Advice needed on producing a short video

[Shaun Cooney]

Hi.

I've got to produce a short video for work. I have to interview three or four people and then edit the content together; adding a soundtrack at the end.

I am going to take the video clips on my phone (HTC One M8). Can anyone suggest the simplest App or free software download (for PC) I could use to produce. Likewise any other tips you think I may need to know.

Any help appreciated.

Shaun

 

[doubleboost]

Hi.

I've got to produce a short video for work. I have to interview three or four people and then edit the content together; adding a soundtrack at the end.

I am going to take the video clips on my phone (HTC One M8). Can anyone suggest the simplest App or free software download (for PC) I could use to produce. Likewise any other tips you think I may need to know.

Any help appreciated.

Shaun

Take 10 times as much video as you need
Ask people to do things 3 times (the second tine is usually the best)
Windows movie maker is very easy to use (also free)
If you can use a mounting for your camera / phone
Don't "zoom " in and out
Have fun

 

[Shaun Cooney]

Thanks John - I thought you might say "And don't say ba$tard too much!"

Shaun

 

[Screwdriver]

Take plenty of cutaways, short sections of video where the interviewee is not in shot. It will help you in the edit when you need to shorten an answer. Typically in an office this would be close ups of desk stuff, wall decorations or hands/gestures. If you want to be in the video, do some self shot noddies. Try to make the cutaway relevant to the discussion.

For general purpose setting the scene, take some wide shots and pan in both directions with enough pause to help in the edit. Same with a zoom in, zoom out. Go both directions and pause for at least 5 seconds at each end. If the interviewee is discussing a product, take a few shots of that too with some of it in action.

If you have to change shot from close up, to medium close up etc, make sure you have some wide shots too.
Never edit from close up to medium, always make the edit a big change.

And whatever else you do, do not use anything other than a cut or a crossfade. Nothing shouts amateur more than a three dee cube spin transition....

S.

 

[Shaun Cooney]

Some great tips for me here - thanks chaps :-)

 

[skotl]

...Windows movie maker is very easy to use (also free)...

Seconded. Very intuitive and easy to use for us amateurs.

When I got the gopro I was all excited to use the supplied software but it was hideously complicated and unintuitive compared to WMM so I happily switched back to that.

 

[Screwdriver]

Adobe Premiere. I believe there is a free version, slightly limited.

I'm a Final Cut Pro guy, or at least I was until they ruined it at v10.

 

[doubleboost]

Adobe Premiere. I believe there is a free version, slightly limited.

I'm a Final Cut Pro guy, or at least I was until they ruined it at v10.

I use Pinnacle Studio 14 the later versions are far to complicated

 

[Shaun Cooney]

Thanks everyone - videoing started today!