How to Make a Professional Looking Video - for Fun or Profit

Goal:

You will learn tips for shooting video, choosing the best optimal equipment, converting video to different formats for different purposes (YouTube, Facebook), and video editing. You will learn how to:

• Use a mini digital camcorder or similar video camera to shoot video

• Edit video using a free video editing software program (Windows Movie Maker)

• Export video from computer in an appropriate video format

• Convert video files to various other formats

• Upload video to an online video sharing site (YouTube) 

• Embed video into blogs, Facebook and family sites.

I. Intruduction to Video & Quick overview of video equipment options (15 minutes)

• Equipment Options

 

II. Shoot video using an inexpensive pocket video camcorder (Flip Mino) (30 min)

Shoot a Simple Story assignment 

Shooting Interviews

For a better understanding of how to conduct and shoot interviews follow the links below. You can either stay with this website beginning at the Intro page (first link) or click on the other links for specific information.

Introduction and Preparation

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/intro.html 

Interview Structure

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/structure.html

Framing Interview Shots

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/framing.html

Composing Interview Shots

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/interviews/composition.html

Interview Technique

This site contains excellent suggestions for conducting interviews. Be sure to follow through to the other pages as well. It’s a quick read! 

http://www.mediacollege.com/journalism/interviews/

Shot Types

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/ 

III. Upload video from camcorder to a PC (30 min)

1. Distinguish between various file formats
2. Quick Review of provided software for Flip cameras
3. Import files to Windows Movie Maker - Get Started with Windows Movie Maker
   1. If not using Flip camera, follow directions here: Download movies from your camera to your computer
4. Overview of various features of the provided software - Creating and Sharing Great Movies
   1. Watch the video now to see how easy these features are to use. Watching the video requires that you have Windows Media Player.
5. Use existing video files to edit - Download this --> day12.mp4

IV. Edit video using Windows Movie Maker (60 min)

1. Cut out sections and crop the ends of video
2. Add photos, music and voiceover narration to video timeline
3. Add transitions & titles and credits
4. Combine video clips together into one video using transitions and special effects and special effects

Finding Images

www.flickr.com

FREE, big images! You must create an account (its free and fast) to access the 'All Sizes' button. Click on the 'All Sizes' button to gain access to the largest image possible. The larger the image the better it will look in your video project! Make sure you check for a Creative Commons license.

Finding Music

PodSafe Audio: This site aims to provide a location where musicians can upload music under the Creative Commons license for use in Podcasts, Mashups, Shoutcasts, Webcasts and every other kind of 'casting' that exists on the 'net. Click here for Quick Music. 

V. Export video in different file formats (10 min)

1. For Windows Media Player - Save to Computer 
2. For online video sharing sites (Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo)
3. For CD, DVD or TV (Save back to Camera).
4. For Email distribution

VI. Discuss How to Convert video to various formats using Media Converter (10 min)

Media Converter is a free file converter which supports many file types. It has also an integrated video downloader to download and convert videos from Youtube and other video sharing sites. The maximum file size for all conversions is 100mb. If you need to convert larger files up to 500mb you should sign up for the premium service. Use this to convert Windows Media Video (wmv) files to mp4 for your iPod or iTunes U or 3gp for your cell phone.

AVS Video Tools: 4 in 1 for $39.95

4 video tools in 1 kit: convert video, edit, transfer & burn

VII. Upload video to an online video sharing site (YouTube) (10 min)

1. Sign up for account: http://youtube.com

2. Click the Upload button to upload your video.

VIII. Embed video into blogs, Facebook and family sites. (15 min)

Do you already have a blog? Wordpress or Blogger? Blogger is okay, but Wordpress.com is a little different. You can't use the embed code you get from sites. You have to use the video URL that is given. Here are some instructions: 

Paste your YouTube or Google Video URL in the space provided, or use the examples below. Just paste this in your post. The Post to WordPress button works great.

• YouTube instructions [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgEmZ39EtFk]

• Google instructions [googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-8459301055248673864]

• DailyMotion instructions [dailymotion id=5zYRy1JLhuGlP3BGw]

1. Grab the Embed code or URL from YouTube
2. Paste that code into your blog post - See above for Wordpress blogs
3. Share the video using the "Share" feature (under the video)