24th
Tips On Creating Your Own Video
If you have never created a video before, please allow me to reassure you that it isn’t magic.
Yes, there are specific steps to follow, specific software to use. But that is the mechanical part of creating a video.
Your video, your special presentation to the world of what moves you, is something that only you can create.
What gives a video life is the inspiration a person brings to it.
First, start out with a great idea. Where do great ideas come from? The answer to that is easy. They come from inside you. They are usually borne out over time. The seed begins it’s life from whatever you find personally appealing. Coupled with that is whatever knowledge and skills you bring with you. Here is what worked for me…
I found the “500 years of Women in Art” video on YouTube to be very inspiring. Why did it inspire me to create my own video? I allowed myself to think I could do it. I tried and failed several times. But eventually, I did it because I knew it was possible.
The “Women in Art” video really touched me. In the very beginning when his video was just starting out I wrote to the producer and exchanged a few notes. This surprised me because I am certain he is very busy and must be even more now that his video is so popular. But seeing he was a human just like me made it all seem within reach. If he could do it, then so could I. That is what I want to impart to you as well.
When I made contact with another person who had done great things with their talents, the notion I could make a video of my own just made sense to me. The confidence came to me because of who I am, what I know and where I have been in life. I had a prior interest in antique art, post cards and old movie posters. I also knew where to find copyright free images on the Internet. I also have extensive experience as an artist, both digitally and as a painterly artist. I also worked for a large manufacturing company in their Information Technology division for many years and knew my way around computers enough to get by. The upshot of all that is I am interested in digital restoration of images, love antique artwork and am able to create my own web page or blog. Tumblr.com made creating the website extra easy. And somehow that all translated into my projects of slide show style videos.
I have never taken a movie in my life. I have never used a camcorder, and not even taken a picture by cell phone. The only camera I own is an old digital Kodak. Yet I am posting videos on YouTube. If I can do it, so can you.
Maybe you do have a camcorder and like to take movies of your children. Build on that. You already have the equipment and skills. You have the interest. Think about what other people want to see. There are many people just like you who go to YouTube or other video services every day. Make a video about motherhood. Make one about crafts for children. Make a spoof on marriage. Anything.
One of the most important things you can do to inspire yourself is to kick around places like YouTube to find out what other people are doing.
They say an artist cannot be creative in a vacuum. After decades as an artist, I can tell you this is absolutely true. You need to witness the artistic expression of others for your own artistic soul to emerge.
Once you decide what to do, figure out how to do it. I use Photoshop 7.0, PhotoImpact and Paint Shop Pro for my graphics needs. I use Windows Movie Maker to create movies. I find open source sites and utilize music of artists who are happy to lend their work to quality videos.
If you really want to create something worthwhile, it will come from within. And you must follow this. It is one of the golden rules. You should always attribute your sources and you should never plagarize or steal another person’s work. Do not violate copyright. You are damaging your own artistic voice when you do, and you are robbing another person of their artistic rewards.
Challenge yourself. Make it happen. The only magic in making videos is the magic of believing in yourself.
Bernie Lee
