The World’s Top Tips for
Pinnacle Studio Video Editing software
(with some Avid Liquid snippets)
HOLLYWOOD FX,
SHOOTING WEDDING VIDEOS
Perhaps one of the most popular uses for a camcorder is shooting family events -
Someone on the Pinnacle webboard asked for a few tips. I posted a few of my own ideas, and the thread quickly grew to become a wealth of invaluable information with contributions from Allen Pilgrim, Haltstad (Harvey) Christodav (Chris), Graham Ellis and Karl Miller. I have amalgamated all that information, edited it, added a few more of my own ideas, and present it here. A word of warning ... I do not claim to be a pro wedding video creator, and some of what follows may well be regarded by the 'pros' as a load of rubbish. However, I have seen what the 'pros' create (for an unbelievable amount of money), and would quite happily put one of my wedding videos up against them any time. I have seen grown men with tears in their eyes watching my wedding videos ... but that could be because they really are that bad!
1. Before you start, STRUCTURE your movie
Plan the video thoroughly well before the big day. It always seems to me that the
actual wedding -
- Intro title. I keep it short and sweet -
even to just something like "The Wedding of Jack and Jill" - all other info, church, reception venue etc, can go at the end.) - Pre-
wedding intro I usually use one of two techniques. Either a series of still photos of the bride and groom to be, from birth through to the current day, put together in any of a variety of transition/overlay techniques and lasting probably no more than 4 minutes OR, using two camcorders (lucky me) I arrange for the bride to be videoed getting ready -with bridesmaids, perhaps - Ask the couple themselves if they have any preferences (not only for this music, but for any other to be included in the video). It is their day -having breakfast, having her hair done, finishing touches to the dress fitting, flowers arriving at the house etc., and similarly, video the groom getting ready. This can be used to create an amusing opening sequence when editing - men usually get ready much quicker, and inter- cutting from one to the other you can have the groom and best man pottering around before actually dressing while the bride and bridesmaids are busy having their hair done, being made up. Plan to video the bride going to the church - and the groom of course. Timing wise, you should show him at the church and 'almost ready' when the bride leaves for the church.
Another technique for the pre-wedding intro would be to show the various 'places' of importance - church, grounds, reception area, empty and prior to any wedding activity.
Whatever intro you use -one of these or your own idea - choose appropriate background music. use their song/tune. - The Wedding I invariably use the technique of putting one camcorder in position inside
the church, 'locked off' on a tripod and aiming at the church entrance. I use it
to video bursts of about 30 seconds at intervals of about five minutes from the church
being empty, the groom getting into position, and the church being full. I edit this
into about 30 seconds -
trimming each down and using dissolves from one to the other, so the church is seen to gradually 'dissolve' from an empty to full congregation. Arrange if possible for at least two camcorders to video the ceremony and the congregation. It is also useful, before the wedding day itself, to shoot various points of interest in the church - Don't forget the registry signing -stain glass windows, for example - for insert edits during the ceremony process. - The Photographs No doubt pro photographers will be taking pictures.You'll want some
shots of this too, but keep out of the pro's way -
they won't thank you for interfering with their job. But ask them if they mind you shooting some video of the poses they arrange from somewhere out of the way. I find it interesting to video some moments of the photographer 'posing' the bride and groom, and shooting the stills, as well as the 'posed' shots. - The Reception This is where I use the most tape. Again, video people arriving -
I always video all the guests meeting the bride and groom. Doesn't sound interesting ... but it is to them, and will be in the years to come. You'll probably need some background music here, of their choice. - The Meal (or buffet) I shoot some of this, but usually have only snippets in the
final video -
to show how good the spread was, people enjoying their food/wine etc. - The Cake You need some shots of the cake being cut. However, this is invariably
a heavily posed job, with everyone taking pictures, so try to think of an angle to
make it a bit different. I have morphing software, and for the next wedding (in July),
I plan to morph from the couple standing in the right position and pose (which they
have agreed to do) to the 'model' of a couple on the cake, immediately prior to it
being cut (pan down from the 'model' to the knife, then pull back to show them cutting
the cake, hopefully without all the flashes!. It may work, it may look utterly crappy,
but it needs to be thought out before, not afterwards -
when it definitely wouldn't work!. - The Speeches This is a MUST. Again, two camcorders are ideal if you can do it. One
to stay on the speaker (don't miss one word! -
you can always edit afterwards if necessary ), the other to get guest reactions. You'll be able to inter-cut the two. MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH TAPE IN THE CAMCORDER TO RECORD THE WHOLE SPEECH, changing the tape before hand, if necessary. There are NO PRIZES for losing the punch line of the best man's best joke... - The 'party' or dance, or whatever. This is where I usually relax a bit -
for me, a few 'snippets' from the 'evening' reception are all that's required - Essential -enough to give about 5 minutes worth of the flavour of it all. the bride and groom's 'first dance'. One very worthy suggestion made on the web board is to go round asking the guests a question (and videoing the answer) such as "What advice do you have for Jack and Jill'. I shall try that for my next wedding video -should produce a mixture of amusing and serious answers, which can be edited the way you want, of course. - The 'departure' Important to video the couple driving away -
it is the end of the movie. That's where I put the first 'end' title - "The beginning", which dissolves away into ...I usually use the words - The Credits This is where I really enjoy myself. The result never fails to amuse
etc (I have even been asked on occasion, in fact, for a copy of 'just the credits'.
This is where all the details of the wedding are provided -
the date, church, vicar, hymn list, reception venue, guest list, caterers, background music used etc etc etc. There is always something amusing that happens that can be added as a credit (one recent wedding reception had a power failure for two hours which upset proceedings and got a few people's dander up ... I had a credit where the screen suddenly cut to a totally black background with the words 'POWER FAILURE BY SOUTHERN ELECTRIC', in one line of white, dissolving on and off. Brought the house down at every viewing). All these credits etc are overlaid over out-takes and special and amusing moments from the rest of the day. This is where you can 'drop' in' the more amusing/poignant/interesting advice videoed in answer to the question asked at the reception. I also invariably use the piece of music 'Oh what a perfect day', and finish the whole video with a shot of the couple kissing in a vignetted backdrop, and the word 'Oh what a perfect day' dissolving onto the screen in time with the last words of the song. However, I have to say that I do these movies for free for family and friends, for their own (obviously) personal viewing. On the few occasions I've made a wedding video for 'outsiders', and charged for it, I warn them that it may be necessary for me to pay performing rights royalties for copyrighted material if they want it used. Frankly, it is (for an amateur) a pain to get into that ball game, and I prefer to use royalty free music in those circumstances.
2. Before you start, PLAN the day's shoot
OK. You worked out the structure your movie is going to have. Now you can start examining the logistics. Here are some points to ponder..
- If you need two camcorders -
or more... Who can you call upon to help. What format are the other camcorders. Are they compatible/usable with your own, or your editing system. How many tapes will you need. Not enough, get some more in case. How many batteries will you need. Plan for when they need to be charged/recharged during the day. How?. Where? Have you got all the equipment you need ... tripods, extra lapel mics maybe. Do they work properly ... find out before the day. - Does the vicar/priest know you wish to video? Check it out -
and was extremely helpful regarding camcorder positions etc, even turning the couple round to face the congregation during the vows, so everyone could all watch and video, if they wanted, while he faced the altar. What a difference!). If you have only one camcorder, work out at which points during the ceremony you can (silently) move positions to get a different viewpoint -if allowed, of course. Don't leave it to chance on the day - Discuss your plans with the 'pro' stills photographer before the big day, if possible, but certainly before he starts doing his job. Don't make him an enemy. Work with him, and listen to what he asks. The last thing you'll want is trouble. The bride won't thank you.
- Discuss your movie plans with the couple themselves. Ask for their choice of music, and for their input on your plans. The bride may ask you to video things you hadn't considered ('don't forget to get some nice shots of Granny')'. It is their day, will be their video, hopefully to be treasured for many, many years to come ... and shown again on their diamond wedding anniversary, maybe!
- Check out the reception. Check where will be the best place to cover the speeches, and so on.
When the big day comes, don't be too anxious! (One reason why I don't like doing Wedding videos for money ... if it goes wrong ... disaster ... help!!). Here are some tips ...
- Much as the couple -
and others - rarely and slowly, and don't go backward and forwards like a saw. Use your zoom to frame the picture before shooting. You'll be far happier with the result. Trust me!).will hopefully love the movie you make, they won't thank you for getting in the way all the time. Be as inconspicuous as you can, and not in people's faces. You will want to get people's reactions and expressions ... use your zoom. (Incidentally, don't use your zoom whilst actually shooting - or, if you do, do it - WATCH THE LIGHTING, Churches and reception areas are notoriously badly lit places
for videoing. Be careful of 'backlighting' -
through church windows, for example - which can fool exposure systems if you don't make the proper allowances, so that the window is bright and the couple appear too dark. - WATCH THE SOUND. You'll be surprised how good your camcorder is at picking up extraneous
sounds that you don't want (those shuffling feet and coughs) and dismayed at how
what you could hear ok and thought was being well recorded (the vows, for example)
in fact, is quite muffled or 'distant''. Be particularly aware of sound levels at
the evening reception -
where a band or disco could easily drown out any conversations you want to record. In these circumstances, use an external microphone if possible. - WATCH YOUR CAMCORDER and equipment. Don't leave it around unguarded. My Dad was a
professional Press Photographer, and occasionally did weddings as a favour for family
and friends. He had expensive camera equipment stolen at the church during a family
wedding.... We are pretty certain it was an 'outsider', an opportunist who came in
to view the occasion, and saw the stuff sitting around unattended. Don't be complacent
because the family and friends are there -
they're watching the wedding first, your equipment last. - Remember that it is the Bride's day. She is the star. But don't miss out on the Groom. He should be seen to be supportive as well as a 'leading player'.
- WATCH OUT FOR THE AMUSING... try to catch people's expressions when they are unawares.
Watch for -
and capture if possible - the amusing incidents. They make excellent material for that end- credit sequence. - Shoot each shot/scene early, and stop shooting late. You can always trim scenes (and will need to), but you cannot make them any longer when you come to the edit. (That's why you should have more tape cassettes available than you thought you'd need...)
This is where the fun starts ... and where your creative and editing skills come
to the fore. Other pages on this site will give you ideas of various techniques you
can use. For example, make the movie in sections -
- Watch all of the recording(s) through several times before deciding on your edit.
- Don't rush the edit. It's better to come up with a top notch movie than a quickly put together video.
- Don't litter the movie with a myriad different transitions. Use straight cuts where
events occur within the same short time span (a speech for example -
cut from the speaker to a guests reaction). Very fast dissolves (one third of a second) can be useful to 'soften' hard cuts. Use a longer dissolve (or suitable transition) of 1 to 1.5 seconds to link events separated by a short lapse in time - such as between the end of the guests meeting the bride and groom at the reception, and the bride and groom entering the dining hall for the meal. Use a fade to/from black or a dissolve to/from a title screen to separate the different phases or sections of your movie. If you have the software (Ulead or Adobe), it may be worth considering 3d transitions - the peeling page, for example - to separate the 'sections'. It's my opinion that a transition should indicate to the viewer a part of the 'story', and not be used 'because its available' as is so often the case. The clock wipe, for example, will indicate the passage of time - from, say, the photographs being taken, to people arriving at the reception. Similarly, the peeling page says ... 'here is the next part of the story'. I allow myself ONE 'heart' transition, at a suitable point in a wedding video. And haven't always used that if there isn't a suitable point for it. Using it just once at a crucial point gives greater visual impact and makes the scene change more memorable and 'important' than using it repeatedly. That's my opinion. You may think otherwise. - For me, the hardest part to edit is the ceremony itself. The couple will want it all in. That means judicious trims and cuts. Example ... if hymns are sung which have, say 4 or 5 verses, I usually manage a careful cut between the 1st and last verse. If you have used two camcorders, the singing congregation is a good place for insert edits as well. Watch the sound joins if using the video and sound from both camcorders.
- If using CD music, rip it into a wav file first (and edit the file if you wish). For example, a piece of music that spans people both inside and outside a reception area (say) could be given the appropriate 'ambience/echo effect' with a sound editor such as CoolEdit200. But don't overdo it.
- Don't kill all background sounds behind added music/song tracks.
- Remember you can add sound effects. A bird singing or a cockerel crowing over (for
example) opening shots of the church can 'bring it to life'. I always try to video
the bell ringers at work ringing the wedding bells (if and when) -
if only to use the sounds over other parts of the movie. - How long should the movie be? As long as a girl's skirt .... long enough to cover the subject properly, short enough to maintain the interest. A well made wedding video carries the audience through to the end without desires or requests to 'fast forward this bit'. And, most important, make sure everyone at the wedding is shown in the movie at least once. Relatives will be aggrieved to find they're not in the video even though they were there. If you are selling your work, people who don't appear will not be buyers.
- Presentation is everything ... seriously consider a special tape box -
of your own graphic design using a still or two grabbed from the movie perhaps. Keep it simple, elegant and 'classy', not crude and brash. It'll look like a quality video before they even put it in the player. (Glossy cards that can be printed on and made into VHS cases are available from a number of sources ... I use NEATO, but there are others). If you're making a DVD of the movie, consider one of the inkjet printers that can print directly onto the surface of (printable) DVDs.
Let me stress that, for the most part, these are my own techniques and ideas -
Finally ... enjoy it all. Make it fun. And if you do it for a profit or a living... make sure you make it work!
My thanks to Allen Pilgrim, Haltstad (Harvey) Christodav (Chris), Graham Ellis and Karl Miller whose ideas I have incorporated, with my own, in this article