http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: Documentary - Recent Posts en Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:52:54 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/just-starting-have-questions#post-74790 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:01:00 +0000 composite1 74790@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>John,</p> <p>With low, micro or near zero budgets like yours, keeping it simple is the only way to go. In all seriousness look at a good Point and Shoot camera with video built-in. Most do HD in 720p or 1080p and you can get really good images. Don't spend more than 200 bucks. Take another $100 and buy a Zoom H1 so you can record synced audio because you won't get good audio with just the camera. Next, go to 'S-Mart' and buy a small camera bag that will hold the camera, a small tripod (Joby preferred), the Zoom, 2 or more SD cards (4GB or bigger), two extra camera and AA batteries, your manuals a cleaning cloth, the battery charger and any connection cables. Don't spend more than $30 on the bag. You'll also want a larger tripod again don't spend more than $25. You'll need a small light. There are many small LED and fluorescent LED lights you can hand hold, put on your head or rig up to light your subjects that are under $20. Trick will be to choose the proper whitebalance with your camera settings to get the color right.</p> <p>You can find good point and shoot cameras with video and many of the other camera accessories at BHPhoto-Video.com. Stay out of Best Buy. Their job is to make you spend money. You'll blow your budget fooling with them.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/just-starting-have-questions#post-74788 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:35:32 +0000 vid-e-o-man 74788@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>John,&nbsp;Sony Vegas Studio is in the affordable range and it comes with an audio editor to help with the clean up of your&nbsp;audio. It should do anything in the basic range&nbsp;of editing and producing DVDs etc. It also has has a lot of the features of the pro model except for the unlimited quantity of audio and video tracks and some things that are more advanced. It should fulfill all of your needs for editing and outputing&nbsp;your video. Keep shooting.&nbsp;</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/just-starting-have-questions#post-74785 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:56:45 +0000 cfxcorp 74785@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Tough budget.&nbsp; Sony has a bluetooth lapel mic you can pin on the subject and it links to the ActiveShoe receiver on a Sony camcorder.&nbsp; Or buy a $99 Zoom mic and place very close to the subject then sync the audio and video in the editor (challenging).&nbsp; I think you cold save money on the editor and sink it into the camera and mic by using AVS4You Video Editor -&nbsp;lots of bang for the buck.&nbsp; Also, Corel and Magix products are decent for this type of work.</p> <p>The AVS4You has some nice titling effects for lower thirds, etc. and allows for video overlays like Picture in Picture or PowerPoint slides with adjustable opacity, etc.</p> <p><a href="http://www.Izotope.com">http://www.Izotope.com</a>&nbsp;(Nectar and Music &amp; Speech Cleaner)&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.bias-inc.com">http://www.bias-inc.com</a> (SoundSoap) offer audio cleaning tools for $199.00, $39.00, and&nbsp;$129.00 respectively.&nbsp; Both offer trial/demos.&nbsp; If you are going to use plug-ins instead of stand-alone tools, you won't be able to use the AVS4You Video Editor, probably want at leat Vegas Studio version.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/opinions-on-sony-dcr-sr68#post-74668 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:15:23 +0000 John 74668@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I am starting a documentary in the next month and am looking into purchasing this or a Canon Vixia Model.  I am on a budget, but I can afford about $600 on the camcorder.  I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on this camera for the type of work, interviews and such, as I will require a mic for it.</p> <p>I'll probably be running Sony Vegas for the Editing software.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/just-starting-have-questions#post-74656 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:35:20 +0000 John 74656@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Greetings,</p> <p>I am just starting out in film and am having trouble getting the information I want answered by any of the suits at the big electronic stores.  Unfourtunate for me, I have no friends with experience in these matters either.  I am looking for some (i call them simple) answers, and I am hoping that someone here might help me.</p> <p>The project:  I am doing a documentary of a precarious group of people and require equipment and know how.  </p> <p>1st question:  What Camcorder should I look into.  I have a budget of about 700 dollars, and am looking at a mic, and a software compliment for this camcorder.  I am hearing alot of good things about the Canon Vixia, but I have no idea if the information is accurate. </p> <p>2nd question:  I have heard that Vegas Software would be above my grade for a documentary, but better to have it and not need it I always say.  I want to eventually burn it to a dvd to watch, would Vegas work well for this and say normal burn software?</p> <p>3rd question:  With a documentary I am going to be interviewing people in some pretty noisy places, and would require the tools to turn down the volume levels of the area to better hear the subject's response.  Which program would I use, or would it depend on the mic or camcorder?</p> <p>Any help would be appreciated...</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/margaritaville-video-contest#post-71344 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:22:11 +0000 grinner 71344@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Just finished another Margaritaville video for Anheuser-Busch.</p> <p>... and got paid for it. You do realize you'll get better better marketing fodder by just hiring it done, right?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/margaritaville-video-contest#post-71342 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:50:12 +0000 NikkiZooppa 71342@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Have fun and create a 30-60-second video exposing how a party<br /> can be successful with the help of “The Margaritaville Cargo Mixed Drink<br /> Maker”. Get as crazy and out of the box as you can. It could be an interview,<br /> backstage before a big party or a documentary-style spoof. Submit by<br /> October 17&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; at 4pm<br /> PST and you will get a chance to win $5,000 for the early bird award. Last<br /> Day of submission is November 7&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; at 4pm PST. Voting period ends<br /> November 14&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; at 4pm<br /> PST. For more details, go to: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MargaritavilleCargo?sk=app_243447982334179">https://www.facebook.com/MargaritavilleCargo?sk=app_243447982334179</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70730 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:51:38 +0000 pseudosafari 70730@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I am really impressed that you shot that in the wild.  I figured a zoo or something...man, that is awesome.  Great stuff, and thanks for sharing!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70729 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:56:00 +0000 Charles Schultz 70729@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Mark, I just checked out the rest of your vids and found the one of the baby teeth very amusing as it was chasing you down. The PSA one was very sad. I have to say dude you must have big pair to sit 4 foot from a gater, they must not have a very keen nose or something. With footage like these I am sure that National Geographic may be looking you up if they need some footage from the glades. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70728 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:27:35 +0000 Mark O'Byrne 70728@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks for the comments! I live near the Everglades and found a couple of gator nests back in June and have been filming them all summer. Then it was every day for hours on end sweating my ass off for about 3 weeks prior to hatching. The nest in this video was filmed from about 4 feet away behind some rocks. No motion sensor or any other equipment besides my trusty little camera was used. Persistence and some good luck thrown in...they could have hatched while I wasn't there lol. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70726 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 08:11:18 +0000 CFM Entertainment 70726@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Awesome vid!!  I loved the closeup shots</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70724 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 05:17:39 +0000 Charles Schultz 70724@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Great shots and I am with pseudosafari, how did you get those shots? How far away were you or did you find the nest and set the camera up and had it set to motion sensor somehow? I will have to watch the rest of the videos, the first one is quite good.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70720 Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:04:12 +0000 tylerknight 70720@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>these are beautiful shots! I can't believe they are coming from that camera! I used to own a Canon HFS100 but if i was to place it in that kind of lighting you wouldn'tget near the sharpness.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70688 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:42:39 +0000 pseudosafari 70688@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>okay, i'll bite (pun intended).  how did you get those shots?</p> <p>it's great stuff and the camera definitely does its job.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/birth-of-a-predator-documentary-filming-with-canon-hf-s21#post-70685 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:19:32 +0000 Mark O'Byrne 70685@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'm working on a documentary film with the Canon HF S21 and I'm finding it to be a great little camera. Getting into tight spaces is key sometimes and thjis camera does a great job. Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/28512314.</p> <p> </p> <p>Mark</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/shooting-a-documentary-need-the-best-cam#post-70651 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:42:32 +0000 tylerknight 70651@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Not a problem! And im not the person to ask on that you'd have to look into local bylaws and other legalities to see if you are able to film without a permit.</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/shooting-a-documentary-need-the-best-cam#post-70642 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:04:34 +0000 Stephen Mark 70642@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks Tyler For the info. I wanna shoot the doc on the subway with a camcorder. That's legal right?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/shooting-a-documentary-need-the-best-cam#post-70610 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:17:42 +0000 tylerknight 70610@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Definitely get something better than the Mac Mini and Imovie if you want to do any sort of real editing. I would recommend a mackbook pro at least or save some money and go the PC route and get a laptop with at least an i5. I would go premiere for the editing though Ive used it since i started 7 years ago and have found it to be extremely stable, in depth, and customizable. Check ebay for a used or new canon HFS100 i had one of those a few years back and the picture it put out for such a small camera was impressive to say the least. I believe they are going for between 4-600 now.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/shooting-a-documentary-need-the-best-cam#post-70608 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:29:48 +0000 Stephen Mark 70608@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'm a comic that's shooting a documentary of me doing comedy 8 hours a day 5 days a week over the next 5 years. I've settled on the mac mini as the computer for the project. I've settled on the i-movie as a sufficient post production software. But as far as filming goes i kinda hit a wall.....I was thinking of going the flip cam route (as it being cheap and having good picture but I've read alot of reviews and have gathered that it would not be able to handle the weekly duty) I would greatly appreciate anybody's response on what you think would be the best camcorder for the project under 500 dollars. thanks</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70515 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:50:29 +0000 vid-e-o-man 70515@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> David, I can only echo what others have said about your video. Very engaging video which drags you in and enchants you until the end and as Birdcat said 'I want more!' Fascinating closeups with movement which draws your eyes into the subject. This reminds me of the cartoons in the old days where the fragrance of the hot pie on the kitchen window magically levitates the character and draws him in. Great soundtrack which enhances the story and ties it into the sound we would expect from the instruments that are being built. Exceptional quality work. Keep shooting.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70502 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:20:41 +0000 Cville 70502@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Wow.  I couldn't stop watching it.  Technically excellent the subject was great and the narration just grabbed you.</p> <p>Well Done.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70464 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:04:21 +0000 David Aldrich 70464@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thank you for all the wonderful comments! </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70463 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:19:57 +0000 birdcat 70463@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I want more!  Seriously, you had me spellbound and would have for an hour.</p> <p>Forget about anything technical (which was superb as well), you captivated me and when it was done I said "Wow" out loud.</p> <p>Outstanding!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70462 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:08:54 +0000 Ray Capararo 70462@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Had me hooked from the start and watched to the end, maybe I was influenced as a guitar player but it held my interest to the end, you made this very watchable which is what it's all about</p> <p>great stuff</p> <p>Ray</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70456 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:08:02 +0000 Charles Schultz 70456@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I loved it, the camera work, the passion that he has, it all comes through in the video. Keep shooting and don't ever give up.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70454 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:17:47 +0000 pseudosafari 70454@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> great camera work, color, information.  i enjoyed it a bunch.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/mini-doc-american-luthier#post-70443 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:50:38 +0000 David Aldrich 70443@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I just finished post production on a mini documentary about a Seattle luthier. We started shooting this on an XH-A1, but I happened to pickup a T2i part way through the shoot and that ended up being the main camera because it was so fun to use. That said, the AH-A1 is still a strong, flexible camera, despite being a little long in the tooth. Of course, shooting with two very different cameras requires a some dedicated work in post to make them as indistinguishable as possible.</p> <p>So here is the result: <a href="http://www.americanluthier.us" rel="nofollow">http://www.americanluthier.us</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/hdv-for-documentary-night-shooting#post-68534 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:14:31 +0000 Julie Babcock 68534@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>One more tip: <em>Never </em>rely on "fixing it in post". Be kind to yourself and get it right during production.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/hdv-for-documentary-night-shooting#post-68533 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:10:54 +0000 Julie Babcock 68533@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I would have to agree with CraftersOfLight; relying on the in-camera mic for your main source of audio is not the best option. And really, it should never be considered an option in a professional setting due to the poor sound quality. Additionally, if you are shooting in a busy market area, you are going to have some difficulty picking up the desired audio clearly, because in-camera mics tend to pick up <em>everything</em>. You can get a better result by moving in closer to your subject, but I would imagine a mounted shotgun mic would be less intrusive than sticking a camera directly in your subjects face. Not to mention it would give you more flexibility in framing.</p> <p>In regards to lighting, relying on the location lighting to be adequate isn't advised. A small camera mounted light can help you achieve proper exposure, without all of the graininess that comes with boosting the gain. Below you can find links to our articles on lighting tips and reviews...</p> <p>On-camera light reviews:</p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/13697/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/13697/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/14457/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/14457/</a> </p> <p>tips for night lighting:</p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/12922/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/12922/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/9333/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/9333/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/article/13540/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/13540/</a></p> <p>For more information you can visit these pages...</p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/learn/production/lighting/night-lighting/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/learn/production/lighting/night-lighting/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.videomaker.com/learn/production/lighting/on-camera/articles/1/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/learn/production/lighting/on-camera/articles/1/</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Hope that helps!</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/hdv-for-documentary-night-shooting#post-68481 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:49:49 +0000 CraftersOfLight 68481@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>&nbsp;You have a pretty good idea about the enironments you will be shooting in. What about doing some pratice runs in those enironments where you are not rushed to get the shots you're looking for. Lighting issues can be checked out by recording a walk around the building you live in at the time of night you are talking about. </p> <p>For sound, in camera mics are not the best so you do want to test this as well. Get with a few friends and have an "interview" with them to get a sample of what to expect. If there is a headphone jack on the camera, use it. This will tell you if you missed a quote or if that car going by out did the person you were recording.</p> <p>Then try them out in your editor to see what touch-ups need to be done. </p>