10Yetis Insight - Using a jib in your online video production

Why should you invest in a jib for your Online Video Production? Well here we go...

We’ve been long-time fans of the jib for cinematic shots in our online videos. The shots add a slickness to the overall production and they work perfectly for when you need a good aerial view of a location or products.

A jib looks like this:

It’s basically a weighted crane arm which allows for smooth camera shots which can move side to side and up and down, diagonal, every which way. You simply attach the camera to one end with a camera plate and weight the other end of the arm with water jugs, these have to be perfectly balanced to the camera and lens that you are using. Here are some good examples of when to use a jib for a shot:

Changing stationary to moving shots. A stationary shot can be a very boring and uninspired shot to put in your corporate video. It does nothing to capture audience attention and if someone is talking directly to camera it can mean your information is not getting across. Adding movement with the jib makes a shot instantly more interesting; cutting between a jib shot and a stationary talking head shot, using a sound bridge is a good idea. Obviously don’t make every stationary shot a moving shot, you don’t want to make everyone motion sick!

Establishing a scene or revealing things. Jibs are most often used in an establishing shot. It helps viewers to get an overview of the scene and feel a sense of location. Establishing shots are made easy with the jib which can be sent sky high with the crane arm. This allows an aerial view, and can bring you down into the action too. For example you could be getting a big aerial shot of the countryside and then sweep the jib down to reveal a presenter or something in the field. You can also use it to reveal people or things from behind walls/objects or use it to follow a moving object such as a car.

Transition shots. The jib can also be great for creating transitional shots which can be completed in the edit. So for example you may need a way to end your video, but be stuck on how to do it. A simple technique with the jib is to lift the camera to the sky and then fade out to white (in the edit). You can also use the movement of the jib to help you transition into another scene. So for example if you are moving the camera alongside a building and then you need to cut to another scene, use the same movement in the new scene and this will cut together nicely. You can do the same with an up and down movement as well as with moving objects. Contrasting movements cut together can be jarring, but if this is the desired effect then it can work very well in the edit.

Don’t overuse jib shots in your video, this can become distracting and well frankly just look a bit ridiculous, use it as a way to add interest to your videos. If you have a reason for using the jib (e.g. following a moving object, or setting the scene) then it will make sense and look good in the video, if you’re using it for the sake of using it then it’s probably not a good idea.

So now I’ve waffled on, I’ll leave it to video masters Rob and Kishi to show you what you can achieve with a jib in our entertaining little video.