Do I belong here?

F

foresthillsbob

Member
This is my first post to this forum and I have no idea if I'm in the right place. I guess I am what you would call an amateur hobbyist who is new to the world of filmmaking. I don't have commercial aspirations, I just enjoy making and watching videos.

In browsing this site, I wonder if I really belong here. It seems like most of you are either professionals or film students who are far more advanced than what I am doing, using much better equipment. I have been operating pretty much in a vaccuum, using consumer-grade equipment, but the shorts I have made have been pretty well received by friends, family, and online social sites. I do have a desire to learn techniques used by people far more advanced at this than me, and to feel like I'm part of a group of people with similar interests in creative endeavors with film/video.

Is this the right site for me? Whether you're a newbie like me or a grizzled veteran, please introduce yourself so I can get an idea of who's out there and where I fit into all this. Thanks!
 
Welcome to the forum.

You'll find that DVXUser is a very unique place where hobbyists and working professionals mingle easily over a great number of topics.

In the technical sections, you'll find a great knowledge base for just about any device used (or ever used) in cinematography. There are even a few engineers lurking about, so the sky is the limit if you want to learn the equipment side of the business.

I approach everyone on the board as if they are an artist and professional tradesperson - and I've been consistently impressed by the people I've met here. Learning and collaboration are common themes. Many members have worked together casually and professionally as a direct result of meeting each other through the site.

Off-topic, there is a lot of useless, time-wasting distraction. And, for that reason exactly, a huge amount of traffic!

Enjoy exploring and please don't hesitate to jump right in!
 
Identify what cam, hardware and editing app you use and with how much experience.

That will generate some interest and responses.
 
Thank you for the welcome!

Here is my equipment

Camcorder:
Panasonic PV-GS150

Computer:
HP - Pavilion Desktop p6230y (8GBB RAM, 750GB ROM)

Editing software:
PowerDirector 8

I've been making movies on and off for about 2 years but only recently started using PowerDirector. Before that I was struggling by using Windows Movie Maker and any "in camera" editing I could do. I've done 11 shorts, all of them 10 minutes or less, all of them featuring my daughters as actors. These aren't just home movies, they have scripts, a plot, music, and sometimes special effects. But the overall tone is usually lighthearted and comedic, aimed at a family audience.

I do write as well (2 novels, 1 feature script, many short stories, none published yet) but I'm really enjoying putting together these movies. The instant gratification of watching an audience view and enjoy them has been a great feeling.
 
foresthillsbob said:

I've been making movies on and off for about 2 years but only recently started using PowerDirector. Before that I was struggling by using Windows Movie Maker and any "in camera" editing I could do. I've done 11 shorts, all of them 10 minutes or less, all of them featuring my daughters as actors. These aren't just home movies, they have scripts, a plot, music, and sometimes special effects. But the overall tone is usually lighthearted and comedic, aimed at a family audience.

I do write as well (2 novels, 1 feature script, many short stories, none published yet) but I'm really enjoying putting together these movies. The instant gratification of watching an audience view and enjoy them has been a great feeling.
Click to expand...

That's enough reason to belong to any filmmaking community, entertaining someone is what it is in the heart of films, and I see that that's your goal. Here you'll master your techniques and learn new ones as we all do.

Enjoy!
 
This site caters to everyone from professional studio and network production personnel, to industrial and wedding videographers, to independent film and video artists, to students, to hobbyists, to DIY'ers and engineers, to people with no more than casual interest in film and video.

There's so much stuff and so many people involved here, that I think you'll likely find it a good place, for you to be.

Welcome.
 
Thanks, here is my most recent one, "Jillian and the Beanstalk". I apologize for the apparent interlacing issue but that happened at the hosting site. Vimeo was giving me lip-synch issues so I tried this site. My original copy is only 480p but it looks a lot better than this! Anyway this will give you a good idea of my style...
http://www.viddler.com/explore/foresthillsbob/videos/1/

Also, here is one of my darker shorts, a fake preview for "The Woman in the Woods". This was done using "found footage" (I wasn't intending to make a movie but I found something strange in the middle of the woods)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgFzinO7Mmg
 
Do you belong here? Hell, they let me in. How bad can it be?

This was my first attempt, for fun. Take it or leave it. :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/arielmanIan#p/u/22/D_e432YNz84

No one laughed at me back then and were actually really nice and informative. Thus, the reason I'm still here years later and a little more informative now.

Good place man. Welcome.
 
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Welcome.... "Do I belong here?".... shaaa!. Like Gord.T said, they let me also. There are a lot of forums out there, and a lot of film/video forums, but I have yet to run across one as civil and welcoming as DVXUSER. I feel I can speak for the mods on this, you will not be treated badly on this forum for asking a question, and being sincere in wanting to learn. The mods just don't put up with that.

I loved your film. It has the cute factor to the nth degree. All in all, you got a great performance out of your daughter. You must be a man of great patience. Keep it up. Welcome.

But, BE WARNED!!! Film and video making can be very pretty seductive and addictive, and there is always one more piece of gear that you just HAVE to get!!! LOL!. Like I said, I warned ya!.

While were at it, here is an early film I did. It is from WAY BACK in the day, and yes it was shot on film, that is not a video filter I added in post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sl-Dd5yOb4
 
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Do you belong here? Yes, because, as you stated, you enjoy making and watching videos.

I'm a high school English teacher with an avid interest in video and photography. Until two years ago, my video camera was a PV-GS250. Still a decent outdoor cam, in my opinion.

Remember that it doesn't matter one iota if you've got the latest and greatest tech if there is no vision. Equipment is great if it's viewed as the appropriate tool for a job. So, try not to allow all of the hoopla regarding the newest expensive toys interfere with your creativity because they don't sell that.

You will learn a tremendous amount here. Keep learning and developing. Welcome!
 
Welcome Bob,
I am also an amateur hobbyist who shares the same interests for beautiful image, and that made me jump on the train of this forum recently. I feel exactly as you do. Maybe I am intimidated by the work and the knowledge of all the professionals here working in the film industry, or making money by doing what to me is just a hobby. On the other hand, I feel glad I can find so much valuable information here that can help me improve my style of doing things, even if it is just home videos of my children. I would like to make something better than home videos one day though, but maybe I am just too old for this.
There is of course a downside. After becoming an active follower of these filmmaking forums I have become addicted to lens and video gear buying too :).
Also, the more I find some free time to shoot something, the less I get to sleep at night in order to have some time to edit :). It is really addictive...
So don't feel alone here.
 
welcome aboard.... we can be crazy at times, but this is a good place with a diverse membership.... We've got oscar folk, and emmy folk, and set designer on avatar folk, and everyday videographer, low budget indy, no-budget indy, folks who are great, folks who think they are great, folks who are just having fun, folks who argue about gear all day long, folks who just love to turn their camera on and make new pictures each day, etc, etc... I'm sure you will find some like-minded folks, as well as some who have much valuable info to offer...

And, definitely if you are looking to engage in the creative process and learn along the way, take Zak's advice... The fests are free and open to all, and entering anything is better than most accomplish... So, enter something shot on a cell phone, or film or whatever... It's meant to be for fun, and everyone who enters a film in the fests gets their film viewed and responded to by the public...
 
Thank you all, I really appreciate the welcome! I look forward to checking out other people's videos (too bad my company blocks YouTube, but oddly enough, not Vimeo).
 
Welcome! Is it forest hill sbob? or forest hills bob? I'll just call you sbob from now on... :) I'm am not a professional either, everyone is cool here. Have fun.
 
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