Help a total beginner!

[CantDoSleepflower]

~Deep breath~ Here goes nothing...

I have a strong desire to make films, but have literally no idea where to start (enough sneering from the back there). I was wondering whether some of you veterans would mind giving me a few pointers.

1) For now I can use the school cameras, which I think record straight onto VHS. I have used them before in a linear VHS to VHS editing suite. I am in no hurry to do that again. I have an AMD 600 with 128 meg RAM. Will this be good enough to edit on?

2) What hardware/software will I need to get the footage from the camera to the PC and edit it?

3)What hardware/software will I need to copy the edited material onto an ordinary VHS?

Anyone?

[eddie]

Hello Dowhatsitflowersunnyrayofsushine

You will need something called a Video Capture card, to transfer your VHS signal into movie files on your computer.
The one Im using at the moment is a DC30, from a company called Pinnacle. If you buy one make sure it has Video IN and Video OUT
sockets.
I use Adobe Premier to edit these film clips together. Once that is done I unplug the Video from the IN port and plug it to the OUT port and export my finished film out onto Video tape from Premier.
A 10 Gig Hard drive is probably big enough for short (10 minute) films, but for a longer one Id recommend more like 50 Gig.
Otherwise your computer sounds fine to me.

Premier and the DC30 is quite an expensive set up, but it is very good.
There are alternatives, all have pro's and cons. Just remember to get a Capture card with IN and OUT ports on it, and editing software that is compatible with it. That will save you all sorts of hassle in the future.

Thats my 10p worth

Good luck with it.

[CantDoSleepflower]

Thanks.

By the way, how much is 'quite' expensive?

Anyone else's opinion would be a godsend too.

We're thinking of doing T.S. Eliots' The Wasteland (Talk about in at the deep end). Will that set up allow for recording of soundtrack bits etc. over the top?

[eddie]

roughly
Premier - 1000 pounds
DC30 - 600 pounds
40 Gig Hard Drive - 200 pounds?

Yep, camera records sound, capture card captures video- images and sound, or you can capture sound seperatly on sound card.

Premier allows you to sync a images with sound clips.

Then export the whole thing, sound and all onto video.

[CantDoSleepflower]

So when they say 'no budget' they mean "2 Grand for starters".

Time to go a-whoring

[CantDoSleepflower]

I guess I should go and look for some cheap experience then. Do you know of anything going on in the Bedfordshire/London area where I could just lurk around and make tea or something? I've signed up with Shooting People if that means anything.

[Chance1234]

shooting peoples cool,

right, b4 you edit you have got to have a film to edit. if i were you i would ge the ball rolling now. dont let it be an obstacle that you havent got the money yet, theres thousands of thinds you can do in pre production for free. also you need to get your cast and crew in place etc. then you can shoot your film and then worry about the editing

neve frknow you might make some contacts along the way which can heklp with your editing

if your going to make a film you cant stop at any obstacles, just go out there and do it


Chance




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5YLAC Films

www.itkoa.co.uk

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download the deadlights trailer at

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ights_trailer1.rm>

[The Baines Hunt Rebel]

Don't go crazy on your first film, you'll be incredibly lucky if it comes out right anyway. If you're still at school then take advantage of everything there first (thats what its there for) and then buy yourself some stuff. It's nice to have some cool equipment but it's not what this is all about, and remember, when you leave school it's just going to be you and no resource centre which a school can offer, however limited. Buy it when you need to and when you're sure about what you're doing. And premier for a grand!!! Christ on a fucking bike, you're talking to the wrong people.
Remember, the first rule, there are no rules.

[eddie]

I agree with Chance. If you have a camera then find the actors and crew and shoot the film. Thats all you need. Worry about editing when you need to.
I was lucky, a friend of mine who lives in Hong Kong send me the dc30 and premier for free. I dont own a PC, I installed this on a computer at work, which I scammed to put a 20 gig hard drive into (have just scammed another 20 Gig). I edit evenings after work.
low budget *does* mean low budget. My edit suite (which isn't the best in the world, but is sufficent) didnt cost me a penny.
Beleive me, if I can do it for free then anyone can, Im hopeless with money. Call in ALL your favours, try every avenue you can think of, one of them will work out.

Good luck

[RedRaven]

Just to correct something, Premiere is NOT ?1000!!! It comes complete with the DC30 capture card. You ought to be able to pick up the complete package for about ?400 these days!