Ÿ  It is always fun to grab the video camera and start rolling to catch some unexpected antics, but what if you want something a little more serious, like maybe a wedding or an anniversary? Grabbing the video camera and just pointing aimlessly is fine, but it would be extra fine to really have some rhyme and reason to the movie. You can accomplish that rhyme and reason by giving it some real thought. Picture what you want the video to turn out looking like. What do you want to capture? Where can you stand to get the best footage? These ideas are just jumping off points that you can expand on to get the best possible movie results that you can.

Ÿ  Consider Audio. This is an important tip. You have to remember that if you are too far away the audio is going to come across as a garbled mess that no one will understand. You need to film from a close enough range so that the audio will clearly be understood.

Ÿ  Film More- You should film more than you think you will need, because you can edit out whatever it is that you do not want, but once the event is over you cannot add anything to the film. So spend a bit more time filming than you think you need to, you will be glad you did.

Ÿ  Using Features- using features on your camera is always fun, but don’t overdue it. Zooming in is fine to get someone’s reaction but staying zoomed in through the whole movie is a bit redundant.

Ÿ  Remember Your Audience- as you are filming your video try to keep in mind the audience that will be viewing your movie. Some things might seem funny if you capture it on film, but some members of your audience might feel insulted.

Ÿ  Edit Liberally – add music and voice over’s as you see fit. Crop out the bad and hang onto the good. Keep in mind that this movie might be around for a long time so use good taste and have fun with it.

Making a great movie only requires a little forethought and ingenuity you can easily accomplish making a movie that you are proud to show everyone just by simply giving it some thought!

Ÿ  It is always fun to grab the video camera and start rolling to catch some unexpected antics, but what if you want something a little more serious, like maybe a wedding or an anniversary? Grabbing the video camera and just pointing aimlessly is fine, but it would be extra fine to really have some rhyme and reason to the movie. You can accomplish that rhyme and reason by giving it some real thought. Picture what you want the video to turn out looking like. What do you want to capture? Where can you stand to get the best footage? These ideas are just jumping off points that you can expand on to get the best possible movie results that you can.

Ÿ  Consider Audio. This is an important tip. You have to remember that if you are too far away the audio is going to come across as a garbled mess that no one will understand. You need to film from a close enough range so that the audio will clearly be understood.

Ÿ  Film More- You should film more than you think you will need, because you can edit out whatever it is that you do not want, but once the event is over you cannot add anything to the film. So spend a bit more time filming than you think you need to, you will be glad you did.

Ÿ  Using Features- using features on your camera is always fun, but don’t overdue it. Zooming in is fine to get someone’s reaction but staying zoomed in through the whole movie is a bit redundant.

Ÿ  Remember Your Audience- as you are filming your video try to keep in mind the audience that will be viewing your movie. Some things might seem funny if you capture it on film, but some members of your audience might feel insulted.

Ÿ  Edit Liberally – add music and voice over’s as you see fit. Crop out the bad and hang onto the good. Keep in mind that this movie might be around for a long time so use good taste and have fun with it.

Making a great movie only requires a little forethought and ingenuity you can easily accomplish making a movie that you are proud to show everyone just by simply giving it some thought!

How To Make Sure You Get The Best Audio Quality On Your Video

Once you read this you are going to have an ah ha moment! It is so simple to insure that your audio quality is up to par. Positioning is the number one thing that is going to effect the audio quality on your video. Where you are positioned holding the video equipment and who or what is positioned in front of you.

This is how it works. For sound to reach our ears it has to travel and bounce off of people and things. Sometimes even when we are within hearing distance of someone or something it is difficult to hear the sound because there is other sound or there are too many people or things in between us and the sound. Some of the sound waves wind up getting absorbed by other people or items. Our brains however kick in and if we focus enough we can still pick up the sound. Unfortunately for us, video equipment does not have the ability to filter out other noise nor can it focus harder to hear what the goal is to hear. So where you position yourself while holding the video equipment is really going to effect the audio quality of your movie.

For instance you are filming a wedding and you are one or two rows from the couple, and you have a clear shot between them and the video camera the chances are you are going to be able to pick up the audio of this event well. Now lets say you are one or two rows from the couple but there is a person in front of you wearing linen that makes a rustling noise every time that person moves and it seems like they shift around quite  a bit, you audio is going to be affected by the rustling noise. The sound that is closest to the video camera is going to be heard the loudest during the video playback.

Speaking of which, your voice, breathing, coughing, whispering etc., is also going to be picked up loudly. So a good rule of thumb is to be as quite as you can.

Getting the best audio quality that you can is really going to improve your video and let

Most video cameras that are on the market have features that are used to set the video camera up for capturing the best video in different lighting configurations this is simple enough to use; it is usually a button somewhere on the video camera. Even when using this feature you still are going to have to make sure you are using the right setting for the right type of light. It really does make a difference!

Check Out the Lighting

Before you start filming check out the lighting that you are going to be filming in. Do a test run to see how the movie is going to be displayed with this type of lighting, try a couple of different settings to get the image exactly as you want it.

You can also try for interior shooting turning on and off various lights in the room that the filming will take place to get a better feel for things. Maybe turning off the overhead lights and turning on a lamp or two will help in getting the shot that you want.  Different type of lighting can really affect the images that you capture on your video equipment.

Individual Lighting Sources

You can also try using a lighting source like a lamp situated right behind your shoulder. You should never use direct lighting head on but you can try some diffused lighting by hanging a scarf over the lamp (be careful though light bulbs get hot do not leave the lamp unattended with the scarf across the shade). Using diffused lighting is a great way to add some punch to your movie.

Lighting really does make a huge difference in not only conveying the message of the movie but also in setting the mood of the movie. Get creative with your lighting sources and you will be richly rewarded with exceptional movies that are unique.

Making video movies should be fun and should convey all types of messages; they can become a chronological memory of your family long into the future to be enjoyed for generations to come.  Making sure that they are near perfect can be enhanced by the lighting options you choose. Have fun and experiment before you know it you will be an expert at making grade A movies! Lights, Camera…….Action!

Video production is growing into a more obtainable pastime by the day, with easily-accessible how-tos online and affordable consumer-grade cameras flooding the market. Taking the next step with proper lighting, however, can be difficult, both due to cost and availability. Switronix has taken notice, creating its TL-50 Torch LED,a highly versatile on-camera light with a sweet price point.

Aside from the light itself, the TL-50 comes packed with 3 plastic gels (orange, clear, and frosted) and a wall charger. The gels are durable and easy enough to use, simply snap one over the LEDs. Thesegels can act as light diffusers or change the light temperature of ashot.

The TL-50 is encased in a strong aluminum alloy casing which,despite the unit’s light weight, gives it a good, durable feel. The Back of the unit is home to a simple on/off knob which doubles as alight intensity controller. You can adjust the power level anywhere from 0 to 10, and it’s a nice way to cut back on battery usage when you don’t need full juice. Also on the back of the unit is a three-stage battery level indicator and a plug-in jack for the included charger.

Being an LED light, the TL-50 puts out very little heat. This means it stays pretty much danger-free as far as touch goes, and you can handle it without worry even after hours of usage. Combine this with the unit’s light weight and small size (it can rest comfortably in the palm of your hand), and you’ll find that you will barely notice it when traveling to shoots. There are two 1/4-20 threaded holes on the Torch LED, one on top and one on bottom. Using a simple shoe mount, you can connect it to plenty of different mounting devices to suit your needs.

The TL-50 projects a 5600 Kelvin color temperature. The temperature of your light can affect the colors of the video that you shoot. The5600K color temperature is the same as sunlight, making this a versatile light for either matching outdoor light or to use as a fill light when actually shooting outdoors. You will probably use the 3200 Kgel indoors (under tungsten lighting) quite often to soften your shots,There’s also a 3600K gel included as well. It’s good to have both of the gels on hand, and it takes less than a second to put them in place.

One impressive feature of this LED is the length of its battery life. The TL-50 is powered by an internal lithium-ion battery that will, at full power, last at least two and a half hours on a single charge. In our tests it actually lasted nearly forty-five minutes longer, only beginning to dim around the three-hour mark. This is especially useful if you do event shooting, where you’ll need a constant, uninterrupted flow of light for long periods at a time.

To test the TL-50 we set up the light at various distances in adarkened room. We found it to provide a nice, even fill from as far as15 to 20 feet away. There was a little bit of glare, but using the gelsto diffuse the light solved that.

Switronix has done a good job in producing a quality on-camera light that can suit any occasion. It’s well-made enough for professionals to take notice, while still remaining very compact and safe for amateurs as well. The best part is the price point: the TL-50 goes for around$300 at the moment. Video producers know that half the battle to getting that great shot is getting all the gear you need. There’s more to shooting great video than just a good camera. Lights, tripods, mics and all the other gear can get costly and downright unobtainable. But If you’re a video producer on a budget, then this little on-camera light just might be one of your best bets to fill the void.

Dimensions: 2.5″ H x 2.5″ W x 3.5″ D
Weight: 0.57 lbs.
Color Temperature: 5600 K
Rated Power: 30 W
Dimmer: Yes
Power Consumption: 3.7 W

• Compact and versatile
• Long battery life
• Reasonable price point

• None significant

The TL-50 LED video light is a great on-camera light that can adapt to any situation. Its strong build and low price make it accessible to a variety of video producers.

Arthur Lance is a film student and video editor/producer.

Switronix, Inc.
265 Sunrise Hwy., Ste. 1, PMB 346
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
www.switronix.com
$359