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Welcome to The Electronic Mailbox's Video Editing and Shooting Page!
We are the video editing and production experts!

Note: This article is from our original "Blue Book" - video editing Hook-Up Guide and How to Booklet. It was first printed back in 1989. Before the web, when we still got most of our information from paper. We gave it away with all our video editing gear. Back then, editing video with a computer was something only the networks could afford. Today, as you already know, you can create incredible videos using your home computer!! But as much as things have changed, some things remain constant. The tips in this article are still as important and useful as they were over a decade ago!

We are here to help you with all your video editing needs. Whether you are a novice who just bought his first camcorder, or a professional wedding videographer, we can help you make better videos. This page is loaded with helpful hints for shooting, editing and producing better videos! If you have any questions or need additional help, call our Technical Advice Hotline (516)759-1943 (Mon-Fri 9-5 est).

Shooting Dos and Don'ts

SHOOTING DOs...

DO learn to control your camcorder’s manual controls.

The auto focus on your camera can get fooled and search in and out. By using the manual focus you will get clearer pictures.

DO use a light indoors.

Even a low lux camcorder will give you much more brilliant colors when you use a light. PLUS you will get less generation loss while you edit if you use adequate light.

...AND DON’TS

DON’T Overuse the zoom.

A video that is constantly zooming in and out is difficult to watch.

DON’T Pan back and forth.

Pan in only one direction for each scene and avoid over-panning.

DON’T Center your subject.

Think of your TV screen as a tic-tac-toe board and place important objects in the lines of the board, not in the middle. Your video will look much better.
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Shoot to Edit

 The easiest way to make your videos easier to edit is shooting to edit. This means thinking about your final production before and during the shoot. By shooting to edit, you will be able to edit much faster and the results will be fantastic.

BEFORE YOU SHOOT

Put a header at the beginning and end of each tape. To do this shoot about 10 seconds of video with the lens cap on. This will eliminate any noise or problems in the beginning of the tape and leave you with a place for your opening credits when you edit. You should also record about 5 seconds of black between each new day’s shooting. This is especially important if you like to view your videos while you are on the road. The 5 seconds of black gives you a margin of error for starting the tape the next day and will help you locate scenes when you edit.

DURING THE SHOOT

These next tips are not only to help you edit better, but to help you shoot better footage. The better your original footage, the better the finished product will be.

  1. KEEP THE TAPE ROLLING

    2. You are going to edit out the bad footage. It’s better to cut out lots of bad footage than to miss any good footage. Don’t be so quick to cut the camera, especially when your subject is children, pets or wildlife. You never know when something special will happen. It’s much easier to find a good 15 second scene in 2 minutes of video, than it is to capture 15 great seconds of video in one shot.

  2. ESTABLISHING SHOTS

    3. Start each new location with an establishing shot that identifies where you are or when you are taping. This shot can be a wide panorama of the area or a close-up of a sign or landmark. My favorite establishing shot is to zoom in on the landmark or sign, and then zoom out to the wide shot of the whole area. This looks great, but don’t over do it!

  3. USE DIFFERENT SHOTS

    4. The video should tell the viewer what is going on. Use different angles and points of view. Don’t hesitate to use close-ups, half shots and wide shots of the same scene. This makes your video more interesting and easier to watch. By mixing different shots of the same thing, you can keep the viewer’s attention.
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Here are some basic hints to make your editing easier and better.

 Preview your raw footage to familiarize yourself with everything you have shot.

Make a video tape footage log to determine the scenes you have shot.

Make a story board using those scenes you wish to keep for the final production. This is a basic outline of what scenes you want to keep, and in what order you want to place them. You should also note what special effects, titles and audio mixing you will be adding.

Set up titles and audio tracks. Now is the time to create your title pages and a narration soundtrack. You should also make sure you have all your music selected and near by.

Always use a fresh blank tape for every production. If you use a tape that is already recorded on, you will get glitches and rainbows caused by the pre-existing footage. Always use the best tape available and tape on the SP speed.

Set aside adequate time. Your editing will go much easier if you begin and end the job in one session. It is very difficult to cue everything up again once you have turned off your equipment.

Be patient. Editing is a creative process. Be prepared to start over if the production gets bogged down. If you try to rush, you will be more likely to make a mistake or get sloppy edits.

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting

The better the lighting of your original footage, the better the digital video will look. Always use a fill light indoors, and for important shoots, take the time to purchase - and learn how to use - a complete lighting system. Lighting is what separates amateur video from professional productions. Once you learn how to master the intricacies of lighting, your videos will look professional, and your digital effects will be even more incredible.

Have fun!! Enjoy making your final production. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different effects, camera angles, sound effects or whatever other creative ideas you may have. If it works - GREAT, if not, just cut it out. Let your creativity go wild - you’ve earned it!!

The more you edit, the better you will get!!! Not only will your future productions look better, but they will get easier to do. With a little practice you will be able to edit your videos in much less time. Plus, you will always be shooting to edit. As a result, you will get better and better results!

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