Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #61


France 2004: Pre-History

France's Dordogne Valley was home to pre-historic cave dwellers.  This is a montage of scenes from our visits to: Font de Gaume; Rouffignac, Lascaux, and Roque Ste. Christophe.

Short and somewhat interesting with a mix of video, still photos, and scanned images of postcards.   It fulfilled the need to document these destinations on my DVD production.  I'm sure it is more appreciated by those who accompanied us than by the general audience on YouTube.

Lessons Learned:
Match the product to your audience.  I posted this movie on YouTube for the audience which happens to read this blog.  I placed it in the DVD for the audience of friends who traveled with us.
Photography was not allowed at most of these sights.  Post cards and photos from guide books are great alternatives, but be aware that many of these sources are protected by copyright.

Music & Photography Copyright Considerations:
This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 2004 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.
Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  The same arguments could be made for the use of postcard photographs. Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.


Monday, February 25, 2013

Deep Thoughts About Editing Vacation Video: Hobby or Business?


A week has passed since my last posting.  Why?  I just finished my tax return for 2012!  I used TurboTax plus needed to seek professional help from a CPA.  One of the issues I wrestled with was  determining if my video endeavors are a "hobby" or a "business".

I'm fortunate enough to occasionally receive licensing payments for my archived news footage.  This special YouTube channel displays watermarked previews of my videos that might be of interest to a television producer: http://www.youtube.com/user/rageair

This past year I stepped up "business-grade" activity by creating that YouTube channel and also creating this blog.  (You have probably noticed that advertising appears on these pages and also on my YouTube videos.)  So, does this qualify as a business?  The IRS offers some guidelines.


I wish everyone FUN with your video activities.  If you are fortunate to earn a few dollars, I suggest that you carefully weigh your decision about how to report the income.

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My next post will take us back to France; watch for my History of Vacation Video #61




Sunday, February 17, 2013

Deep Thoughts About Editing Vacation Video: "Fix It In Post"

The Power of the Video Editor


Just saw this great short movie on YouTube.  Sponsored by Autodesk Smoke.
The actor is trapped in a reality that changes each time a video editor touches the keyboard.

So next time you're editing a home movie, remember YOU have the POWER!!!
Teach your "actors" to respect your authority!  HAH!!!

Friday, February 15, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #60



France 2004: Bastide de Domme

We were lucky enough to visit the tiny village of Domme on a national holiday, "1945 Victory Day" (Also known as VE Day).  This video begins with lunch at l'Esplanade followed by townspeople marching to the war monument.  With recorded patriotic music by Edith Piaf, speeches, commemoration of war martyrs, and celebration of living heroes these are nice candid scenes of life in a small French community.

With just a few simple edits I believe this was an easy-to-create and very watchable video of a memorable day.

Lessons Learned:
Have the camcorder ready.  I heard some music a block away and could easily have missed the great scene of men, women, and children marching together.

Music Copyright Considerations:
No copyrighted music was added for this video edit.  The patriotic song was incidental to capturing the parade.  Its inclusion as part of this non-commercial work falls within the commonly accepted definition of "fair use".

Let's rescue your horrible vacation video.  Turn it into something your friends will enjoy watching!
France Europe Travel Crazy Unexpected

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #59



France 2004: Castle Beynac

Can you believe this guy?  The guide at Castle Beynac is a dead ringer for Inspector Clouseau.  Maybe the ghost of Peter Sellers resides near the Dordogne River.
I love this video that resulted from cutting scenes from Blake Edwards' classic Pink Panther comedies into my own vacation  clips. 

The key here was to cut on the dialog.  I tried to match unscripted dialog from our tour with Sellers' inane dialog from the movies.  A continuous track of the Pink Panther music underlies the hodgepodge of video, providing continuity and closure.

Lessons Learned:
Inspiration takes many forms, but sometimes it jumps right out at you!

Suggestion:
Was the guide speaking naturally or was he putting on a act?  Regardless, we all remarked about his resemblance to the bumbling Inspector, so it was natural to try to illustrate the match-up.  My instincts told me this would be fun; my suggestion is to run with your instincts!



Copyright Considerations:
This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 2004 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.
Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #58





France 2004: Dordogne

The video begins by answering the question "Why should I take the bus tour?", then a boat ride has musical accompaniment with a surprise.  This is a mildly humorous and pretty enjoyable little movie.

If re-edited I would improve the boat guide's narration -- it competes with the music and has a lot of plosive "P's" and sibilant "S's".  If it can't be made intelligible then eliminate it. 

Lessons Learned:
Minor scenes from your vacation video can be stitched together.  Use a light touch rather than a heavy-handed approach!

Suggestion:
I recall that I heard the problem understanding guide's narration but didn't have time to fix the edit before showing the videos to the other travelers.  Given the alternative of not showing this "masterpiece", I think I made the right choice to present the memories at that time.
Perhaps I should have completed/repaired the edit later?  Hmm.m.m.m.m.


Music Copyright Considerations:
This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 2004 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.
Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.


Saturday, February 2, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #57


France 2004: Rocamadur

We've already noted that #6 and #7 of the 23-chapter France trip video project are a bit too long.  In fact we are worried that we might be losing the audience's attention.  Let's see if Chapter #8 starts to turn things around. 

Rocamadur was the rendezvous point where all eleven travelers finally get together.  It's a true stone fortress on a hillside in the Dordogne Valley.  Our guide explains that there are three levels, a rock on the church and a castle on the rock.  It would have been a worthy target for invasion by the barbarian tourists of Chapter #1.

My serious narration is all a build-up to the "surprise ending".  We learn about pilgrims, frescoes, a sword in the stone, and the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna.  The video doesn't need to be seven minutes long, but it's a fresh approach compared to the project's other vignettes.  The music and narration encourages us to shift our mood from from respectfully attentive to mildly amused.  It's a decent video ... not excellent, but encouraging enough that I'll take a look at the next chapter.

Lessons Learned:
The goal is Entertainment NOT Perfection!  
Editing decisions can shift your audience's expectation.  Use tools like narration, music, and pacing to encourage them to continue watching.

Suggestion:
Halfway through this video the soundtrack falls out of sync.  The original video had no problem; the DVD I burned in 2004 is not like this.  An error must have crept into my digital file sometime during the past nine years.  
About half of the 23 chapters have a similar problem; most of the others are fixed.  But I left this one to illustrate the need for caution.


Music Copyright Considerations:
This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 2004 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.
Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.