10 steps to creating an American Ninja Warrior application video

Proper now, at this second, there may be solely ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your application to season 13 of American Ninja Warrior (purposes are due by December 14). Which means 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 crew. We’ve revealed advice from the casting director, advice from the executive producers, and answers 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 below his belt? Chris Wilczewski took season 12 off from competitors, however he not too long ago took the time to share his very via utility recommendation on Reddit. It’s SO worthwhile for anybody who’s stumped on how you can method creating their very own video.

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

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

This yr I’ve had extra folks than common 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 robust 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 current YouTube tutorials for that. Anyway, I believed a few of you would possibly discover this convenient!

Good Luck to everybody making use of this season!

The 1st step: A brainstorming session

I attempt to think about something the present would possibly think about attention-grabbing about me and I vomit it onto some paper. An instance for me can be simply writing down all the pieces that could be noteworthy from my previous yr:

• Realized to put in writing laptop applications throughout COVID
• Began doing cardio, bought again into working
• Bachelor get together in Japan
• Helped Lab’s run on-line applications throughout the pandemic
• Marriage ceremony with some high Ninjas
• Began studying Japanese
• Skipped a season for the delivery of my daughter
• Coaching updates

Step two: Filtering out my tales

As soon as I really feel like I’ve numerous choices, I attempt to consider my tales from the attitude 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 attention-grabbing?
• Is the story supported by sufficient video content material?
• Is the story family-friendly?
• Is the story distinctive? Has it been advised 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 a few of the questions is sure, I would hold it or I would toss it. I usually make this choice based mostly on what number of tales I’ve that I undoubtedly wish to embrace.

If the reply to all the questions isn’t any, I toss the story. Listed below are just a few 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 attention-grabbing.
• It’s supported by some cool drone photographs of me working.
• It’s family-friendly.
• It’s NOT UNIQUE.

This story has numerous No’s and isn’t life-changing. I’d place “began doing cardio” within the most likely not going to maintain the story class.

Instance: Skipped a season for the delivery of my daughter

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

This story has a great 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 listing would possibly look one thing like this:

• Realized to put in writing laptop applications throughout COVID:
  Respectable story, will attempt to embrace it
• Began doing cardio, bought again into working:
  A weak story, not going to make use of
• Bachelor get together in Japan:
  Respectable story, will attempt to embrace
• Helped Lab’s run on-line applications throughout the pandemic:
  Weak story, most likely not going to make use of
• Marriage ceremony with some high Ninjas
  Respectable story, will attempt to embrace
• Began studying Japanese:
  Weak story, doubtless received’t use
• Skipped a season for the delivery of my daughter:
  Sturdy story, will doubtless lead with this
• Coaching updates:
  Weak story, however embrace to remind manufacturing I can nonetheless cling

Step three: Outlining my tales for my video

As soon as I’ve a listing of potential 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 doubtless it’s that I believe ANW producers will discover my story attention-grabbing.

1. Intro- wanted for all ANW movies
2. Title, age, hometown
3. Skipped ANW and targeted on the delivery of my daughter
4. Photographs and movies of my daughter
5. Voiceover explaining how vital my daughter’s delivery was to me and the way vital it was to be residence along with her.
6. Marriage 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. Realized to rewrite laptop applications
15. Voiceover explaining how I misplaced a great 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, working my program, designing 3-D fashions
17. Bachelor get together 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 get together. 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 finished to enhance from final yr and any noteworthy native or worldwide competitions I’ve finished.

Step 4: Scripts

Telling all the attention-grabbing elements of your life in three minutes or much less is just not straightforward. I at all times draft scripts for every part so I’ve a great start line. This retains me on observe and prevents me from rambling on too lengthy for a single part in my video. I’m not going to put in writing out my total video however right here is an instance of 1 part:

~30 seconds

“Like many small enterprise house owners this yr, Covid threatened my livelihood. Unable to function my companies, I pivoted my efforts to a digital mannequin. I rapidly discovered to code and wrote applications to enhance my enterprise’ effectivity when operations resumed and I developed a number of apps to assist assist my household. Initially, I made the transfer to assist present choices whereas my companies have been struggling. Nonetheless, I fell in love with programming and I’m nonetheless writing code even now after my companies have reopened.”

I usually don’t learn my scripts phrase for phrase once I movie. I discover this creates an excessive amount of of a robotic monotone vibe. As an alternative, 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 would like. In my case, it seems to be like I’ll want some voice over clips and some new coaching clips. I’m fortunate I’ve many of the supporting footage already from earlier occasions.

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

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

Earlier than you exit ensure you have a good suggestion of what you’re in search of. Additionally, anticipate to take two days to movie. Sometimes I’m going out day one and get all the pieces I believe I would like. Then once I go to edit I understand I would like extra footage and must have a second movie day.

Additionally, earlier than you exit, Spend money on a tripod, and bribe a good friend to be your digicam individual. To hurry issues up ensure you have your define and scripts helpful.

Lastly, make sure to hearken to the recommendation on the appliance web page. File horizontal, excessive vitality, be sure the shot isn’t backlit. If you’re filming audio be sure there isn’t numerous background noise. Hear for planes or vehicles and look forward to them to move earlier than recording. Keep away from filming audio on busy streets or parks. You don’t must be an expert videographer however when you observe these suggestions and clearly talk your message you ought to be stable.

Step six: Organizing Clips

Upon getting all of the footage you assume you want, arrange your video clips in your laptop. This may pace up the modifying course of. Create folders for every of your important define factors. Place all supporting supplies for that story in that folder. Be sure you don’t neglect so as to add clips you might have already filmed. Generally it helps to label the clips as properly relying on what number of assist supplies you’ve got. 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 Marriage ceremony.”

Step seven: Edit your video

As soon as you’re organized, you’re able to edit your video. I personally use Adobe Premiere Professional however there are numerous easy modifying applications on the market which might be free and simple to make use of. For those who need assistance modifying, YouTube is a good useful resource. You’ll be able to decide up the fundamentals fairly rapidly for any program.

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

Additionally, don’t be afraid to scrap what you’ve got or return and movie extra. Generally 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. For those who run into any of those points return and movie once more. It will likely be price it and hopefully, you may study out of your earlier errors.

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

Step eight: Have a good friend display your video

Upon getting a tough reduce, share the video with a few of your folks. Be sure you share it with mates that will probably be sincere and let you know if the video is “eh.” Their suggestions could also be harsh but it surely would possibly assist you to create a video that can get you solid. Take notes on any suggestions and decide when you can repair their options.

Step 9: Closing touches

After you’ve got 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 might want to movie elements over once more?

• Instance of a difficulty you may repair in post-production: The sound was slightly low.
  You’ll be able to often improve the audio slightly bit and the video will nonetheless play properly.
• Instance of a difficulty you would possibly must re-film: Your vitality was low while you launched your self.
  This downside can’t be mounted by rising the amount. You will want to movie this clip once more.

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

Step 10: Submit your ANW Utility

Lastly, upon getting shared the video with your whole mates and adjusted it in accordance with suggestions, it’s time to submit. Good Luck everybody! I’ll be watching this yr!