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Thanks to current technology, professional-looking videos can be made on your home computer relatively easily. All you need is a camera and video editing software.
Computer speed and software
Video takes up a lot of memory, and the faster your computer, the better. The software you use depends upon your budget and just how deeply involved you plan to become as a movie director!
Software programs like Adobe Premier (for PC and Mac) and Final Cut Pro (for Mac) are versatile but pricey, and require a pretty substantial learning curve. For the beginner, I would recommend more user-friendly programs like Windows Movie Maker (for PC) and iMovie (for Mac).
Tips on shooting
- Avoid using the zoom too much. It’s fun but, on playback, it can look amateurish.
- If possible, don’t use the camcorder microphone. Most cameras accept a separate mic; sound is important and a good microphone makes a lot of difference.
- While shooting, envision the final product and include some close-ups, long shots, cameo shots, etc. you can later insert into the main video.
- Make sure you have proper lighting. You don’t have to go out and buy klieg lights for a home video, but a 60-watt bulb probably won’t do the job.
- Try to keep some movement happening in the shots. Static scenes can get very boring.
The editing process and some editing tips
Your first edit will naturally take experimentation. Read the editing software’s help menu and refer to it often. Here’s the basic procedure, along with some tips:
- After you’ve shot the video, import it into your editing software. If the footage is long, consider importing several smaller files for better manageability. If you have photos to insert, you can drag them into the software also.
- Choose the best shots and cut out the bad footage. Then drag the shots into the software’s time line in the order you want them. They will hook together and you'll have a raw movie!
- Most editing software has built-in transition features (dissolves, fades, circle closing, etc.) and effects (black and white, aged film, “fairy dust”, etc.) The transitions should be placed between shots to make the video flow. Experiment with effects to see if any will add to a particular scene. Don’t overdo the transition features and effects! Be tasteful!
- Add titles to your video. Most software allows you to create titles and subtitles, along with title effects (scroll, bounce, converge, etc.)
- The sound on your video will automatically be placed on the time line.
- You should always consider adding music. Music files can be imported to the time line, where you can edit and adjust volume accordingly. You can also add narration and sound effects.
- When you’re finished, you can export the movie file, make a DVD, e-mail it to friends, or transport it to a video camera.
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