Aspriring and amateur filmmakers shoot homemade films.
Unlike decades ago when filmmaking was financially accessible only to professionals, making movies these days is affordable to almost everyone. Those who have access to just about any kind of video camera (even mobile phone cameras) and simple computer editing software can make a short film, documentary, or just about any audio-visual exposition that expresses a person's feelings and ideas.
Instructions
1. Make a concept for your homemade movie. Filmmaking is storytelling. Have a clear intention of what you want to show, then come up with a story. You may want to make a short movie about an artistic idea you came up with, a short documentary about your dog, a fan video about your favorite musician, or something as simple as an edited video of your sister's first birthday.
2. Translate your idea into a script or shot list. For homemade films, the process doesn't have to be as detailed as the format and resources utilized in professional filmmaking. The documents you need are the practical ones to help you in shooting and editing the movie. Ideally, if it's a fictional story, make a storyline, then break it down into specific scenes and shots. If it's a documentary or a tribute video, make a list of the shots you need based on what your topic is about. If it's a family occasion, make a list of what's going to happen during the event so you know which parts to shoot and where exactly you should be to capture the best moments.
Schedule all the shooting requirements. Ask for permissions for the location and the people involved ahead of time so there will be no problem acquiring the footage during the shoot.
3. Choose the people who will collaborate with you for the movie. You may prefer to shoot it on your own, or ask the help of others who can serve as your assistant, your camera person, or your editor. More often than not, you also need a specific cast of people for your on-camera talents. For homemade films, ideally, the commitment of your family and friends to be part of your movie is all you need.
4. Shoot the scenes you need for your homemade movie. The shoot depends on the schedule and the availability of the people and location. This type of movie making doesn't require the big lights and expensive equipment, yet a talented filmmaker can still capture good footage even with a consumer camera, then edit a simple but interesting video.
5. Edit the footage in your computer using an editing software like iMovie or Final Cut Pro for Mac users, and Windows Movie Maker and Sony Vegas for PC users. There are many other programs available for download. The more professional ones need to be purchased, while the basic programs are usually native to your computer's available programs.
For homemade movies, most video projects only require cutting and reordering of footage to come up with a well-edited movie. Some may use transitions and other visual effects. Some may use the live sound from the original video, while others dub or do narrations and voice-overs, or simply put in music and sound effects. Basic editing in any video editing program has a video track where you cut and edit your video footage and an audio track right below the video track where you cut, sync and edit your audio files.
6. Export your edited movie to the popular movie formats like MOV, AVI and MP4. These formats are typically used when uploading your movie to online video sites like YouTube and burning it to a DVD movie. Using conversion software like MPEG Streamclip, QuickTime Pro, AVS Video Converter, and Advanced X Video Converter, you can also make these movie formats compatible with portable media players so they can play in your mobile phone, iPod or MP4 player. Most of these conversion programs are free to download from the Internet.
Tags: homemade films, about your, come with, edit your, editing software, homemade movie
