Creating Short Videos on Adaptation and Climate Change
This resource will guide you through creating compelling videos on climate change and other environmental issues. Below, you’ll find curated recommendations for tools, resources, and best practices for creating dynamic geo-visualizations, sourcing and incorporating B-roll, integrating impactful still images, charts, storytelling, audio choices, and editing your final product.
Editing Techniques and Concepts:
- Geo-Visuals: Zoom-to-Location
- Overlays and B-Roll
- Voice-over
- Audio Ducking
- Transitions
- Cutting and Deleting
- Dynamism for Photographs & Charts
- Rolling Credits/Citations
Finding Video Footage (including B-Roll)
Relevant video footage brings life to your project, emphasizing key points visually.
Recommended Sources:
- Pexels Videos
- Climate Change Videos
- Strength: Free, diverse collection of high-quality clips.
- Pond5 Videos (Free Collection)
- Free Collection
- Strength: High-quality
- NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
- NASA Climate Footage
- Strength: Scientifically accurate animations and visualizations.
- Videvo
- Environmental Footage
- Strength: Large archive of both free and premium climate-related videos.
- OpenPlanet
- OpenPlanet Footage
- Strengths: Scientifically accurate footage and data visualizations.
Finding Photographs & Still Images
Still images help highlight specific impacts, historical changes, or emotional connections.
Recommended Sources:
- Climate Visuals
- Climate Visuals Database
- Strength: Curated photographs scientifically tested for climate communication effectiveness.
- Unsplash
- Climate Change Collection
- Strength: Professional-grade, free to use.
- Wikimedia Commons
- Climate Change Category
- Strength: Public domain and Creative Commons licensed imagery.
- NASA Image and Video Library
- NASA Climate Images
- Strength: Official scientific imagery covering global climate events.
- Flickr
- Image Search
- Strength: Vast community-driven image resource with clear licensing information.
- OpenVerse (formerly known as Creative Commons)
- Image Search (searching All Content will show Images and Audio; can filter to only search by Images).
- Strength: Public domain and Creative Commons licensed imagery. Searchable by license.
- Google Images
- Image Search
- Strength: A good starting place.
Storytelling & Narration
Your video’s effectiveness depends heavily on clear, engaging storytelling.
Recommended Storytelling Resources:
- Climate Outreach: Storytelling Guide
- Website and 7 Core Principles
- Strength: Expert strategies for compelling climate storytelling.
- StoryCenter
- Digital Storytelling: Ethical Practice Handbook & Youtube Channel
- Strength: Techniques for creating emotionally impactful stories.
- NPR Training
- Audio Storytelling Training Guides
- Strength: Professional audio and narrative techniques.
- The OpEd Project
- Op-ed Writing: Tips and Tricks
- Strength: Practical advice on constructing compelling narratives.
- Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
- The Power of Storytelling: Communicators as Catalysts for Climate Action
- Strength: Concise tips specifically for climate-focused narratives.
Audio & Music Choices
The right music elevates emotional impact and viewer engagement.
Recommended Sources:
- YouTube Audio Library
- YouTube Studio Library
- Strength: Vast collection, free, no attribution required.
- Free Music Archive
- Environmental Tracks
- Strength: Extensive Creative Commons-licensed music library.
- Bensound
- Royalty-Free Music
- Strength: Easy-to-use music clips, categorized by mood.
- Mixkit
- Free Royalty-Free Music
- Strength: High-quality, diverse categories, ideal for short videos.
- Epidemic Sound (Free trial available)
- Epidemic Sound Library
- Strength: Premium music tracks, extensive options, ideal for polished video projects.
- OpenVerse (formerly known as Creative Commons)
- Audio Search (searching All Content will show Images and Audio; can filter to only search by Audio).
- Strength: Public domain and Creative Commons licensed audio. Searchable by license.
Editing Your Video
The final edit is where your narrative comes together clearly and professionally.
Recommended Video Editing Tools:
- Adobe Premiere Rush (Beginner-Friendly)
- Adobe Rush Tutorials
- Strength: Simple, intuitive, cross-platform.
- CapCut (Beginner-Friendly)
- Strengths: Simple, intuitive, free, web-based and also desktop.
- Apple iMovie (Beginner-Friendly/Mac-Only)
- Apple iMovie Guide
- Strength: Easy-to-use, free for Apple users.
- Adobe Premiere Pro (Advanced)
- Adobe Premiere Pro Tutorials
- Strength: Industry-standard software with advanced features.
- DaVinci Resolve (Free & Advanced)
- DaVinci Resolve Tutorials
- Strength: Powerful color-grading and editing capabilities.
- FinalCut Pro (Advanced/Mac-only)
- Strength: Powerful and stable
Creating a Location Zoom-In Segment
Creating a compelling zoom-in to a country, city, or specific area helps visually anchor your viewers in the location your video discusses.
Recommended Tools:
- Google Earth Studio
- Google Earth Studio and Google Earth Studio Tutorials
- Strength: Professional, cinematic zoom-ins and aerial animations.
- Google Earth Web
- Google Earth
- Strength: Easy integration with screen recording for straightforward zoom-ins.
- MapBox
- Zoom Earth Tool
- Strength: A very powerful tool for advanced users.
- Mult
- Travel map animation creator
- Strength: Easily creates simple travel map animations. Free account available, but limits customization and export options.
- OpenLayers 3 with Adobe AfterEffects
- OpenLayers is an advanced and highly-customizable option. Available via consultation with a Digital Scholarship group member.
- Strength: Often used for professional geo-visualizations, integrated with Adobe AfterEffects.
Citing Sources and Ethical Use
Respect copyright and intellectual property.
Recommended Resources:
- Creative Commons Guide
- Purdue OWL
- Zotero