Need help or a good smack in the head :)

[rljfl]

All right, I think the whole making movies bug has bitten me quite hard, and I really don't have a clue.

I can write screenplays, I have the format down, but I need help acutally making movies, as that is something I've never done.

My tool bag right now consists of a Sony Mini-DV camera and Windows Movie Maker (WMM from here on out) (not real sure if I've been bitten hard enough to invest in much more than this).

I would ask specific questions, but I really don't know where to begin. If I film with the camera, and download it to my computer, I think I can piece clips together via WMM, but how would I go about audio? Is it manipulatable (new word, I think) in WMM, or any other software that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

Any pointers for a real newby to this would be great. Thanks!

[jacks girl]

I can't help you with anything but the smack up the head LOL. So if you need that too let me know.


Jacks
Its always good to learn something new.

[wgjones3]

Okay, Russ. I gotta ask you two things up front. How much money do you want to spend, and how much time do you want to spend learning this stuff?

The bad thing about video editing is, the more expensive the program, the easier it is to use. Don't know why that is, but I hear the same thing is true about professional race cars. Go figure.

At a bare minimum, I'd recommend getting Adobe Premiere Elements. Even an old version is going to be better than WMM. In fact, I've heard that the newest version is almost identical in functionality to iMovie, which still doesn't endear it to me (I can't stand iMovie), but having used WMM, I loathe it with a passion.

You can get the newest versions of Photoshop Elements / Premiere Elements in a bundle for around $100 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UK8LI8/sr=1-12/qid=1207866391/ref=dp_cp_ob_title_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1207866391&sr=1-12). The bundle that's two versions old (http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-Plus-Premiere/dp/B000AP89W6/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1207866391&sr=1-12) is $25.

Before you buy anything, though, download a trial version for free from Adobe:

http://www.adobe.com/products/psprelements/

What you want are separate video and audio tracks, the ability to have multiple video and audio tracks, and the ability to cut/splice/crossfade. Those are the basics; master that and you're halfway there.

Doc uses PE, so she can tell you what it can and can't do. All I can say is, WMM is to nonlinear editing what the Yugo is to automobiles.

Premiere Elements may not be the best program out there, but you'll learn fundamentals with it.

Audio editing really should be done inside the NLE interface where you can see audio/video tracks and preview them in an output pane. If you need a separate program, Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) is a good choice. It's free, but many times when I was doing video editing for a living, I ended up using Audacity instead of the Soundtrack Pro program that came with Final Cut Studio.

[DrRita]

First let me say WG has good advice, I've often consulted him myself.

I'm not sure if your camera is using tapes or DVD. Hopefully tapes cause it's much easier to edit.

I like PE, mainly because I don't have a MAC, can't afford one right now and I can do some pretty good things for being a very green novice.

Oh, PE can do all the things that WG mentioned, it's got a lot of capability.

I bought this book that has given me a lot of help, it's not too expensive Special Effects (http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Special-Effects-Premiere-Elements/dp/0789736128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207878524&sr=1-1) And you can get PE (http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Premiere-Elements-OLDER-VERSION/dp/B000HLT4Y0/ref=pd_sim_b_img_3) too from Amazon.

I made my two book trailers (www.myspace.com/drrita) on PE and my Sony HD20 camera (for the film one).

As for practice, WMM is really easy to use but you can't do a ton of stuff with it like burn to a dvd, export to files that can be uploaded easily to you tube etc (like Windows Media Player, Flash, etc.)

so I say, play with WMM, make some simple projects, get your feet wet and then see what you want to do. I'd even venture to say, get involved with your local filmmakers, volunteer for some PA jobs etc. Jump in!!

[rljfl]

Good advice from both of you. I think I'm going to ask my wife for PE and the book DrRita mentioned for my birthday. (She'll probably want to get the $25 version, but that should still be pretty good, right?)

Oh, and my camera is a mini-DV, so it still uses those tiny little tapes, but should it matter if I download the video directly from my camera to my computer?

[wgjones3]

I don't know what the difference is between the $25 version and the $100 version. Myself, all I'd look for are the multiple video and audio tracks and ability to cut without dragging clips around and placing them on top of each other or whatnot--basically I want a razor blade tool in whatever editor I use.

You might scout around on eBay and find a newer version of Premiere Elements without Photoshop for less money.

Mini-DV is pretty much industry standard, but I think what you're alluding to is that pretty much every piece of editing software has its own encoding built-in. Mini-DV is the most widely used so it's got the best support (and Sony Mini-DV cams in particular have a lot of compatibility with NLE software), so as long as you're getting the video into your computer now, it shouldn't be a problem when you get a new piece of software. The only thing is I've only used firewire for transfer, so if you're using USB, you may have some issues with logging tapes, although I believe the kids in the youth group at my old church use USB and they don't really have any problems, so you should be fine.

[DrRita]

I think he means the $25 version of the book. Amazon sells PE 3 for $69.

[rljfl]

Ah, but it has PE 2 (in the new and used area) for $25.

[DrRita]

Oh, sorry 'bout that. Why not. Maybe you can get a cheaper upgrade down the road for a few dollars extra. And you can probably go the the library and check out a manual for it or buy one used . . . unless it come with. cool!

[rljfl]

Here's to hopin' I can talk my better half into letting me get new toys. :) Thanks!