Digital Movie Making

By Elizabeth Wasserman

Remember the old fashioned home movies of yesteryear? They were filled with charm and heart, but relatively poor on quality. In the 1960s, parents used Super 8 cameras to film grainy reels of silent footage of children running around the yard in jerky movements. A decade or two later, VHS and 8 mm film raised the bar. But they were nothing compared to the art-house quality footage new parents are shooting digitally of their growing families today.

Digital video technology has progressed to the point where people with little to no filming skills can make professional-quality short movies of birthday parties, weddings, vacations or even try their hand at longer films starring their loved ones.

"You can do a lot with the relatively cheap equipment that's out there," says Chad Carlberg, creative director of Bait and Tackle, a Boston-based company that makes films and commercials. He says that with today's digital video cameras, off-the-shelf editing software and home computers, "You can make a pretty decent film."

Whether you want to tell the story of your family vacation, or merely preserve footage of your toddlers, here's how to get started making digital move magic.

Step No. 1: Get the equipment   The first step before you shoot is to have the right tools on hand:

• The digital camcorder Digital video camcorders come in many different types of formats. MiniDV camcorders film onto small tapes. Other video cameras record to hard disk drive (HDD). And DVD camcorders save video straight to discs you can view on your DVD player. Each format has its pros and cons. For the family movie-maker, Carlberg recommends MiniDVs because they are economical and easy to use. But DVD camcorders can make it easy for you to share your work, while HDD recorders have large storage capacity. To help you choose a format, make and model, there are a variety of consumer electronic web sites that specialize in product reviews, including PC Magazine or Camcorder Info. Most camcorders come with a FireWire or USB port to connect the camera to your computer for fast data transfer or you can also pick one up online or off-line at many electronics stores.
• The software Video editing software now comes standard in most new desktop or laptop computers. Once you transfer your "film" to your computer, you can edit your movie by dragging and dropping frames just like you'd organize a digital photo album, for example. Microsoft-based machines with Windows XP come with Movie Maker 2, which let's you cut scenes, create titles, and make creative transitions. Apple's Macintosh now comes with an editing suite called iLife, which includes iMovie and iDVD. iMovie allows you to create professional-looking movies with the help of cinematic titles, audio tools, backgrounds, graphics and other effects like background music. iDVD helps you transfer the movie from your computer to a DVD. Other movie-editing software, such as Adobe Premiere, can be used on any computer.

Step No. 2: Shoot like a pro  Moms, dads and grandparents sometimes make common mistakes when trying to preserve graduations, anniversary parties and christenings on film. Here are some pitfalls to avoid and tips to improve the quality of your video shoots:

• Lighting and exposure Consumer-grade digital video recorders tend not to film well in a wide range of lighting situations. "If you're outside on a bright day and filming someone sitting in the shade, that's asking the camera to do too much," Carlberg says. If you have the leeway, ask your subject to move so that the lighting is more uniform.
• Audio Camcorders often come with basic audio devices. To get better sound, you will need to attach a boom microphone to the audio input port. When filming, place the microphone near your subjects.
• Stability Some handheld cameras are so small and seemingly weightless, that even a slight shake of the hand can jolt the picture. Use a tripod as often as possible to create steady professional footage. And if your camera has a digital stabilizer, use it. 
• Editing When editing, you're best bet is to make basic cuts from one frame to the next. Editing programs come with all sorts of fade-ins and dissolve techniques, but Carlberg says to stay away from those effects. "That's the mark of an amateur," Carlberg says. "Simplicity is the key."

A final word of wisdom: "Keep your movies short," Carlberg says. "They might be fun for you, the filmmaker, but the rest of us are used to watching real sophisticated TV and web movies."

Step No. 3: Distribute your digital films  Once you film and edit your digital home movie, then you have to share your film with friends and family. The options include making copies of DVDs and physically mailing them, or posting your video on a web site and emailing the links to your audience. Web sites like YouTube or Yahoo Video make it easy to post your videos and easy for others to watch them online. For those who don't want to share videos outside a circle of trusted family and friends, consider a password-protected personal web site or the privacy option on sites like YouTube that allow you to share only with your contacts.

Your first few films might not turn out perfect, so be patient. In no time, you'll be shouting "Action!" every chance you get.