ALBION: Pettit’s tips will leave you with professional home movies

By Nicole Coleman/colemann@gnnewspaper.com

February 03, 2008 09:23 pm

— Making a home movie that friends and family will actually want to watch can be achieved with a few easy steps, says Genesee Community College film theory instructor Matthew Pettit.
Cameras charged and ready to go, residents challenged that theory at a four-hour long informational workshop Saturday at Albion’s Swan Library. Led by Pettit, they practiced their videography skills within the building and reviewed their clips as a group.
Brockport residents Curtis and Janice Childs attended the program in preparation for the baby videos they will be taking in a few months with the arrival of their first born. Curtis, an offensive linebacker with the semi-professional Monroe County Sting football team, will also need to prepare highlight videos for agents, he said.
“It helped. It’s stuff you don’t think about,” Janice said.
Pettit’s tips and advice for better home movies follow.
• Be prepared. When shooting live action footage, anything can happen, Pettit said. Make sure you have extra batteries and tapes on hand. It is also a good idea to bring a battery charger.
“You don’t want to run out of battery when you’re shooting (your child’s) solo,” Pettit said. “Also have your tapes open ... so you can easily get to them.”
• Turn off the date stamp. The tiny date in the corner of the screen may be a useful timeline, but it is distracting for viewers. It also screams “amateur.” Verbally state the date and time at the beginning of the video or write it on a piece of paper or masking tape.
• Hold the camera steady. Have you ever watched a home movie that made you feel ill? The motion sickness is caused from sudden or continuous motion of the camera, something particularly troublesome to avoid with newer, smaller models. Use two hands to steady the camera — one on the bottom, one on top — and hold it as close to the body as possible, not out in front of you.
When filming moving objects, anticipate where the subject will be going, Pettit said. Zoom out and slowly move the camera in that direction. Let the subject move within the frame; don’t necessarily follow the subject as he/she is moving. This will allow you to get all of the action as the star soccer player dribbles down the field without the rapid, shaky motion.
“It’s difficult,” Pettit said. “If you don’t have to, don’t walk while you’re taping.”
When in doubt, stop recording, reposition the camera and start again. It will eliminate that “whipping” motion, while keeping the video interesting — especially if you are not going to be editing the raw footage. Keep in mind that non-digital cameras will rewind three seconds when you press pause. To prevent recording over valuable footage, linger on the subject.
Pettit also recommends knowing the buttons on your camera to avoid movement when stopping or starting recording.
• Don’t overuse the zoom controls. Erratic zooming will also cause viewer motion sickness, Pettit said. When zooming is necessary, make sure it is slow and steady. The same goes for pans (sweeping the camera left, right, up or down).
• Steer clear of the digital zoom feature. Digital zoom “magnifies the image beyond its original resolution,” Pettit said. As a result, the image becomes pixilated and blurry. Stick with the optical zoom, which enlarges the image with the lens. The same is true for digital still cameras.
• Use a tripod. This handy device will guarantee your video is smooth and shake free, Pettit said. If you don’t have one handy, use a table or your knee. Tripods are exceptionally useful when shooting an event — like a play or graduation ceremony — for a prolonged period of time. Use the zoom (slowly, of course) for close ups.
• Shoot the action from different positions. “We as viewers are conditioned to watch things much quicker,” Pettit said. Most television programs have “cuts” every eight seconds, sometimes more. Leaving the camera on for hours at a time in the same position will produce a boring video. If you’re capturing a child opening a pile of birthday presents, recording from various angles is more appealing to the eye.
“We’re trying to make records, documents, of what the actual event was,” Pettit said. “You’re going to want to make it interesting for people. ... Change where you are and what you’re shooting.”
• Be creative. Making an interesting video means taking interesting shots. Pettit recommends taking high or low angle shots of landmarks when on vacation — or perhaps a shot of the field or school before a game or recital. Also be sure to capture street signs, the restaurants you ate at, the hotel you stayed at and your favorite sites.
For instant creativity, use the “Rule of Thirds,” the theory that an image is more compelling if the subject isn’t framed in the middle of the shot.
“It’s going to make it more cinematic,” he said. It won’t be Hollywood quality material, but it will be, at the very least, watch-able.
• Avoid backlighting. The subject’s face will become shadowed if he/she is directly in front of a window or blaring white sunlight. Move so that the light is behind you or use the camera’s back light setting. “A lot of camera work is all about lighting,” Pettit said.
• Resist the urge to use special effects. It is far better to add special effects, like black and white, in the editing process. Why? No. 1: Once taped, they can’t be removed. No. 2: The same effects can be achieved as well, if not better, using editing software. It also looks “cheesy,” Pettit said.
• Be aware of the microphone. Many behind the camera will forget about the microphone and the resulting video has a Darth Vader-like sound or magnified talking. “The microphone is picking up everything you do,” Pettit said. This can be rectified by plugging in music over everything in the editing process (like a music video). An external microphone can improve the poor sound quality.
• Utilize the remote control. Pettit says to use this gadget when the best possible shot means resting the camera on a tripod or table, leaving you no room to press the buttons. Make sure it is in focus ahead of time and practice gauging the zoom.
n LCD screens drain battery life. If possible, use the viewfinder when taping — it will give you a better idea of what you’re taping anyway, Pettit said.
• Shooting a crowded event. If possible, set up in the back or side of the room so that you have the ability to zoom in and out. Make sure the camera or tripod is positioned over the heads of the people in front of you. In an auditorium, the balcony is the best spot.
• It’s all in the editing. Piecing together the best pieces of a video for a tight, streamlined video is easier than you may think. It just takes time, Pettit said. If you’re worried about large videos taking up space on your computer, purchase an external hard drive. Once complete, it can be e-mailed to family members or burned to a DVD.
Librarian Susie Gaylard said the program was a part of the library’s adult programming. Future events include Neil Johnson’s lunch series “Take a Bite out of History,” “The Page Turners” book club, basket classes and a Polaroid transfer art workshop. The complete schedule is available online at swanlibrary.com or by calling 589-4246.
Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 2227.

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