Editing tips?

[Jennarose0909]

Hi my name's Jenna

I have been making short films for a while now and sort of moving up from iMovie and Movie Maker. Does anyone know where I can get software's to help with these things.

we have a lot of wind and cicadas, is there anything to muffle it or get rid of it?

in one scene we have like a beam of light bursting into someone's chest, how can we achieve that?

I'm only 13 so I can't be spending hundreds of dollars on this, I'm willing to spend around $50 if I need to.

Any other short horror film making tips will be great

 

[Woody]

Hi Jenna,

 

Just starting out, this site is probably your best resource. With a plus membership you have access to tons of articles that will walk you through the process from A-Z with tons of tips.

 

You might be able tone down some of the background noise in your footage but I don't think anything is going to fully get rid of it. Audacity is a freeware that is actually pretty powerful and a great step in learning to work with audio. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

Da Vinci Resolve 10 lite is actually a coloring software but it has some good editing tools now and it's free. You can also do some basic compositing in it and animate that.  For your beam of light you could mask off a white solid and lower opacity then add some blur or glow and animate it where ever you wanted. Da Vinci Resolve lite is actually very powerful for freeware. http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve

 

So if your computer will handle the software then that part is free but your best bet on spending any money at this point would be with a plus membership. The archives are huge and have all the tips you need for all stages of production. I believe it's 25 bucks a year or there a bouts. I use it myself.

Woody

[Laguna Hiker]

I'd second what Woody said. Another option is GoPro Studio (http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-studio). It's a free editing app from GoPro that works with all kinds of footage, not just GoPro. I played with it last week at CES and I was pretty impressed.

 

As to the wind and insect noise, I'm afraid that one might break your budget. A directional microphone with a windscreen called a 'deadcat' would help, but they are pretty expensive. My advice would be not to worry about it. Just shoot and edit as much as you can. This site is a good place to learn the basics of the craft. Best of luck–I wish I had started at your age!

[klookfilm]

Hi Jenna,

 

Glad to see young filmmakers such as yourself asking really good questions, video can really take you places if you stick with it. On to your question I would save your money and invest in gear or diy gear like these: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlV4kM2LQASptg53jigoIIwXA8XqNcnsj

Because there are many good free softwares out there to do just about anything you need.

Some I would recommend are:

 

audacity – best free audio editor I have ever found, tons of guides on youtube if you are stuck.

 

Gimp – Is enough like photoshop that if you learn it you can do anything with photo's stills lower thirds and stuff like that you wont ever need photoshop.

 

Free studio – Has many tools for video including making a dvd.

 

Dvdstyler – Makes dvd menus.

 

Any Video Converter – need a format you don't have? No problem.

 

Lightworks – This is professional editing software and it is complicated, but if you want great free editing power this is it.

 

If you really want to spend the money I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Movie-Studio-Platinum-Suite/dp/B008MIMIY8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389896393&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+movie+studio+platinum+12
 

I personally use this software and love it. It also comes with audiostudio, & dvdarchitect.

 

Best of luck!

[klookfilm]

Almost forgot for effects I would check out:  https://www.youtube.com/show/backyardfx

 

or: https://www.youtube.com/user/filmriot

 

The software you are looking for, is called after effects and it's $999 or 20/50 per month. It is used for the video's you see with amazing visual effects like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjuTJ9xzqmg

 

If you are looking to get started with visual effects there are some programs, but nothing I have found is spectacular here are some you can try: http://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-after-effects/

[Anonymous]

might want to look into Lightworks

[Author]

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