages of using video as a preferred method of communication is the chance to test the level of creativeness. The actions will be used to define what the video is about and make statements other methods of communication cannot exhibit as well. Photographs are well in the instance of capturing a memory or attaching as a part of something else. In other instances, photographs aren’t strong enough to tell a story because many misconceptions and wrongful assumptions can made. The lack of motion within a photo or series of photos make it difficult to understand the purpose behind something without being told. After all, the purpose of any good story is for a viewer to understand it without being told what they are expected to know. Writing can be advantageous depending on its use. As a communication method, it is commonly misconstrued because there is no visual or tone to put with the writing itself. Too often are mistakes made because what was written gave off a different feel then what its written purpose was, because of this, written communication is probably the least effective out of all forms of communication.

                  When filming any type of video, the nature of the video should not affect the subject matter being discussed. The video should clearly identify what the intended message is. To do so, the content of the video needs to be direct and clear in the message it wants to send. There should be little to no confusion about what is being communicated, therefore, every action has to be considered and every gesture has to be accounted for to avoid leading the viewer in the opposite direction. This can become extremely challenging in the instance one has to film himself. The greatest challenge here is assuming viewers know your intentions simply because you know yourself and what your expressions mean. The best way to avoid any confusion is to use body language that is recognized by an abundant amount of people. By doing so, any possible misinterpretations are being eliminated because the viewer can recognize a specific gesture or body movement (i.e. giving a hug displays affection). Other challenges also come into play when filming oneself. Aside from assuming the viewers will understand a specific gesture because it has become habitual in one’s personal life, capturing the right angles and proper scenes can become irritating if not done as intended. Overall, making a video should clearly communicate the direction an idea is headed toward. Knowing the purpose for the video and where it can ideally be seen will also play a role when deciding what to film. If filming for fun or personal reasons, there should be no issues with uploading it via YouTube, Facebook, or Vimeo. With technology and the web advancing so rapidly, it makes it that much easier for movies, videos, photographs, and memories to be shared.