University at Buffalo (UB)
Before you start, review our checklist of content and production issues to consider.
Videos are a good way to show your faculty and trainees in action, highlight features of your program, show off special locations and more.
Video is not a replacement for the web. Your video should amplify content on your website. Everything you describe or highlight in your video should already exist on your site.
If you find yourself creating new content for your video, make sure you backstop it with supporting material on your site.
The sole exception is content about the city or region; you are free to make any content about the city and region.
Plan the gender and diversity balance that you’ll portray in your video.
Will your video reflect the gender/diversity balance you want to recruit? Prospectives are less likely to apply to programs where they don’t see other people like themselves.
Wear Jacobs School or UBMD apparel if possible.
If that’s not possible, wear dark or light blue colors. Avoid other branded clothing — logos or recognizable names or images — to ensure copyright infringements are minimized.
You should also:
When setting up locations for your video, ensure you:
If you use music that is protected by copyright, your video will receive a copyright strike and be removed if posted to YouTube. You can prevent it by using copyright-free and royalty-free music.
Some of the better free music sources are:
For longer videos, think about b-roll footage needs, i.e., any footage that might be used underneath a soundtrack or voice-over to set the scene or to be used as cutaways from the main focus of the shoot.
Use University at Buffalo video graphics where possible.
All videos must be closed-captioned to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. YouTube provides auto-captioning. To get the best results, speakers should speak one at a time and talk slowly and clearly when being recorded. Eliminate as much background noise as possible for better captioning.
We do not have a video editor on the communications team. You are welcome to use iMovie or other editing tools on your own, or you can hire a professional to edit your video.
How do you plan to use this video? Is it a temporary video? Do you have a retirement date for it?
Every video eventually becomes dated. Think about your plan for retiring or remaking your video when that time comes.
You need completed Jacobs School model release forms on file for any people appearing in the video who are not employees. Avoid filming youths without permission from their parents.
Think about the story you want to tell. With it in mind, create a list of what and who you want to include and highlight.
If there are speaking parts, draft an outline of talking points or, if the video is longer and involves multiple people, a script everyone agrees on.
Don’t worry about memorizing word-for-word. It’s more important to feel comfortable with your subject. That will translate to a more natural tone and feel on camera.
If recording a webinar, let participants know beforehand they need to complete a release form or they can choose to hide their image and/or name while on camera.
University at Buffalo Production Group (UBPG) is available to help the university community with video needs.
All videos must be closed-captioned to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. YouTube provides auto-captioning. To get the best results, speakers should speak one at a time and talk slowly and clearly when being recorded. Eliminate as much background noise as possible for better captioning.