All Columns
Video Editing : Format King
2007-01-01In attics, basements and closets everywhere, there are piles of tapes waiting for the ambitious video editor to give them new life.
10 Steps to the Best Video for Worship
2007-09-01Shooting within the confines of a live event can try the patience of Job. But pulling it off is heavenly joy.
11 Tips for Location Scouting
2002-11-01Selecting the right location is the first step on the road to a successful shoot.
2001 Video Products in Review
2001-10-02An introduction to this special issue of Videomaker magazine.
31 Reasons To Edit
2000-05-01Not convinced that editing is for you? Here are 31 reasons to get off the fence and start editing today.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Encoding for the Web
2000-10-02Learn how to take your video file from your hard drive, create a streaming media file and then post it to a Web site.
A Word from Our Announcer: On-Camera Speaking Tips
2002-10-01Everyone on TV, from newsreaders to ad spokespersons to documentary narrators, practices the craft of speaking on-camera. Talking to an audience from the TV screen takes a special kind of skill--a skill that isn't too hard to master, as you're about to see.
Analog to Digital Converters
2002-04-01How to Convert analog to digital video using an external A/D converter or DV camcorders as analog to video converters.
Are you ready for HDV?
2006-10-02I was in my early teens in the late 1970s when the VHS/Betamax wars were raging. My best friend Robbie took the plunge and bought a Betamax. Indecisive, I waited.
Audio Advice
2003-10-01Many video editing programs include a feature that allows you to adjust audio volume continuously throughout a clip. Premiere calls these rubber bands and they are very simple to use.
Audio Advice: Digital Audio Basics
1996-04-01What digital audio is, and how it's going to change what we actually hear when we play back our video masterpieces.
Audio Advice: Hidden Microphone
2001-04-01The art of recording audio in a manner inconspicuous to the viewer. In other words, you're hiding the microphone from the "eye" of the viewfinder.
Audio Advice: The Right Tool for the Job
2006-04-01Using an off-board mic is a big step for many video producers but just using any old mic is not good enough. For the best sound, use the best mic for the situation.
Audio Advice: Traveling Sounds
2005-07-01Probably the most important audio tool in your kit, normalizing analyzes the audio in a video clip and boosts the volume so the peaks are at maximum volume.
Audio Advice: Videotaping Conversations
2006-12-01Tips for to improve conversation audio in your video
Audio: 10 Voiceover Tips
2008-03-01Voiceovers are the mainstays of advertising, instruction and promotional videos, television programs and feature films.
Audio: It's a Noisy World
2008-05-01Unless you're sitting in the middle of a soundproof room, the sounds of distant traffic noise, construction and aircraft are everywhere.
Audio: It's Foley Time
2008-02-01Imagine the sounds of a good Western without the sound effects of horses, gunshots, bar scenes and a fist fight. Your soundscape is just as important as your visualscape.
Audio: Sound Control
2008-04-01Compression makes vocals easier to hear and volumes more consistent and brings out sounds that might get lost in a complicated mix.
Audio: Squeezing Sound
2008-01-01With all the buzz about Internet video, YouTube and video sharing in general, it would be easy to forget about audio on the Internet.
Author Your Own Director's Cut on DVD
2002-04-01Making video for DVD isn't like producing for VHS. It's a whole new ball game!
Back-pocket Video Production
1997-11-01Almost anyone can pull a video production out of his or her figurative back-pocket. We'll show you how to do it with a camcorder, some props from your neighborhood, a little imagination, and some videotape.
Basic Training: 11 Steps to Add Some Spice to Your Video
2005-02-01Give some pizzazz to your videos with a few simple techniques.
Basic Training: 7 Ways to Involve the Kids
2006-07-01Children love to make videos, all they need is the impetus and opportunity. So take the camera out of the closet on a lazy Sunday and say
Basic Training: Breaking it Down
2008-03-01Not all tripods are created equal... One techie breaks them down to explain what each part does, and what to hunt for when you're ready to stand on three legs... or one.
Basic Training: Buttons, More Buttons
2006-06-01Some camcorders have a plethora of buttons, others are menu-driven. Many name a button control one thing, and others call it something else. It's time for the button game.
Basic Training: Camera Magic
2005-01-01All the tricks and techniques of in-camera effects that take your ho-hum video from the ordinary to the brilliant with these savvy shooter's tips.
Basic Training: Composition 101: Part 1
2006-09-01What makes great art great? Composition. In this first of two parts, we'll reveal some of the secret tricks of composition that the Masters use
Basic Training: Composition 102: Part 2
2006-10-01Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but a great photo is due to well-executed and thought-out composition. Take your seats, it's time for the Advanced Class in Composing.
Basic Training: Composition Tips for 16:9
2007-12-01Shooting for widescreen doesn't mean just shooting wider. It's how to creatively get your entire subject in frame and what will be lost if viewed on a 4:3 aspect ratio TV.
Basic Training: Controlling Exposure
2008-02-01Most of the time, you can't just point-and-shoot for great video design; sometimes you need to control the light going into your camcorder to get better pictures.
Basic Training: Dive In! The Water's Fine!
2007-07-01There's something about water that fascinates us. We're drawn to it, for travel, food, and entertainment.
Basic Training: Editing 101
2006-12-01"Leave it on the cutting room floor" is an old film phrase signifying to edit out stuff you don't need. It's a good reminder to cut down your piece for a tighter final project.
Basic Training: Focus on Focus
2007-10-01There's more to getting your camera in focus than meets the eye. But what is focus?
Basic Training: Gearing Up for Battle
2005-12-01Before you grab your gear and hop on your trusty steed, you need advance preparation to successfully ride off into battle.
Basic Training: In Decent Exposure
2006-04-01In a digital video camera there is no physical shutter, but, because there is a body of understanding about how film cameras work, we still call the electrical signal "shutter speed."
Basic Training: Keep it Clean
2006-01-01Make that camcorder last until the next format change with these simple ways to prolong its life and proper operation.
Basic Training: Lenses - The Long and Short
2005-11-01Wide-angle and telephoto lenses render images differently from the way we naturally see things. Skilled videographers can exploit these differences to create effective shots.
Basic Training: Looking for Light
2007-01-01Shooting in a low light setting is more than just turning down the lights or opening your camcorder's aperture. You can't take low light shooting lightly.
Basic Training: Low Budget, Big Bang
2007-09-01One of the most exciting things that has happened to moviemaking lately is that consumer products have approached the level of professional gear.
Basic Training: Move It!
2006-05-01When you want a moving shot, you have all kinds of options, including a few that you might not have thought of before.
Basic Training: Nine Digital Cinematography Tips
2007-08-01So you know about medium shots, wide shots, closeups and even extreme closeups. But why do your videos still lack that special zing?
Basic Training: Practice Makes Perfect
2006-11-01Artists, athletes and entertainers all know that the best way to become the best at what you do is to practice as often as you can. Why shouldn't video producers do the same?
Basic Training: Shoot to Show or to Edit
2005-09-01"Shoot to Show" and "Shoot to Edit" are two different styles requiring different methods of planning. No one knows these techniques better than a run-and-gun News Photographer.
Basic Training: Shoot Yourself!
2006-02-01If you visit a Hollywood film production, or sit through its credits, you know it takes busloads of people to get the production in the can. But what if you don't have access to busloads of people?
Basic Training: Shooting an Interview
2006-03-01It might not be 60 Minutes, (more like 15 minutes!) but if you want to make your interviews shine like Ed Bradley's on CBS, read on!
Basic Training: Shooting on the Go
2005-07-01Videographers rely heavily on tripods to get smooth, steady and level images. While essential, they can be a hassle when there's no time for setup.
Basic Training: Shooting the Four Seasons
2005-08-01"Neither Rain nor Sleet nor Dark of Night..." will keep the dedicated videographer from capturing the essence of the seasons... and you can too, with these tips from the pros.
Basic Training: Shot Lingo
2007-04-01Tips to define the shot you want, and the language to create it.
Basic Training: Take Your 8mm Film to Digital
2006-08-01Make sure your priceless family treasures don't get left behind. Here are some tips to turn your twentieth century celluloid into twenty-first century ones and zeros.
Basic Training: The (Alien) Sky's the Limit!
2005-03-01Your color creation palette is limited only to the imagination when you understand how
to use the simple video filters in your editing software.
Basic Training: The 9 Classic Camera Moves
2005-04-01Camera moves can make your project look super professional or incredibly amateurish depending on how well you use them.
Basic Training: The Rules of the Grid
2008-01-01Knowing the technical workings of your camera is half the battle of shooting a good video. Understanding good composition can really give your work some pizazz.
Basic Training: Three-Point Lighting 101
2008-05-01Lighting can be extremely complicated. Some movie and TV shoots use dozens of lights to assure proper scene lighting. Here's a primer to help dispel the mystery.
Basic Training: What were you THINKING?!
2005-05-01Have you ever wanted to wrestle a camcorder away from Uncle Buck while at a
Basic Training: Winning with Composition
2005-06-01When one shot flows into another seemingly seamlessly, you've got the makings of good shot composition.
Basic Training: YouTube - Step by Step
2008-04-01Everybody's jumping on the YouTube bandwagon, from cats and kids to vacation travelers and pros. It's fun and it's easy. Here are some quick tips to getting started.
Basic Training: Zing Your Images
2007-11-01Bored by your video camera's limitations? Wish you had a wider lens, longer zoom or could connect your camcorder to a telescope or microscope? Try looking at lens adapters!
Becoming a Professional Video Editor
2006-07-01Part 1: Growth, your tools and your space. Step 1: Clean up your act! If video editors desk is a home-office catch-all, the video editor is not using space effectively or time efficiently.
Biography Videos: New Application for Home Video
2004-08-01Personal biography videos are becoming a successful niche service for videographers.
Broaden Your Video Horizons
2004-01-01How high-speed broadband Internet is changing the course of digital video.
Budgeting Time
2001-12-01How long will it take? Calculate your time investment before you start with these planning tips.
Build a Guerrilla Sound Booth
2002-02-01You've got the makings of a great audio production booth, right in your own home.
Camcorder Battery Tips
2002-07-01How to make sure your battery is still alive when your ready to make that critical shot.
Camcorder Danger: Risks People Take for the Camera
1996-05-01The dangers of putting a camcorder on a person who would put themselves or others at risk to show off.
Camcorder lighting: On-Camera Lights
2007-01-01Whether you're trying to improve an otherwise impossibly dark shot or add a little pop to an adequately lit scene, an on-camera light is a critical tool.
Casting Shadows with Cookies: A Recipe for Success
2001-08-01Create unique visual effects with homemade cookies and gobos.
Charity Video
2007-08-01For aspiring video producers, it's always hard to find some interesting subject matter. Are you looking for an audience?
Church Video: Lights, Camera, Worship
2004-06-01You'll never walk alone: a pragmatic guide to worship video from those who have gone before.
Communication: The Foundation of Production
2003-11-01The most important thing a director has to do is communicate.
Computer Editing: 5 Phases of Editing
2000-10-01Conquer editing in five major phases: organizing, assembling, enhancing, synthesizing and archiving.
Computer Editing: A Transition Style Sheet
2000-11-01Fade, dissolve, wipe, flip, spin and more. A checklist for innovative transitions.
Computer Editing: Applying Speed Effects in Post
2003-02-01Spectacular speed effects using your nonlinear editing program.
Computer Editing: Basic Compositing
2001-08-01In a field as rapidly changing as video production, few "buzzwords" generate more interest than "compositing."
Computer Editing: Breaking the Two-Gig Barrier
2002-05-01Digital video editors can conquer the 2-gigabyte file size dilemma. Here's how.
Computer Editing: Clip Trimming Made Easy
2002-12-01Cut the time you spend editing by trimming your clips before you import.
Computer Editing: Color Tweaking
2002-01-01Digital-video tools built into today's editing computers allow videographers to manipulate on-screen color.
Computer Editing: Common Editing Problems
2001-04-01You've got problems? We've got solutions. Tips for troubleshooting common editing software problems.
Computer Editing: Editing Approaches
2001-05-01Part I: When Pictures Drive Sound. Sometimes what you see determines the pace of your edit.
Computer Editing: Film Effects
2002-06-01Post-production tips and tricks to make your video look like film.
Computer Editing: Getting Started in Computer Editing
2001-01-01There's more to editing than knowing which buttons to press.
Computer Editing: Go with the Flow -- Editing for Continuity
2003-03-01Paying attention to the continuity can help you communicate clearly with your audience.
Computer Editing: Introduction to Computer Animation
2002-02-01Today's powerful animation software can help you create dazzling animation productions.
Computer Editing: Keying, Alpha Channels and Mattes
2002-09-01Dive into the wonderful world of compositing and enter a world without creative limits.
Computer Editing: Let's Talk Titles
2001-02-01Find out everything you need to know to make great titles for all your video productions.
Computer Editing: Log and Capture Concepts
2002-03-01Plan ahead by sorting and numbering your video clips in an organized way.
Computer Editing: Making Moving Titles
2001-10-01Making moving titles is easy with today's video editing software.
Computer Editing: Making the Most of Bad Footage
2001-09-01Practical editing tips to help you turn terrible footage into terrific video.
Computer Editing: Multi-Camera Editing
2001-12-01Here are some helpful hints for editing multi-camera footage into a finished production.
Computer Editing: Saying a Lot With a Little
2003-01-01Use titles and graphics to grab your viewer's attention.
Computer Editing: Shooting for a Specific Audience
2003-07-01Tailor your shows for the people who will watch them.
Computer Editing: Six Transgressions of the Edit Suite: An Editor's Tale
2003-04-01Gather round ye acolytes of seamless editing. Today's scroll concerns a subject near and dear to all who believe in the power of the smooth program.
Computer Editing: Special Effect Video Filters
2002-11-01Take advantage of your video editor's special effects filters, just don't overdo it.
Computer Editing: Split Man
2000-12-01Learn how and when to use split edits to add meaning, depth and interest to your video productions.
Computer Editing: Tailoring Edits to Specific Viewers
2001-07-01How to tailor your programs to suit the likes and dislikes of your target audience.
Computer Editing: The ABCs of NLEs
2002-08-01Video editing, as a whole, is greater than the sum of its parts.
Computer Editing: The Language of Editing
2001-03-01Learn the language of editing and edit like the pros.
Computer Editing: Video Filter Effects
2002-10-01Applying electronic filters in post-production can cure many of your footage's ailments.
Computer Editing: Watch Your Language!
2001-11-01Knowing what messages your video's transitions send goes a long way in helping you choose the right effect.
Computer Editing: Which Comes First, the A or the V?
2003-05-01Editing when the picture drives the soundtrack.
Computer Video Editing: What's the Best Approach?
2001-06-01To beginning editors it may seem that visuals are the determining factor in making edit decisions. The truth is that editing is often a process of matching visuals to essential audio.
Computer Video Glossary
1999-10-02A guide to computer-video terms that every video editor needs to know.
Copy Protection
2002-01-01Protecting your work can lead to some confusing red tape. Use these tips from two copyright attorneys to help you cut through it.
Desktop Video: Digital Nonlinear Editing
1995-02-01To begin nonlinear editing, you'll need some way to digitize your video and audio clips.On the PC, locate an Intel Smart Video Recorder Pro (or the Creative Labs Video Blaster RT300).
Digital Video Editing: The Grammar of Editing
1998-06-01Bad Grammar can lead to a bad impression. Learn the grammar of editing to avoid common mistakes.
Digital Video Lighting : Enhance Video with Light & Color
2004-03-01Tinted gels, correct white balance, and correct Lighting for digital video can make the different between professional and amateur quality.
Directing for the Screen
2001-08-01Learn how to apply four major directing tools: point of view, composition, perspective and movement.
Directing to Edit
2003-09-01By anticipating your editor's needs and shooting footage to fulfill them, you can help create a better program--and a happier editor.
Directing: Decoding the Video Crew
2008-02-01As a one-man-band, you wear many hats, but when your production gets bigger, you have to share the load. But who ya gonna call? Get ready for the name game, it’s "Crew Call" time!
Directing: Directing Documentaries
2008-04-01Documentaries are about real people in real places doing real things. Documentaries were the first films ever made.
Directing: Dual-Role Directing
2006-06-01Multitasking when you are directing is not easy but sometimes necessary. Here are a few suggestions.
Directing: Recruiting Talent
2006-08-01One of the most difficult, important and rewarding things a director has to do is find, recruit and work with talent.
Director's Chair: Back to Film School
2007-08-01Watching films is a classroom in itself, yet you really have to have the right tools to become a critical viewer.
Director's Chair: Directing a Fall
2007-04-01Physical comedy has been a hallmark of the film industry since the early days of the silent film.
Director's Chair: Everyday Masterpieces
2006-12-01December - a time of cold and perhaps snow. A few weeks of quiet time before the onrush of the holiday season.
Director's Chair: Just What Should I Wear?
2007-10-01Scrutinize the wardrobes on TV and in the movies, and you'll see most of the clothing worn by the actors will blend well with each other. This isn't an accident.
Director's Chair: Maintaining Continuity
2007-06-01Even in blockbuster movies, continuity errors happen, and eagle-eyed viewers love to find the mistakes.
Director's Chair: Planning Your Shoot
2007-12-01There is an old saying in the business world that goes, "Poor prior planning leads to particularly poor programs." This is especially true in the video industry.
Director's Chair: Screen Direction
2007-02-01Screen direction is perhaps one of the most confusing yet easily remedied problems in directing a video production.
Director's Chair: Secrets of Storytelling
2006-10-01"And Toto, Too?" Say any classic movie line, and everyone knows not only the movie you're referring to, but also which scene and the character who spoke it.
Director's Chair: Who's in Charge Here?
2006-02-01You don't need puffy pants and a megaphone to be an assertive, successful director. But you do need to take control.
Distribution: Compressing the Goods
2008-01-01Everybody's doing it. Whether it's for private e-mail to friends, or mass distribution, here are a few basics and then some for compressing video for the Web.
Distribution: Distributing the Goods
2008-04-01From YouTube to those that pay, video-sharing sites have risen from the obscure to dominate internet users' online experience. Which one is best for your video?
Do-it-Yourself Hoop Windscreen
2001-10-01Step-by-step instructions on how to build an inexpensive narration windscreen
Edit Suite: Aesthetics of Editing
1997-06-01Editing is an important part of making video. But the best edits are those that the audience doesn't even notice.
Edit Suite: An Off-line On-line Outline
1998-10-01Editing at home on your PC can save you time and money, but there are limitations.
Edit Suite: Analog vs. Digital Editing
1998-03-01Clarity shines on the murky confusion surrounding the two types of signals.
Edit Suite: Bare-bones Editing: Simple Editing Without a Controller
1997-10-01If you want to edit your videos but you don't want to set up an editing system, here's a simple solution.
Edit Suite: Behold the Humble Cut
1996-08-01No video transition is so simple and inexpensive as the cut. And none is so powerful.
Edit Suite: Choosing a Titler
1996-06-01A titler will do more than just put text on the screen--it can also give your productions a more professional look.
Edit Suite: Choosing an Edit Controller
1997-01-01Now that you've taped several hours of weddings, birthdays, and other precious moments, it's time to make them watchable.
Edit Suite: Continuity Boot Camp
1996-05-01How to put an end to the often comical - and always embarrassing - continuity error.
Edit Suite: Deck Control, Once Over Lightly
1998-01-01If you plan to buy an editing system or improve your current one, it pays to understand edit protocols.
Edit Suite: Editing Cameras
1997-05-01Editing equipment is becoming smaller, less cumbersome and, in some cases, consolidated within the camcorder itself.
Edit Suite: Editing Picture to Sound
1999-12-01By carefully matching picture and sound, you can make an otherwise boring video come alive.
Edit Suite: Editing Video Events
2000-07-01Stuck shooting an event from just one vantage point? Not to worry, as an editor, you have an array of tricks to help create entertaining video anyway.
Edit Suite: Editing: Linear or Nonlinear?
1998-05-01Don't confuse linear and nonlinear editing with analog and digital formats.
Edit Suite: Fearless Compositing
2000-08-01Don't be intimidated, compositing is easier than you might think.
Edit Suite: Five Types of Continuity
2000-03-01Even Hollywood movies can suffer gaps in continuity. Learn what to do to keep continuity throughout your video.
Edit Suite: Fresh Ideas for Titles
2000-09-01Let's jump beyond the basics and consider titles as a creative component of your shows.
Edit Suite: Getting the Most From an Edit Bureau
1997-03-01Got a one-time video project to edit? Why spend a fortune buying editing equipment when you can rent it?
Edit Suite: How to Use Time Code
1997-11-01Contrary to what you might think, time code’s frame accuracy makes it easier and faster to edit video.
Edit Suite: It's About Time: How To Control Pacing
1998-04-01Make your videos more interesting by
manipulating time.
Edit Suite: Linear Editing: Ten Tips for Success
1999-06-01A handful of helpful hints for tape-to-tape editors.
Edit Suite: Make it Snappy
1999-08-01Create vibrant videos using the appropriate tempo to keep your audience interested and asking for more.
Edit Suite: Master Editors
1996-09-01One of the best ways to learn when and where to edit is to imitate those who have done it brilliantly.
Edit Suite: Nonlinear Editing: 10 Tips for Success
1999-03-01Helpful advice for nonlinear project management.
Edit Suite: Once Upon a Time: The History of Videotape Editing
1997-07-01One look at where we've come from will make you appreciate how far we've come
Edit Suite: Plan for Better Editing
1996-07-01A stitch in time saves nine. An edit plan saves time.
Edit Suite: Play It Again!
2000-06-01Don't just use that shot once. Here are some sneaky reasons to recycle footage.
Edit Suite: Real is in the Eye of the Beholder
2000-04-01The creative editor can suggest impossible realities to a believing audience.
Edit Suite: Shaping Performance through Editing
1998-11-01Simple tricks for editing complicated dialogue.
Edit Suite: TBC Trivia
1996-03-01Answers to common questions about one of video's least-understood tools.
Edit Suite: Test Your Monitor Knowledge
1996-10-01TVs, video monitors and computer monitors may look similar, but savvy videomakers know how they differ, and how to use them.
Edit Suite: The Heart of Your Edit Suite: Editing Decks
1997-12-01Just what is it that sets an Edit Deck apart from just any old VCR?
Edit Suite: The Ins and Outs of Edit Controllers
1997-08-01Recording footage with your camcorder is one thing; turning it into a watchable video is another. Consider an edit controller.
Edit Suite: The Language of Transitions
1999-07-01The classical use of transitions, though not flashy, can be a powerful means to communicate.
Edit Suite: The Language of Video Editing
1997-09-01The content of your video is important, but so is the way you put it together.
Edit Suite: The Mysteries of Screen Direction
2000-01-01The basic rules for screen direction are deceptively simple.
Edit Suite: The Power of Suggestion
1998-09-01How can you achieve a big-budget look for your video with a no-budget budget?
Edit Suite: The Power of the Cut
1999-05-01The simplest transition effect may also be the most powerful.
Edit Suite: Transition Tricks
1996-04-01Here's how to put transitions to work in your video productions.
Edit Suite: Using Your Computer for Linear Editing
1996-12-01While nonlinear editing systems seem to be all the rage, computer-controlled linear editing is tried, true and affordable.
Edit Suite: Warp Speed: Conquering Space and Time
1999-09-01Through judicious editing, we exercise our omnipotence over the little worlds we create on screen.
Edit Suite: What Is Editing?
1998-02-01Create a video program by adding, sequencing and enhancing your camcorder
footage.
Edit Suite: You're Entitled!
1999-01-01Creative titling is a fun and easy way to add spice and character to your videos.
Edit The Plan: Part 3 of Production Planning
2005-06-01Planning for post-production will re-focus your vision of the program you want and then help you create it with the material you've got.
Editing Digital Audio
2000-10-02The secret ingredient that all the pros agree must be added to each of your video recipes if you want to cook up an outstanding program.
Editing: Editing from Start to Finish, Part 1 of 4
2004-04-01This is the first part of a planned 4-part introduction to video editing. Part 1: Prep, Log and Capture.
Editing: Editing from Start to Finish, Part 2 of 4
2004-05-01A Four Part Videomaker Series. Part 2: Get Editing! Cut, Trim and Pace.
Editing: Editing from Start to Finish, Part 4 of 4
2004-07-01A Four Part Videomaker Series. Part 4: Sweeten It!
Editing: Intermediate Codec Transcoding
2008-05-01As CPUs get faster, machines are able to utilize more RAM and editing software gets more efficient, the need for intermediate codecs for editing HDV may fall away.
Editing: It's the Pace, Ace!
2004-03-01Program pacing is a neglected art that may be more important than you think.
Editing: Motivation
2008-03-01It's a bird... it's a plane... it's ... the motivated edit? It's a powerful editing technique, but to execute it well, you must consider the final edit when you plan the first shot.
Editing: Polished Work
2008-04-01From rough cut to finished product, you want to deliver the goods as cleanly as possible. Here are the Seven Steps to Creating an Excellent Polished Work.
Editor's Letter: Making video is a lot easier than it used to be
1999-10-02Sitting in front of a computer that is configured for video editing is a wonderful experience and now it’s easier than ever.
Editor's Letter: So you want to learn how to make video with your computer?
2000-10-02Making high quality video is easier than ever before.
Fan Films on the Web
2002-08-01It doesn't cost millions of dollars to creat a blockbuster, only a camcorder and a desire to play Jedi.
Finding Talent for Videos
2002-11-01A handy guide to finding, auditioning and hiring the best performers for your next production.
From Shot Lists to Storyboards
2004-06-01Organizing your project before you shoot can save you time during the edit stage.
Getting Started: Altering Space and Time with Video
2000-09-01The space-time continuum used to be the sole domain of science-fiction writers.Today it is the playground of the videographer.
Getting Started: Artistic Vision
1998-01-01Ten simple camera techniques can give your videos an "artistic" look.
Getting Started: Audience Appreciation: Be Kind to Your Viewers
1998-03-01Four questions you should ask yourself before you hit that red record button.
Getting Started: Auto vs. Manual
1996-03-01If better-looking video is your goal, maybe it's time you took control.
Getting Started: Avoiding Common Camcorder Mistakes
1998-04-01Five ways to keep from shooting yourself in the foot.
Getting Started: Camcorder Maintenance
2000-07-01Common sense and TLC will keep your camcorder in tip-top shape at all times.
Getting Started: Camera Move Aesthetics
1999-12-01Carefully chosen camera moves contribute immensely to the aesthetic quality of your video.
Getting Started: Cause and In-camera Effect
1999-03-01In the right circumstances, a good in-camera effect is just what the doctor ordered.
Getting Started: Choosing Your Camcorder
1997-03-01What's the best camcorder you can buy? It depends on what you need, what you want, and how much you can spend.
Getting Started: Composition: A Work of Video Art
1999-06-01Attention to framing will make any video more interesting.
Getting Started: Connecting Editing Equipment
1996-11-01Making the right connections isn't just smart, it's a neccessity.
Getting Started: Copy Stand Shooting
1999-02-01It's the best way to shoot art, photos and small objects in extreme closeup.
Getting Started: Creative Camcorder Work
1999-07-01By creatively positioning your camcorder, you can elicit a wide range of emotional responses from your audience.
Getting Started: Do You Copy?
1996-06-01Transferring photos to video is easy with the right tools and a little know-how.
Getting Started: Don't Get Fooled Again: The Power of Manual Control
1998-02-01Put yourself in control of your camcorder's automatic features.
Getting Started: Easy Editing the Two-Finger Way
1999-05-01Edit your footage with a camcorder, a TV and a VCR.
Getting Started: Focal Techniques
2000-08-01Making focus work to your advantage is a key part of producing good video.
Getting Started: Handheld Camera Techniques
1998-09-01Steady camera shots without a tripod can be easy if you practice these simple tips.
Getting Started: High Concept, Low Sweat
1997-01-01Organization can mean the difference between a confusing series of clips and a compelling, satisfying video. All it takes is a little forethought and a little planning.
Getting Started: How to Avoid Common Camcorder Mistakes
2000-02-01By avoiding the most common camcorder mistakes, you can come closer to video perfection.
Getting Started: In-Camera Edit Control
1997-12-01Put an edit controller inside a camcorder and what do you have? A video Swiss Army knife.
Getting Started: In-Camera Editing
1999-09-01In-camera editing is video production without the safety net.
Getting Started: Lens Techniques
1999-11-01Your camcorder's eye - the lens - can create come interesting focal effects.
Getting Started: Lenses: Long and Short, Wide and Tight
1996-05-01Harness the power of the zoom lens for maximum visual impact.
Getting Started: Saving Family Classics: Film-to-Video Transfer
1999-01-01Do-it-yourself film-to-video is easy and allows you to add a personal touch to your classic footage.
Getting Started: Shooting on Sunny Days
2000-04-01When shooting outdoors, you should maintain control of the most important video component: light.
Getting Started: Shooting to Edit vs. Editing In-Camera
2000-05-01The difference between shooting to edit and editing in-camera is like shooting with a safety net or flying by the seat of your pants.
Getting Started: Sideline Video: Shooting Sports
1996-12-01Videotaping sports events can be just as challenging as the games themselves. Here's a few hints to help you hit a home run with your viewers.
Getting Started: Slide to Video Transfer Tips
1999-04-01Transferring slides to video can be a very simple process.
Getting Started: Space, Time and Videotape
1998-11-01The camcorder allows you to warp time to your advantage.
Getting Started: The Boring Parts Cut Out
1996-07-01When you show your videos, does your audience cry "Mercy, mercy! Or "More, more!"? Some simple editing could make the difference.
Getting Started: The Case of the Missing Controls
1997-06-01Automatic point-and-shoot camcorders are convenient, but manual control of certain functions can do your videos a world of good.
Getting Started: The Great Balloon Video-A Case Study
1997-07-01If you're short on video equipment and expertise, go long on planning. It'll help your video take off.
Getting Started: The Joy of Sets
1996-10-01With your imagination, a few inexpensive props and some clever framing, you can defy reality
Getting Started: The Seven Deadly Camera Sins
1997-04-01Follow these easy guidelines for video you'll be proud of.
Getting Started: The Top 10 Reasons Nobody Likes to Watch Your Videos
1998-12-01Keeping your audience awake for the final credits is easy when you avoid these basic video hazards.
Getting Started: The [Record] Head of Class
1997-02-01How to select the best video equipment for your school's production needs without breaking your budget, and how to use it wthout straining your skills.
Getting Started: Tripod Techniques
1999-10-01Take a closer look at that most indispensible of video tools - the tripod.
Getting Started: Using Light
1996-09-01Light is the most essential element in videomaking. Here's how to make the best use of it.
Getting Started: Video Composition
2000-06-01Good shot composition is at the heart of attractive video.
Getting Started: Video Time Travel
1997-08-01Video is a time machine. Learn to control it, and you can really have some fun.
Getting Started: Visual Composition
1996-08-01You don't have to be George Gershwin to be a great composer. Just carefully arrange your video scenes, and you'll achieve visual harmony.
Getting Started: What's Holding Things Up?
1997-09-01Tripods are simple but essential videomaking tools. Unfortunately, they're often overlooked.
Getting Started: Writing Video Letters
1997-05-01If you have trouble using written words to relate a story or to describe an experience, try using your camcorder.
Getting Started: ZOOM!!
1997-11-01Used skillfully, your camcorder’s zoom lens can set you apart as a savvy shooter.
Green Screen Lighting
2005-10-01Virtual green screen sets are no longer just for the privileged Hollywood bigwigs.
HD Take 5: Make-up for High Definition
2006-10-02Wrinkles, pores and blemishes disappear in five simple steps.
HDV Editing Dos & Don'ts
2006-10-02Is HDV really the next big thing? In potential for greatness, perhaps. In "file size" surprisingly not. But in "gotchas"... maybe.
Holiday Gift Guide: Four Tips for Stuffing Video Stockings
1999-12-01Don’t know what to give? Here are some gift ideas that every videographer will love.
Hollywood's Secrets Revealed: Special Effects in the Movies
1998-10-01Look inside the creation of some of special effects in the movies.
Home Video Hints: A Videographer's Family Vacation
2002-06-01Make sure you have all the mobile video equipment you need when you head out on the road.
Home Video Hints: Baby, It's Cold Outside!
2000-12-01Keep your camcorder safe in cold, wet winter weather.
Home Video Hints: Camcorder Battery Care
2004-10-01Take Charge! Don’t miss your best shot of the day to a dead battery.
Home Video Hints: Camera Moves
2002-10-01Pivots, pans, tilts and zooms--learn to generate camera moves that work for you.
Home Video Hints: Camera Sinners, Repent!
2002-09-01An in-depth look at seven suspect shots you should avoid when shooting your footage.
Home Video Hints: Common Camcorder Mistakes
2001-02-01Learn to avoid some of the most common mistakes made by camcorder users.
Home Video Hints: Composing Your Shots
2003-04-01Shooting great looking video can be as simple as solving a few problems with composition.
Home Video Hints: Composition the Easy Way
2002-07-01Good composition requires more than just a high-quality camcorder and some nice scenery. There are rules.
Home Video Hints: Digital Editing for Free
2001-07-01You may already have everything you need to start editing. Here's an easy, three-step guide on how to start.
Home Video Hints: Editing 101: School's in Session
2004-03-01For novice and intermediate editors, here are some tips to consider as you move towards editing perfection.
Home Video Hints: Editing for Absolute Beginners
2001-05-01Your TV and VCR are all that you need to start editing.
Home Video Hints: Four Essential Audio Elements
2003-10-01What you hear is as important as what you see.
Home Video Hints: Get Those Tapes in Shape
2002-03-01Limbering up your tapes by blacking, fast forwarding and pre-labeling them can save you headaches.
Home Video Hints: Holiday Videos that Rock!
2004-12-01A quick and easy recipe for capturing family memories.
Home Video Hints: Home Video Distribution
2003-09-01There are more options for getting your video seen than ever before.
Home Video Hints: How to Use Available Light
2004-09-01Available light can be all you need if you patiently think through your options and wisely exploit the location.
Home Video Hints: I've Got This Great Footage...
2004-04-01You have dozens of tapes and hundreds of scenes and shots. Organization isn't just nice, it's a necessity.
Home Video Hints: Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
2002-12-01Nasty winter weather is no reason to put your camcorder into hibernation.
Home Video Hints: New Rules for Video Vacations
2004-07-01How to travel safe in the New World Order.
Home Video Hints: Plan for Success
2002-05-01A little planning goes a long way in making a successful video project.
Home Video Hints: Planning Production: Part I
2003-01-01Even productions for the home hobbyist can benefit from pre-production planning.
Home Video Hints: Production Planning: Taking Your Act on the Road
2003-02-01Cover the essentials for smooth shooting.
Home Video Hints: Pushing the Right Buttons
2002-08-01The presence and location of manual camcorder settings play an important role in video production.
Home Video Hints: Pushing Your Buttons
2001-01-01Don't let your new camcorder be overwhelming. Learn the button basics.
Home Video Hints: Ready or Not!
2001-03-01Camcorder users, like good Scouts, should always be prepared.
Home Video Hints: Sharp Shootin'
2001-04-01Suggestions to help you record better-looking video every time you shoot.
Home Video Hints: Shoot Video With the Editor In Mind
2001-08-01Make the editing job easier by keeping the editing process in mind when shooting your video.
Home Video Hints: Shooting to Edit - 5 Tips for Success
2000-10-02Learn to shoot video with the mind of an editor and your editing will be faster, easier and a lot more fun.
Home Video Hints: Shooting Under Cover
2002-04-01Admit it. There are plenty of times you want to shoot inconspicuously. Here's how.
Home Video Hints: Simple Steps for Camcorder Care
2001-10-01Keeping your video equipment in tip-top shape can save you big bucks down the road.
Home Video Hints: Steady as She Goes!
2002-01-01Practical advice to help you shoot smooth, steady footage with or without a stabilizing device.
Home Video Hints: Telling a Simple Story
2001-09-01Making a story movie is easy, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines.
Home Video Hints: Ten Tips for Great Travel Video
2001-06-01Be prepared: how to take inventory of your home before disaster strikes.
Home Video Hints: The Seven Golden Composition Rules
2001-11-01Good video composition doesn't require years of artistic training. Fluency in some basic axioms will suffice.
Home Video Hints: The Three C's of Shooting to Edit
2002-11-01While shooting video, consider the edit that lies ahead. Keep coverage, continuity and cutability in mind.
Home Video Hints: Thinking Like an Editor
2004-08-01In order to call yourself a professional videographer you need equipment, clients and a good reputation.
Home Video Hints: Titling Tips
2003-08-01Identifying and resolving basic problems behind ineffective video titles.
Home Video Hints: Using a Built-in Camera Light
2004-05-01Small, portable and battery powered, a video light can save your shots in more ways than you may know.
Home Video Hints: Video for the Ho-Ho-Holidays
2001-12-01We have some tips and ideas to improve your inevitable assortment of holiday video clips.
Home Video Hints: Video on CD -- You Can Do it Too!
2003-11-01Follow a reader through the process of creating a VCD
Home Video Hints: Videotaping Children
2002-02-01Make compelling home videos, not just boring, uninspired raw footage.
Home Video Hints: Watch Your Language!
2003-07-01The world of transitions speaks a language we all understand--whether you realize it or not.
Home Video Hints: What's Your Angle?
2000-10-01Creative camera angles can improve the look of your home videos.
Homemade Sound Effects With Big-Budget Impact
1998-01-01Don't buy sound effects, make your own! We'll show you how to create realistic sound effects using Hollywood style tricks to fool the ear.
Homemade Sound Effects: You Won't Believe Your Ears
2001-04-01Bring the sound of Hollywood to your videos with tips and tricks of the Foley trade.
How Many Cameras?
1998-04-01How can a videographer who only has one camcorder and no control room hope to produce a slick and professional-looking video? Find out how in this article about clever editing techniquesfor making one camera look like many.
How to Make a Documentary - Part 1
2006-04-01Few other communication forms have the power to reveal a unique perspective, capture imagination and even motivate change. In this 3-part series on how to make a documentary, you'll discover how you can move your story from dream to distribution.
How to Make a Documentary Part 2 - "Fulfillment of the Dream"
2006-05-01Considered an art form by many, documentary video production has its own special challenges and rewards. In this second of three parts on how to make a documentary, we'll explore how to plan your approach, find your subject and begin the process of bringing your vision to fruition.
How to Transfer 8mm, 16mm, 35mm or 65mm Film to Video Tape or DVD
2004-11-01A look at do it your self and professional options to transfer your classic 16mm film (or any other type of film) to video or DVD.
How to Use a Camcorder: Buttons and Contols
2003-03-01Learn how to use the common camera buttons and controls on camcorders.
How to Use a Camcorder: Keeping Your Image Steady
1996-04-01Ways to steady your camcorder. Use an external viewfinder to keep your hard forehead from touching the camera.
Illuminations: Applying 3-Point Lighting
2006-11-01Some folks consider it a tired cliche, but it's important to know how to set 3-point lighting, so you can work within or without this classic lighting style.
Illuminations: Casting Shadows
2007-07-01When you think about lighting, you probably think about your lights and where to place them. But what about the shadows?
Illuminations: Color Temperature Strategies
2005-07-01Coloring your video world with light is more than just turning on a few lamps and setting a good white balance - light is often a mixed bag.
Illuminations: Controlling the Color of Light
2006-09-01From yellow to blue, soft to harsh, indoor or out, the "color" of the scene changes with your light setup, and can influence the mood of your video.