What is video streaming?

Video streaming is sending video files (data) over the Internet. Video streaming can be real-time or downloaded. When we speak about real-time steaming, we mean that there is no storage of data packets on the local computer. There may be buffering, but essentially the media is not stored on the local computer. Real time does not necessarily mean that the stream is live, although it might be.

Multicasting serves streams to many players, as opposed to unicasting--serving to one. In real-time streaming, more people can connect to your stream at once.

Realtime streaming can be a better alternative for larger, longer video files. Progessive streaming is best suited to smaller, shorter, complex files.

Creating for Streaming (see VSAR 305 Reader for more details, "Shooting for Video Streaming")
Whatever you stream, you need to know who your audience is. If they have a dial up modem, you will have to make extremely small and simple videos to stream. In any case, here are some general rules about streaming aesthetics:

.Audio always wins out over video. Your audience will forgive bad video, but not bad audio. When in doubt, compress for good audio. When your video image chunks down to 2 frames per second over a bad internet connection, your audio will keep playing.

.Use large, simple graphic shapes and text. Most of your video will be no larger than 320x240, if that!

.Use a minimum of camera movement, and avoid large differences in composition between frames. Sometimes it is better to experiment with entire areas of the frame being still (background, keys and mattes, or using still images like a photo sequence.)

.Keep your videos short for two reasons. One reason has to do with audience viewing--how long do you sit in front of your computer watching thumbnail size videos? And the other reason is that the longer the video, the more the viewer's player needs to renegotiate the connection speed during real-time streaming. Usually each negotiation lowers the streaming rate, making the movie "chunk up", making frame rates slower and slower and slower. If the video is a progressive stream, a long video will take a long time to download to the viewer's computer.

Let's look at these two videos for examples of these:
Elena Foster, Student This video is example of the student using a matte, with very still image in forground. Audio however is problematic.
"Domestic", Desperate Optimists We will return to this video to discuss it more in detail.

You control the content
The Internet is a powerful tool for independent media makers to show their work and to have a voice in what gets heard and seen. The Internet is decentralized and allows you to make work outside of the system.

The Internet is going to ask you to look at your work in vdeo in a different way. Many conventions of filmmaking may not apply, and so this an opportunity to experiment and make your own new rules.