mj2004_3
4th Dec 2009, 02:58 AM
Hi all, I'm MJ, a moderately prominent sims 2 movie maker and webshow host. I've been filming since before I could walk, and I have a few tips for you to make some great, presentable, professional WMM movies to share with the world.
I first started out thinking that WMM was the only movie tool out there, until I discovered VideoStudio, Premiere and Vegas. If you're at that stage, here are some tips to make your vids look okay for a starter.
- Try experimenting with the Titles and Credits tool. Segoe Print is not the only font on there, as Basic Title is not the only animation you can use. I suggest if you are making a talking scene, use Subtitle as your animation, a white or black font colour, and make sure it's big enough. If you can't see it, then the viewers can't either.
- Scrap the transitions. People are sick of the shattering glass or alligator teeth after every scene. Try effects like Fade In and Fade Out. They're handy for an ongoing movie with many scenes.
- Avoid harsh effects like Colour Spectrum. It makes the video look unprofessional.
- If you're inserting music in scenes, then use the Fade In and Fade Out tool to avoid abrupt - and sometimes jarring - changes in music.
After playing around with WMM and a few trials of other programs, I decided it was high time to start a series. If you are at this stage, here are some good tips that you can't deny make a better series.
- Pick music to go with the scene, not always your personal liking. If you're making a Western and you have Metallica in the background, it ruins the scene.
- Sound effects make all the difference. If you're having a hard time explaining a scene, say, a car breaking down, in words, then try sites like SoundBoard. They have millions of sound effects, as well as ringtones for your people's cells and other cool things like Blenders.
- If it doesn't work out the first time, try, try again. I once worked on a crash scene for two hours only to realise that I wasn't videotaping it. So remember what you clicked. If you have a hard time remembering, I suggest writing it down for future reference.
"Hey, what the heck!? I'm getting my audio blocked for copyright issues?" I once said to myself, slapping my forehead. If you're uploading a video on YouTube that has music in the background, make sure that you remember that WMG is stalking your every upload. They're quick to mute and quick to decrease your viewer spectrum because NOBODY LIKES MUTED VIDEOS. Here's some tried and true steps to get your audio back in seconds:
Click Here (YouTube Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mDJ2zjET7A)
If your audio isn't back right away, then wait. If it's not back within 24 hours of your claim, then there's nothing you can really do about it but use *gag* AudioSwap.
Now you're moving up in the business. You've learned most of the tricks that people use and you're one Christmas present away from getting that coveted VideoStudio, Premiere or Vegas. You've bought yourself a $10 microphone and are ready to make a great video with - get this! - VOICES. You know that talkies, as they're called, are the way to go if you want to keep your audience, so here's some tips to keep your viewers with ya for quite some time.
- Don't sit so close to the microphone. If you can hear interference, then you're too close. About a foot, or 30 cm anywhere else, is good.
- Speak loud, but don't yell unless it's part of the script. If you're yelling constantly, then you'll overshadow the other characters.
- Make sure to speak clearly. Stage whisper when it calls for whispering, and when it calls for yelling, don't wake up your parents with a full-blown shout. Talk loud, get slightly closer to the microphone, and put your heart into it.
- When editing audio into music, use the Split tool and blend the two by dragging them together. The same goes for sound effects.
- Make sure that you don't catch the football match or your parents fighting in the background. If the room is quiet, then it's optimal time to do those lines.
Thanks a lot for reading my guide. I hope that these tips produce better videos all around.
Any questions? Contact me at [email protected] or on my YouTube, melissaj2004.
I first started out thinking that WMM was the only movie tool out there, until I discovered VideoStudio, Premiere and Vegas. If you're at that stage, here are some tips to make your vids look okay for a starter.
- Try experimenting with the Titles and Credits tool. Segoe Print is not the only font on there, as Basic Title is not the only animation you can use. I suggest if you are making a talking scene, use Subtitle as your animation, a white or black font colour, and make sure it's big enough. If you can't see it, then the viewers can't either.
- Scrap the transitions. People are sick of the shattering glass or alligator teeth after every scene. Try effects like Fade In and Fade Out. They're handy for an ongoing movie with many scenes.
- Avoid harsh effects like Colour Spectrum. It makes the video look unprofessional.
- If you're inserting music in scenes, then use the Fade In and Fade Out tool to avoid abrupt - and sometimes jarring - changes in music.
After playing around with WMM and a few trials of other programs, I decided it was high time to start a series. If you are at this stage, here are some good tips that you can't deny make a better series.
- Pick music to go with the scene, not always your personal liking. If you're making a Western and you have Metallica in the background, it ruins the scene.
- Sound effects make all the difference. If you're having a hard time explaining a scene, say, a car breaking down, in words, then try sites like SoundBoard. They have millions of sound effects, as well as ringtones for your people's cells and other cool things like Blenders.
- If it doesn't work out the first time, try, try again. I once worked on a crash scene for two hours only to realise that I wasn't videotaping it. So remember what you clicked. If you have a hard time remembering, I suggest writing it down for future reference.
"Hey, what the heck!? I'm getting my audio blocked for copyright issues?" I once said to myself, slapping my forehead. If you're uploading a video on YouTube that has music in the background, make sure that you remember that WMG is stalking your every upload. They're quick to mute and quick to decrease your viewer spectrum because NOBODY LIKES MUTED VIDEOS. Here's some tried and true steps to get your audio back in seconds:
Click Here (YouTube Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mDJ2zjET7A)
If your audio isn't back right away, then wait. If it's not back within 24 hours of your claim, then there's nothing you can really do about it but use *gag* AudioSwap.
Now you're moving up in the business. You've learned most of the tricks that people use and you're one Christmas present away from getting that coveted VideoStudio, Premiere or Vegas. You've bought yourself a $10 microphone and are ready to make a great video with - get this! - VOICES. You know that talkies, as they're called, are the way to go if you want to keep your audience, so here's some tips to keep your viewers with ya for quite some time.
- Don't sit so close to the microphone. If you can hear interference, then you're too close. About a foot, or 30 cm anywhere else, is good.
- Speak loud, but don't yell unless it's part of the script. If you're yelling constantly, then you'll overshadow the other characters.
- Make sure to speak clearly. Stage whisper when it calls for whispering, and when it calls for yelling, don't wake up your parents with a full-blown shout. Talk loud, get slightly closer to the microphone, and put your heart into it.
- When editing audio into music, use the Split tool and blend the two by dragging them together. The same goes for sound effects.
- Make sure that you don't catch the football match or your parents fighting in the background. If the room is quiet, then it's optimal time to do those lines.
Thanks a lot for reading my guide. I hope that these tips produce better videos all around.
Any questions? Contact me at [email protected] or on my YouTube, melissaj2004.