Lights, Camera, Action...

May 5, 2006 12:07 PM

I need advice on making an instructional dvd.

We have self-published a book on making knotted jewelry that we would like to turn into an instructional video on dvd. I want to create it myself, using a digital video camera and my handy iMovie program. 99.9% of the movie will be a close-up of two hands knotting thread along with dialog. I’d like to know the following:

1. What is the best digital video camera to buy for this that’s around 500 bucks.
2. Recommendations on how to use that camera to record a quality video (especially how to shoot looking down on hands knotting).
3. Other equipment I may need (such as a microphone, lighting).
4. Companies that will reproduce our dvd along with case and cover art (I’m not interested in POD sales like Cafepress).
5. Any off or online resources, tips, warnings, experiences or other useful info.

posted by jabo to media & arts (5 comments total)

1. I don't know much about the $500 market, but it sounds like you definitely need to find one with a macro lens (which allows you to focus close to the camera). Canon and Sony are pretty safe bets. Make sure iMovie supports the camera you get.
2. Use a neutral background - not white, something midtone which will show off the colour of the material you are working with. Use a tripod to position the camera over your hands. Learn about white balance Don't mix light sources (daylight & lightbulbs etc). Knotted jewelry sounds intricate and I would shoot each sequence at least twice - once in wide shot of the hands , and one in extreme close up of knotting detail - you can cut between the two in the edit.
3. Tripod. Depends what you want to do with sound as to whether you need a mic. If you have no experience of lighting, I'd stick with non-direct daylight.
4. I'm not in the States.
5. I just found it when I googled white balance for you but this site looks like it might help you.
posted by gravelshoes at 1:54 PM on May 5, 2006

Just some general points:

I make instructional videos for inside training at my work, and while not an expert (it's a very small part of my job), I did find that getting a decent mic made a huge difference. Also get a pop filter and comfortable stand. This condenser USB mic is what I have.

Consider the voice over work as a seperate step then the visual work. IE: record what you want to show, and then edit in sound afterwards. You'll end up with a more consistent result. If you try to do it all once, you'll take a hundred shots to get everything right and tight.

The introductory part of the video, or any interludes or interviews -- you might want a clip-on mic for that.

Consider that if you want a polished product, you'll need to spend the vast majority of your time in setting things up and editing afterwards. There's a reason it takes 6 months to shot a 2 hour movie

To start a project off, I usually start recording, and talk to myself while going through the whole process. This is a trial run, to make sure I understand all the steps that are involved. Afterwards I watch that, and block out what individual steps I need to show, and write up some notes on the voice over stuff.

Since there is so much time spent in preperation, you should take multiple shots once you are set up. I usually do three or four, from each of two different angles. Later on in editing, all you need is to save yourself once to make it all worth while. Setting up again will be just like shooting over from scratch.

Make sure to review footage from your shots before moving on to shot another, every time.

Like I said, I only spend a couple days a month doing this sort of thing, so take my advice not as an expert.
posted by voidcontext at 2:11 PM on May 5, 2006

I will have a similar project coming up in the next month or so. Can someone recommend a camera in the $500-1000 range? I'd love to get a GL-1 or 2--or something similar--but there's no way I can justify a purchase that large.
posted by Tacodog at 11:00 PM on May 5, 2006

As it's not for broadcast nor likely to be seen by a huge number I wouldn't get too hung up on the picture quality of your camera - you'll do fine with whatever you buy for $500.

Instead concentrate on these things:
1> Get decent sound. if you're recording it as you shoot listen to the audio through head-phones.
2> Use a tripod and easy on the zoom buddy [my advice: don't use it]
3> Block out all daylight, set up your lights [house-hold lamps etc are fine] do a white balance. Don't change anything until you finish shooting.
4> Get to grips with shot-sizes. What does and doesn't cut together.
5> Don't use any effects in editing - page wipe, morph etc
6> Make your graphics really clean and simple. A 10 frame dissolve on and off is pretty standard.

And good luck.
posted by meech at 4:42 AM on May 6, 2006

Some links:
Bill Myers. His site looks like (is?) a huge get-rich-quick marketing scam, but despite that there are a lot of very interesting articles, tips, reviews and a good forum hidden in there that IMO make a 3-month subscription definitely worth $25 for a video beginner.

This blog is pretty useful; has some equipment suggestions.

Bookmark the relevant Apple help forums and search them.

Google up Creative Cow, DMN, 2-pop for more good DV forums.

Some personal-experience suggestions:
Learn how to set your camera’s exposure to Manual, not Auto, and to adjust it on the fly, so it doesn’t change every time you look at something with a different value, or simply swing your arm across the frame.

Take lots of clean, sharp still pix with a digital still camera of anything and everything you use or refer to, and cut to them whenever you’re talking about them, rather than zooming in or just letting your narration roll on. Talking-head and paused-action video is a BORE.

Consider including an html or pdf file on the DVD if you’ve got any patterns, links, references, or any other text/graphics you want to share.

DON’T use the in-camera microphone; pick up a lavalier microphone if your camera will accept a mic, and DEFINITELY get some audio editing software with noise-reduction tools (Bias Peak LE plus Sound Soap LE, or Apple Soundtrack Pro, my preference), then learn how to extract the audio from your video in iMovie so you can clean it up and edit it separately.

Get a manicure with clear nail polish, remove jewelry, avoid black or white backgrounds or materials, and use bounced light to soften shadows.

Have fun, and act naturally!
posted by dpcoffin at 10:42 AM on May 6, 2006