Can you make videos from a home movie camera look like professionally done movies?

There are lots of things to know...

1) Understand the limitations and capabilities of the camera.

This was all shot on a cellphone: http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.ind...

2) Video is only part of the equation. Audio and music have a HUGE impact. Mics, post production sound design and mood music are important.

3) Stability - use a tripod, monopod or any steadying device you can. Always. SpiderBrace is a handy device... so is a "steadicam" mount.

4) Lighting plays a huge role. Two point or three point lighting goes a long way to looking "pro".

5) Editing and post production to make the project "crisp" is really important.

6) Camera angles... are very useful to push emotion.

7) Acting ability (if actors are used).

8) The camera/video is only 1 part of the system. An experienced person who knows their camera well can take great video even with a crummy camera - and a novice with no knowledge will take crappy video with the most expensive camera.

9) Story board the production. After you take a shot, shoot it again. and again and again... and when you think you have the right shot on tape, shoot it again. And again. and again... then go to the next shot.

many home camcorders have all kinds of special effects on them such as wipe,wash,...fade (in and out)...it helps to let the camera adjust to the lighting every time the lighting element changes by putting a plain white piece of paper in front of camera. this is called "trueing"..also a thing called "panning" is excellent at acheiving a professional look... that's moving the camera Slowly across...like, if you have someone walking left to right...you could start your camera at the right and slowly pan across left to the view of the passerby...

If you have a computer program such as Pinnacle Studio then you can put the video on your computer and edit it however you want and put it to music, etc. It's expensive to buy the program and the cord to run your camera into your computer but you can make very nice looking movies yourself.

all u need is a digital camera, the rest is up to u to make the lighting and the picture look good, then u get one of those home director things that can cost alot and u make a movie

the person holding the camera is the one not the camera

Yes,,,,U will need to stabalize the recording device,,,,Plus get some video editing software to clean it up

With a tripod, maybe.