How to Make a Time-Lapse Video With Your Digital Video Camera
December 16, 2011 | 
Author Getting the most out of your digital video camera can mean being able to create some really cool stuff. You just have to step outside the manual a bit and find the cool things you can do with your digital video camera and your editing software.
We have all seen them in a movie or a TV show, those very cool shots where they speed up time and capture a long segment of time and condense it into a very short amount of video. An example is many of the TV news stations nowadays have a camera that captures the day’s weather and then they process it down to a 20 second clip to show the clouds and weather racing by on screen.
Well this technique is not just a tool in the hands of the movie makers or the big TV stations. You can do this with your digital video camera gear too. I will go into two ways that you can accomplish this effect and get some cool results for your next video project. This one is worth playing around with in order to find the right settings to get the most dramatic effect.
Technique number one is to use the camera itself to do the time lapse recording for you. Almost all digital video cameras have the ability to do an interval recording. What this means in a nutshell is that you tell the camera how long you want to record for and how long in between recordings and it will go on autopilot for you for as long as the battery lasts or the tape runs out. This is what those cameras at the convenience store do, they record a few seconds of motion every 30-60 seconds giving the overall view of the traffic in the store over time.
Now if you want to capture some time lapse in your digital video camera you will need to get into your cameras menu and find Interval Recording (or in my case Int Rec, as I use a Sony PD 150 for my camera) When you select this option you will decide how long of an interval between shots you want and how long to record each time. If you are trying to capture something that takes a long time to occur and in which not much happens quickly you will want to set the interval at around a minute and the record time as short as possible on your camera. An example would be if you wanted to record a day in the life of a flower or the clouds rolling by in the sky. Suppose however that you want to capture an event that has lots of action and occurs over a much shorter time frame. Then you would want to shorten the interval between recordings and increase the time of each recording. So in this case you might record every 15-30 seconds and record up to 2-3 seconds of video each time.
I used this technique to capture an afternoon of work being done by a team of carpenters on my house remodeling project. The result was a flurry of activity as workers raced hither and yon nailing boards, carrying equipment and building walls. I have added it to my photo collection of the project. (Hey I had to live through the project so I might as well have a great record of it for posterity!)
Now suppose you have one of the great software video editing packages on your computer to work with your digital video camera. Now you can do it in post as they say in the business. You can record any length of video you want (subject to the limitations of your tape length) and then import it into your editing program.
Sidebar:
I use Adobe Premiere Pro for my editing jobs, but I have also used Avid DV Express, Final Cut Pro, and others in the non linear editing world. These are all great programs and are very powerful products that can create some very professional looking videos. You don’t have to have these products to create your own videos but if you are serious about digital video editing it might be a good idea to take a look at these options.
I digitize my raw video of the scene I am doing time lapse on into my computer (big hard drive, video eats up GB’s of space) and then import the clip into my time line. From the timeline you can then select the clip with a right click. From there you will be given a menu with options depending on the software you use. Select the option that says “duration”, “speed” or something similar. Change the speed of the clip so that time will speed up considerably. If you have an hour of video in the clip and want to shorten it to 2 -5 minutes then you need to increase the speed of the clip to 3 or 4 thousand percent of normal. This will require your software to render the clip at the higher speed and may take some time top process depending on the speed of your computer.
Once you have rendered the video clip at the new speed you will want to play it to see if the movie flows evenly or if you will want to readjust the speed setting to make it better. Sometimes you may want to shorten your raw video and adjust the speed down somewhat in order to get a smooth flow of action. Once you have rendered the clip at the new speed you can now cut and splice it as you see fit with the speeded up action intact. There are some things you will record that might only need a slight speed change, take for instance some digital video of your kids playing sports. Double or triple the speed of the clip and show it to them and you might have them rolling on the floor.
You can also use these techniques to capture the growth of a flower or plant over the course of days or weeks. Simply set you camera in exactly the same place at the same time each day and record an interval that works each day fro however long you want to document. May be you get the seedling just breaking soil and follow it all the way through turning into a full grown plant.
Another interesting idea is to capture the path of the moon across the night sky. Set up your camera on a tripod in a spot that can see the path of the moon for several hours. Set the camera to interval record and put the moon on one side of the frame so that it will pass across the frame as the night passes. This one may require some testing in order to get the exposure and framing right as well as the right interval to record at. Most likely you would want to set the interval as long as you can and the record time as short as you can but do a test run first to see what works.
Breaking Into Hollywood – How Do I Sell My New Screenplay?
When new screenwriters finish their scripts, they often begin the search for a rep to submit the work around town. But is that the best way to do it? Well, sure! But it’s not the ONLY way to do it.
As you prep to get your script sold, incorporate this info into your marketing strategy:
SEEK REPRESENTATION
But only if you have a bona fide “in” to their direct office line! It’s very difficult to get a lit agent to read a script for representation without a personal introduction by a repped client of theirs. If you know a screenwriter or other industry member with an agent who actually is getting scripts read by real studios and funders, and you have TWO solid scripts (more on that later), ask for an introduction. Give your contact a substantial gift whether you are signed or not!
Of course, it’s not necessary to have a lit agent to shop a script. Make getting an agent only one part of a broader shopping strategy.
EXPLORE LEGITIMATE SUBMISSION OUTLETS
The main places you’re trying to get your script to, production companies, studios and even top-five actors’ shingles, are sometimes more accessible than lit agents. If you’re not already, make sure you join professional writers’ groups like ScreenplayLab and Scriptwriters’ Network, and attend every possible event to make those contacts.
Again, the way to shop a script in our industry is to know someone. It’s tough to open a new professional relationship by asking for the considerable favor of an agent referral, so try a strategy where you’re offering something they could use in exchange for the introduction. And expect them to request to read your script first – and listen to their notes without argument.
Another credible outlet for getting your script noticed is via some of the online sites. If you’re not already, make sure you’re active at Inktip, for example. And be sure to explore the hundreds of screenplay competitions, like Scriptapalooza – but check first to see what success stories you can verify from their sites.
WRITE AND QC MORE THAN ONE SCRIPT
“QC” stands for “Quality Control.” Do not ever submit a script that is not structurally sound, no matter how ready you are to stop looking at it! This is neither a judgment, an assumption, an insult or a joke. It truly is a requirement. I was a reader at one of the biggest prod cos in Los Angeles, I’ve had scripts optioned, I run a filmmaking seminar, I’ve taught at UCLA Ext, I’ve written a very popular screenwriting book. Please trust me on this. There are no second chances for first impressions in our industry. And it’s not just your rep on the line, but also the rep of whoever opens that door for your submission.
Why “more than one script”? That is because if someone reads work of yours and thinks you have promise, their next request (to confirm the initial impression) is very often, “Can you send me another spec?” If you can’t, that is by no means a dealbreaker. But if you CAN, and the second script is equally hot, that could be a dealmaker! The second script needs to be structurally sound, as well.
Be sure that your screenplays are structurally solid (on a first submission, nothing else will do! Trust me!). Be sure that an experienced Hollywood reader has read the script and you’ve addressed the notes. As I always say, “if the story does not fit, you must not submit!” If you submit a flawless first spec, you will never have to live up these standards again, but you should. If you submit a flawed first spec, you will not get the chance to live up to higher standards at that company; you will be blocked from future submissions.
CONSIDER PRODUCING YOUR WORK YOURSELF
If you find you are getting great feedback on your work, but it’s never quite the right fit, consider producing the film yourself. This is a great approach when you have a lower-budget indie project (think “Open Water”) versus an effects-laden thriller! It is an enormous undertaking to produce a film, but there are many resources out there for people who have compelling scripts to develop. And just as you studied and trained to write well, be sure to research and train extensively before taking on a massive project like producing a movie. Your first stop should be a professional organization like Film Independent (FIND), which can connect with you with terrific partners and/or mentors, as well as vital resources.
However, you decide to get your screenplay sold, it should be clear by now that you don’t do it alone – you need community support and resources – and no one else does it for you – even an agent! It is no one’s responsibility to open a door for you to sell a screenplay. It is your responsibility to create a tight script, research appropriate buyers, and relentlessly seek submission opportunities until someone buys – or you decide to produce your work yourself!
So Ya Wanna Write a Screenplay?
Do have a great idea for a feature film or a made-for TV movie? How about a TV sitcom or animated feature? Or even a stage production? Great! But there are ways to go about it and ways to NOT go about it.
One of the things that you have to remember about getting started in the screenplay biz is that you will be dealing with people who will expect to see your submitted screenplay in a correct and very specific format – a format that depends on what it is that you are submitting. You can’t just mindlessly write the thing in Word and expect people to ooh and ahh over your great idea.
Or even read it at all.
The people who’s job it is read submitted screenplays (for feature films or TV they’re called “spec scripts”) have to sift through hundreds if not thousands of them every week. They will tend not to give even a casual glance to anything that is not submitted in a professional manner – A professional manner that they are accustomed to dealing with in the industry.
Screenplays are divided into specific parts:
Scene Heading – Sometimes called a slug line, this identifies the scene as exterior or interior, the location of the scene and even the time of day.
Action – What it says. A description of the physical goings-on.
Character – This precedes all dialogue and tells the reader who is doing the talking.
Parenthetical – How the dialogue is delivered. This is always shown in parentheses, hence the name.
Dialogue – What the character is saying.
Transition – Marks the end of a scene and gives instructions as to how to go to the next scene.
Shot – Camera angles or movement – always written in CAPS
General – Anything else not included in the above.
Not only that, but these parts are handled and formatted differently depending on the type of screenplay.
So, you can see that you can’t approach writing any kind of screenplay or script in a casual manner. You have to follow “the rules”.
Even screenplay writers who are known in the entertainment industry use some kind of screenplay writing software instead of trying to mess around with a standard word processor such as Microsoft Word. This is something that you should consider before writing anything.
You will need to think of your screenplay or script “shot by shot” and put it all down on paper as an outline first before you write the thing.
You may also find it helpful to subscribe to an industry publication about screenplay writing for tips and examples.
Be warned. Most production companies do NOT accept unsolicited screenplays or scripts. You will either have to send a query letter to request a channel for submission, or you will need an agent to obtain representation and then let the agency handle it.
You must also make sure that your screenplay or script is free of typos, formatting errors, or copy marks. Scripts containing any of these will be rejected out of hand, and once you’ve been rejected for this reason it is doubtful that you will get a second chance.
But don’t let any of this discourage you from your dream. You simply have to do it the right way. The professional “industry-standard” way.
Good Luck.
How To Create Fantastic Looking YouTube Videos Without A Video Camera
These days a fair portion of the population can put their hands on a video camera to record a YouTube video. These cameras can come in many forms, such as the traditional handycam, built-in cameras incorporated in the computer, external webcams, and mobile phones – all with the capability to produce video imagery suitable for the web.
But what if you don’t have any of the above?
Step 1. Write Your Sales Copy. Remember, you want to create curiosity with your video, which will ultimately entice the viewer to go to your website at the completion of the video.
This sales letter does not have to be too long, as if the video is too long, you will lose your audience before the end of the video.
Step 2. With Your Sales Copy in mind, think of some illustrations that may complement your presentation.
To find your illustrations, I prefer bing.com. Simply type a description of what you are looking for in the Search Tab. Once you have found the illustration has been found that will be suited, it is a case of right-clicking and saving the image to a folder on the your desktop. I recommend you call the New Folder something appropriate for quick recognition.
A quicker way of capturing the image is a fantastic piece of software called SnagIt. This powerful piece of software gives greater flexibility in editing the image by clipping the image, adding word bubbles to the image or even creating custom borders on the image.
Now you have your Sales Copy and Images, it’s time to start collating it all together.
Step 3. Using Microsoft PowerPoint, Open a New Project. I always place a copy of the logo of the product I am promoting on the first Tile, accompanied by the URL you are wanting people to go to after the video.
If you are importing your images from your desktop, it is a simple task of uploading the image to the respective Tile. For Snagit users, all you need to do it Copy and Paste the image. Resize the images to their desired size, and place your text to the style and size you desire.
Remember not to put too much type on the Tile. You are wanting to grab the viewers attention with interesting points of fact, not explain every point in fine detail.
Once your PowerPoint presentation is complete, save this project as a JPEG file.
Step 4. I recommend using a website called OneTrueMedia.com to create your YouTube video. On opening this website, you will be urged to Create New Montage. It is simply a matter of uploading the PowerPoint presentation you have just saved as a jpeg file. This will take a few minutes to complete.
Once the upload has finished, you will be wanting to edit the montage. Click the Edit button. Ensure the slides are in the correct order. It is here that you can set:
- Slide duration (time it will display)
- Effects (Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan Right to Left, Pan Left to Right, Pan Up to Down, Pan Down to Up)
- Transition (what effect will occur during the change of slides).
Once you are happy with all of this, Hit Preview to see your montage. Next to the Preview box you will see a button marked Themes. This section is pretty cool. Click the All button, and explore the many themes available for your use.
When you have chosen your theme, add the music which will complement your video.
Remember to always change the name of your montage to something which is keyword rich.
Step 5. Now you have finalised your video, it is time to share it with the wide world. Click the Share button. Social media outlets such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are then easily accessible for instant downloads to the respective sites.
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Tags: Camera, Create, Fantastic, Looking, Videos, Without, YouTube | 
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Funding A Film – The Art, Science and Business of Film Production
The profession of an artist is probably one of the least predictable occupations you can engage in, and success as an artist is a subject unfortunately never taught in school. School teaches you the craft, the trade, the method, the process, the result; and all at a very hefty price. But the moment will come when you will be faced with a realities that just about every artist faces: How do I fund my work? and How do I pay my bills?
Of course, for film makers, there’s film school (and the equivalent performing arts MFA equivalent for actors), but I’m sure by college graduation time (if you were lucky enough) you’ll realize that higher education is not free. You may also question whether or not the educational value matched the time and money that you put into it. It may come as no surprise to you that the prestige of film school is just a fancy facade for a place to get some contacts and an opportunity to create your first collaborative short film with like-minded artists (funded from your own pockets no less!). Okay, but then, now what?
Certainly the skill of film directing and acting doesn’t pay for itself (you’re essentially a contract employee), Craigslist is filled with so much no-budget aspiring productions attempting to solicit your so-called skills for free in exchange for a share of the profits (of course, since these postings were created by people in your same boat, they most likely have no idea how they’ll ever make money from it). And as we recently learned from our recent trip to Burbank, you could have easily qualified for a job waiting tables without an expensive degree.
Our production is currently in the later stages of its its fund-raising phase, and we’ve gathered enough momentum to see our project through, so we thought we’d take a moment to share some hard-learned lessons with actors, directors and producers out there on how to initiate success in your careers.
As you continue reading, keep several things in mind: success comes from balancing artistic aspirations with practical expectations, and growth stops at the point of resistance.
Aspire & Grow
This is probably the catalyst that propelled you to go into this field, but we mean this in the broadest sense. That is, you’ll have to grow on every front required for your success. It may mean constantly learning new ways to say a line, effectively budget your grocery money, programming your own website, intelligently reducing your tax liability, or fixing your car tire when it blows out on your way to an audition. You likely know your aspirations well, and you’ll likely know what direction you want to go in. Just be open to what you’ll have to learn along the way, and don’t hesitate to improve on something even if it may not feel directly relevant to your artistic goals.
Compromise (a.k.a. Don’t take your position for granted)
You knew you’d have to do this eventually, you just didn’t think you’d have to do it THAT much. A job is never waiting for you, it’s NOT just about the art, the production is not always the vision of one person, and exceptional talent is NOT all that there is to getting ahead. Do you hate dealing with money, the law, negotiating with insurance companies, the politics of film distribution, the politics of film unions? As an entrepreneur, you need to have the same attitude regardless of what field you’re in. And if you can’t compromise and learn what needs to be learned (and be good at it), be prepared to get a day job.
Treat Yourself (and others) Like A Business
Nothing is free. Your time and services should not be free either. And nothing erodes this more than projecting an image to others that you do not take your own work seriously. Separate your personal and business profile, create separate bank accounts. You can establish a sole-proprietorship at first, or even an LLC and a corporation depending on how you sell yourself. Create a website with samples of your work and your talent profile. When you pitch yourself, remember that you’re selling your business.
However, this does not mean you shouldn’t work for free. Spec work has its place, and experience can go a long way. When you work, try to get the most value for your time and services. But remember, treat every opportunity like a business, and be especially wary of people who are just asking for free labor (there’s a difference between working for free and working on deferral!).
Do you think that giving up your services for free now will land you big exposure, referrals and get you more work down the line? More than likely, it will not. The only thing you’re setting yourself up for is for more free work. Since you’re treating yourself and others like a business now, you’ll quickly learn that everyone knows that nothing is free, they won’t work for free themselves, yet they’ll always ask you to do it. So should you? It depends. You can usually tell if a production is serious by how they manage their business; and though it may not always mean they have millions of dollars to throw around, you can get a good sense of how much they value your services based on how they expect to compensate you for your time.
Finance and “The Deal”
It is one thing to dream, it is another thing to make it a reality. Money and power are the politics of the world, and there is no getting around this. Good intentions will motivate you to begin a film, but it will never complete it. A great idea will compel you to become a director, but it won’t keep the electricity flowing through the camera and lights. Film making, acting and film distribution is a business. One way or another, you need to view your own business in terms of investment and return.
This means planning ahead many steps to develop a clear goal, not only how money will affect your production (the equipment, the kind of actors you can hire – or should hire -, the kind of distributors you will talk to), but also how your work will be viewed, exhibited and earn that money back and more in order for you to continue pursuing your life’s passion. After all, if acting, directing and film making means everything to you, you should be doing everything in your power to keep it that way.
As an actor/director, do you know how to market yourself? As a producer, do you know how to hire and pay people? How to talk to investors? How to raise the money yourself? How to incorporate a company? Deal with lawsuits? Negotiate with vendors? Drafting a leasing agreement between yourself and the distributor? See a film from the very beginning to the very end? (and by end, we mean very very end to the moment someone hands over a $20 bill for a ticket)
Before you make any sincere attempt to convince yourself that your no-budget masterpiece will be the biggest thing next to curly fries, we strongly discourage you from thinking like this. You may not have millions to throw around, but that shouldn’t excuse you from approaching this as a professional endeavor. Approach it as you would any other business; NEVER take the lowest common denominator just because you “don’t want to deal with money and business”. You’ll get some experience from it, so it may benefit you, your cast and crew (beyond food, credit and copy if you even bothered to pay them) in that sense. But this mindset can be dangerous if you ever plan on pursuing film making seriously. Sure, your friends and family will come to see it (but then, that makes your film more like a “home movie”, doesn’t it?), but if you can’t convince a total stranger that there is something about your production that’s worth their time and money, your chances of ever seeing a return on your investment is practically non-existent. So while you COULD pay that unknown actor $100/day to star in your production, paying a name actor 10 times as much will infinitely boost your chance of getting some kind of distribution deal, even someone who is only locally well known.
Conclusion
Film making, theater, and the performing arts are very fun professions, but it is a business as well. And like any other business, and it is riddled with many of the same issues. Nine out of ten businesses will fail within five years. Of those that survive, nine out of ten will eventually fail. And if it took 100% of your effort just to get your foot in the door, it will take 200% to keep up the momentum, and 500% to maintain your success once you’ve attained it.
Aspire, but be realistic (artistically and financially) about your goals. It’s very tempting to just dismiss the business, financial and bureaucratic side of art and film making, but you have an infinitely greater chance at success adopting a practical step-by-step approach than you ever will taking a “I’m not interested in business or return on investment. It’s all about the art” attitude.
Posted in Handicam Articles | Tags: Business, Clearance, Funding, Primer, Production, Science, Selection, Trademarks | No Comments »
Amazing Package Of Kindle Reader
One thing that people check when weighing out the purchase of an Electronic Book Reader is the cost. Apparently, most individuals are now looking for the best-featured product with a reasonable price. With regard to that, Amazon offers the most discounted rate for its Kindle. This device is preloaded with great functionalities and highlights that will surely make it worth every penny and even more.
This product offers a lot of things that you shouldn’t miss. For one, it provides total convenience through its built-in wireless connectivity. It allows you to easily and quickly connect to the Amazon’s online store. It’s a standalone unit which means that it requires no more PC for you to download everything you need. It also makes you save more money since it offers free samples of books before you decide to buy them or not.
Carrying as many books as you can while you’re on a trip somewhere is now possible with this device. Notably, it’s capable of storing up to thousands of your favorite books, magazines, newspapers and more. You can even add more to your collection by downloading them online straight through it and acquire them in split minute.
By using this device, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing just to read whatever you want to read. It offers text-to-speech feature which allows you to listen while the unit reads the texts out loud for you. Thus, you can now read, and at the same time, do other stuffs like driving, eating, exercising, or babysitting.
The fact that it’s not made up of papers minimizes the chances of those trees to be cut down, making it environmental-friendly. It gives access to the most inexpensive best sellers and new releases. The good thing about turning into these digital books is that they never run out of stock. Gathering all of your desired books is now made easier and faster than ever, saving you more time, effort, and money.
Certainly, the Kindle Reader contains state-of-the-art features and functionalities that everyone will love. At only 1/3 of an inch thin and 10.2 ounces, this unit is naturally made sleek, modern, and portable. It’s designed with an E-Ink screen, making it appear and read like paper and ink. In addition, its battery life is relatively longer. It allows you to read for a week or two without the need to recharge more often. Indeed, this wireless reading device has changed the reading experience of the vast readers worldwide.
Adobe After Effects Versus Video Editing Software
Adobe After Effects is one of the most incredible pieces of software for motion graphics creation. While professional video editing software like Premiere and Final Cut Studio allow you to cut and splice video, and will also allow you to add and manipulate some effects, After Effects goes far beyond this allowing you to add complex effects to your footage, text and assets significantly increasing the professional look of your project.
After Effects takes things to the next level by allowing you to key-frame every option available in the software from the effects to the 3D lighting to the 3D camera. Key-framing is the process of placing 2 or more markers on the timeline that designate a setting for the item they are placed for. In other words, you can place a key-frame at the very beginning of your video for the size parameter and then set your size parameter at that point to 0%. Then, if you place another keyframe 10 seconds into your video on the timeline and setting the size parameter at that point to 100%, your video will automatically grow as the timeline plays from 0% to 100% as it plays from the 0 second to 10 second mark. This technique of key-framing can be applied to almost every option in After Effects allowing you to animate text by moving it around the screen, animate effects by controlling parameters like brightness, color and glow or animate the built in 3D camera by moving your text or video throughout 3D space. Of course, these examples are the most simple examples of what can be done with After Effects. The options are almost limitless!
Working in After Effects usually can be frustrating to a video editor. Because After Effects creates such amazing effects, it takes a lot of resources to be able to do so. This means that you seldom if ever will be able to view any of your project in real-time. You can’t just press play and preview your creation. In general, if you want to see what you have created you will either have to do what After Effects calls a Ram Preview, which essentially creates a short render of a portion of your project you can view in real time. However, if you want to see your entire project played back in full speed, you generally will just have to render the entire project to a video and then watch that video back in your video player.
In addition, there really isn’t any way to preview audio with your project. This is because the speed of your video playback just can’t keep up with the speed of your audio playback. The only way to know what your audio will sound like is to preview it by itself. You can either preview the audio from a certain point in the timeline or you can preview the entire audio section, but it will be previewed by itself. It will NOT play along with your video. In order to know what it will sound like with the video, you will have to render the entire video. One of the best ways to handle audio is simply to not use After Effects to edit your audio. Instead, prepare your After Effects project with all of your effects and render it to a video. Then bring that video into your Video Editing software and place and edit the audio. If you can get used to this different type of workflow you will find that After Effects is one of the most powerful tools you can add to your video editing arsenal.
How to Build a Low Cost Video Camera Rig
If you are going to make professional looking videos, you need the right equipment. Professional camera operators use a “rig” built around the camera. Typically the basic rig can be carried on the right shoulder, or be fixed to a tripod. Hollywood style camera rigs are very expensive, but there are lower cost alternatives which can make your videos look like they were professionally done.
The first component you need is the video camera. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars for a professional or “prosumer” camera. You can find a camera that has the right features for a few hundred dollars. However, you need to find a camera that has the right features. First, you need to determine whether you will be filming in standard definition or in HD.
For YouTube, 480p standard definition is still the optimum choice, because many people throughout the world do not have fast enough computers or internet connections to view HD video without it starting and stopping repeatedly while it loads. Use HD if you must, but there is the risk that people will navigate away from your video if a slow internet connection tests their patience.
Aside from HD capability, your camera will also need a microphone jack so that you can attack an external microphone. One of the biggest differences between amateur and professional video is the quality of the audio. If the camera you are looking at does not have a microphone jack, do not buy it. The other must-have feature is a lens that is threaded so you can attach filters and lens adapters.
A good shoulder rig will allow you to move the camera smoothly, eliminating the shaky look that is common to videos made with a hand-held camera. Inexpensive shoulder rigs can be purchased for as little as $100.00, but if this is still too much, you can make your own by gluing together PVC pipe and adding a separately purchased shoulder pad and bicycle handgrips. A good external microphone will cost at least $150.00, but is a must have if you want to make quality video. The right external microphone will have an audio level control — something that is lacking in all but the most expensive cameras.
Fortunately with the advent of LED technology, camera lights have become lightweight, easily portable, and inexpensive. A good light can be had for around $30.00. Once you have your microphone and light, you need a way to mount them. While high end cameras will have a shoe on top to mount one or the other, affordable cameras do not. The solution comes in the form of a bracket. These brackets cost under $10.00. They attach to the camera’s tripod mount, and are compatible with shoulder rigs. A typical bracket will have two shoes on it, so you can mount the microphone on one and the light on the other.
If you purchased the right kind of camera, with a lens threaded for filters, you can add wide angle or telephoto adapters. If you want to spend either a lot of time or a lot of money, you can add a depth of field (DOF) adapter, which will allow you to fit SLR camera lenses to your video camera, and give a cinematic look to your videos.
With these few simple modifications to your camera, your videos will make a dramatic transition from amateur to professional, making them far more attractive to viewers.
How to Shoot Awesome Nature and Wildlife Video Footage
Nature and wildlife video shots are something that one often sees everyday. Taking good wildlife shots is possible with almost any kind of camcorder since most cameras are now equipped with the zooming capabilities to capture wild animals from long distances. With the technology available to most amateur wildlife videographers, amazing nature videos can be taken just by following a few nature filmmaking tips.
Use a tripod to steady shots. One of the problems with most amateur nature shots is camera shake, shots taken while tilting up and down or panning go smoother when taken from a tripod. The tripod can also help users avoid using the digital zoom and instead use the built-in optical zoom for clearer telephoto shots.
Shoot at various angles. Shooting the same scene in wide, tight and middle angles will give the shooter more footage options to choose from. This way one can have various perspectives to keep a string of shots interesting. A wide shot to capture a whole herd, before one shows a medium shot of a portion of the herd followed by a close up shot of one buffalo will keep things interesting. Another good idea is to get a new perspective, such as shooting from the ground as if getting the perspective of the animals themselves. A tripod will be very handy with this technique, since one no longer has to bend or kneel down to get an unusual shot.
Use a blind. When shooting at a fairly close range a blind is often necessary. This is anything that can help conceal the camera and the shooter to avoid scaring the animals off. A blind can be anything from leaf covers to dried twigs and branches. A car can be used as an effective hide, as long as it does not project too much heat and can be concealed easily.
Shoot in Progressive Mode. Progressive mode is often very important in capturing fast speeds. This mode differs from interlaced footage, which captures every other line of the shot and simply fills the vacant spaces in the film. In progressive mode each split second action is recorded, resulting to better clarity even in sudden motion. Progressive shooting also allows for useful stills to be taken from the footage.
Consider the lighting. Shooting in nature often requires one to adapt to the lighting available at the moment. However, one can exercise a certain degree of control by shooting in certain areas of the day. For example, lighting is best in the morning and in the afternoon, an hour or two before the sun is about to set. During these times, the sun gives the footage a warm glow.
Keeping shots steady with a tripod, using good camouflage, utilizing the optical zoom of the camcorder instead of the digital zoom are just some of the tips one can use to improve nature videography skills. Nature is awesome enough on its own. Capturing it with the right techniques will help others appreciate the wonders of the wild even if they were not there to see the real thing.
Marketing Strategy and Movie Distribution Plans
It’s too easy to neglect having a marketing strategy and movie distribution plan when producing on an indie film budget. Producers are focused on fleshing out a tight screenplay, hiring cast and crew while keeping track of every dollar they spend. Studio budget movies hire goliath companies to develop a marketing strategy and movie distribution plan for their latest blockbuster.
Indie filmmakers have to get creative with their marketing strategy and movie distribution plan so their creative hard work doesn’t just disappear after it’s done. I’ve been learning a lot of good stuff by following what other filmmakers are doing to market a movie in order to make film distribution money.
One movie with a sexually driven theme created artwork and an attention grabbing marketing package that included condoms with the name of the film printed on them. I read they stood out at film festivals with this creative approach. There are also rare indie produced movies that are so damn entertaining they secure meaningful movie distribution without a strong marketing strategy to promote them.
But why take the gamble that your movie will be one of the rare ones? Thinking about a marketing strategy and movie distribution plan early as possible is what successful indie producers do. I don’t read entertainment industry trades like The Hollywood Reporter or Variety because they don’t have information based off the real life indie cinema scene.
I’ve been turning to blogs more and more that are ran by indie producers and filmmakers that share what marketing strategies and movie distribution plans have worked for them. I really like reading Indie Slate Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine because they spend time focusing on the business of indie filmmaking not just the creative part of the process.
Creating an online buzz for an indie feature is one of the most effective ways to market a movie without having to spend money you don’t have. It only takes personal time to run a movie blog, Twitter account, Facebook page, Google +1 and other popular social networking outlets. Crowd funding for indie movies has really shown that people do respond to online marketing. The effort to keep a movie blog fresh and stay connected with people pays off in the end. Building interest for a movie online is the way to go.
Having an idea of what the movie distribution plan is going to be will depend on what you want as a producer. Are you going to self-distribute or look to land a distribution deal with a company?
Movie self-distribution makes financial sense for smaller budget indie films. Self-distribution allows the creators to keep control of the rights to their movie. Less money has to be made from direct sales to make a real profit from a movie because there aren’t distribution fees and percentages taken out by a distributor. Many filmmakers have made money for their film investors and themselves from their work through self-distribution combined with an aggressive online marketing push they do themselves.
Landing a movie distribution deal normally offers greater exposure and more people see a movie that is released by a film distribution company worldwide than a self-distributed titled. Movie distributors that cater to releasing indie films usually don’t put together a big marketing strategy. They have relationships with film buyers all over the world that receive their catalog of available titles or see what they have at film markets.
Avoid a past mistake I made by sitting back after signing a distribution deal expecting the distributor to market the hell out of the title. It’s important to still have a workable marketing strategy after you sign a movie distribution agreement. You’ll have to check with the distributor to see what you can and can’t do to market your movie online. But overall it’s a win-win for both parties in exposure and film sales.