genre of film?

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 10:48 pm

what types of film are you videostudio users making?

i'm into factual stuff, free cinema type of thing and documentries as well as holidays, family celebrations and the like.

are any of you trying to get into the professional media industries?

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:13 am

I mostly do holidays; since the advent of editing I have to say that holiday videos are a lot easier to look at than they used to be. Also family occasions - did my niece's wedding last year.

Gideon · Post by **Gideon** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:19 am

For me it's mostly family occasions too, Christmas, birthdays etc. Last year was my sister-in-laws wedding...a two camera shoot...took a long time to get it just right! Now looking forward to seeing how the ripple editing feature performs in VS9.

Gra · Post by **Gra** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:52 pm

Hi Duffgnr
It's a mixture of family type things and some business - training courses. Now I'm getting into editing (thanks to VS8), I'm thinking of expoliting the potential more for our busness.

Are you trying to get into the movie business?

Regards.
G.

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 5:16 pm

how do Gra,

im doing a degree in tv production but a few mates a i are gonna set up our own production company.
in the future the bbc and such will rely even more on independant production companies to make programmes so hopefully there will be some opportunity there!
i would like to venture into the movie arena at some stage, even if its making the tea, just to see what goes on and how things are done.
unfortunately there is a lot of brown-nosing involved in the media which i personally am incapable of doing, but its a great feeling to be part of a crew and to see the final cut!

joosuna · Post by **joosuna** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:03 pm

I do "public education government" ( PEG) cable channel programs for a small coastal town in southern california. We are independent video producers and can submit programs of our choice to the PEG tv station. The programs vary from interviewing community leaders and entertainers to 1/2 hour small comedy-mystery movies using the local wanna-be actors. It is fun. I use VS8, and an old linear editing machine , and an old Casablanca non-linear editing machine for the projects.

StewartTurner · Post by **StewartTurner** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:01 pm

What an interesting thread, thanks for starting it duffgnr!

I just film family things really, mainly to capture my sons on film as they grow up. I'm fascinated by the techniques used on tv and films so I pay attention and try to use the techniques (overlays, music, etc) to make the movies more watchable.

I always add an extra chapter to the DVD's I burn containing a slideshow of stills from my still camera. I also put a folder on the disc containing the original full quality stills for archive purposes.

Stewart

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:52 pm

Interesting in deed, very cool discussion.
For me it started after viewing my wedding VHS. I saw some degredation and immediately wanted to perserve the rest. I started with VS6 and upgraded to VS8 last year. Additionally, it's family stuff mostly. I have my daughter's entire life (most of it anyway) on DVD. I also volunteer at our local school to video events, etc.

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 6:02 pm

ive just spent 8 hours editing a film with a director who has no plan or idea of what the finished film will look like!

if i offer one piece of advice (without sounding arrogant) its, plan evrything before you start to log, capture and edit!

theres nothing worse than having to look through loads of footage trying to pluck what you want out of it. decide on your inclusions and plan a timeline on paper first, saves a lot of hassle.

ive also just bought a Rode VideoMic for my jvc gr dv500.

cant wait to point it at things!!!

ive been asked to produce an interview piece for a presentation by counselling students, they offered to pay me but i said i think i need couselling more than dosh!!

glad people are liking this topic!!!

duffgnr

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:04 pm

duffgnr,
I would really like to hear what you think about the Rode VideoMic after you have used it a few times in various conditions (especially outside with wind). I'm in the market for a wireless but haven't found anything good not costing an arm and a leg. I've seen the Rode for about $150 and the specs look good.

TIA,
Erock

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:02 pm

hi erock1

unfortunately the rode videomic isnt compatable with the hotshoe on my jvc gr dv500!

the shoe is too small to accept the mic!!!

the mic actually connects with a stereo mini-jack so it aint wireless!

however i plugged it in and gave it a whirl and it sounded pretty good, perhaps a bit tinny and wasn't as directional as i hoped but it is far better than the onboard mic!

it would achieve better results on a more advanced camera that allows you to change the audio levels!!

im gonna save my money and invest in a better camera, the sony pd150 is what i use at university so iam very tempted to go for one of those!
they are great and are used by many professional camerapeople, plus they have the godsend of a focus ring and onboard xlr connection for sound!!!!

what cameras are you and other people using?

duffgnr

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:05 pm

oh by the way, i tried my own wind test by blowing gently toward the mic from all directions!!

picked up every breath, but it has a sponge cover, a furry ones are better so it might improve with a bit of fur!!!!

duffgnr · Post by **duffgnr** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:22 pm

further to th tale of the director with no direction...

i gave him a piece of my mind today and had to enlist the researcher of the film to help out in the structure and order of the film.

ive also returned the rode videomic to the seller and ordered the sony ecm 719 multi use mic.

i know this is not a dedicated camera mic but it has rave reviews regarding the qulity of its recording.

it has a long cable so i can place it nearer the subject plus it has a clip so i could attatch it to the subject like a personal mic.

not ideal i know but at least it will do away with motor noise etc!

anythings worth a try!!!!

duffgnr

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:50 am

duffgnr wrote:what cameras are you and other people using?

I have a Sony DCR-TRV11E. I like it a lot; had it 4 years now and can't see any reason to change or upgrade (in today's technological world that's rare!). I have added a tele converter lens for zooming in to distant wildlife (can now go to 40X and keep good resolution) and a hotshoe mounted zoom microphone. It's a long way from a professional unit, but I think it will be a bit better on wind noise and motor noise than the inbuilt unit.

Gideon · Post by **Gideon** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:05 am

duffgnr wrote: what cameras are you and other people using?

duffgnr

Hi Duffgnr,
Seven years ago after my son was born I bought a Sony TRV9. Then two years ago the birth of my daughter provided an excuse to buy another - this time a Sony TRV40. Actually by that time the TRV9 was getting past its best - occasionally it was giving horizontal bars on playback. I tried a head cleaning tape but it didn't fix the problem. The severity of the problem seems to vary from tape to tape.
Next time I might consider a camera that records to disc instead of mini DV....lots of choice here in Tokyo!
Gideon