Monday, September 3, 2012

Deep Thoughts About Editing Vacation Video: Where do we go from here?


A couple of weeks ago I began posting portions of everything I've ever edited onto YouTube.
Web journalism has become my new hobby.  heNBC allows me to share tips about simple but imaginative editing with other hobbyists.

The blog started with my earliest examples -- 22 years ago when we used to have to hook up two VHS decks and use the pause/record buttons to trim a video.  Even those horrible, long tapes have some good ideas.]   Eventually the blog entries will catch up to my newest edits.

Chronologically, my discussion of Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video has advanced to 1994.  After five years of occasional use, my camera skills look somewhat improved.  The tape-to-tape edits are becoming more entertaining.  But we are still three years away from introducing digital titling into the edit.

Although we're just getting started, we've already discovered some great ideas to improve the "watchability" of your video edit:
  • While you're learning, don't be hesitant to share your efforts.  Remember that your objective is to preserve memories.  With some help from heNBC those memories will be fun to watch.
  • Titles convey information to your audience.  They don't have to be fancy, road signs or brochures work great.
  • Music sets the mood, smoothes over video defects.  Choose something appropriate, perhaps local music from your travel destination.
  • Respect the music copyright owner.  If my only audience is in my living room, I feel free to use anything from my personal collection of purchased music.  But if there will be wider distribution, I try to use licensed music.
  • If you are lucky, the video you are editing has a variety of shots: wide, medium, & closeup.  Mix them up in your edit.  Use still photos if necessary.
  • Be sure to capture audio of tour guides.  This is an excellent source for expert narration.  On the other hand, shipboard entertainment is of questionable value.
  • Don't be in a rush to finish, take time to cut out the boring stuff.  Put the project away if you feel uninspired
  • Use unexpected humor to keep your audience interested.

There's plenty more to come.  Thanks for reading!

George



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