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