Mind the Safe Zones
When targeting the web, whatever you see in your camcorder’s viewfinder will be what you see online. However, when targeting television, i.e. film/dvd a good chunk of your video will be cropped out. That being said, be sure to give yourself enough space around the subject so as not to have the subject cropped out on a television. Let’s say you film a singer with his head brushing the edge of the frame in your viewfinder. By the time that footage gets to a television, his head will be half out of frame losing his eyes which are probably the most important aspects of a performer’s face. Professional film cameras have these safe zones drawn into their viewfinder, more commonly referred to as “action zone” and “title zone”.
The action zone is the first outter margin that is used as a “lead-in” for the camera man to slip into his shot. For instance, if the camera man has to hard pan to a new subject… he will see the subject come into frame in the “action zone”, i.e. first outter margin… giving just enough time to stop on time and not be caught off guard. Inside the inner margin is the only guaranteed viewable area. So this would be where any titles should be placed and any key subject that needs to be in full view. Anything outside the red zone (title zone) could potentially be cropped out by your television. Televisions change over time as the magnets within wear down the picture gets more and more cropped. Generally speaking, televisions will crop in between the green and red lines… you can pick up stickers to place on top of your viewfinder to get these safe zones marked on your equipment. Not having them may lead to a long process of trial and error.