Video

The key thing with all this stuff, is when you learn it, go do it. When you actually practice it, the technique or skill will stick.

Learn pages mainly link to YouTube videos that have helped me.

Indie Mogul

This channel is a great resource for learning many different aspects of video and film making. It’s been both entertaining and educational! Well worth subscribing.

One of the first videos I saw was this one:

A playlist for the basics:

Editing Tools

You may have used software for years, ignoring certain menus or corners of the program. I still like to watch tutorials as it shows me those features I didn’t know about before. That’s how you become the power-user!

Ripple Training

Ripple Training is a long running channel providing high quality & practical tutorials on Final Cut Pro, Davincci Resolve, Apple Motion and Logic.

A fantastic resource to learn to use these softwares.

Editing Technique

Watching tutorials also show you how others work. Others will have ideas you do not. Seeing new & different ways to edit will keep you creative and give you more options when putting projects together.

Daniel Schiffer

He demonstrates the editing techniques used to take raw footage to polished final products. He also makes video, and tutorials on videoing and filming technique, primarily in advertising shoots.

On Set / On Location

Respect and Protect the location. Don’t make someone regret letting you film.

Tennis balls

…make a great bumper for feet or points.

  • Yeah, just normal tennis balls.

  • Cut an X into it. It should slide on to the ends of pointy things.

  • Used under feet of stands to protect soft floors from scratches.

  • Used on end of poles to prevent injuring someone.

  • Used on equipment near walls to stop scratching of paint or surface.

  • Bonus: bright colour acts as hi-vis warning for pointy things.

C-Stands

  • Make sure they are sand-bagged; weighed down so they do not fall over.

    • Sandbag should sit on the largest leg

    • Sandbag should not rest on the floor.

  • Tallest/longest leg should point the same direction of the weight load.

    • That is, any weight hangs above the largest leg.

    • This is the most stable setup.

    • Take care not to rotate the weight to hang between the legs. This is the most unstable setup.

  • Grip heads on C-Stands should be mounted on the Right-Hand side.

    • This is so when a load pulls the boom arm down, it tightens the grip, not loosens.

    • Test this by pulling down on the boom arm before you have loaded it. If it comes quickly loose, it’s set up the wrong way.

Get stuff done!

Often, you will need to improvise a little, especially in the beginning. If you learn to plan, you will need to improvise less. But, the unexpected always happens. The video making industry is a fantastic place for creative bodging. Throwing together what you can find to get the shot.

Everyone has to improvise. Need proof? Here’s an Instagram account that shows off the best (and worst) improvised filming set-ups.

Subtitles

Subtitles are increasingly important.

Without subtitles or captions people are excluded from the video:

  • Hearing impaired - those that literally can’t hear.

  • International viewers - non-native speakers, or perhaps translated

  • People that watch with the volume off - e.g. on social media

Getting subtitles right can be both art and science.

Good video on producing subtitles, and rules to follow.