In this article we will be discussing the Vérité video.
Vérité is a slice of life. Mostly using hand-held camera techniques these videos record — a moment in the filmmakers life. Often they are made into music videos as an afterthought. If this is the case we find more editing techniques involved, such as the use of filters, the overlaying of images, and color changes to the edits. Sometimes these types of edits and effects work. When they are used for the sake of using them, they do not work. In fact, one common reason we rate a video lower is when we see the use of effects because the producer just discovered them and wanted to be sure to get it in the video.
The excessive use of effects is one reason we don't rate videos produced with VideoStar®* — this app exists because of the inclusion of its many effects. Most VideoStar® videos are Vérité but look more contrived because producers think they can make it more interesting with lots of effects. As with all videos put to music, think about how you're editing to the music. Are you telling a story? Highlighting a performance? Or, just creating a very visually appealing music video?
*Note: As of this writing this app is currently popular but this article refers to all smartphone apps that take control from the producer and make generic videos.
Here are some examples of the Vérité video:
This travel video is an example of point-of-view that makes it a good Vérité video:
This video starts out with shots of winter weather and trees before morphing to fun with a GoPro on a bike. Nothing in way of effects. The quality rests with the production and the editing — and an idea for a story:
As with the video above this is a Performance-type that uses Vérité styles in the production and editing. Solid performance techniques make this a fun video:
This video doesn't look like much as the start but reveals good performances and a sense of fun as it progressives. This is an example of making a video without a script. This was produced with a song in mind and then the producers just went out and shot video:
A Day in the Life — another example of video edited to a song afterward. I'm not even sure whether the producers had a music video in mind until they saw the video. Similar to a travel video but with more of a concept:
We see a lot of videos shot from cars as they just drive around. Most of them are considered Abstract because the song is used to join the visuals together. Oftentimes, driving around videos are at night where the many colored lights help tell the story. This video is more V√©rit√© because there seems to be more of a concept. Again, it is the style of the production that makes this a Vérité video:
Next up: The Abstract Video
