Essentials for filming a WyoTech video onbrand:

Shallow Depth of Field

Everything is shot with some shallow depth of field (meaning the thing we want in focus is the thing in focus, but the background or foreground is out of focus). We do this for two reasons:

1. 1. It gives a subtle higher end film look to the finished piece, which creates a higher end, or more prestigious aesthetic to the WyoTech brand.
   2. There’s leadership built into this kind of cinematography because we’re telling the audience what they need to focus on. This accents the educational leadership students will experience in the classroom and gives authority to the brand in the marketplace (by subtly saying, “Look at this here, this is what you should find important.” If everything is in focus, the audience is left to have to tell themselves what is important in the frame / story. And that absence of leadership cheapens the experience and lowers trust.

Camera Movement

We attempt to get as much action in the frame as possible, along with a camera that’s moving as well. When on screen movement is choreographed with camera movement (Scene blocking) the engagement factor for the viewer escalates quickly into something exciting to watch. 

This type of scene blocking and cinematography is so on brand for WyoTech because there is nothing static or slow paced about what this school is about. It’s about engaging, hands on education that moves fast (career ready in 6-9 months). It’s also high octane work that’s about making cars fast, engines pounding, and active work. The camera work needs to compliment this sentiment which is why we rely on a moving camera capturing action in the frame.

Cohesive Scene-Based World Building

When the footage is shot in scene clusters (Wide Shot of the action, paired with Medium and Close Up shots), we are able to transport the viewer into the WyoTech world in a more dynamic way. Every WyoTech video needs to feel exciting and as immersive as possible. That means allowing the viewer to experience each moment in a multi-dimensional way. Cutting together multiple angles of a scene / setup is essential to building that world.

The music selections need to be as eclectic as the student population at WyoTech, with some guidelines:

• Music needs to typically maintain medium to high energy. We do not want to be sleepy.
• It needs to be modern and multilayered.
• It needs to be used purposefully and sparingly as the brand progresses with its audience. (No wallpapering music across an entire edit without breaks or “Dry transitions”.)
• It needs to accent and enhance a piece, not be a distraction.

Graphics

Graphics need to be standardized, but upgraded gradually each year to keep from getting dated. They need to be stimulating and easy to understand, and on brand with fonts. Currently the fonts for lower 3rd name graphics are:

• Industry (Headliner Font) 
• Acumen Pro (Body Text)

Editing

Match cutting is a technique we use whenever possible. Cutting together two things that don’t seem to relate, but are framed the same way, when those two kinds of shots are cut together, this is called match cutting and it tells the audience that the two unrelated things are connected somehow.

This style of editing leads the audience without spelling everything out for them right away. It creates interest, engagement, and adds a high end feel to the storytelling.