Forums » Production Techniques

1. chrisColorado
   Member

   

   Hey! I have been in these forums for a while. Many people are on a budget. I'm wondering something...

   I have literally no money for video stuff and am working the software free trial circuit in editing my videos. I'm seriously lucky I have my own camera!

   I edited my third short film using the free Sony ACID Xpress and a trial of Sony Vegas Movie Studio Home Edition. I'm now using free Audacity, and possibly a free trial of Adobe Premiere for a music video, my 6th "film".

   I'm wondering if anybody else has done what I'm doing. It may sound strange, but you can edit a whole project on free trial stuff. No money, no waiting for it to arrive. You must plan carefully and work both smart and hard. No dishonest renewing the trial under another name!!

   Anybody done it before? Any stories?

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

2. Aspyrider
   Member

   

   Nope, but it sounds fasinating that it can be done. Do you also get the free downloadable backgrounds from motionloops and places like that?

   I have a ton of free backgrounds I've downloaded, and some royalty free music.  Mostly offers from companies. Motionloops.com has a free loop per week. Footagefirm also offers free stuff.

    I never thought about free trials.  But i guess if you are willing to learn a new NLE every time you make a video it would work.  One could expand on this and enter every contest giving away a camera and maybe get lucky then get a free cam too. LOL

   This would be an interesting contest also. You have to produce a film/video with no budget and only free stuff you can download. Hmmm. LOL {I'm seeing a reality TV show in the making! LOL}

    Throw in a D.I.Y. aspect and make it whereby you have to build all your extras, like tin can lights and skateboard dollys. Hehehe.

   Yep, here's how the reality TV show would go...

   You are moved into a typical American home. You're given a sctipt, storyboard and 1 week. You must build all your lights, dollys, & crane from stuff found around the house and garage. You must produce, shoot and edit the script/show with only free stuff you can find on the web. At the end of one week you must have your movie uploaded to uTube by 11pm. If you succeed you win a full blown video studio with your choice of cameras, editor/nle, computer and sets. :-)

   Perhaps have your movie "judged" by a panel of famous movie stars and directors for extra points or prizes. LOL

   Not bad. :-D

   I like it!

   J.

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

3. FallingStarFilms
   Member

   

   sort of like a "MacGyver" and "On The Lot" hybrid...Humm...my cryptozoological friend - your a genius!

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

4. D0n
   Member

   

    I'm in. Can my robot count as a homebuilt "Assistant"?

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5. Aspyrider
   Member

   

   Can he act???

   LOL

   J

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

6. lrbotch
   Member

   

   have you used Microsoft MovieMaker?  Also Expression encoder lets you do a lot of stuff and it is free...Roxio Buzz is a small free editing platform for cutting and editing...Reaper is a good audio mixing program and they don't bug you after the eval is up...

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7. D0n
   Member

   

   Can he act??? LOL J

    not really, but he's pretty steady with a camera....

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8. chrisColorado
   Member

   

   WOW! Nice. Yeah, that could be a good comedy short film or feature even.

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9. film814
   Member

   

   Hey chrisColorado,

   I actually own my editing software (and all my equipment), but I have been running on trial versions of Microsoft Office for a year and a half!  Before I bought my editing software though, I went through all the trial versions:  Sony Vegas, Sony Sound Forge, Sony Acid, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Audition, Adobe Soundbooth.  It is a great way to become familiar with all of the different platforms.

   However, moneywise, I am in the same position as you are.  I am just finishing my B.A., so money is anything but growing on trees.  If you can find some video jobs locally, you can make some money that way (if there's time!).  Then, I generally try to split revenue between savings, new equipment, and church.

   I can definitely remember the feeling though: "My trial version's almost up, what am I going to edit my next film on?!?!  I'll have to go back to Windows Movie Maker!"

   Gotta love it!

   Jeremy

   Posted 2 months ago # Login to Send PM

10. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Oh yeah. LOL!!!

    I discovered some 3D animation programs for free. One's called Anim8or and looks about as good as Audacity is for audio. The other's from a graphics/web design friend. He used Blender 3D, I think it's called.

    I will be checking into Jahshaka, a free video editing software and possibly trying out Avid Free DV again. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

    I started shooting another movie(my 6th...or is it 7th already?) this morning with my 3 year old brother as the star, who saves the world from aliens. I'm hoping to edit it all on my Premiere trial as well as reedit my 2nd-4th short films for festival release.

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11. FallingStarFilms
    Member

    

    Chris,

    You should write a book on this! then you would have the money to buy anything you want and then....who knows?

    We'll just say we knew you when....

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12. cdanddvdpublisher
    Member

    

    I haven't necessarily jumped from one free trial to another (though the thought has crossed my mind more than once), but my computers run mostly on freeware and open source software and I only use free programs for writing.

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13. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    I got my laptop, which I'm typing this on from a former secretary and it already had Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint and Publisher, along with Microsoft Photo Editor and Movie Maker. I've been able to type scripts, when I need them in Word and the other Microsoft programs are pretty cool. All things considered, I think I'm pretty lucky!

    Just made my first model of a hand in Anim8or. I was following a tutorial from the website and must have done something wrong, because the finger nails are on the wrong side of the fingers and they are a wierd shape too. Oh well, it's different from Lightwave 3D in a couple key ways. I still think it has the same potential Audacity has for audio. So far, it's all "operator error".

    Thanks to FallingStarFilms for the book idea! Hmm. I just might do it..."Free Software for Your Filmmaking Needs" or something. 

    And to cdanddvdpublisher: Freeware is great, but if you already know or need to know certain software for jobs, than free trials are the way to go! It's how I learned Adobe Flash and Photoshop and Sony Vegas. I'll be using After Effects and Premiere here pretty shortly after I figure out Anim8or.

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14. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Finished my third tutorial with Anim8or. I recommend it to anyone!

    I also found out about a free edition of Maya from a friend. Go to www.autodesk.com/maya-trial and download Maya 8.5 PLE(Personal Learning Edition). The file is 240MB and you have to register for free.

    I'll let you know how it works!

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15. mantic59
    Member

    

    Hey! I have been in these forums for a while. Many people� are on a budget. I'm wondering something....It may sound strange, but you can edit a whole project on free trial stuff. No money, no waiting for it to arrive. You must plan carefully and work both smart and hard. No dishonest renewing the trial under another name!! Anybody done it before? Any stories?

    Yep.

    Windows Movie Maker (free).�  Though I recently cracked open my wallet to the tune of $80 for the consumer version of Sony Vegas, mostly for the flexibility it gives me working with multiple audio and video channels (very limited in WMM).

    Archive.org.�  Gobs and gobs of free public domain (or reasonably flexible Creative Commons licensed) audio and video.�  I get a lot of stock video from the "Prelinger Archives" there.

    Footage Firm.�  They have a rotating cycle of free clips.�  Once in a while they put one of their stock footage DVD's on sale for shipping only (about $9).�  In fact they currently have their "4th of July" themed DVD on that special.�  Be sure to sign up for their email notifications.

    iStockphoto.�  Register at the site (and sign up for their email list) for monthly free video and photo downloads.

    Motionloops.�  Register and sign up for their email for free monthly animations.

    How's that?�  :)

    Posted 1 month ago # Login to Send PM

16. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Nice! Thanks to Irboch and Mantic59 for all the heads up about free stuff.

    I'm working on a book about freeware now and am pondering whether to get it published or make a free pdf e-book and put it here on videomaker as well as my website. Any thoughts?

    The book will also have a section on free graphics, audio/music and video websites, like Webweaver, shutterstock, revostock, digital juice, soundsnap, acidplanet and many others. I will mostly post my experiences with each website and freeware and the best way to learn each/the best things to use each for: Anim8or is really good for making quick objects and logos but not very good for making figures/people.

    Maya PLE is amazing. Not only is it fairly easy to use, but bundeled with it are some quicktime movie/tutorials that show all the basic stuff. It's awesome!!

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17. mantic59
    Member

    

    ....I'm working on a book about freeware now and am pondering whether to get it published or make a free pdf e-book and put it here on videomaker as well as my website. Any thoughts? ....I will mostly post my experiences with each website and freeware and the best way to learn each/the best things to use each for: Anim8or is really good for making quick objects and logos but not very good for making figures/people. Maya PLE is amazing.....

    If you charge for a book about freeware I predict a negative response.  :-)  I'd keep it a free PDF about the resources and your experiences, then follow-up with a second resource (book, PDF, video) on how to use those resources and charge for *that*.

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18. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Ha, ha! Good point! Kinda obvious, huh?

    So, here are the freeware so far. If you can think of any others, please post em. I don't know them all.

    Movie Maker, Avid Free DV, iMovie, Jahshaka, Virtual Dub, Jump Cut

    Audacity, Reaper, ACID Xpress, Roxio Buzz

    Anim8or, Blender 3D, Maya PLE

    Microsoft Photo Editor, ImageReady(?), iPhoto(?), Photoshop E(?I mean the online version) 

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19. ralck
    Member

    

    ChrisColorado,

    I've done exactly what you've done!  Hopping from trial to trial during different shorts and stuff I've done.  I find it sort of makes it fun because it actually gives you a deadline like a real job!  Okay, okay, that's not necessarily fun, but sometimes working under pressure yields some good results... well, interesting results at least!

    I'd also say that another good trial is DVD Architect.  This is a DVD authoring program and I found it really easy to use and quite powerful.  It gives you a 30 day free trial.  And the good part is it only costs 50 bucks (I think 40 if you opt for digital download), so it's pretty cheap.  This comes bundled with Sony Vegas if you buy that.

    Another free great program that I didn't see listed here was Celtx.  It's freeware script writing software that can also help you plan your storyboard, organize actors, organize a shooting schedule, and do a bunch more that I can't even remember right now.  The thing I like best about it, is it formats your script for you (and does it based on several presets).  I would absolutely add this to your list, Chris (and check it out if you haven't already... a ton easier than MS Word). :)

    I know I've used some other trial and freeware software, but of course I can't think of it right now, so I'll post back later when I use it again and remember. :-P

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20. cdanddvdpublisher
    Member

    

    Another free great program that I didn't see listed here was Celtx.  It's freeware script writing software that can also help you plan your storyboard, organize actors, organize a shooting schedule, and do a bunch more that I can't even remember right now.  The thing I like best about it, is it formats your script for you (and does it based on several presets).  I would absolutely add this to your list, Chris (and check it out if you haven't already... a ton easier than MS Word). :)

     Absolutely... Love Celtx.

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21. D0n
    Member

    

     gimp.

    quartz composer 

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22. faqvideo
    Member

    

    Check Ulead VideoStudio. It's coming with the free trial.

    As for free substitute to Microsoft Office, it's available at www.openoffice.org fully functioning.

    Lots of free stuff is coming out of open source community. Ubuntu 8.04 (Linux based OS) is coming with free office package and image editor. I have installed Kino, free video editing software, but it crashed every time I tried to open AVI file. Did not have much time to play with it, but if anyone has positive experience with Kino, please share your thoughts.

    FAQ Video

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23. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Thanks for the celtx info! I'm not big on writing scripts at all anymore, and was focusing more on postproduction needs, but this works. Thanks for the input! openoffice also sounds interesting.

    Hey D0n! are gimp and quartz composer software?

    For everyone's info, I started writing the chapter on VirtualDub two nights ago. VirtualDub was started by a guy in college so he could rip Anime cartoons. All it does is import an AVI or Mpeg-1 clip, trim it and export as AVI. It can't even export Mpeg-1. Might be useful in rare situations, but not a normal video editor, per se. 

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24. ralck
    Member

    

     ChrisColorado,

    Take a look at VirtualDub Mod.  I used it very breifly.  I don't know how it differs from VirtualDub, but I'm pretty sure it adds more features.  If I remember correctly you can export as more formats at least.

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25. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Yeah, VirtualDub Mod has more features. Thanks! Will add it to the VirtualDub chapter. Also Celtx and openoffice get their own chapters in the new script writing section.

    Also, if anyone's ever used any of these can you tell me what you thought of it? I'll add it to the book.

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26. D0n
    Member

    

    http://gimp.org/

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_Composer

    http://developer.apple.com/samplecode/QuartzComposer_WWDC_QCTV/index.html

    I use a custom quartz composer patch to overlay a logo, (and rss news feed from my website) over the video feed from my robots dv cam to the display panel on the robot. 

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27. Coreece
    Member

    

    entertaining thread...I just wanted to add a lil tip that I learned while I was racing the trial circuit. 

    On the last day of the trial I was rushing to get my project completed before the 12am deadline.  I was expecting the software to just shutdown if I was still using it as the dealine passed, but it kept running as long as I didn't close the program or shutdown my computer.  I was able to get six extra days out of the trial untill my computer crashed.  When it started back up...trial was over.  I suppose I wouldn't recommend continually running your computer 24/7 but perhaps you could just throw it in standby, just to get those few extra days...if needed.

    does this method disqualify me from the race?

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28. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    That's what I call "dishonest" personally. I would disqualify you if this was a contest. The point is, with a little planning, you might have got it done before it ran out. Maybe I'm harsh, but i always try to be honest and got laughed at in college because I wouldn't(and still don't) renew trials under another name or get my software under the table from friends.

    Anyway, thanks D0n.

    More info on freeware. Jahshaka sounds amazing!!! The website claims that it's Video, Audio, Compositing and 3D Animation software all in one. And it's free. I find that hard to believe, but will look into it and let you know.

    Blender is amazing also.

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29. cdanddvdpublisher
    Member

    

     I've heard good things about Jahshaka; if you try it out, I'd love to hear what you think

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30. chrisColorado
    Member

    

    Jahshaka is a free version of After Effects for the most part. The only problem with it is there's barely any tutorials or documentation out there. It has so many buttons in it's dark gray interface, that it's intimidating. I've tried messing around with it, but it just shuts down after a little. And talk about slow! But it may be my "clicker happy" mouse finger. I'll slow down and see what happens. If I can get it to work, it'll be great!!

    Blender, on the other hand, is one slick program! All I've done so far is practice resizing the interface and changing windows, clicking buttons, moving around the 3D View port(so little time!) and it's way cool! Blender has a really good tutorials book in wikipedia which is kept up and running by Blender users everywhere. It's great!

    I'm thinking of starting a freeware blog and posting chapters from the book which is getting pretty good sized by now. Haven't done a blog before, so that'll be interesting...

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