Tips on the Movie I Wish To Make?

Trust me, you'd be amazed at the things you can do with a "basic one with basic tools." These days, you can work magic with just about any camera.

Well, to estimate exactly what you'll have to do, tell us about your camera. What kind of camera is it? What recording media does it use (MiniDV, 8mm, Hi8, Digital 8, DVD, hard drive, etc.)? Also, if you can, let us know whether your computer has one or more "FireWire" ports (also known as iLink, IEEE1394, or DV). To get an idea of what they look like, just run a Google image search for "Firewire port." There are two different types, 4-pin and 6-pin. Either one will do what you need it to do.

The rest of what I type will be very general, and will cover all your possibilities.

These days, the best way to edit videos ("make movies") is on a computer (they call it "non-linear editing," or NLE, in the business). There are a few things you need to do:

1) Get the footage onto the computer.

2) Use software to edit the footage.

3) Output your finished video.

How do you do this?

1) Get the footage onto the computer:

If you're recording to an analog medium such as Hi8 tape, you'll need to convert the video to a digital format. To do this, you'll need a video capture card that installs to your computer, or you can use a converter such as the ADS Pyro A/V Link. It'll take your analog video, convert it to digital, and pass it through to your computer. However, you'll also need a "FireWire" port (also known as iLink, IEEE1394, or DV) on your computer, which you might have already. If not, you'll need a capture card like the ADS Pyro card (this is different from the A/V Link converter; the converter connects to the card via a cable).

If it's a digital format (Digital 8, MiniDV, DVD, etc.), it's much easier; your camera will likely have a DV (FireWire) port, which you can connect directly to your computer if it has a FireWire port. If not, follow the above recommendation to get a FireWire card.

2) Use software to edit the footage:

Most computers these days come with basic editing software. Windows PCs come with Movie Maker, and Macs come with iMovie. They provide basic video-editing functions, likely everything you'll need to get started. More advanced features will naturally require more advanced programs. There are entry-level programs like Ulead VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio, mid-range ones like Ulead MediaStudio Pro, Avid Liquid, and Apple Final Cut Express (Mac only), and professional-grade ones like Adobe Premiere, Avid Xpress Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Apple Final Cut Pro (Mac only). I've used most of the above programs, especially those from Ulead and Avid. Ulead got the job done for me for a few years on a tight budget, and can probably do the same for you. They pack a load of great features into relatively inexpensive software.

*NOTE* If you're a student and plan to look into buying editing software, there are often HUGE student discounts available. For example, Avid sells their professional-grade Xpress Pro software to students for $295, and it retails for up near $1,600. The EDU version has some things left out, but it's the same basic program and is a very good deal if you get very serious about editing *and* have a computer that can run the program. EDU discounts on entry-level and mid-range programs are also widely available, so get a look at them.

For academic discounts, look at sites like these:

http://www.specialtyvideosupply.com/

http://www.campustech.com/

http://www.journeyed.com/

And there are more.

3) Output your finished video:

Editing software typically gives you a way to output your video to tape, disc, web, anything else; or comes with basic software to output to DVD or other medium. Follow the program's instructions.

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This will all take some learning, some effort, some trial and error, but it's really a whole lot of fun, and worth all the hard work. And it all starts with a camera; what a great little device, huh? Good luck to you, let us know if you need any more help with anything!

If someone put thier arm over my shoulder while at the movies, i'd look over and give a cheeky little smile. Then I would take their hand it and squeeze it. Then i'd just sit and watch the rest of the movie.... But that's just me, lol! It's like 12 dollars to see a movie where I live. I only go to movie theater to actually watch the movies; i'm not gonna waste my money and theirs. No matter what the other person has in mind. If I like them, i'll worry about that later. But anyway, that's all I can think of right now. Hope you have fun.

On PC Movie Maker preinstalled in XP OS

If on a Mac, think iLife.