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When filming, you want to make sure that the camera angle isn't always the same. If it is, the viewer can get bored, and that is not good. During scenes, try to move the camera around a bit. It isn't that hard. To give an example, we will say that Jen and Andrew are going to say the following:. Jen: Oh no! A hurricane! Run for your life! Andrew: I have a better idea! Let's hide under that pile of old scrap metal! Jen: Um, I don't think so.... . Next, you would have to look over the script and decide where you want the camera to switch places. This is a simple task too. Write it down like we did a few seconds ago. . Jen: Oh no! A hurricane! (camera switch) Run for your life! (camera switch)Andrew: I have a better idea! Let's hide under (camera switch)that pile of old scrap metal! (camera switch)Jen: Um, I don't think so.... . If that looks like a lot of camera angle switches, you just wait until long scenes! Now, the next part is a bit trickier, but is still not very difficult. It is the filming. Here's what to do: Record Jen saying "Oh no! A hurricane!". Stop the camera after she finishes the word 'hurricane'. Then, move the camera to a different angle and start recording her say the next line. You should know when to stop filming because you wrote it down, I hope.... Continue with this until the scene is completed. . P.S. You don't have to always switch angles, because it can get complicated. Sometimes, depending on the situation, it is better to not change for a while. Also, to do most of this you would need some kind of movie editing software, such as imovie (the one I personally recommend) or something else. But, if you don't have one and aren't getting one any time soon, switching scenes is a lot harder. You'd have to stop and start the camera exactly when they are finishing and starting their part. . This is a very simple question, but the answer can get to be very difficult. If nobody is there to hold the camera for a scene that you are shooting, you can do one of 3 things. First, you could get a tripod. Now this seems like the most logical explanation for a question like this, but what if you really wanted to shoot the scene on that specific day, and you knew that going out to buy a tripod was out of the question? This leads me to my second answer. Get somebody to hold the camera for you. Once again, a simple answer but can not always be reached. What if nobody was there to hold the camera for you, or they just didn't want to do it, or they didn't know how?! Which leads me to my final answer...an answer that should only be used if ideas #1 and 2 don't work. To give an example and help me explain, let's say that Tim and John were shooting a scene outside on their deck. All they said in this scene was: . Tom: Let's go inside before it rains. John: Good Idea. Tom: Don't forget to pick up the skateboard! . Now they didn't have a tripod, or somebody to hold the camera for them. Here is the solution. The two of them would never be in the same shot. First, mark where the camera switches are going to be. . Tom: Let's go inside before it rains. (camera switch)John: Good Idea. (camera switch)Tom: Don't forget to (camera switch)pick up the skateboard! . Now the first scene is going to be Tom saying his line. So John will be behind the camera. Naturally, when two people are talking to each other, they look at each other, (unless they are those people who look down or up while speaking, but I don't think we have that problem...) so Tim will act like he is talking to an invisible John. The camera will zoom in around his face and neck so the audience will not know whether John is actually there or not. When it is John's turn to speak, Tim is behind the camera. And so on, and so on. You should know how to switch camera angles too so there shouldn't be any problem in the middle of "Don't forget to (camera switch)pick up the skateboard!" . This is a problem with many people, and there are lots of ways to solve it. Now the best idea would be to get a tripod, but, like we talked about before, tripods don't grow on trees! (hehe)....So sometimes you have to resort to using LAME OLD HUMANS! I know this sounds crazy, but it can work. That is, if you listen closely. What I am about to reveal to you is an antient Bhudda secret. You may tell it to no one. Before the secret is unveiled, answer me this. Are statues still? If you answered yes, you may continue. The secret is......be the statue.... Huh, you ask? Well there you go. Just don't move. Try not to focus on anything but the little screen inside the camera. Also, if you have a viewfinder (one of those little screens that pops out of the side) on your camera, you can push the back of the camera against your chest to help steady it. When turning, go slowly, such as following somebody when they are walking. Do not sneeze, cough, laugh, or breathe. I am not saying hold your breath. Just don't breathe. Trust me on this one. The stiller you are, the better it will turn out. . P.S. When filming, try not to press any buttons on the camera. First of all, you don't know what they could do, and second, that creates shaking. . Special effects can really spice up a movie. They range from just plain old black and white to distort or glow. Thousands of special effects exist but I am not saying that your camera has any of them. Most of the time, to see or use what special effects you have, some sort of button would have to be pressed. Most likely, the effects section is in the menu. Just press the menu button on your camera if you have one. If you don't, there might be some other way to find them, like a little wheel that you spin to choose which one you like. If you can't find anything, go to the manual and check the index for 'Special Effects'. . P.S. On many movie editing softwares, you can select a clip and add special effects. . The reason I keep emphasizing 'Movie Editing Softwares' is because they can really get your film on a roll. Literally! You can add music, sounds, special effects, cut clips so you don't have to stop the camera exactly whenever...You get the general idea? I am not saying that to make a movie, you need software. I am just saying that it helps a lot. The prices can range from anywhere around maybe $20 to over $1000 dollars, depending on the quality. As I have said before, imovie is what I prefer and is probably the easiest to use. But make sure you have the right type of camera and computer for each software. They all don't hook up the same.
What do I do when there is nobody to hold the camera?
How come I can't hold the camera still while filming?!
How do I use special effects when filming?
What is with all this 'Movie Editing Software' stuff?!
Well that's about it for now, but some new questions and answers should be popping up every now and then... . . Questions or Comments? Email me at
