10 steps to creating an American Ninja Warrior software video

Proper now, at this second, there may be solely ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your software to season 13 of American Ninja Warrior (functions are due by December 14). Meaning it’s crunch time for anybody who needs an opportunity to run the course in 2021.

Over the previous weeks, we’ve shared all the appliance recommendation we will discover to assist everybody really feel assured in presenting themselves to the manufacturing workforce. We’ve revealed recommendation from the casting director, recommendation from the chief producers, and solutions to the questions you have been nonetheless serious about.

Not sufficient for you? How a couple of 10-step information to creating your video from a nine-time veteran with 5 journeys to the Nationwide Finals beneath his belt? Chris Wilczewski took season 12 off from competitors, however he just lately took the time to share his very via software recommendation on Reddit. It’s SO useful for anybody who’s stumped on how you can strategy creating their very own video.

The textual content under is shared with permission from Chris Wilczewski. It has been calmly edited for readability and grammar.

This 12 months I’ve had extra folks than typical asking me about my course of for making use of to ANW. So, I spent the afternoon drafting a fast information to assist Ninjas piece collectively a powerful submission video. The define focuses on organizing totally different tales and successfully speaking them in a brief time frame. I don’t focus an excessive amount of on how you can edit or stuff of that nature. There are many present YouTube tutorials for that. Anyway, I assumed a few of you may discover this handy!

Good Luck to everybody making use of this season!

The first step: A brainstorming session

I strive to consider something the present may think about fascinating about me and I vomit it onto some paper. An instance for me can be simply writing down every part that could be noteworthy from my previous 12 months:

• Discovered to jot down pc packages throughout COVID
• Began doing cardio, acquired again into operating
• Bachelor celebration in Japan
• Helped Lab’s run on-line packages through the pandemic
• Wedding ceremony with some high Ninjas
• Began studying Japanese
• Skipped a season for the beginning of my daughter
• Coaching updates

Step two: Filtering out my tales

As soon as I really feel like I’ve a variety of choices, I strive to consider my tales from the angle of an NBC government. I ask myself questions like:

• On a scale of 1-5 how life-changing is that this story? 5 = loopy life-changing
• Is that this a narrative that producers can simply retell to a big group in 30 seconds or much less?
• Would most individuals discover it fascinating?
• Is the story supported by sufficient video content material?
• Is the story family-friendly?
• Is the story distinctive? Has it been instructed earlier than?

If the reply to all of those questions is sure and the life-changing scale is bigger than 3, I hold the story.

If the reply to among the questions is sure, I would hold it or I would toss it. I sometimes make this determination based mostly on what number of tales I’ve that I undoubtedly need to embody.

If the reply to all the questions is not any, I toss the story. Listed here are a couple of examples:

Instance: Began doing cardio

• 1 – Cardio is never life-changing.
• This can be a story producers might simply retell in 30 seconds.
• Most individuals would NOT discover this fascinating.
• It’s supported by some cool drone pictures of me operating.
• It’s family-friendly.
• It’s NOT UNIQUE.

This story has a variety of No’s and isn’t life-changing. I’d place “started doing cardio” within the in all probability not going to maintain the story class.

Instance: Skipped a season for the beginning of my daughter

• 5 – For most individuals, having a baby is a life-changing second.
• This story might simply be retold in 30 seconds.
• Some folks would discover this fascinating.
• It’s supported by cute child pictures.
• It’s family-friendly.
• It’s considerably distinctive.

This story has a very good quantity of Sure solutions and is life-changing. I’d place this within the prone to hold it.

Once I’m completed going via every of my tales my record may look one thing like this:

• Discovered to jot down pc packages throughout COVID:
  Respectable story, will attempt to embody it
• Began doing cardio, acquired again into operating:
  A weak story, not going to make use of
• Bachelor celebration in Japan:
  Respectable story, will attempt to embody
• Helped Lab’s run on-line packages through the pandemic:
  Weak story, in all probability not going to make use of
• Wedding ceremony with some high Ninjas
  Respectable story, will attempt to embody
• Began studying Japanese:
  Weak story, possible received’t use
• Skipped a season for the beginning of my daughter:
  Sturdy story, will possible lead with this
• Coaching updates:
  Weak story, however embody to remind manufacturing I can nonetheless cling

Step three: Outlining my tales for my video

As soon as I’ve a listing of attainable tales, I begin rating them and itemizing out what supplies I would want to incorporate the story in my video. I attempt to rank my tales by how possible it’s that I feel ANW producers will discover my story fascinating.

1. Intro- wanted for all ANW movies
2. Identify, age, hometown
3. Skipped ANW and targeted on the beginning of my daughter
4. Pictures and movies of my daughter
5. Voiceover explaining how vital my daughter’s beginning was to me and the way vital it was to be house along with her.
6. Wedding ceremony with high Ninjas
7. Footage from the marriage
8. Video footage from the occasion
9. A couple of voiceovers from Ninjas that attended
10. Naj (Najee Richardson)
11. Rosen (Travis Rosen)
12. Bernardo (Mike Bernardo)
13. Philip Scott
14. Discovered to rewrite pc packages
15. Voiceover explaining how I misplaced a very good quantity of revenue from the pandemic. I taught myself to code to assist off-set my misplaced revenue.
16. Display screen captures of: Writing code, operating my program, designing 3-D fashions
17. Bachelor celebration in Japan
18. Clips from the journey
19. Voiceover explaining how I went to Japan with my brother, Mike Bernardo and Tim Dexter for my bachelor celebration. Clarify how we went to a bunch of shrines, anime shops, and online game arcades.
20. Coaching clips
21. Collect high coaching clips
22. Movie new coaching clips
23. The voiceover describes what I’ve carried out to enhance from final 12 months and any noteworthy native or worldwide competitions I’ve carried out.

Step 4: Scripts

Telling all the fascinating components of your life in three minutes or much less will not be straightforward. I at all times draft scripts for every part so I’ve a very good start line. This retains me on monitor and prevents me from rambling on too lengthy for a single part in my video. I’m not going to jot down out my whole video however right here is an instance of 1 part:

~30 seconds

“Like many small business owners this year, Covid threatened my livelihood. Unable to operate my businesses, I pivoted my efforts to a digital model. I quickly learned to code and wrote programs to improve my business’ efficiency when operations resumed and I developed multiple apps to help support my family. Initially, I made the move to help provide options while my businesses were struggling. However, I fell in love with programming and I am still writing code even now after my businesses have reopened.”

I sometimes don’t learn my scripts phrase for phrase after I movie. I discover this creates an excessive amount of of a robotic monotone vibe. As a substitute, I exploit the scripts as a information for me to speak my message successfully then I attempt to put a pure spin on it.

Step 5: Filming

As soon as I’ve the scripts drafted, I’ll look via my scripts and description to find out what new clips I want. In my case, it seems like I’ll want some voice over clips and some new coaching clips. I’m fortunate I’ve a lot of the supporting footage already from earlier occasions.

Different years I used to be not as fortunate and my movie shoots concerned getting extra pictures. For instance, in season two I used to be nonetheless in faculty and wanted to get footage of me at school and on campus. I included a listing of footage I hoped to get in my define. It regarded one thing like this:

• Strolling on campus with books
• Sitting at a desk taking notes
• Drawing Ninja Obstacles whereas at school

Earlier than you exit be sure you have a good suggestion of what you might be searching for. Additionally, count on to take two days to movie. Sometimes I am going out day one and get every part I feel I want. Then after I go to edit I understand I want extra footage and have to have a second movie day.

Additionally, earlier than you exit, Spend money on a tripod, and bribe a buddy to be your digital camera particular person. To hurry issues up be sure you have your define and scripts useful.

Lastly, be sure you hearken to the recommendation on the appliance web page. Report horizontal, excessive vitality, make certain the shot isn’t backlit. If you’re filming audio make certain there isn’t a variety of background noise. Pay attention for planes or vans and look ahead to them to cross earlier than recording. Keep away from filming audio on busy streets or parks. You don’t should be an expert videographer however in case you comply with these ideas and clearly talk your message you need to be strong.

Step six: Organizing Clips

Upon getting all of the footage you assume you want, manage your video clips in your pc. This may velocity up the modifying course of. Create folders for every of your essential define factors. Place all supporting supplies for that story in that folder. Be sure you don’t neglect so as to add clips you could have already filmed. Typically it helps to label the clips as effectively relying on what number of help supplies you will have. I often identify the clips for what’s within the video I would need.

Instance: I’ve a marriage clip of some Ninjas dancing. I might label this “Ninjas Dancing at Wedding.”

Step seven: Edit your video

As soon as you might be organized, you might be able to edit your video. I personally use Adobe Premiere Professional however there are a variety of easy modifying packages on the market which can be free and simple to make use of. In the event you need assistance modifying, YouTube is a good useful resource. You may choose up the fundamentals fairly rapidly for any program.

I received’t add a lot recommendation for modifying besides to comply with your define. Begin constructing your video one part at a time in keeping with what you outlined. If one part begins changing into too lengthy, take one other take a look at the part and see in case you can condense your voiceover.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to scrap what you will have or return and movie extra. Typically clips don’t end up the way in which you hoped and while you see them on the pc you understand the footage wasn’t excellent or the audio was too low. In the event you run into any of those points return and movie once more. It will likely be value it and hopefully, you’ll be able to study out of your earlier errors.

Picture By: David Becker/NBCU Picture Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

Step eight: Have a buddy display screen your video

Upon getting a tough minimize, share the video with a few of your mates. Be sure you share it with pals that will likely be trustworthy and let you know if the video is “eh.” Their suggestions could also be harsh but it surely may show you how to create a video that can get you forged. Take notes on any suggestions and decide in case you can repair their solutions.

Step 9: Ultimate touches

After you will have suggestions, decide how one can enhance your video based mostly on the suggestions. Ask your self an vital query: Are you able to repair the video in post-production or do you could movie components over once more?

• Instance of a problem you’ll be able to repair in post-production: The sound was somewhat low.
  You may often enhance the audio somewhat bit and the video will nonetheless play effectively.
• Instance of a problem you may have to re-film: Your vitality was low while you launched your self.
  This drawback can’t be fastened by rising the amount. You will have to movie this clip once more.

Upon getting decided how you can enhance the video, repeat the required steps from earlier than to get the brand new footage you want.

Step 10: Submit your ANW Utility

Lastly, after you have shared the video with all your pals and adjusted it in keeping with suggestions, it’s time to submit. Good Luck everybody! I’ll be watching this 12 months!