Learn how to shoot like a pro in this episode of DIY's Making Home Movies, as host Alan Berg and professional photographer Austin Anderson discuss tips guaranteed to make great home movies, using a peewee soccer game for a field demonstration. Ultimately, everything starts with good pictures. And with a few tried-and-true techniques, your shooting can improve dramatically. All it takes to get started is a digital video camera and a fluid tripod.
Preproduction: Planning Ahead for the ShootPreproduction, or the planning prior to the actual shoot, ensures you will use your time efficiently during the shoot, in this case a soccer game. After all, the game will last only an hour, and you want to be sure you have everything you need when it's over.
- Develop an outline of the story you want to tell. This helps determine what footage you need.
- Make a shot list in a pocket-size notebook and carry it with you during the game. For example, since we're shooting a soccer game, we know we need to shoot every one of the team members. Making an advance list of names and jersey numbers allows each player to be quickly checked off the list as they are shot.
- Think about the "little extras" you can add to make the video special. In this case, each of the players will introduce himself on camera before the game. This footage will open the video, and it guarantees that every player will appear in the video at least once.
- Prelabel tapes before the shoot begins; for this game, three tapes are labeled. Since the game will last only an hour, it's important not to waste time trying to find and prepare tapes during game play.
Soccer team member close-up.
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Label tapes before shooting.
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Label tapes before shooting.
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Example of two types of video cameras.
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Palmcorder.
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Sony three-chip camera.
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Foreground focus.
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Background focus.
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Professional-grade microphone.
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Overview of Video CamerasThere are two types of digital video cameras available to the home-moviemaker:
- The less expensive palmcorder, which fits in the palm of the hand, costs on average average between $400 and $1,200.
The easiest way to hold most camcorders is by sliding your hand through the strap and gripping it with your palm; holding it in this manner permits you to use your thumb to hit the ON, OFF and RECORD buttons. The screen, called an LCD viewfinder, flips out to the side when recording and can be held high or low to get a better angle. The screen also swivels to the front to show your subject the picture. If you purchase or own this camera, it's important to know that the numbers on the top of the camera next to the lens are misleading. These numbers refer to the digital zoom, which is not the best type of zoom to use for good-quality video images. Digital zoom images become very grainy and pixelated. Optical zoom is far superior to a digital zoom. - More expensive cameras, such as the Sony model shown in this episode, cost between $1,200 and $3,500.
These cameras have a three-chip pickup for picking up different colors and blending them together by the time they appear on the digital video tape. They also allow you to go between manual and automatic focus and manual and automatic iris. This is a superior feature that allows you to have complete control over what you see in the viewfinder. Professional-quality microphones and cables produce excellent sound and prevent hum in the cables.
RESOURCES :
IMAC Computer
POWERBOOK laptop computer
IMOVIE editing software
Apple Computer Inc.
Website: apple.com
Tripods
3433 Fluid Head
755B MDVE Video Tripod
522A Sony LANC Remote
700RC2,756BK MDVE Tripod w/head
714B Digi Tripod
Bogen Photo Corp.
Website: www.bogenimaging.us
Canon Digital Camcorders
Canon USA Inc.
Website: usa.canon.com
canondv.com
Video cameras
PD-150 camera and accessories
Vaio laptop
Flatscreen TV
Mini DV tapes
Sony Electronics Inc.
Website: www.sony.com
Electronic equipment
Precision Camera
Website: precision-camera.com
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