In Box

Sig's Inspiration
I was very pleased to see "One Readers Room" in the March 1998 issue. I use very similar equipment to make wildlife and nature documentaries. It gave me ideas for my set-up and since Sig Thorsen appears to be around my age, it boosted my confidence in my own video work. Because her equipment ideas are so close to mine I know I must be doing the right thing! I'd like to see more of these mini bios.

Eleanor Wellman
Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

Steal From the Second Best
I liked the article, "Steal From the Best" (April 1998), about top Hollywood directors' visual storytelling styles and how we can incorporate them into our own productions. How about running a "Part II" to include Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, Ridley Scott and James Cameron?

Mike Kuhlman
Pompano Beach, Florida

Down Under Video
I thought I would pop in to show you that your magazine has international benefit. I have just enjoyed the squishy, twanging, exploding "Homemade Sound Effects" article by Loren Alldrin in the January edition of Videomaker. Sound effects are so valuable when viewers will see your videos--and that includes the ones dubbed "home movies" by the unkind.

Joan Rennie
Australia

From Film to Video
I've just recently started reading your magazine, and it has opened up many new doors for me. You see, I'm a minor (15) and interested in the business of film production, but I was stuck trying to find cheap motion picture equipment. I'm only a kid, so I don't have a lot of money, and I knew that it would be impossible to try to make a real movie with the experience and funds that I had.

I learned by reading Videomaker that video production is an easier (and cheaper) way to produce a movie. Not only that, it is a field for amateurs and professionals alike. I just wanted to commend you for steering me onto a less stressful career path.

I've heard of contests and festivals which accept certain film formats: 16mm, 35mm, and so on. Are there contests and festivals which pertain only to Hi8, VHS, and the like?

Kurt Shulenberger
Internet

Kurt,
More "film" festivals are accepting video entries than ever before and there are several video-only festivals/contests, including the Videomaker/Panasonic Contest (details in this issue). Also, check the Quick Focus section of every Videomaker for entry deadlines of video competitions.

The Editors

Focus, Schmocus
I had to chuckle when I read that early camcorder autofocus systems ("Getting Started," February 1998) were tediously slow and couldn't stay in focus with moving objects. I found the opposite to be true.
Pre-1991 camcorders used an infrared focusing system that I consider to be far superior to the modern through-the-lens focus systems. The "slow" infrared focusing rarely went out of focus, especially with moving objects. My newer camcorder is almost constantly in "search and blur" mode, thus ruining many a good shot. I wish manufacturers would bring back the old infrared system but, in the meantime, manual focus is a must if you want decent unblurred video.

Stephen W. Austin
Veguita, New Mexico

Update
In the February 1998 issue, we reported that the Videonics Personal Titlemaker lacked labels on the video input and output jacks (page 41). Videonics is now shipping Personal Titlemaker with clearly labeled jacks.

The Editors