What makes good video?

What makes good video? Is it a $5,000 camera? Is it a compelling narrative? Maybe it's the pressure of a deadline (diamonds, are in fact, forged under pressure). It's a question I've been pondering in this last semester while in my Advanced Electronic Activities course. I found myself thinking 'if only I had a better camera, this video would be that much better.'

But it's not that easy. The best videos are stories, with compelling characters, themes, and emotions. The best videos are technically sound, meeting all of the benchmarks that are expected from any producer that has been creating content for years. And at the end of the day, yes: the best videos look beautiful. Crisp focus, vivid colors, dynamic motion; all of these elements blend together to create things worth watching.

Let's go back to that $5,000 camera that makes getting those beautiful shots all the easier. Video producers are nothing if not tech lovers, always looking to get their hands on the latest and greatest equipment. And theres no denying that great looking video adds a lot of credibility to any project. But something I've found is that I'd rather have an experienced camera man on a point-and-shoot than someone who knows little about the basics of shooting film on an IMAX camera. I guess answer my own question, there has to be a healthy balance between experience, narrative vision, and proper equipment in order to create something compelling. It comes down to the person behind the camera to get the best footage possible and the editor to make the most out of what's handed to them. Those elements of crafting video must work together, or they won't work at all.