Friday, August 30, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #85


Asia Cruise 2008:  Ko Samui


After returning from Cambodia to Bangkok we were welcomed aboard Oceania's Nautica.      The ship was our hotel for twenty-four days, including this first night in Thaland's capital city.


This second chapter of my Asia cruise video/DVD takes place on the island of Ko Samui.  It's a cute two-minute look at some island highlights.  I especially like the way the bells are rung at the Temple of the Giant Buddha ... almost sounds like they are part of the background music.  (By the way, that music was borrowed from Baja Marimba Band.)

Nice narrated video with good camerawork and sound mix.  The animated map and lower-third titles establish location.

Lessons Learned:
As in my previous article, make sure the video establishes location.
Light cheery music sets the mood.

Suggestion:
Are you ready to give some of these tricks a try on your next vacation video?


Music Copyright Considerations:
This video contains identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  
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, August 24, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #84

Asia Cruise 2008:  Bangkok



After returning from Cambodia to Bangkok we were welcomed aboard Oceania's Nautica.      The ship was our hotel for twenty-four days, including this first night in Thailand's capital city.

I divided the Asia cruise video/DVD into 16 chapters, narrating most of them.  This one introduces the ship, shows some sights and sounds of Thailand, and pokes fun at the hurry-up nature of ship's tours.

It's less than three minutes long, and well paced.  The sound mix is good ... you clearly hear the tour guide, ambient noise, and studio narration.  I created a countdown clock with sounbd effects which helps sell the joke that ship's tours are on a tight schedule.  Video is stable, and stills are mixed to fill-in any gaps in motion coverage.

I think this is a good opening for the cruise chapters of my Asia trip DVD.  It establishes location and sets expectation for the format and pacing of upcoming chapters.

Lessons Learned:
Make sure the video establishes location.  Use still photos or scans of postcards if you don't have the video coverage.
Pacing.  We come back to this often when discussing vacation videos.  Never let your audience get bored.  Show the video to a test audience; if their eyelids drift shut then pick up the pace and cut ...cut ... cut! 

Suggestion:
I narrated this video in a very straightforward way.  There are a few wisecrack gems buried within the script.  Wonder if I should add a laugh track?


Music Copyright Considerations:
This video contains a few bars of identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  
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.



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #83


Cambodia 2008:  Apsara Women

The temples in Cambodia are decorated with many depictions of the legendary Apsara Women.  Soft-pornography from the fifteenth-century?  We were inspired to see the Apsara show on the last evening of our visit.

Brick House by the Commodores is a perfect musical accompaniment for this 2-1/2 minute slideshow, however it is used without permission.  This is the longest vignette of the trip DVD's Cambodia portion.  In retrospect I know it is about twice as long as it needs to be.

Lessons Learned:
Mix still photos with video to create a slideshow.

Suggestion:
I regret having started with copyrighted music.  Once you place a familiar song with a home video they become linked, making it hard to do a re-edit.


Music Copyright Considerations:
This video contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  My apologies to The Commodores.
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.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #82


This is the 99th post I've written on HENBC!
Thanks for taking a look!!!!


Cambodia 2008:  One-Tooth Lady


The video is actually four short scenes of about twenty-five seconds each.  Quick looks at: street vendor kids; a lady selling homemade candy; some kids fascinated by the video camera; and a narration-free look at their fresh water well.  The sound is recorded live in camera.

This video is actually a montage of short clips that I liked too much to edit out of the DVD.  In retrospect I think that the project could have been one hundred seconds shorter.  Although they are not unpleasant to watch, these scenes add very little.  Also my opening narration seems a bit "preach-y."

Lessons Learned:
Pride of ownership is not necessarily a good thing when it comes to editing your own video.  Once you have taken the time to edit and narrate it is especially hard to delete your work from the project.

Suggestion:
Get someone else to critique the pacing and help you to determine what makes the cut.
If you've already spent a lot of time creating a scene that needs to be deleted, add it onto the end of the project as a "spaecial feature" or "director's cut".
I regret having started with copyrighted music.  Once you place a familiar song with a home video they become linked, making it hard to do a re-edit.


Learn how to add excitement to that boring video that you shot on your vacation!  Cambodia, Angkor, Phnom Bakheng, Asia, Oceania, video, amateur, travel, henbc