NanoFlick — Shot-by-Shot Video Guide
College Application Response 60-sec
Use this guide to quickly create a video for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.
✏️About This Video Story
Many programs require that the video be in a single take, so this is for perfecting your pitch (rather than final submission). Use this to compose and review your response. Once you have the content down, practice doing in one take and record with your camera app or the application website.
How to Make a Great Video
Shoot each of the shots and keep the duration to the bare minimum. We've included instructions for each shot to create a short, fast-moving video your friends and followers will love. When you're finished shooting, just combine all the shots and you're done.
Find this template in the free NanoFlick app.
Video Shot List
ShotDescriptionLength
1
Summary Answer
00:05Very briefly summarize your overall response. Speak crisply, confidently in complete sentences. Don't go into detail; that's next.
2
Foundational Thoughts
00:08Explain the foundation of your response. It could be logic, values, an anecdote in your history, a book you read or a lesson you learned. Make it personal: explain how it impacted you and informed your response.
3
Further Detail
00:08Go into a bit more detail and nuance in your response. Show your critical thinking and depth of thought.
4
Get Creative
00:08Share a contrary perspective (devil's advocate), or a completely wild idea. Show your playfulness and creativity, or perhaps a radically simple or radically risky notion.
5
Return To Your Response
00:08Bring your answer back around to your initial response, sharing the reason that it's ultimately the choice you would make.
6
Share Why It Matters
00:07Get personal and share your personal experience that's related to the question. Your origin story, current situation, or some accomplishment, adversity or other challenge you've faced.
7
Parting Thoughts
00:04Say how you enjoyed the question and love thinking, debating, discussing such topics and look forward to more like this in college. Thank the viewer for watching.
Top Video Tips
Keep it short...
...then cut it even shorter. Usually under 90 seconds for a serious video; under 30 for a fun one.
Keep it moving
Make sure each shot has a point...and get to it fast! No fluff or filler.
Tell a story
Stories need structure. Make sure you've got a beginning, middle and end.
Know the audience
Family will watch a 2:00 video. Everyone else gets bored after 45 seconds.
Focus on people
Go easy on transitions, filters, etc. The best content is people relating.
Time passages
Use transitions like Dissolve or Dip-to-Black to indicate passage of time
Multiple angles
Using multiple short shots with different angles is better than one longer shot.
Video Timeline
Timeline
This story template (and hundreds more) is built into the free NanoFlick iOS app. Download now for the fastest, easiest way to get this done. It'll coach you through every shot and automatically assemble your video for instant sharing — no editing required.
