Lights, Camera, Action: The Ins and Outs Of Making A Video
Did you know that roughly 500 hours of content is uploaded to Youtube every minute? That’s a staggering amount of content! In an oversaturated media world having the skills to make a quality video can make your message stand out.
But exactly how do you get started making a video? And more importantly, how do you make it good? If you’re curious, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll be breaking down the basics of making a good video. Let’s get started!
Making a Video Step One: Film It
If you’re making a video, then the first thing you need to do is film it. Videos with a plot and scenes will require a little more planning than a live video.
Before you begin shooting make sure you have a rough plan in terms of dialog, locations, and set pieces. That way, you can spend more time getting the perfect shot, instead of planning while you go.
Cameras
The first thing you’ll need to make a video is a camera to shoot it with. There are three tiers of camera levels: cell phone cameras, digital cameras, and HD cameras. Cell phone cameras are increasing in sophistication every day.
They’re also incredibly easy to use. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks. The footage on them can sometimes be shaky and the sound quality isn’t great.
Many modern digital cameras can also shoot videos as long as they have an SD card. These types of products provide some more nuanced video settings than cell phones for an affordable price. However, they also suffer from the poor sound quality.
Shooting Techniques
You can fill hundreds of books with tips on shooting techniques. However, we believe that the two most important elements are your framing and lighting. Framing involves everything you choose to put into the video.
You can improve your framing by shooting from multiple angles. High shots, low shots, or simply a different position can make a video feel more dynamic. Lighting is also important. You probably aren’t working on a professional film set with studio lighting.
But, too much light can ruin a good shot by blinding the camera. Or, if there’s not enough light, then nothing can be seen. Try and look for areas with lots of natural light. Then, shoot the video from angles that don’t blind the lens.
You should also try and keep the camera as steady as possible when you film. A tripod or similar stand can help keep the shot. That is unless you want to include the shaky, documentary-style filming in your final video.
Making a Video Step Two: Edit It
Many people think that after they’re done with their video after they finish filming. These individuals couldn’t be further from the truth. Editing is just as important as filming. As such, the quality of editing can make or break a film.
There are two key components of editing that you need to keep in mind: arrangement and sound.
Arrangement
The first thing you will need to edit the arrangement of your video is editing software. There are a variety of programs you can choose from. Some, like iMovie, Avidemux, and Windows Movie Maker is free. Others like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere require a subscription.
When you edit your movie you should think about how the video flows. Try and cut out any unnecessary or confusing parts that may distract from the video’s message. You also shouldn’t shy away from rearranging elements.
Sometimes nonlinear stories can heighten the storytelling potential of your video.
You should also pay attention to how the scenes merge into one another. Sometimes a hard cut is too abrupt. Instead, add transition elements like fades or dissolves to make it feel more natural.
Sound
A lot of the emotion that comes from a video is informed by the sound — either the dialog or the music. Dialog in each scene should be as audible as possible. Even low-quality cell phone audio can be heightened in the editing phase by adjusting the levels.
If the dialog is still too unclear, then consider cutting the sound altogether with a simple mute. Alternatively, you can add music instead. Music is great because it can make a montage more interesting or funny.
Soundtrack your film with any music that you can find on your computer. If you don’t have any, then use the best Youtube to mp3 converter you can find. These types of programs will convert music videos from Youtube into audio files you can use in your video.
Making a Video Step Three: Upload It
Once you finish your project it’s time to show it to the world. The first step to doing this is exporting it from your video software. We recommend either .avi or .mov video file, as these are the most popular types.
However, go with whatever file fits your needs best. Before you upload it, you should always check your work. Open your final video file in Quicktime or Window Media Player. Then give it a final watch and look for any mistakes you may have missed.
Once you correct these mistakes, then you’re ready to share. There are two ways you can do this. The most popular way is uploading it on a video sharing site like Youtube or Venmo.
All you need to do is make an account and follow instructions. However, you can also burn the video file onto a blank DVD. This will provide you with a physical copy that you can give to people.
Want More Content? Check Out Alphonso Labs
We hope this article helped you figure out the basics of making a video. Like anything in life, practice is important for creating videos. Don’t expect to be instantly great at it.
Instead, keep creating and practicing and you’ll see dramatic improvement. If you want more articles about web tech and gadgets, then you’re in the right place. Keep exploring the articles on Alphonso Labs to get more informed.