Here are the links on helping you to edit your movies at home.
Videohelp.com
Huge and useful technical site on learning how to make your own dvd etc.
Desktop Video Guide
There are step-by-step guides and product reviews so that you get only the most essential information you need. You'll learn how to select and buy quality video equipment, as well as techniques for shooting and capturing digital video. I also cover the video editing process and how you can share your video with others.
Windows Live Movie Maker
Ready, set, action! Create movies and slide shows from your photos and videos, and share them with your friends and family. Movie Maker is part of Windows Live Essentials, which includes free programs for photos, movies, instant messaging, e‑mail, blogging, family safety, and more. Get Movie Maker or get them all—they're free! Note: Windows Live Movie Maker is not available for Windows XP or earlier versions of Windows.
Microsoft Movie Maker
Already installed on newer computers that are running Windows XP, Movie Maker has drag and drop features to make creating and editing your movie easier. Microsoft has many add-ons for this software, and upgrades are available through the website. This is one of the best free video editing software programs available.
Apple iMovie
Apple iMovie is comparable to Windows Movie Maker, but Apple iMovie is used on the MAC operating system. Apple iMovie has many advanced features and add-ons. Unfortunately, the software is only free if you buy a new MAC system. If you want the software without buying the system, it is available for purchase. One of the best free video editing programs available for MAC users.
Avid FreeDV
Avid FreeDV is available for both Windows and MAC operating systems, and includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, as well as up to two streams of real-time effects. On the whole, a solid video editing program that is slightly hard to use, but very powerful once you learn its ins and outs.
Wax
Wax is a high performance and flexible free video editing software program. It started out as a college project, and has since grown. Wax is good for both home users and professionals. It can be used as a stand-alone application, or as a plug-in to other video editors. The software also features unlimited video and audio tracks with top-down compositing.
Zwei-Stein
Zwei-Stein is great free video editing software, but the user interface is
very technical. It is full featured, offering many different effects. It can edit up to 256 video, audio, and still image clips. There are up to 64 effects, which can be chained serially. An interesting program that's worth looking at.
Conclusion
Microsoft Movie Maker for Windows users, and Apple iMovie for MAC users are probably the two easiest to use free video editing software programs available. Both of the products will allow you to do what you want to do with your videos. However, trying out the others, you may find that you are able to add more effects and such to your videos as well. Of all the available programs out there, these are the top five free video editing software programs available.
Original post here.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Review a Doco
Please use the worksheet here as a guide.
While it seems easy to write a documentary review, there are many difficulties involved. You have to keep your mind open, and view it with an open mind. Look at it as it is written, and not because you may not like the actor or director. Remember millions of people will take your opinion seriously and a documentary reviewer can make or break a documentary.
Task
1. Outline some basic information about the documentary:
- name of the documentary
- prominent stars of the documentary
- basic setting (time and place)
- type of documentary (Advocacy for social concerns, Biography, Career Profile, Community History, Research/Factual, “How To” etc.)
3. Discuss various aspects of the filmmaking. The important thing here is to be specific and give examples. If anything is bad, good, poor, awesome, or any other subjective adjective, keep asking yourself "why?" and "how?".
* acting
* direction
* If you've seen other documentary by this same director, consider similarities/differences.
* editing
* costume design
* set design
* photography
* background music
4. Compare this documentary to other documentaries. If it has similarities to another documentary, is this one better or worse, and why? You could also make recommendations based on other documenatries, e.g. "If you liked ABC and XYZ, you'll enjoy this documentary."
Adapted from original post here.
Documentary 1: World of Warcraft: Dangerous Addiction or Cultural Phenomena
World of Warcraft: Dangerous Addiction or Cultural Phenomena
RagingScottish | 12 December 2007
A short documentary, made from the gamers' point of view, about how playing World of Warcraft has affected their lives and how they see it fit in with modern society
Documentary 2: Holden Caulfield: A Documentary
Holden Caulfield: A Documentary
lisamartinejenkins | 09 March 2010
This is a film regarding J.D. Salinger's effect on American society and the portrayal of teenagers in the media.
It was student-made for the National History Day Competition. I do not own the rights to the images, audio tracks, or film clips included.
Documentary 3: 30 Days Disabled
30 Days Disabled (Act 1: The Rules) Part 1/2
30 Days Disabled (Act 1: The Rules) Part 2/2dougluckie | 15 August 2007
"30 Days Disabled" (Act 1 of 2)
Jacquie Detterbeck -Director + Xinh Pham -Assistant Director + Jim Goodrow -Cinematographer +
Dan Nguyen -Cinematographer + Shawna Mongiat -Tech Guru/Narrator
Year: 2004
This student-made documentary film examines what it would be like to live in a wheelchair for 30 Days. The filmmakers state: Our inspiration for this project comes from Morgan Spurlock, the mastermind behind "SuperSize Me." Spurlock now has his own sitcom called "30 Days" on FX where people live the life or lifestyle of another to gain an understanding of what it is like to "live 30 days in someone else's shoes."
The two students who shared the challenge to live in a wheelchair for 30 days at MSU were: Jacquie Detterbeck and James Goodrow.
The student team states:
"*Our Project: Film a documentary about living a life completely different from your own in some way, and in a way that proves an intellectual challenge, for 30 days.
*Our Thesis: Since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, those with disabilities still face many challenges, many of which are unnecessary.
*Our Film: Two of our group members (Jacquie and Jim) will be "living the life of a person confined to a wheelchair" for two weeks each, making a combined total of 30 days. It is our hope that this film will illustrate to the public those challenges faced by the disabled--an issue that is often ignored."
This film was created as part of a senior thesis research project in a course at Michigan State University. Learn more here: http://www.msu.edu/course/lbs/492/luckie
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Make Your Own Docos: 10 Easy Steps
Make Your Own Documentary Film: 10 Easy Steps from Conceptualization to Completion
1.Watch documentary movies. Go see them on the big screen if you can. If not, then hit your local video store or join Netflix or Greencine to get movies mailed to your door. You can even watch them online at sites like FourDocs and the Documentary Film Network. Learn what makes or breaks a documentary film. Think about what kinds of documentary films you like. Learn the various genres and filmmaking styles. For example, Michael Moore's filmmaking style is very different than Ken Burns' filmmaking style.
2.Become familiar with technical equipment. Beg, borrow, steal equipment like DV cameras, final cut pro editing systems, cheap mics, flood lights. Experiment with lighting setups, audio recording, splicing clips together. Read filmmaking forums like IndieTalk to get sound technical advice from experienced filmmakers.
3.Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4.Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5.Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
6.Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
7.Find finances for your film. Use Google or check with your local film office to find out what existing documentary funding programs are available to you. For example, the International Documentary Association has a great list of grants you can apply for. Hold fundraising events. Other options are to apply for credit cards, borrow from Ma & Pop or donate yourself to a pharmaceutical company and become a lab rat like Robert Rodriguez did.
8.Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9.Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
10.Show your film! Upload it to the internet, four-wall it in a theatre, send the cut to distributors/networks to see if they are interested, hit the festival circuit. You can apply to multiple film festivals at once through the website Withoutabox. If all else fails, invite people to your place to screen. Burn multiple DVDs and get the film into the hands of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, anyone you know who is in the film industry.
Copyright Corina MacLean. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Original post here.
1.Watch documentary movies. Go see them on the big screen if you can. If not, then hit your local video store or join Netflix or Greencine to get movies mailed to your door. You can even watch them online at sites like FourDocs and the Documentary Film Network. Learn what makes or breaks a documentary film. Think about what kinds of documentary films you like. Learn the various genres and filmmaking styles. For example, Michael Moore's filmmaking style is very different than Ken Burns' filmmaking style.
2.Become familiar with technical equipment. Beg, borrow, steal equipment like DV cameras, final cut pro editing systems, cheap mics, flood lights. Experiment with lighting setups, audio recording, splicing clips together. Read filmmaking forums like IndieTalk to get sound technical advice from experienced filmmakers.
3.Choose a subject that you find fascinating and is accessible to you. Choosing a subject that is compelling & timely will result in a strong and relevant film. It is often better to focus on a local personality or local event so that you will have access to loads of resources for your film. Besides, it's much simpler & cheaper to shoot at home than abroad.
4.Become an expert on your chosen subject through research. Research your subject as thoroughly as possible. Gain knowledge through the internet, books, and word of mouth. Attend events pertaining to your chosen subject.
5.Create a structure/outline for your film through visualization. Close your eyes and imagine how you would like the final product to look. Think about how you want to structure your film. What do you want to start with? How are you going to build your film? Write down your ideas. This will give you a blueprint for shooting. But remember that in documentary filmmaking, unlike fictional filmmaking, the footage informs the final structure of the film. Your initial written outline exists to serve as a guideline for shooting.
6.Analyze your wants/needs for making the film. Make a wishlist of any people, locations, items, equipment you WISH you could have for your film. Cross-reference this list with any people, locations, items and equipment that you do have access to. Ask people. Check with local art centers, film departments at universities and colleges. Talk to the local film office. If you still can't find it then go to Myspace or Craigslist and see if you know someone who knows someone who can help fulfill some of the items on your wishlist. If you are looking for footage, check with stock libraries for material that is in the public domain and free to use.
7.Find finances for your film. Use Google or check with your local film office to find out what existing documentary funding programs are available to you. For example, the International Documentary Association has a great list of grants you can apply for. Hold fundraising events. Other options are to apply for credit cards, borrow from Ma & Pop or donate yourself to a pharmaceutical company and become a lab rat like Robert Rodriguez did.
8.Shoot! Don't talk about doing it - get out there and shoot your film. This is the step that differentiates the aspiring filmmakers from the actual filmmakers.
9.Post-production. Fast forward through all of your footage, and take printable screenshots of key scenes. This way you simplify the editing process by creating a visual map of your footage. Once this is done you should watch ALL of your footage and create an action log listing timestamps. This will help you to save time in the editing room.
10.Show your film! Upload it to the internet, four-wall it in a theatre, send the cut to distributors/networks to see if they are interested, hit the festival circuit. You can apply to multiple film festivals at once through the website Withoutabox. If all else fails, invite people to your place to screen. Burn multiple DVDs and get the film into the hands of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, anyone you know who is in the film industry.
Copyright Corina MacLean. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Original post here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)