Videotaping your bike rides #2

This video clip is in the same park (Bronte Creek Provincial Park) but taken with a FLIP camera ($50 - $100 cheap). The HD Quality of the video is amazing considering this camera is so small.

The main point in this video is:

1. You don't need an expensive camera to shoot good video (use different kinds of shots)
2. I just wanted to compare it with the more expensive Canon Vixia
3. Get off the bike (& down to the creek) to show more of the bike ride trip (be flexible about what you are recording)

To upload and edit- the same principals apply (except that it is much quicker than your CINE mode 64p/s HD Video!).

Different snappy intro and different ending (always think how to be I always strive to be creative!). Same music (no need to change that- it will be the one common element in these 2:30 videos)

Be sure to experiment in using DIFFERENT KINDS OF SHOTS

The most common (& easy) is the PAN (sweeping camera from right to left) while I keep myself in the frame. Rather than an ARC (which is a track like sweep around a subject- & complicated to do) I use a 360 degree near the end of the video to get a feel for the woods in the area.

Put the camera down and shoot yourself entering or exiting, or riding your bike by the camera (as I did in part 1)

Conclusions:

The HD Flip is a fantastic wide-angle lens camera which will take a lot of great shots

You won't be as paranoid to drop the FLIP (as you would an expensive camera) so I highly recommend this camera for taking shots on-the-go

It is so EASY - once you've completed your shots you just plug it into your USB port and the camera will automatically upload your raw video (however- in iPhoto- not iMovie!)

It was designed for quick uploads into Youtube with little editing

There are some drawbacks, however:

You have no optical (X2 digital) zoom so what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) which useless for shots of nature (birds, wild animals, or anything in the distance)

I avoid digital zooms as the image breaks down & it will look a little pixelated

There is no White balance or other settings so light sensitivity can be an issue (best to shoot during nice bright days)

It's 720 p not 1080

Note:

This video was originally posted as Mpeg4 (for high broadband 15MB) & I found it too pixelated. I re-posted it as a M4V file format (30MB) and it is less pixelated. As a HD little larger format (1280X720) it would 190MB and in its original Quicktime .mov file it is over 300MB in size. I had to settle for the M4V file size.

Enjoy this short little video!

Videotaping your bike rides #1

I got a chance to test-drive my new Canon Vixia G20 camcorder while taking a bike ride in Bronte Creek Provincial Park.

Always take about 6 or 8 times more video then you intend to keep.

Fashion a short narrative (do not use your video chronologically but rather what best fits)

The main points I try to explore in this short 2:30 minute video are:

Try to video over smooth paths

Try to keep your camera level

Try to talk to the camera BUT keep your eyes on the road/path

After you've imported your video into your video editing software:

1. Adjust all your video colours and audio.
2. Create a short narrative that approximates 2-4 minutes
3. Edit it down to 2-3 minutes (I've chosen 2:30 because I think its short enough yet long enough to make, & show, a few points)
4. Apply stabilization
5. Create a "snappy intro" (I do this later because its usually after I've reviewed the video several times that I will find portions of my RAW video which need no sound & can be stitched together to form a cool intro)
6. Use Garageband to create a non-copyright instrumental music track. You probably will already have this done- and if not- it may be wise to fool around with some music tracks to make something & save it for a video of this nature.
7. Get someone to watch & get feedback

Save (share) as Quicktime (always save in the highest quality format) then in Mpeg 4 or M4V

A NOTE ABOUT FORMATS: I have uploaded this video in Mpeg 4 since this blog site recommended only this (or Quicktime - which is too big & would take forever!). I did not like the result as the video looked pixelated. Go for the M4V format- it will look a lot nicer.

Upload to your blog (monitor this process- and hit the blue "SAVE AS DRAFT" during the upload process- as that has saved me from having to re-upload from time to time).

When you see the Orange PUBLISH POST icon- that's the ticket & the one you must hit in order to see your blog.

Heh, now... wasn't that easy?

Now it's your turn- go ahead- give it a shot : - )

2011 - It's been a while...

Cycling in Bronte Creek Provincial Park

I posted about the 3 steps to any production (in the comments). So I thought I would post this info here in the main body of the blog. It's nothing earth-shattering or new. Everyone in the industry will acknowledge these 3 stages of production but what typically happens is a little over-lap of a task that can be done in stage 2 may get done in stage 1.

The 3 stages are:

1. Pre-Production: write a script (or story,documentary,movie proposal.etc) storyboard, hire the cast, crew (each dept: camera, SPFX, Props, Lighting, Costumes, Set, etc), find a location/set/studio, schedule, secure/rent equipment, props, vehicles, food, transport, etc (general production assistant jobs). Two production teams: 1st location shoots actors, 2nd location shoots coverage (opening movie sequence, chase scenes, establishing location shots, etc). Sometimes a 2nd team will begin this process before the 1st team shoots actors during official production phase/stage.
2. Production: Shoot the script, doc, storyboard, etc according to the schedules/shot break-downs, All departments coordinate to bring costumes, props, sets, SPFX, sound, camera, etc together during the shoot. Director may rehearse scenes before actors act them. Director works closely with the DOP (aka cinematographer) to chose type of shot, camera angle, lights, frame, etc. Director always checks the "dailies" or daily video/camera footage to see what needs to be added, 2nd team shoots long shot coverage.
3. Post-Production: Editing, music, re-recording of sound (actor's voices if needed), explosions, etc. Actors' interviews/PR, Advertising/commercial campaigns, Distribution of shorts/trailers leads to full distribution of movie/video/doc

Now, that's a lot of info, and most of that you (as a novice) will never have to concern yourself with. However, it is good to practice a similar 3 phase approach since it stops and forces one to think if they've planned enough.

When shooting your video:

1. Remember to bring extra of everything (batteries, lenses, memory cards, etc)
2. Always consider a narrative (even for birthday parties!)
3. Even documentaries should have structure (consider the conflict or themes)
4. Always plan and think how to shoot interesting shots & use a TRIPOD or stabilizer if you have one (for docs: think coverage before, where U R, who's attending, etc)
5. Think of who your audience is (older crowd, students, a specific market?)
6. Think of who might buy or pay to exhibit your video/movie
7. Think of what skills you'd like to develop
8. Think of the music and sound or other factors others may not be thinking of
9. Think of who you can get to help you *(the more the merrier)
10. Take your time (there's a deadline but you want to do it right)

[Some of the info I've related here comes from years of experience- yes acting back in Kingston, Jamaica, Vancouver, Toronto, & from teaching at EC Drury School for the Deaf.  From teaching- I've used an excellent online/digital source called Digital Overdrive]. 

Please check out their link below for great educational resources on video production & more

http://www.eastwoodmm.com/evideo.html

James