| Winter nights can be long and cold; two pieces of | | | | mistakes or things that shouldn't be in the film, the dog |
| good news: first, December 21st was the longest night | | | | peeking around the corner, a TV in an old Western |
| of the year, so it's going to get a little better every day, | | | | setting, etc. Decide which clips you will work with and |
| and second, you can have a lot of fun at night, | | | | move them into their own separate directory. |
| especially if you are making your own Horror Movie! | | | | Now you can edit the film together. Choose your |
| To start, you'll need a plotline. Since this is possibly your | | | | transitions and effects. Splice the film together for a |
| first screamer, plan on making just a five or ten minute | | | | first cut. Take a break once you've made it. Walk |
| masterpiece. Once you get the hang of it, you can | | | | away from the PC, have something to eat, go for a |
| make a longer sequel, "Bloody Snow Bank Part Two!" | | | | walk, or do something totally unrelated. When you |
| Think about what you want in your film. Concentrate | | | | return, you should be refreshed and ready to evaluate |
| on action with simple dialog | | | | your first cut. Make whatever adjustments you need. |
| Professional moviemakers usually storyboard their | | | | Hopefully you won't have to re-shoot anything, but if |
| work, planning out each scene, camera angle and | | | | you do, study the preceding and following scenes to |
| actor placement. You can try your hand at this too. | | | | make sure you can re-create the continuity you will |
| Just use stick figures and make simple sketches; it will | | | | need to get from one scene to the next. |
| help to organize the entire project. You can even | | | | Now you are ready to do the Foley work - for those |
| scout out locations for each scene. Remember that | | | | of you who do not know, most all sound effects in the |
| with the magic of video, your bedroom door can lead | | | | movies are over-dubbed in a special studio by a Foley |
| directly into the cellar if you edit it that way, and your | | | | artist. They synchronize sounds with movement, |
| backyard can be the park sown the street - it'll be | | | | mostly in real time, to make footsteps, punches, and |
| your secret! | | | | other sounds fit into the action. You can do this with a |
| Once you have your story sequences, you can start | | | | program like Avnex's Music Morpher Gold, where you |
| shooting. Remember you don't have to shoot the | | | | can record voice and sounds and then apply filters and |
| scenes in order, shoot from shortest to longest, easiest | | | | effects to create the perfect sound bites. You can |
| to hardest. Be sure to get what you want recorded, | | | | then edit in the results. Dialog can also be created and |
| and don't be afraid to shoot several takes of the | | | | dubbed in to suit the action. One technique is to have |
| same thing, as you may miss something during filming | | | | the speaker facing away from the camera. You can |
| that will spoil the take. Check costumes, positions, | | | | also play the video and record live dialog as you |
| camera angles, and lighting. Sound can be added later. | | | | watch. Then you can add filters and effects to the |
| Using a video editor, such as Avnex's Movie Morpher, | | | | results. |
| break the takes up into individual files. This will make | | | | Don't forget to invite the relatives and neighbors and |
| handling them easier later on. Review each take in full | | | | be sure to serve plenty of popcorn for your movie |
| screen mode as well as reduced; pay attention to all | | | | premiere. Sprinkle a little Paprika on it for a |
| the elements of good filmmaking, camera, focus, light, | | | | bloody-good effect! |
| action, movement, placement; be sure to watch for | | | | |