How to Make Professional looking Homemade Handycam Movies?
Author:
Ravi Vide
Date:
1st October 2009
Today, I am going to explain the basic procedure involved in making professional looking, and No or very low budget homemade videos. It can help those who are planning to make homemade videos but don't know the procedure. Also I suggest those wannabe Directors, or those trying in the industry, should make at least few videos to learn the whole process.
1. Story/Script Writing:
It is not necessary that one should write their own story. The story can be borrowed from anywhere or from anyone. The story is heart of the movie, so one must really spend sufficient time in selecting the best story possible, and also which can be filmed within the budget limitations. When converting the story into a script or screenplay, we must visualize each and every scene(each and every shot if possible), and that should be written on paper in a form, which must give us the same visuals when we read it at a later date.
2. Cast Selection:
This is soo important to have all good actors in the team. If one of the leading actors is bad, then that one person is enough to spoil the entire effort, and he can single handedly make our movie look completely amateurish. We get only part time actors or actor wannabes for homemade movies. So, it is the director's responsibility to train them and to get the best performance out of them.
3. Camera
Once the screenplay and cast is ready, we are ready to go for the shoot.
Nowadays, we can get high quality cameras for very low prices. One such camera is Canon HV40 which is a consumer level HDV camera, but gives really stunning picture quality. We can shoot in 24fps cinemode to give the look of a Hollywood movie to our videos.
There are some important points that must be considered when handling a small sized camera. A handycam should never be handled by hand. We must always use a Tripod. A tripod with a liquid head is must. If you wanna shoot a moving object, use a steadycam. A steadycam can be built very cheaply. A good steadycam makes the picture as stable as possible even when the cameraman is moving, if the cameraman is experienced enough.
4. Lighting
Lighting is something that most homemade movie makers ignore. It is very very important to have proper lighting. There is no need to buy an expensive lighting system. You can just use simple items to build your own lighting equipment. You can buy a professional camera light that is used to shoot marriage functions, and fitting that to a Mic stand is going to be your light source. You can create two or three sets of them and one can be your key light, other can be your fill light and the third one can be your back light. With the inclusion of some reflecting panels such as thermo col sheets we can make a good lighting system. When you are shooting outside when there is already good amount of natural light existing, just use reflecting panels, and it won't take too much time to learn how to use those reflectors to make use of sunlight as your light source.
5. Editing
When the raw footage is ready, we are ready to start post production activities. That involves editing, voice over, color correction, sound mixing, audio mixing. Import the whole movie into the editing software such as Sony Vegas, which is very easy to learn software for beginners, and cut the scenes as per the sequence. When done with editing, call the actors for voice over. There are some very good microphones available for very cheap prices, such as Samson C03, which you can buy and use it for the voice over and you can avoid going for dubbing studios for all your non-commercial short films. After the voice over, add sound effects. Many royalty free sound effects are available from many websites, so we don't have to worry about buying any. Next step is to apply background music. It is not so difficult to find a talented musician who can get entire music created using a keyboard and a laptop. Post a message on any social networking site and you will receive responses from many such talented musicians, who can work for free for your homemade movie.
6. Color Correction
Color correction is another important thing that most homemade movie makers ignore. Good color corrections can give your video a filmy look and gives the impression that the clarity is doubled. It is really not needed to spend hours or days on learning all the details about color corrections. Just tweaking the RGB curves in your NLE software, can give the desired look to your video. But if you want perfection and have time to go deep into color corrections, just search for color correction tutorials on youtube, and you will find many tutorials with examples. You can use those tutorials as your starting point to learn.
I recently made a professional looking no budget homemade music video by using the techniques explained above.
Please watch the movie below and give me your feedback.
Nice knowing you. Thanks for your valuable information. I wish to know more information that you may know...
Thanks and regards,
Kiruba
shrikant vasant – nagpur
November 29, 2011 - 10:37
Subject: hy ravi
hy ravi i like ur valuable suggestion i want to make a short movie but i have a sony sd handycam. i dont no how to dub any movie after doing some shooting please u tell me how i dub movie i have a software for video editing name sony picture motion browser & window live movie maker but it is not enough to make a good edited n dubbed movie please guide me Thanks
Moksha Thejas – Bangalore
November 24, 2011 - 07:36
Subject:
Very good one. would like to know more on how do you mix sound with the video.
venkata kumar – bangalore
September 08, 2011 - 07:25
Subject: Hi ravi
i am venkat from bangalore ,its a very good article and nice song keep it up and all the best to you.
about myself i am working as a software engineer
but i have a dream i.e acting and song writing.i am interest on direction and story writing also,i wrote some stories and we r planning to make a short film with handycam.
so can u please tell me some importent tips and this is my number:9916429043 and if u give your number i can touch with you
and i am also from AP,prakasam dist,vetapalem near chirala.
thanks you
akash.r.j – banglor
August 21, 2010 - 04:59
Subject: hi
i have a hd vidio cam.i want to direct a film,but i want tips about l songs are they nessary
Naya – USA
May 27, 2010 - 00:57
Subject: Hello!
We have been watching your films on youtube and we are interested in you joining our group. We are script writers here in our country and interested in you helping us to work on a movie project in your country. Please contact us soon!
Reply to Naya
Ravi Vide – Hyderabad
May 27, 2010 - 11:05
Subject: Re: Hello!
Hey Naya, Thanks for picking me up. I have sent you a message on youtube. Please check.
Ricky – Dubai
April 05, 2010 - 07:55
Subject: Superb
I loved the video.
rishi
March 12, 2010 - 04:27
Subject: HEY
Hey mate!
Thank you so much for your valuable information.I want to make a science fiction short film and I want this field to be my future....However I am 24 years old and have never even touched a camcorder before.I do love movies and watch many of them and also have written a few scripts.Just one issue mate.....
Will any camcorder do?
I have a sony which uses the miniDV format......Is it Ok?
Because although I loved your suggestion of Canon HV40...Its way too expensive at 40000rs right?
rishi
March 12, 2010 - 04:04
Subject: HEY
Hey mate!
Thank you so much for your valuable information.I want to make a science fiction short film and I want this field to be my future....However I am 24 years old and have never even touched a camcorder before.I do love movies and watch many of them and also have written a few scripts.Just one issue mate.....
Will any camcorder do?
I have a sony which uses the miniDV format......Is it Ok?
Because although I loved your suggestion of Canon HV40...Its way too expensive at 40000rs right?
Holly
January 01, 2010 - 01:14
Subject:
Excellent video; I will take your comments very seriously
rajesh – Hyderabad
December 24, 2009 - 01:57
Subject: Hi annaya
dis is rajesh chepaka kada mee site ati-tondarloo...e race lo una ani site's tho full punching ga vuntadi ani..fil news ,articles chala bagunay...inka kothavi upload velaynta tvaraga cheyandii.......defintly "Weeknd-creations" rock
Venkat Reddy
December 15, 2009 - 05:05
Subject: good article
good article n great song dude. way to go.
PHANISHANKAR CHINTAPALLI – ANANTAPUR
December 03, 2009 - 04:51
Subject: MY RESPONSE ON UR VALUEBLE SUGGESTIONS AND ON UR NEEDA THE MOVIE
HI RAVI garu,
HOW R U, THIS IS PHANISH , glad to meet u Ravi garu , iam very to happy to find such a wonderfull website i.e which gives valueble suggestions to interested hardcore filmlovers , this gives enough boost energy for the no/low budget movie makers, i seen ur videos Dhopidi,Bhayam 1,2,3 and needa (partial , because of download problem in net cafe) . You had choosed a flexible and interested and terrific suitable stories for ur movies i.e., first thing which i feel very very impressive factor in you , congrats ...... if u go like this definitely u may guarantee hit the silver screen very soon.......................
All The Best
phanishhhhhhhhh.....
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i have a hd vidio cam.i want to direct a film,but i want tips about l songs are they nessary 