Most videos made by beginners are not dull because the camera equipment is bad, or because the creator lacks technical skill. Boring videos are boring because no element in them directs the audience’s attention or elicits any sort of emotional response. Even if the video is perfectly composed and exposed, it could still feel flat if there is no rhythm, focus, or creative intent.
Making engaging videos from bland videos really just comes down to some simple creative decisions.
1. You’re Not Showing Anything
The easiest mistake beginners can make is to just film a scene with no real idea in mind. You may be filming a street, a building, or a person in a specific space, but if there’s no clear idea, the audience is left with nothing to connect to.
Good videos convey an idea. An atmosphere. A feeling or a story. Even the most ordinary moments can become interesting as long as you know what you want the audience to pay attention to. Rather than just filming whatever is in front of you, think about what is actually “going on” in the scene.
2. The Shots Don’t Have Variety
Another reason videos can feel flat is that the footage is too similar. If every shot looks the same, or is shot from the same angle, distance, and distance, the audience will quickly lose interest.
Engaging videos are often made up of a wide variety of shots and angles. You can use wide shots to establish the scene, medium shots to establish context, and close-ups to highlight details or facial expressions. A mix of perspectives can help add some variety to the visuals and give the audience something different to look at at different times.
Even a few changes in framing can go a long way toward changing the feel of a video.
3. The Video Has No Rhythm
Cinematic video is more than just a collection of clips. Video should have a natural flow. If your cuts are random, or all of the shots have the same length, the video will feel disjointed.
Rhythm is largely determined by shot duration. Some moments should linger. This is important for emotional scenes or images that need a moment to sink in. Other times, shots should be quick, to keep the energy moving forward. Knowing when to cut and when not to is one of the most important skills of any video creator.
Without rhythm, great footage can still feel boring.
4. You’re Ignoring the Sound
A common rookie mistake is that while you’re thinking about the visuals, you often ignore the audio. But sound plays a huge role in how a video is perceived. The sound of a scene can be subtle, yet change the entire feel of a video.
Videos often lack the impact they could have because they’re devoid of sound. The addition of ambient sound, ambient music, footsteps, wind, or anything can bring life to the visuals and help the viewer feel more immersed in the scene. Sound is what makes video real instead of just visual.
5. You’re Not Creating Progression
Often a video will feel “boring” because it feels like it doesn’t go anywhere. There is no story, no build up, no change. It starts and ends the same way emotionally.
Every video can benefit from some sort of progression. This can be a change of location, lighting, pace or emotion. Anything that changes from beginning to end will help the viewer feel like they went on a little journey.
Progression keeps video from feeling static.
Final Thoughts
Making videos that don’t feel boring has nothing to do with fancy filters or high-end gear. It is about making creative decisions regarding the framing, editing, audio, and overall structure of your video.
When you begin thinking in terms of structure, rather than just random clips, your videos will automatically feel much more interesting, even if the camera is the same, and the location hasn’t changed.