AV
_GUIDELINES
Need instructions about how to produce and post your AVs on the PPP screen or website?
General AV
Guidelines_
An effective AV will consist of three parts: the concept, the visuals, and the sound.
An AV should be as short as desired, with three minutes being the optimal length to maintain audience involvement and four minutes as the maximum. Individual frames within the sequence should typically last three to five seconds, with three seconds being the optimal length.
The visual component should consist of still images, including time-lapse, and may also include some video or movie footage.
The AV sequence shouldn’t require additional explanation, but our PPP audience may be interested in knowing something about the technical aspects, such as which program was used to create the AV. Ideally, a short explanation of one to two minutes should suffice for AVs shown at our meetings.
Concepts_
It starts with the idea—something you are passionate or excited about. Have a story or theme in mind when selecting pictures. A series of unrelated pictures isn’t as effective as one that tells a story or takes the viewer on a journey.
Typically, a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. A series of images with appropriate music can take the viewer on an emotional journey; they may not necessarily tell a story but can still convey a feeling or mood.
Aim to captivate, not bore, the audience. Entertain, evoke an emotion, or inform. Keep it short unless you have truly amazing material of universal interest.
The Images_
Are your images compelling or average? To create a great show, you need the best pictures possible: high-resolution digital files or those digitised from slides, etc. Lesser-quality images can be used if you don’t plan on zooming in or displaying them for more than a few seconds.
Pictures should preferably be in landscape orientation, cropped to a 16:9 ratio, and edited and colour-corrected, etc.
If scanning old material to use, such as photos or slides, create uniformity if possible and remove white borders or date stamps.
The Show_
After gathering the images and/or movie clips, consider their order in the show and how they will all work together.
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Keep your audience engaged. Avoid variations in image length and long slides. Occasionally, a very short or long image can help emphasise a point or mood.
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Captions or text can add significantly to the show. Keep them short and of a consistent style.
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Less is more. Be frugal with effects and transitions. Adding movement to still images should be minimal, as it can be distracting unless subtle.
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Be consistent with any text or effects.
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Timing may need fine-tuning to suit your music.
Audio_
Audio could include the soundtrack from your video footage, voice, and/or music. Finding the right music to enhance the visual show can be a real challenge. Most editing software will include useful sound files, such as crowds, machinery, rain, and thunder.
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Copyright: All music posted on the PPP website must be free of copyright. More details can be found on the "Nuts & Bolts" page.
Showing_
On the PPP big screen:
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Copy it onto a USB memory stick. Make sure that your title includes your name for identification. Various file formats can be accommodated by our Technical Team, so if in doubt, check with them before submitting or use the contact form on the website under Home/Contact Us.
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On the PPP website:
Refer to the instructions on AV Nuts & Bolts.