My first video ever

[neogeo]

I finally received the camcorder yesterday from Dell, and I shot my first video yesterday. I have never used a camcorder or shot a movie before so dont be too harsh on me, haha. It was supposed to be scary, but i guess that didnt really happen, haha
I shot it all in cine mode and some scenes in 24p but i didnt do the workflow on any of them so it I guess there is some ghosting. I used Vegas 7 for the editing.

WMV-http://fattyrooster.com/themorningafteryesterdaybig.wmv
Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODc0Jhyau9s

[bluegrass]

I finally received the camcorder yesterday from Dell, and I shot my first video yesterday. I have never used a camcorder or shot a movie before so dont be too harsh on me, haha. It was supposed to be scary, but i guess that didnt really happen, haha
I shot it all in cine mode and some scenes in 24p but i didnt do the workflow on any of them so it I guess there is some ghosting. I used Vegas 7 for the editing.

WMV-http://fattyrooster.com/themorningafteryesterdaybig.wmv
Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODc0Jhyau9s

You're bullshitting. That was a great video shot & edited by someone with lots of experience. Nobody with a cam in there hands for the first time goes out and shoots that quality of a clip. I'm speaking of the YouTube one, I haven't downloaded the WMV one yet.

edit - I was surprised that the wmv even though it was rendered at a little over 1 meg bit rate it started streaming within a few seconds of clicking on the file. so your saying part of this clip is 24p and you didn't do any pulldown? I did a mix of 24p and 60i on a few tapes a few weeks back and after one play through, I was never able to get them to play again. I don't know what happened but someone on this forum said that can happen if you mix 24p and 60i on the same tape. doesn't make sense but never the less, that seems to be the only explanation.

again. bs that this is the first video shoot and edit you ever did. now tell the truth.

[neogeo]

Haha, thanks bluegrass! I'm not BSing you, this is the first time I shot a video and edited a movie.
The parts that i shot at 60i were the ones where I am in the car and when I am running behind my friend. All of the rest are at 24p. I used the tape again today and it played perfectly. I would shoot in 24p then right after shoot in 60i. Does it say in the manual not to shoot like that? I hope not, hopefully i didnt mess up the tape or the camcorder...
Thanks again for the kind words bluegrass!

[PWHerman]

Nice! Through it I was thinking "is that Roy Orbison?" and at the end I saw it was.

So...you were the cameraman? Was the kid running your brother/friend? He seems about as old as me; are you the same age, too, or what? Not many younger people here, I guess...haha.

Again...nice job. This is my first "real camera" too, and me and a few friends are thinking of making a full website with shorts (funny/stupid ones). Just gotta wait on my better computer (I'm building it soon). There's really so much you can do with a camera like this...

[Rawfa]

Congrats on the camera and on your very first video. For a beginner it's very good. The Roy Orbison soundtrack gave it a bit of Tarantino feel to it..."the guy goes out to jog and all of the sudden the fierce hitman shows up on the car" sort of thing.
Did you do any color correction or is that all straight from the camera?
You want a constructive advice? Get one of these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5492-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_682_682_Professional_Monopod_Chrom e_.html

This monopod with the legs open can be used nicely as a stabilizer for moving shots.

[Ten Ounce]

Well, for it being your first video you're definitely on the right track. It's taken me almost a month to shoot and edit my first real video, so I must say I'm quite jealous. :)

[skinnyboy]

Pretty good first movie!
It wasn't scary mostly because of the song - made it seem more like a love story of some sort. Also, the car was going too slow, and the runner took too long to notice the car. So the net effect on the viewer is to think the runner knows the person in the car or something.

Definitely get something to help with the handheld shots.

Also - the car disappeared a couple times on some of your close-up shots, but the framing let us see where the car should be.

Very nicely done.

[Mal]

Nicely done;
although I am NEVER fond of using a copyrighted piece of music.
(Pet peeve of mine, sorry.)

[bluegrass]

Haha, thanks bluegrass! I'm not BSing you, this is the first time I shot a video and edited a movie.
The parts that i shot at 60i were the ones where I am in the car and when I am running behind my friend. All of the rest are at 24p. I used the tape again today and it played perfectly. I would shoot in 24p then right after shoot in 60i. Does it say in the manual not to shoot like that? I hope not, hopefully i didnt mess up the tape or the camcorder...
Thanks again for the kind words bluegrass!

I still say you're pullin' our legs. If not you have a keen sense for videography and should consider doing something with it other than following a friend jogging.

[tkmslee]

I guess we all know we shouldn't use copyrighted music, but if there was any "good" music actually worth putting your video to out there that was copyright free, then we would use it right? I have found some sites that claim to have copyright free music like frreplaymusic.com (and some of it is not bad) but then you can't use it to stream on the internet. Go Figure. If anyone else knows of some great tunes, soundtracks, and ambients that are totally copyright free, let me know.

I actually think the guy's ex-girlfriend is after him.

Good job for a first, really good. My first vid I shot for school sucked...even some of my recent stuff sucks too.

Keep it up!

[Mal]

I guess we all know we shouldn't use copyrighted music, but if there was any "good" music actually worth putting your video to out there that was copyright free, then we would use it right?

Well, yeah, but the the fact that no good music is available for free shouldn't give us the right to use it illegally.
I know I am very strict on this point, but it's a big no-no in my books.
I make it a point NOT to use copyrighted stuff - even if my production would benefit from a Pink Floyd tune, shouldn't automatically entitle me to use it.
Equally, I'd hope my works would not get ripped off and used without me seeing royalty payments. It cuts both ways.

[neogeo]

Thank you all for your kind words about the movie, I greatly appreciate it! Yea the dude running is my friend, we are both 21 and my younger brother is the one driving the car.

I really need to get a monopod or tripod, the running shots were pretty bad. My friend told me i should strap it to a 2x4 or a couple of books to help with that, but i didnt want to put the nice camera on a wood stick, lol.

Yeah, I adjusted the color when I was editing, I made the outside shots warmer and cooled down the last indoor scene.

Thank you for the the feedback, my friend said he has a lot of ideas for the next short, so I will try and do what you guys have suggested in the next one!

[tkmslee]

I tell people at work, "Don't tell me it can't be done, give me some solutions or alternatives".

We get the big music industry telling us we can't use this and we can't use that, but for we poor indie filmakers, are there any inexpensive alternatives when we need soundtracks for our video whether it be music, soundfx, or soundtracks?

[Mal]

We get the big music industry telling us we can't use this and we can't use that, but for we poor indie filmakers, are there any inexpensive alternatives when we need soundtracks for our video whether it be music, soundfx, or soundtracks?

Yes, this is my point; just because the company and/or artist is "big" and/or rich does not entitle us to rip them off.
Alternatives: there's A LOT!!!

1) Get proper permission. This CAN actually be done, and is not always super costly...in fact sometimes even free (under certain conditions, such as FERSTIVAL EXHIBITION ONLY and time-limited). This requires a bit of leg/phone/mouse work though.

2) Get some software such as CineScore:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/showproduct.asp?pid=1013
or ACID. There's REALLY tons of options here in this department. Again, takes a bit of time, but can be done even if one is a bit "musically challenged".

3) Get some local band to do it for free.
Find a local (or not so local) band and offer them a deal whereby you get to use their [original] music and you give them credit [and exposure]. Sometimes you can get favourable results if you offer to record a session for them and provide them with a CD, should they not have that ability. This also takes some time, and finesse.

Summary:
The lazy way is to use copyrighted stuff; the more satisfying way is to do it right, but it will take some extra homework and time.

[skinnyboy]

On the Mac side of things, use Garageband to score your movies. Pretty simple. Soundtrack kinda works, but Garageband has more flexibility.

I do all my own music (or find a local band), and I'd be willing to provide music for folks once in a while.

[retired26]

Guys

I just bought Sonicfire Pro 4.5 by Smartsound. It's amazing software that allows you to purchase royalty free music to use in your video. The great thing is the music automatically adjusts itself for the length of your video and ends perfectly. Instead of trying to explain it further go to the web site and look at it. You can download a trial version. It's costly at $199.00 for the standard version and music cost a lot, but I had to have it. It arrives tomorrow.

John

WWW.Smartsound.com/sonicfire/

[PWHerman]

I have Sony CineScore, and have pretty much taught myself how to use it (it's extremely easy, actually).

If anybody wants any short bursts of background music to fit little clips, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

[bluegrass]

I have Sony CineScore, and have pretty much taught myself how to use it (it's extremely easy, actually).

If anybody wants any short bursts of background music to fit little clips, just let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Why don't you just compose us a song and sing and record it for us. We can than all use it in our clips and you'll become famous. You might even become a legend in your own mind. Ha ha.

[PWHerman]

Why don't you just compose us a song and sing and record it for us. We can than all use it in our clips and you'll become famous. You might even become a legend in your own mind. Ha ha.

Hah, I think I'll pass...I'd like to retain any dignity I might have on these boards (I'm probably scaring people afraid of clowns as of now), and singing would wash up any I'd have left. You can sing, though...I'll put up the background music for it...heh. I'm thinking a rap (not) -- hah.

[rakunus]

Don't use so much crossfades next time! A normal cut (without transition) would do in most places in your movie where crossfades are now used.

[Numbox]

I'm probably scaring people afraid of clowns as of now

Indeed :hv20-smilie15:

[24Peter]

Good first effort. In addition to the other suggestions, check your white balance. Most of the outdoor shots looked a little too yellow/orange, while inside seemed a little blue.

As for your story telling, how about a little twist at the end - e.g., the car ends up being driven by his father who is timing him for his next big race, while all along we thought it was someone sinister...