Homemade Movies

From LoveToKnow Movies

Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker or you have a major family event you want to capture for posterity, you've probably given a thought to making your own homemade movies. There's no better way to store those special moments or share your imaginative ideas with the world. Grab a video camera and get started!

Anyone can be a filmmaker with the right tools.

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Creating Homemade Movies

You can do a lot with a homemade movie if you have a decent camera and a quality software package! If you have these two products at your disposal, you can easily – and rather quickly – create a dynamic home movie. Even if you don't happen to have computer software available to use, you can still make fun home movies with your camera.

In addition to the technical equipment, you'll also need one more very basic ingredient for a homemade movie: creativity. If you're shooting something you've only imagined until now, your project is sure to be rife with those personal touches that make it uniquely your own. And if you're filming your daughter riding her bike for the first time, your son's baseball game or your high school graduate walking the stage, you'll be able to add text and even added sound to the video later on to give it that extra special touch.

Keep in mind that, even for the next Ron Howard, there is no specific formula to follow when it comes to making homemade movies. In fact, the more personal you can make the project, the better it will be in the end. It will be a more focused vision of what you imagined it would be.

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Important Details

You may not need to follow a specific formula or method in order to create your homemade movie, but you should be aware of some basic tips that will help make your project coherent. Chances are you won't spend hours in the editing room if you adhere to a few of these suggestions.

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Lighting

Achieving perfect lighting can be tricky for the novice filmmaker, so it's important to understand the technique prior to getting started. If you're shooting outdoors in the sunlight, you have nature on your side. Just be sure to shoot with the sun behind your back so you have the benefit of light without any glare to detract from the picture.

If you're shooting indoors, you'll need plenty of light. Shooting in a room that has many overhead lights (such as a family room or playroom) will flood your video with some much-needed light. Add more lighting as needed.

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Sound

Audio is a crucial component of a high-quality movie. Your microphone will naturally pick up some unnecessary sounds, so it's helpful to use headphones while you're shooting to listen to everything the camera picks up. It's also a good idea to use an external microphone as opposed to relying on the camera's built-in version. If your actors have dialogue, lapel microphones are a great option because they allow voices to be heard loud and clear.

If you're interested in adding sound effects to your project, consider adding them after you've shot the film. It's actually easier to edit in sound as opposed to removing it, simply because you have the benefit of keeping it under your control.

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The Overall Image

A smart filmmaker knows it's wise to scan the entire shot before shooting begins. That's because it's far too easy to overlook certain elements, whether hanging branches or a neighbor's car in the distance, once you start shooting. You're too busy focusing on your subject! A thorough once over of your shooting environment will ensure that your scenes aren't compromised by unnecessary distractions.

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Your Film

Of course, the above tips are most helpful if you're shooting a film with professional aspirations in mind. A well-planned film is instantly recognizable and will be appreciated by your audience. If you're simply shooting a fun video for the family's enjoyment, you certainly don't need to feel pressured to follow any rules. It may be helpful, though, to invest in an external microphone if you want to capture sounds that may otherwise be muffled by the camera's microphone.

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