NanoFlick — Shot-by-Shot Video Guide
FIRST Robotics Competition
Use this guide to quickly create a video for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.
14 shots 01:44 Bill Youstra
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
Venue Exterior
00:05Show 3-4 seconds of the outside of the arena. Make it longer (6-7 seconds) if you plan to put title text over it.
2
Venue Interior
00:08Pan across the inside of the venue, showing the crowd, the playfield and the pit. Mention the date and location.
3
Playfield
00:15Get as close as you can to the playfield. Describe how it works as you shoot all the elements in sequence.
4
Pit Row Walkthrough
00:08Add 1-2 shots walking through pit row, showing other teams.
5
Your Team's Pit
00:07Show your team working on the robot. Keep re-shooting til you capture some good action.
6
Headed to Arena
00:08Get a dramatic shot of the team leaving the pit with the robot to go to the arena. Try a low angle shot as they wheel the cart.
7
Placing Robot
00:08Show the team putting the robot in place in the arena
8
Competition: Announcer
00:08Show the announcer announce your team. Capture loyal spectators cheering.
9
Competition: Start
00:08Get the beginning of the competition. Use a wide shot to see all the robots get started.
10
Competition: Your Robot
00:05Show your robot doing it's thing. Reshoot until you get some good action.
11
Competition: Drive Team
00:06Show your drive team managing the competition.
12
Competition: Your Robot
00:05Show more of your robot. Add another shot if you'd like.
13
Competition: End
00:08Show the last seconds, then pan to the scoreboard.
14
Team
00:05Show the team react to the results.
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.
Start wide...
...then move closer on subsequent shot for the scene.
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.
