Who's graywolf

[graywolf]

Well, I signed up a bit back. They took awhile to give me permissions to post. The same day that happened, I received a new mic in the mail and wound up posting about that in the Audio threads. Now I have posted several threads there that seem to be somewhat popular. But...

Who am I, and why am I here on dvxuser?

I am a 72 year old retired/disabled guy living in the mountains of North Carolina. Former electro/mechanical engineering technician, and sometimes pro photographer. I have some hobby audio experience, but next to no film experience.

Awhile back I picked up a cheap DV camcorder with the intention of doing how-to videos (I have done quite a few how-to's on the web but not in video). I got started learning the basics and then got sick again. I have now forgotten most of the little bit I had learned. Recently I picked up a second camcorder so cheaply I could not afford to pass it up and am now, slowly, trying to relearn and move farther into video. However, I have to admit I am finding it hard to get motivated.

I seem to be missing the part here on dvxuser about how to plan and edit a video. Can anyone point me to that stuff?

 

[combatentropy]

Welcome.

I seem to be missing the part here on dvxuser about how to plan and edit a video. Can anyone point me to that stuff?

"How to plan" a video? Well, I guess that would be "preproduction," and . . . it looks like there is no such subforum. Neither is there one called "editing," although we have four about postproduction software. Weird.

 

[NorBro]

Watch a lot of YouTube...you can learn a lot (pretty much about anything in the world), and maybe find some motivation by seeing certain visuals and styles.

There are hundreds of editing tutorials for almost any software...pre-production discussions and tips are out there as well.

 

[graywolf]

Well, I thought about those how-to articles I have written, and realized that I would write the article then that pretty much indicated the photos I needed to illustrate it. On the other hand how I keep trying to do video is to talk at the camera with out even thinking it out beforehand.

So it looks like it may be as simple as writing out what I want to say then use that as a script to plan out the shots. Shoot the script as the talking part, and do cutaways to points I am explaining. Seems lots of cutaway and as little talking head as I can get away with is the way to go.

There is a screenplay/writing thread, but that is very very theatrically oriented. A production design thread, but that seems to be a what should it look like? The documentary thread might be a place to ask about this kind of thing. I guess dvxuser is very "movie" rather than "film" orientated over all.

Yes, there is all kinds of information out there. The problem is that there is so much it is hard to figure out where to start. But I am now thinking the place to start is with a pencil and a pad of paper.

AND... Thanks for the replies.

 

[combatentropy]

At the top, click the tab labeled What's New. That's where I go every day to see the latest threads, and I know others do too. I don't know how many people just camp out in a certain subforum, waitiing for questions that they can answer. So for that reason, I wouldn't worry too much about getting your question in the right subforum. At this point the moderators will chime in and say that you should try your best to put your question in the right subforum. And I agree. But in your case there is no subforum that matches your topic, so again, just try your best. At least some people will see your question as they peruse the What's New tab. If there really is a better subforum, then a moderator can move it there, and you'll know for next time.

Again, it is weird, now that I think of it, that there is no subforum for Preproduction, nor one for Editing. You might suggest them. As you can see, DVXUser is quite happy to add new subforums. We are drowning in them --- which is why it was not my first suggestion to request that they be added.

I think your specific question that you've started about how-to videos is a good one. But in the interest of organization, I will ignore it here and maybe chime in on the thread you started in the Documentary subforum. I think that subforum is just fine for what you're asking.