With computers and modern video editing, you no longer need to develop, process and manually edit film sequences together if you're planning on making a movie. And with video sharing sites like YouTube, it's easy to find an audience for even the most amateur film. Find out more about digital video making and how to put together your story.
The Equipment - Digital Video Cameras
Today, many compact digital cameras and SLR cameras come with video capture technology so it's easy to record your most memorable moments. However, it's worthwhile looking at dedicated digital video cameras if you're embarking on a serious video project - even if it's just a few home movies.
Canon has a range of video cameras for the novice, such as their flagship Legria HF S21 camera. The Optimical Image Stabilizer minimises the effects of camera shake, while the Video Snapshot mode lets you piece together some clips right in your camera - without the need for editing software.
Meanwhile, if you're serious about your movie project and are looking to produce a small budget or independent film - then you'll want to consider the next level up and invest in professional video equipment. These machines include more advanced features and better image capture technology for professional screening.
Canon's newest range of professional video cameras, the XF105 and XF100 are the smallest and most compact professional models available on the market.
With the unique Canon MPEG-2 Codec for extreme colour detail required for accurate chroma-keying, colour-grading and compositing - the XF105 and XF100 are the ideal machines for digital filmmaking.
Tips for putting together a movie
- It starts with a story - any director, screen writer or movie producer will tell you that a great movie starts with a great story. Unless you have the big production budgets of special effects and wow sequences, the hook of your piece will depend on your ability to tell a good story.
- Mix it up - unless you can get the best actors, changes watching two people speaking to each other for 20 minutes can get dull. Switching between different camera angles will help to keep your audience engaged. Experiment with a combination of close-up, medium and long shots to make scenes interesting. Try shooting from above or below eye level.
- Keep it simple - meanwhile, don't go overboard with variety! While it may be tempting to include every type of transition and effect that your video editing software includes, most movies are relatively simple in their presentation relying on well-paced cut sequences to present the action. Add some strategic fades and transitions or overlay two sequences on top of each other to create a flashback. Too many transitions and effects will only distract your viewer from the flow of the story.