Is A Video Essay A Documentary?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It's a similar distinction between a think piece and documentary. Rather than merely presenting facts about a subject and calling it a day, a video essay

tends to be more personal and opinionated

, sparking an interesting discussion around analyzing the subject matter.

What exactly is a video essay?

What is a Video Essay? The term Video Essay is hard to define as it is still evolving from a long cinematic history. From the screen studies perspective, it is

a video that analyses specific topics or themes relating to film and television and is relevant as it comments on film in its own language

.

Are video essays genre?

Perhaps the best definition of a video essay comes from FilmScalpel: While there are

no specific rules

that a video essay must follow, as the genre becomes more common and respected online, it appears that there are some conventions that most of the prominent video essayists are following. …

What is the point of a video essay?

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are

essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique

.

How do you write a video essay?

  1. Develop a topic. …
  2. Create an outline and a basic script for your video.
  3. Collect your images. …
  4. Collect your voice files and / or music. …
  5. Upload your files into your video editing software and begin the process of creating your video essay. …
  6. Share your video essay.

Why are video essays better?

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is

the use of visuals

. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing.

How long should video essays be?

Unlike written essays, video essays combine written and oral arguments with film, sound, and images. Video essays are a relatively new genre of visual essay. They are usually

about 4 or 5 minutes long

and either give a broad introduction to a subject or focus one specific idea.

Why are video essays so popular?

That said, video essays are popular

because they encourage conversation

, and that is what people should be focused on. It is easy to get sucked into the trap of “Why It Sucks” and “Why It's Great” videos, but it's more fruitful to think about what's actually being said.

How do you film a video footage in an essay?

  1. Start with a brief.
  2. Use your brief to write an outline.
  3. Introduce yourself and/or the topic at the beginning of your script.
  4. Start writing your script, section by section.
  5. Support any B-roll with the proper callouts in your main narrative.
  6. Be as concise as you can.

What colleges accept video essays?

The Huffington Post points out that schools like

George Mason University, Tufts University

, and St. Mary's College of Maryland are currently accepting the videos as a part of the admissions process.

How do you write a video essay for college?

  1. Choose a quiet space with an appropriate background. While your video isn't expected to be professional quality, you should be mindful of where exactly you're recording and the overall look of the video. …
  2. Get Creative. …
  3. Look your best. …
  4. Address the prompt.

Which MBA programs have video essays?

  • INSEAD Video Essay. …
  • Northwestern Kellogg Video Essay. …
  • Yale SoM Video Essay. …
  • MIT Sloan Video Essay.

What is a college video essay?

A video essay is

an optional 2-5 minute video that allows students to showcase their creativity and demonstrate why they want to attend the college

. This is different from a video portfolio, which may be required for certain majors.

How many words is a 10 minute video essay?

Answer: At the normal speaking rate of 130 words per minute (wpm), a 10 minutes long speech will have about

1,300 words

. Speech and publication coach Daphne Gray-Grant found that, on average, people speak at a rate of 125 to 150 wpm so a 10 minutes long speech uses between 1,250 to 1,500 words.

What are YouTube video essays?

Similar to an op-ed, they are opinion pieces that offer analysis on a subject from the creator. However, video essays have

the myriad of visual tools that video editing provides

, which enhances their information.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.