1. Know the value of video

Video is a great way to showcase your social impact. Use it to capture how your organisation is addressing a social need, and how it is helping the community. Video can also let people know about the support available on their doorstep, and gain supporters for your project or cause.

Importantly, it gives your community a voice – and attracts attention!

2. Keep it short

You might be tempted to cram lots of your organisation’s good work into your video. Don’t. Limit its duration to 1 – 2 minutes. That way you’ll keep it focused and only include what’s relevant to the story. Plus your video will be more likely to hold viewers’ attention.

To help keep it short…

3. Do a storyboard

Don’t just start filming. First, do a storyboard. That’s deciding what story you want to tell and how you’ll tell it. Then visualise, and draw or list the images you’ll need. This will identify what, who and where to film, and drastically reduce the time it will take you to film and edit.

4. Create good content

Remember the 5Ws you learned in school? Use scripting and footage to show the who, what, where, why, and when. For example, who are you, who are you helping, what are you doing, where and when are you doing it, and why. And, as a community organisation, there’s one more to add – the how. Explain or show how you’re tackling that issue, or supporting your community.

5. Get permission

So, you’re ready to film your video. It is important to ask participants for permission before filming them. Also, tell them you’ll be sharing the video publicly and check they’re ok with that.

Plus it will help you to…

You don’t want to film a great piece only to have to scrap it because someone, who features heavily, says they don’t want to appear on social media or your website.

It’s better to get written permission, than verbal.