Video

Video Tips & Tricks

Camera Shots & Tricks

How to shoot deceptive angles, including the zolly shooting technique and why you should include multiple different angles.

• How to Composite Video for Inserting Backgrounds in Sets

  Ever wonder how amazing backgrounds are inserted behind characters? This video will show you how to composite video so your characters can seamlessly move in fr …
• How to Make Your Video Look Like Film

  How to give video a film look using 24p.
• How to Cut Video Transitions for Action Scenes

  How to cut video for edit various types of action scenes.

Video Tutorials

Simple Special FX

We show you how to pull off three simple special effects using just the camera and the subject's reaction to sell the illusion. Learn how to make realistic look …

• Basic Movie SFX

  We show you how to pull off two basic special effects using cross dissolves, overlays, cropping and layers. Both the Star Trek effect and the Multiplicity effec …
• Light Saber FX

  We show you the step-by-step process of how to pull off the Light Saber special effect. Everything from building the Light Saber to Rotoscoping.
• Creating Design Elements: Ink Spreads and Ink Drops

  How to use everyday household items to create ink drop and ink spread visual design elements for titles and graphics.

Video Product Reviews

Avid's Media Composer 2.7

John takes a "first look" inside Avid's very powerful Media Composer 2.7 software.

• Manfrotto's Tripod Factory

  In our "Hands On" segment, Videomaker goes abroad as Mark takes a peek inside Manfrotto's Tripod Factory in Italy.
• JVC All-In-One Media Center

  Mark looks at JVC's "all-in-one media center," a record and playback deck designed to capture, transfer and archive data.
• Matthews M25

  In our "Hands On" segment, Andrew shows us some features to an affordable tripod, the M25 by Matthews.

Video Contest Winners

The Videomaker Video Contest showcases the best short videos created by our readers and fans. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll never find enough time to watch them all. Check it out for yourself.

Grand Prize-Snap

Michael Comulada Fort Worth, TX Prize: Canon XHA1 Camcorder A tightly-edited drama that is eerily well-suited for today's lackluster economy.

• Best Spiritual Video - Speed the Light in Davao

  Wade Bearden, Spring, TX Camcorder: Sony HVR-Z1U Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 Prize: Pinnacle Mobile Media Converter
• Best Sports Video - The Art of BMX

  Brian Dickman, Fort Jennings, OH Camcorder: Panasonic AG-DVX100A Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro Prize: Prize: Glidecam 4000 Pro
• Best Comedy - Last Call

  Michael Comulada, Fort Worth, TX Camcorder: Sony DCR-TRV730 Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro Prize: Pinnacle Studio 11

Check out current Video Contests

Video Critiques

Boulevards

Charlie and Jennifer show you one of our Music Video contest finalists: "Boulevards", by Dixie Dirt.

• Lettuce

  Charlie and Jennifer show us "Lettuce" by Cary Smith, an homage to a Saturday Night Live sketch.
• Laundry Line

  Jennifer and Charlie have two distinct examples of how to get your PSA message across with "Laundry Line" by Tricia Hoffman and "Georgia Gas" by Ben Rawnsley.
• Trucklight

  In this week's "Take 20", Jennifer and Charlie review a nice example of a well-produced corporate video called: "Truck light" by Steven Kehl.

Commentary

Contest Winner

We also unveiled our Grand Prize Winner of the Videomaker/Sony 2006 Short Video Contest, Jeff Petersen of Granger Indiana, with his funny family video called Ov …

• Bloopers

  We got as many of the hosts for the show that we could to come on and talk about "Videomaker Presents" humble beginnings, and where we hope to go in the future. …
• 1 year of Videomaker Presents

  We got as many of the hosts for the show that we could to come on and talk about "Videomaker Presents" humble beginnings, and where we hope to go in the future. …
• Travis White of Pinnacle

  In the "Profile" segment,Travis White of Pinnacle Systems comes by and gives John a demo on their newest update.

Video News

Sony NSC-DCI, Samsung SC-DX10, JVC GZ-HD3, Azden FMX-32

Mark discusses Sony's NSC-DCI Netsharing cam, Samsung's SC-DX10 hybrid camcorder, JVC's GZ-HD3 camcorder and Azden's FMX-32 Channel Field Mixer. Derek talks abo …

• Vegas Movie Studio, Newtek's Speededit, Dailymotion and Flock

  Mark discusses Sony Vegas Movie Studio, and Newtek's Speededit. Derek talks about Dailymotion and Flock.
• Adobe CS3, Final Cut Pro, Feedburner, E.U. on YouTube

  Mark discusses Adobe CS3, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Movavi. Derek talks about FeedBurner, E.U. on YouTube, It's-All-In-Your-Hands and Pier Screenings.
• Digieffects, CEA, iPhone, Adobe Visual Communicator 3, Jaman.com, Vodpod, Fablevision

  Mark discusses Digieffects and some interesting information from CEA. Derek talks about Apple's iPhone, Adobe Visual Communicator 3, Jaman.com, Vodpod and Fable …

Videomaker TV Show

From the archives... we are proud to present the Videomaker TV Show.

What is Media?

Loren takes a tour of the multimedia pavilion at COMDEX 1994.

• Shopping for an Editing VCR

  Steve and Loren examine the features to consider when shopping for a VCR to edit video with.
• Videomaker Showcase

  A stop motion video by Jim Monk.
• Physical Special Effects

  Videomaker demonstrates some low-tech, easy-to-do physical special effects.

Video Podcast

You've asked for more intensive tips and techniques, and we'll be shooting, editing and presenting more inclusive packages that explain the tricks even better.

Video Podcast