When you make a movie, you are

telling your audience a story. Stories

can be classified into several categories.
Here are some examples!

An adventure movie has a plot that

involves risk-taking and daring feats. It
usually features a hero on a mission in
which hazards are to be encountered
and the event is filled with unforeseen
happenings.

A comedy is a light and humorous

drama with a happy ending. It is a
popular entertainment composed of
jokes, or funny acts.

A documentary is a work that

presents political, social, or
historical subject matter in a
factual and informative manner
and often consists of actual news
films or interviews accompanied by
narration.

A horror movie is a production

that is often scary in nature. It
usually causes fear and anxiety
among the faint-hearted. It is
about supernatural forces or
things mysterious.

An interview is a reproduction of a
conversation that is conducted by a
reporter in which facts or opinions
are obtained from another person.

A romantic movie is an artistic

work that deals with love, emotion,
passion and devotion, especially in
an idealized form. One example is
that of Romeo and Juliet.

A science fiction story is based on the

imagined impact of science,
environmental changes, space travel,
or life on other planets.

These are the key elements you should

take note of when planning and making
your own movie...

Actors are important because they are the

ones who act out the story.

The location is important because the

accuracy and mood of the movie
depend on where it is shot.

The time at which the movie is shot will

determine what kind of equipment to
bring.
For example, additional lighting is
required if shooting is done at night.

Music and sound are important for

the story because without them,
you will not hear sounds like people
talking, a fire engine passing or a
bird chirping in the movie.
A narrator is important to the story
because he helps to tell the story in
place of the actors. This is especially so
in a documentary.

The background pictures are props used in

the story instead of actual scenes. They
are important because location shots may
not be available all the time.

This is the fun part... actual shooting

with the digital camcorder! Here are
some tips you can follow to shoot some
awesome video footage!

To zoom simply means to move quickly, just

like a car zooming along on the expressway.
So, to zoom in and out is to move near to and
away from the subject quickly, without having
to move your body.
Zooming in and zooming out
DO either only zoom in or zoom out in one
single take. This means you will have to plan
each of your take carefully.
DO NOT zoom in and out of the frame
unnecessarily unless it is an artistic production.
This is because by doing so it will confuse the
audience.
To focus is to make sharp or clear.
Using automatic focusing (autofocus) camera
When using an automatic focusing camera, DO
shoot a subject or a building on the same side
of the road. If your have to shoot from the
other side, DO make sure that the road is clear
of traffic and if you are shooting a building, DO
move back until the building occupies the
centre of the frame.
DO NOT shoot a subject or a building from
across a busy road. This is because the
automatic focusing function of the camera with
constantly be trying to focus on the object in
the center of the frame, and in this case the
vehicles that are passing in front of the
camera.
Centre of focus
DO make sure that the subject is placed at the
centre of the frame as the camera only focuses
whatever is at its centre.
DO NOT place the subject off centre as other
objects in the background may unintentionally
get focused.
Clean camera lens
DO make sure that the lens is clean and is
unobstructed by dirt.
DO NOT proceed with the shoot with a dirty
lens as you will have problem getting the
subject into focus.

To compose is to arrange. In movie making, it

is important to arrange the objects in a scene
so that the entire picture looks good, pleasing
or dynamic.
Asymmetric composition
DO compose the picture in an asymmetrical
pattern. This will strengthen the picture and
make it look interesting.
DO NOT compose the picture too
asymmetrically as this can be quite boring.
Distance
DO place an object in the foreground when
shooting a subject in the distance. This will
emphasis the depth of the picture.
 DO NOT just shoot the subject plainly in the
distance. The audience may not even realize
the distance.
Emphasis on subject(s)
DO make sure that other important elements in
the picture are carefully placed such that they
are visible to the audience.
DO NOT let the subject obscure the other
important elements as this will reduce the
picture's impact.

The correct use of light enables you to create

the type of mood you want for the movie.
Positioning the light source
DO place the light source in the front or to the
side of the subject. You can also use a simple
reflector using foam board or white hard card
to lighten the shadow area if the contrast is too
harsh.
DO NOT shoot with the light source behind the
subject.
Choosing the background
DO try to shoot the subject with a background
that is made up of trees or buildings. This is
because the lighting will be evenly distributed
through out the entire picture.
DO NOT shoot with the sky as the background,
especially if it is a bright sunny day. This is
because the camera will respond to the overall
brightness of the picture and will make the
subject too dark to be seen.

After you have shot your video clips,

you can start editing them. The process
of editing is to extract the unnecessary
footage from individual clips, and
sequencing the clips in the correct order
as in your movie script. In addition, you
can add effects to make the scenes flow
seamlessly.
Previewing the clips simply means
looking through what you've already
shot, so that you'll know what is there
to be edited. This may include videos
from a few tapes and other useful
photographs.

The second stage of editing is

moving the clips. This means
selecting the clips that you want to
use for the movie and placing them
in the order of the story that has
been written.

The third stage of editing involves the

actual editing of the clips that have
been put together. This is when you
rearrange the clips until you are
satisfied with the flow and sequence of
the story.

A transition is the change between two clips.

The selection of transition determines the style
of presenting the story. Here are some
examples of transitions: a fade in, a wipe from
left to right, a wipe down and a "dissolve"
effect.

Music and sound effects are very

important in conveying and enhancing
the mood of a movie. Adding a suitable
soundtrack can greatly add to the
impact of your movie.
Conversely, an inappropriate
soundtrack can make a disaster of a
well-made movie!