How to Make a Beckinfield Video in 5 Minutes
Five minutes? Get outta here! I labor over my videos for hours, sometimes days. How can I possibly whip out a quickie video — with my name and reputation on the line — in that short amount of time?
It’s easy if you know the trick to it. Stick with me and you’ll soon be producing videos in less time than it takes to read this article.
A Simple Secret to Posting Prolifically
For the purpose of this exercise, let’s oversimplify Beckinfield videos into three categories. You can create videos that:
- Introduce or advance a personal storyline (a storyline you create),
- Include your character in a newsletter storyline, and
- Relate information about a newsletter storyline.
That third kind of video can be the secret to prolific posting.
Exposition is an important part of fiction and, when done well, audiences appreciate the information. I would not recommend doing all your videos like this but, used occasionally, this technique can be inspirational and liberating. If you haven’t posted a video for a while it can be a kick-start to get back in the groove. And it can also help establish your character as a Beckinfield voice of authority. Let’s examine the concept in more detail.
Beckinfield Videos of the Third Kind
There’s really not much to examine. The format is simple. Just talk about something you read in “This Week in Beckinfield,” the Actor newsletter. There is no need to expand on the fiction or become part of that storyline. Don’t get me wrong, expanding on the stories is what Beckinfield is all about…but the point is that it is not always necessary.
Each week the newsletter presents the most important plot points for each ongoing story. There are an almost unlimited number of ways to communicate this information, which is what makes Beckinfield so much fun. We see tons of fun and creative approaches on the site every day, but videos that simply state the information succinctly can be just as important. It’s the mixture of all these types of videos that make the overall story interesting and easy to follow.
The setup can be as simple as saying, “I overheard this at the laundromat…” and then delivering a tidbit of story information from that week’s newsletter. Quick expositional videos that summarize a story or bring the audience up-to-date are popular with the audiences and are often featured in the weekly “Previously on…” compilations. They help introduce a story point or make a transition between sections.
The 5-minute Challenge
Here is an example of how you might approach adding this type of video to your character’s regular postings. Let’s say you are standing in line at the grocery store on Monday afternoon. Your cell phone buzzes announcing the arrival of an e-mail. Oh joy, it’s the newsletter!
You quickly scan through this week’s storylines and pick one. Maybe you pick your favorite, or maybe you pick one that few people talk about (to increase your odds of making the compilation, you sneaky devil). Either way, your rehearsing in your head as you pay for your groceries.
Exiting the store, bags in hand, you position yourself with the grocery store sign pictured neatly over your left shoulder. You hit record on your cell phone camera and say, “You are not going to believe what I just overheard in the grocery line…”
When doing this, remember to let the video reflect your character’s personality. You’re not narrating; you are gossiping and reacting to what you “heard.” Your character will always have a unique point of view on any subject whether you add in your opinion (“Well here’s what I have to say about that…”) or simply let your emotions (shocked, skeptical, annoyed, etc.) express your point of view.
This example may be a bit extreme, but the point is that it doesn’t always have to take a lot of time or effort to create some great Beckinfield videos. Give this technique a try — it can be a fun challenge.
Special thanks to Molly Bilker, Dharbi Jens, Tom Holste, Benjamin Wright, and Rachel Wilkerson for their help and encouragement with this article.
