Be a multi-faceted editor

So, either you’re directing, shooting and editing your own projects - or you want to work in the industry as an editor. But you are likely going to run up against projects where knowing how to use your editing software is just not enough.

Sure, Final Cut, Premier, Avid or any of the other hundred or so editing packages out there will perform many tasks over and above the straight cuts, transitional effects and multiple audio track mixing tasks. But what will you do when a client asks for something that your editing package just can’t accomplish?

You might actually have to farm out part of your job to a company or individual that specializes in what you need but haven’t the expertise or software to accomplish. That’s OK if you have it in the budget to do so.

However, the purpose of this blog is to encourage you to continue to learn and gear up with all of the potentially useful software that you can afford - outside of your main editing package.

Here’s a few examples:

Recently I had occasion to make a video that was an introduction to astrology. Because that kind of thing can be a long, boring “talking head” I really had to beef it up with graphics and animations.

I used a program called Kinemac to create and animate the sun, planets and moons of our solar system. When speaking about Jupiter, for example, an animated visual of Jupiter and its moons would appear on-screen.

Kinemac is a great program that works in real time as you design the animation. I was able to map 3D spheres with actual planet maps that I downloaded from the NASA web site. Fortunately all of their images are copyright free (you have to be careful about what you use that you’ve downloaded from the internet as much of it is, of course, under copyright).

I couldn’t figure out how to make the sun shine like the ball of burning gas that it is, so I used Pixel Toy, a small, free application from Lairware.com. I then composited the Kinemac sun with the Pixel Toy burning effect in Final Cut. It looked great.

For the astrological signs I found a font called Astro Gadget which I used with Kinemac to create some great 3D, shiny, metallic looking symbols. Sometimes they were animated and sometimes just used as part of a still illustration.

For my last video on a new type of swimming pool cover the client had supplied one very nice animation done on a CAD system of his solid tile pool cover sinking to become the bottom of the pool and rising to create a floating cover. Great idea, but that one animation could not tell the whole story - and I had to make an exciting marketing video with no actual covers yet in existence.

Photoshop and Daz3D came to my rescue in creating some stunning stills using existing pool photos, a 3D backyard pool model and my own limited modeling skills. I was even able to throw in a house, some pool-side furniture and a 4 person family using Daz models. This made the pool model look very real.

I created the tiled pool cover for this pool using primitives in Daz3D and animated it rising from the bottom of the pool to the surface with an overturned chair on it. One of the features of this cover is that you can use it to retrieve things that sink to the bottom of the pool.

This last example goes way beyond what an editor is usually asked to do, but because I work alone and hate to have to farm things out I found a way of doing it myself using software that I have purchased and “played with” enough to know how to use it.

Being an editor isn’t just about knowing how to cut and add transitions and basic titles. It’s about being creative and if you are a creative person you’ll find that there’s a universe of fun programs that you can use to expand your capabilities in the editing field.

There are more great editing tips in my video production textbook at:
http://www.mikesdvp.com

How to do Your Own Voice-Overs


Voice-overs (or narration tracks) are something that most aspiring film makers don’t consider until there’s a need for it. They’re also not common to all genres of video programs. However, they may be needed if you’re making a training video, a TV commercial, a documentary or even for dramatic productions if there’s a “storyteller” as part of the sound track.

I’ve done a lot of voice-over work in film and television production and I’ve taught it in the various film and television school programs with which I’ve been associated throughout my career.  I’ve also done radio and promotional voice-overs for television when I worked in that industry years ago.
I don’t not have the deep, mellow James Earl Jones / Morgan Freeman type of voice. My voice is very ordinary, but I’ve learned how to use it well. Voice-over work is 50% acting.

There are people who make voice work their entire career. There’s good money in it.

So, here is my list of things you must know to do this well:

1. Imagine you are speaking to a distant audience. Don’t speak to the microphone that is only 4 inches from your mouth, but to an imaginary audience about 10 feet away. When you do this your voice will naturally become clearer and more commanding.

2. Speak clearly and distinctly. Be particularly careful to voice each word and phrase clearly and distinctly - don’t slur your words together. Make sure you speak each word separately.

3. Pronounce each word accurately. Be sure you know the proper pronunciation of each word and can say each word clearly without undue pausing.

4. Use proper microphone techniques:

• Don't "pop"the mic. by speaking letters that cause an explosive sound, especially the letter “p”.
• Always stay about 4 - 6 inches from the microphone. Don’t look around or rock back and forth.
• Keep your voice at an even volume and pitch (unless the script calls for a departure from your normal voice).

5. Read ahead as you speak. Read a few words ahead of what you are speaking. If you’re a slow reader this is going to be tough, but reading ahead will give your second brain a chance to decide the right intonation for what’s coming up. That second brain is the one that can think of one thing as your voice is saying another.

6. Rehearse. Always rehearse your script as many times as it takes to be comfortable with it. Do this out loud as if you’re being recorded. It’ll help you get the rhythm and tonal qualities of your voice working properly before you record and reduce the number of takes.

7. Make sure you understand what you’re reading. Never read anything out loud that you can’t understand. The audience will be aware of your confusion. It’ll show up in your delivery.

8. Speak with emotion. If the script is about something positive and happy try smiling a bit as you talk. This will also come across to the audience. You gotta do this even if you feel sick, hung over and depressed. It’s an acting gig. The show must go on!

You don’t have to have the most mellow voice in the city to do a good voice-over. You just have to sound confident, speak clearly and don’t rattle it off too quickly.

Want to learn more about digital video production? Go to:
http://www.mikesdvp.com