video help: OK everyone, I know nothing about videos, my wife is determined that I am going to make videos of grand kids, puppies, her hobbies, etc and I don't know the first thing...

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

OK everyone, I know nothing about videos, my wife is determined that I am going to make videos of grand kids, puppies, her hobbies, etc and I don't know the first thing about editing videos, as a rule I avoid videos because I don't understand them.
Can anyone help me find where to start learning about videos and how to edit them?

Thanks to all

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Buy Serif Movie Plus. very easy with great help

ted45 Loc: Delaware

phcaan wrote:

OK everyone, I know nothing about videos, my wife is determined that I am going to make videos of grand kids, puppies, her hobbies, etc and I don't know the first thing about editing videos, as a rule I avoid videos because I don't understand them.
Can anyone help me find where to start learning about videos and how to edit them?

Thanks to all

Video is nothing more than a string of still photos stitched together. The best advice I can give you is always, ALWAYS use a tripod. Tell a story. A video is like a book it has a beginning, middle or story, and an ending.

Get a cheap editing program like Sony Movie Studio http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudio

Learning is just a matter of using the program. Practice is the key. There are thousands of tutorials on YouTube so it isn't difficult to get help. If you have specific questions send me a message and I'll give you whatever help I can. Video is my main pleasure.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

phcaan wrote:

OK everyone, I know nothing about videos, my wife is determined that I am going to make videos of grand kids, puppies, her hobbies, etc and I don't know the first thing about editing videos, as a rule I avoid videos because I don't understand them.
Can anyone help me find where to start learning about videos and how to edit them?

Thanks to all

Before you even start thinking about editing... think about shooting. I did a career in television news / sports photography and there's nothing more annoying to a viewer than a shaky camera... you've seen it, it's terrible.

Also, another common cause of sea sickness when watching home made video is the constant zoom in and out - oh please give me a break.

Shooting is the most important part of any video production be it edited or not. Without good photography you have nothing.

There's lots more to it than this, of course, but consider all the shooting stuff first. Editing is fairly simple if you know how to shoot first.

If you want to see a great example of crappy, and I do mean crappy, shooting, look at this. If this doesn't make you sick nothing will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI5vAkES4Jo&feature=context-vrec

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

ted45 wrote:

quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know nothing about vi... (show quote)

Thank You, that looks like a place to start, she wants me to put music to some stuff. I'll take a look at that program and give it a try. ;) ;)

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

jimmya wrote:

quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know nothing about vi... (show quote)

Thank You. I do have a tripod and that is where I planned to start.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

jimmya wrote:

quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know nothing about vi... (show quote)

You are right. This style of shooting is a current trend and it is supposed to be "edgy", whatever that is. I was doing some volunteer video for the MS society and they wanted me to do this type of crap. We parted ways.

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

ted45 wrote:

quote=jimmya quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know no... (show quote)

Thank You for the reply.

rocar7 Loc: Alton, England

phcaan wrote:

OK everyone, I know nothing about videos, my wife is determined that I am going to make videos of grand kids, puppies, her hobbies, etc and I don't know the first thing about editing videos, as a rule I avoid videos because I don't understand them.
Can anyone help me find where to start learning about videos and how to edit them?

Thanks to all

Two simple rules to follow:

1. Make each shot last a minimum of 10 seconds

2. Never zoom or pan when filming, keep the camera still

You can break these rules, of course, but follow them to start with and see how much better the results will be than the average amateur video.

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

rocar7 wrote:

quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know nothing about vi... (show quote)

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

It was an interesting video.
Too bad the videography didn't do it justice.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

phcaan wrote:

quote=ted45 quote=phcaan OK everyone, I know not... (show quote)

If you enable the sound on videos made by amateurs on youtube you'll find 90% of them are more interested in the junky music they attach than they are in the video.
VERY few videos require the addition of music YOU think is appropriate.

Please think twice before adding audio that may make your video a dud or perhaps offensive.

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

rayford2 wrote:

quote=phcaan quote=ted45 quote=phcaan OK everyo... (show quote)

What we had in mind was adding music like the music from Jaws to videos of young puppies chasing me across the yard, and that kind of thing. Nothing offensive, more of a humor kind of thing.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

phcaan wrote:

quote=rayford2 quote=phcaan quote=ted45 quote=... (show quote)

If you watch a movie closely that you saw a few years ago you will find that many things you remember are not there. The sound track provides as much to the video as the pictures do. If you intend to put your video on YouTube they will nail you for copyright infringment if you use popular music like the Jaws theme. If you are just going to use the videos at home and for your own amusement then anything goes.

There are dozens of copyright free music sites on the net. One of the best is http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

I keep reading posts on UHH about copyright infringement but then you see many of the avatars and cartoons posted violate copyrights.

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

ted45 wrote:

phcaan wrote:

quote=rayford2 quote=phcaan quote=ted45 quote=... (show quote)

If you watch a movie closely that you saw a few years ago you will find that many things you remember are not there. The sound track provides as much to the video as the pictures do. If you intend to put your video on YouTube they will nail you for copyright infringment if you use popular music like the Jaws theme. If you are just going to use the videos at home and for your own amusement then anything goes.

There are dozens of copyright free music sites on the net. One of the best is http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

I keep reading posts on UHH about copyright infringement but then you see many of the avatars and cartoons posted violate copyrights.

quote=phcaan quote=rayford2 quote=phcaan quote... (show quote)

Thank You for that tip, the last thing I need is a copyright beef. I think the music lobby has really hurt their industry with the viscous enforcement they employ in policing that aspect of their business. I know that after some of the stories I read I pretty much quit purchasing music from stores. I get almost all of my cds at garage sales and pawn shops.