Friday, January 2, 2009

The Fun of Making your Own Home Video

Home videos are a great way to spend quality time with family and friends. You can build unforgettable memories that you can share with others, or you can just make people laugh. (or both) There are several different approaches to this, but here are a few ideas.

One of the funniest things to do with your home video is to make it like a movie or TV show. You can act like your favorite characters from well known movies or shows to generate laughter. The more things you do exactly like the professional version, the better your home video will be. You should also give it a title that is similar to what you are making fun of. You can mimic reality shows, sitcoms, or horror films. Be creative, I'm sure there is something you can copy.

When your video is all filmed you can edit out the parts that you don't want and put the other clips in order. If you are using a digital camcorder, you can plug in your camera to the computer and load the video for easy editing. Adding music can set the mood of the film. You can play a song that has lyrics that describe what is going on, slow music for a sweet memory, or music that with add humor to the situation. You can even record your voice over it, and make a funny dubbed scene.

If you want to be original, you can record special talents, have your children act like you, and of course just record special occasions just as they are. You can also film your pets or children on a regular day. They both do funny things on their own. It is still possible to add music or you own voice to the video, to add humor or you thoughts and feelings about what is taking place.

Some tips on filming are:

Make sure that whatever you are filming is in the center of the screen. Be sure that the microphone is on. Try to have as much light as possible so that the film is not dark. Use a tripod for a stable picture. Make relatively slow camera movements, so the viewers don't get dizzy. There are many more pointers I can give, like depending on the tone of the movie, you may want to change the angle of the camera for effect. These are not rules that apply to every video, but they are good suggestions.

Once your home video is all finished, burn the DVD or tape the video to a VHS so you can watch it when you are upset, save it for a rainy day, or show it to family and friends. You can also post the video to a website like myspace.com or youtube.com. If you have your own website, you can publish it there. If you don't have one, you can create one. Enjoy yourself, you never know, you could be the next Alfred Hitchcock or Steven Spielberg!

Lee Harkins is a professional film maker. He resides in Manchester, United Kingdom. Being a widow, his only passion is making films. This year, he was nominated for the best film editor by his local council for a film showcase festival. Realising that a lot of people do not know how to make simple home video, he set up a website http://www.videohome.info/ sharing his 17 years professional ideas and tips. Check out the website today.

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