There once was a time- and not that long ago, either- when photos were rather expensive (compared to today) and were in black and white. For the people of the time that was completely normal and they didn’t really think much about anything better, until colored photos were invented, and then they took that as the norm.

Videos have come a long way; if you think of it the way I do, then for one you’d be slightly crazy (Calister F. Wells is not exactly the kind of guy people think like) and, secondly, in the time line of the creation of video you’d start at black and white photos. (Or possibly cave drawings- depends if you felt prehistoric).

So such an unused invention like black and white photos have led to what we know today as videos? Perhaps.

Here’s an interesting thought: try and imagine what videos will be like in the future. Star Wars-ish, maybe- the holograms are kind of like videos when you think about it. Will videos include more of the senses? (Smell, perhaps?) That would be interesting.

“How was the movie, Timmy?”

“It smelled funny.”

*Sigh* The future is such that us mere mortals cannot possibly contemplate without humor. I wonder what cavemen would do if they saw us playing the Wii…. probably laugh. Heck, even the present day people still laugh when they see someone swinging that white remote and looking like an idiot.

-Calister F. Wells: Laughing at the Future

So you’ve filmed a brilliant short video- the actors are emotional, the crew creative, and that all shined through on camera. Now it’s time to make you video even better. The editing stage of any kind of videography (whether it be Hollywood or small videos) is the most important. You need to tie everything together without ruining your video or making it tacky.

Here are some tips on finding an editing software that is just what you need:

1. Research: Finding a software requires a decent amount of research. One site I found helpful was this one in which I found my favorite editor (Pinnacle’s Studio Premium) that has green screen capabilities. Another useful way to examine products is to ask around on Yahoo Answers.
2. Figure out what you need: So after glancing through some different products, you need to decide what your going to use for your editing software. If you need just a standard software to put a video on the internet, the free software Windows MovieMaker may be just fine. But if you want something with DVD burning capabilities then you may have to spend a few bucks. Software that has chroma key (green/blue screen) capabilities are a little pricey, (about $100) but very useful for people who want to do green screening.
3. Figure out what to avoid: what I recommend you doing is creating a blacklist of products that have been shot down in numerous reviews, that way you can avoid the products and companies that may hand you something not worth your money. One that program that I have found aggravating (by my own experience as well as the experience of others) is Inter Video WinDVD Creator. Barely has any help and support, it crashes all the time and doesn’t recover work. The editing is just incredibly annoying because it doesn’t let you edit bits and pieces of your movie without messing up all the timing.

Thanks for reading!

-Rika

Don’t look now; “Lights, Camera; ACTION!” isn’t just reserved for Hollywood any more. Thousands of people across the U.S. are grabbing their camcorders and making their OWN short films. Predictably, this is the video revolution that has been waited for; when average citizens can do what Hollywood does- but in the comfort of their own neighborhood. I love making videos, myself, and I think that everyone should try it at least once. Music videos are my favorite; the music really completes a piece.

Looking to make a video of your own? Here’s some important tips and lingo:

• Chroma Keying: Heard of a “green screen” or “blue screen” ? Often used in the studios when the cast can’t film on location, Chroma Keying or green screening is basically digitally replacing a green or blue backdrop with a picture/video background added in during editing. It’s a simple concept: You film your best friend in front of green paper and then put it on your computer and put in a picture of the beach as the background and voila! Your best friend is at the beach.
  • Just make sure that when you are chroma keying you have lots of light on your subject and an even lighting on your backdrop. Splotches of light on the background will mess up your finished product.
  • Any green or blue background will work; you can even use a bed sheet and hang it on the wall! Just make sure it is a true green or a true blue or else you will have problems in the editing stage.
• Purpose: Every video should have a purpose; well, that is, if you want more hits on the video. It has to have some sort of purpose that the audience can understand. So figure out your message, and map it out on a piece of paper to make it as clear and concise as possible.
• The more different angles you can portray your subject in, the better!
• Lighting: Make sure your subject is properly lighted. If you are going to put the video on Youtube, remember that it will be automatically downgraded to lesser quality. So if the lighting is dim but looks fine on video, it may turn out invisible on Youtube.

Thanks for reading! Get out there and start to make your own videos.

-Rika