Tips for Filming and Editing Porn - GoFuckYourself.com

SamuraiBarbi · 09-03-2009, 04:06 PM

Hey guys and gals, as someone trying to break into filming/editing porn I've got several questions regarding the topic of filming and editing:

Do you have any tips for someone starting out that will be handling the shooting and/or editing of adult videos?

I started working in Sony Vegas several weeks ago, is there any video editing software that you've come to prefer working with?

What type of equipment would you recommend? I've got a $2000 - $3000 camcorder budget. Are there any handheld camcorders you've worked with that you found were particularly good for HD video? Should I bother with lighting equipment or boom mikes right now?

Were there any mistakes that you made when you first started filming or editing that you feel could have been easily avoided in hindsight? Like, what do you think are common mistakes that people starting out in adult filming/production or editing make?

How long does it usually take you to film a scene? Do hardcore scenes take significantly longer to shoot than masturbation/solo scenes?

Thanks in advance for any responses. Hopefully this thread will prove to be very useful to other film/editing noobs like myself.

J. Falcon · 09-03-2009, 06:40 PM

Bump for the content guys.

SamuraiBarbi · 09-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Someone on here has something useful to contribute to this thread, stop hiding, haha.

$5 submissions · 09-03-2009, 10:21 PM

Bump to help a fellow webmaster

stickyfingerz · 09-03-2009, 10:31 PM

Hey guys and gals, as someone trying to break into filming/editing porn I've got several questions regarding the topic of filming and editing:

Do you have any tips for someone starting out that will be handling the shooting and/or editing of adult videos?

I started working in Sony Vegas several weeks ago, is there any video editing software that you've come to prefer working with?

Most any of the NLE programs will work. The only thing is if you do intend to edit HD make sure the program you use will handle HD. For what you use its really what you are most comfortable.

What type of equipment would you recommend? I've got a $2000 - $3000 camcorder budget. Are there any handheld camcorders you've worked with that you found were particularly good for HD video? Should I bother with lighting equipment or boom mikes right now?

There are tons of choices there. Personally I prefer Canon for Video. Look for an xha1 depending on what options you get with it, it can be right around the 3k mark and well worth it. On lighting YES if you plan on shooting HD lighting is very much a key ingredient.

Boom mikes you can get away with out depending on type of scene you are shooting, and what camera you end up with. The xha1 is going to do pretty well even without a boom mic as long as you aren't a long distance from the dialog.

Were there any mistakes that you made when you first started filming or editing that you feel could have been easily avoided in hindsight? Like, what do you think are common mistakes that people starting out in adult filming/production or editing make?

If you can afford it get the equipment you really need and don't buy cheap just to get started. Im not saying that someone can't make great porn with cheaper equipment, but while it seems like you are going to save money doing that, you'll feel the urge to upgrade a lot quicker than you think.

How long does it usually take you to film a scene? Do hardcore scenes take significantly longer to shoot than masturbation/solo scenes?

Yes of course, with hardcore you are dealing with a possibly floppy cock, him not be able to cum, etc etc. Just the fact you have more than one person is going to slow things down unless you are working with people that shoot all the time.

Thanks in advance for any responses. Hopefully this thread will prove to be very useful to other film/editing noobs like myself.

Always glad to help someone out. Ill also talk to you in the morning about your email.

JustDaveXxx · 09-03-2009, 10:45 PM

you need to be more specific dude. What you are asking is; how can i make money shooting porn. If you have specific questions, i got answers, but your question is to general and would take pages to answer.

1st, you need to buy and editing book.

2nd, you need to buy a shit load of porn and watch it with a stop watch.(something you like)

3rd, you need to time every shot in every scene abd see how long the shots are being held. You will start to see a pattern.

4th, you need to time how long every position is held.

5th, you need to learn what the positions are and count how many are used per scene.

6th, you need to buy a lighting book and learn how to light before you actually do 1,2,3,4, and 5.

7th, I can do this all day long for 10 pages do you really thing its right for someone else to do all of you research and work for you?

I highly recommend you find someone who is good and work for them for free for a year or 2. So you can learn hands on. Thats what i did. I put my time in with 2 directors, 2 different photographers and read 80+ books on, lighting for video, lighting for stills, strobe lighting, editing video, organizing video systems, editing photos, CS2, CS3, CS4, ETC.

Not trying to be a dick, but is it fair for someone to post a how to book for shooting content when it is so obvious you haven't done any research??

If you ever have 1 or 2 questions to help you out, im down, so is everyone else, but to do all of the research for you is lame.

Good luck with learning what you need to learn

Jim_Gunn · 09-03-2009, 11:04 PM

The answers to such broad questions could be comprised of hundreds of thousands of words. Dave's advice was good about putting your hands-on time in as well as reading.

grumpy · 09-04-2009, 01:00 AM

cut out the male talents as much as possible

SamuraiBarbi · 09-04-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDaveXxx

you need to be more specific dude. What you are asking is; how can i make money shooting porn. If you have specific questions, i got answers, but your question is to general and would take pages to answer.

1st, you need to buy and editing book.

2nd, you need to buy a shit load of porn and watch it with a stop watch.(something you like)

3rd, you need to time every shot in every scene abd see how long the shots are being held. You will start to see a pattern.

4th, you need to time how long every position is held.

5th, you need to learn what the positions are and count how many are used per scene.

6th, you need to buy a lighting book and learn how to light before you actually do 1,2,3,4, and 5.

7th, I can do this all day long for 10 pages do you really thing its right for someone else to do all of you research and work for you?

I highly recommend you find someone who is good and work for them for free for a year or 2. So you can learn hands on. Thats what i did. I put my time in with 2 directors, 2 different photographers and read 80+ books on, lighting for video, lighting for stills, strobe lighting, editing video, organizing video systems, editing photos, CS2, CS3, CS4, ETC.

Not trying to be a dick, but is it fair for someone to post a how to book for shooting content when it is so obvious you haven't done any research??

If you ever have 1 or 2 questions to help you out, im down, so is everyone else, but to do all of the research for you is lame.

Good luck with learning what you need to learn

I've been doing research for the better part of several months. I don't expect you to do my homework for me. Don't presume to know how much or how little research I've done. The purpose of the thread is to get the experienced opinions and the do's and don't's of people that are currently knee deep in the industry, to either validate or completely debunk any book smarts I've acquired and to try and learn from other peoples mistakes. Even a simple comment like 'from my experience, <this or that> is poor quality' or 'don't bother with <whatever>, it's total rubbish to work with' is useful because then an individual has the opportunity to investigate what either made the statement true or why it's false.

<sarcasm>But damn, that's right, I must not have done any research because I'm here asking for your opinions. God knows everything I've ever read in a book just worked 100% of the time exactly the way they said it would. Why even bother asking anyone what their experiences were with certain mixes of equipment or certain types of software.</sarcasm>

Thanks for the useful info that you were kind enough to post. I'm sure it will help anyone that reads through the thread that hasn't done their research.

Major (Tom) · 09-04-2009, 01:09 AM

i can some it up with one word

PRACTICE
Duke

JustDaveXxx · 09-04-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamuraiBarbi

I've been doing research for the better part of several months. I don't expect you to do my homework for me. Don't presume to know how much or how little research I've done. The purpose of the thread is to get the experienced opinions and the do's and don't's of people that are currently knee deep in the industry, to either validate or completely debunk any book smarts I've acquired and to try and learn from other peoples mistakes. Even a simple comment like 'from my experience, <this or that> is poor quality' or 'don't bother with <whatever>, it's total rubbish to work with' is useful because then an individual has the opportunity to investigate what either made the statement true or why it's false.

<sarcasm>But damn, that's right, I must not have done any research because I'm here asking for your opinions. God knows everything I've ever read in a book just worked 100% of the time exactly the way they said it would. Why even bother asking anyone what their experiences were with certain mixes of equipment or certain types of software.</sarcasm>

Thanks for the useful info that you were kind enough to post. I'm sure it will help anyone that reads through the thread that hasn't done their research.

All of the books i listed above and skills i got from reading them really gave me a serious edge over a lot of my competition. The cool thing about this board, i have become pretty good friends with a lot of my competition.

Everything i learned from reading i tried out on set. You need to just do it, then bring the questions on one or two particular aspects of your shoot to the boards. People will definitely point out in the right direction.

Everything i posted earlier will definitely give you a start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeSkywalker

i can some it up with one word

PRACTICE
Duke

Very good advice.

PornMD · 09-04-2009, 01:51 AM

Shoot it with your cell phone (quality shmality) and keep it on the guy's face or ass the whole time (make sure he has a hairy ass...even paste some hair on it if he doesn't). Tune out whatever moans and groans the girl makes and never focus on her face, boobs or pussy because we've all seen all that stuff already. Definitely make sure to focus on his face when he's cumming because that's really what everyone wants to see.

That's money right there...while everyone zigs you'll be zagging.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

bronco67 · 09-04-2009, 05:53 AM

Crawl back into the womb, and be reborn as Jules Jordan.

CIVMatt · 09-04-2009, 06:41 AM

Lighting

Lighting

Lighting

Ignore everything else until you can light a scene

JustDaveXxx · 09-04-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIVMatt

Lighting

Lighting

Lighting

Ignore everything else until you can light a scene

So true and so right!!!

fusionx · 09-04-2009, 11:50 AM

1. Buy the most expensive, feature rich camera you can find. Throw away the manuals. You don't really need them.
2. Buy all the accessories.
3. Get a good ball-cap with the camera brand on it. It makes you look professional.
4. Don't waste money on lighting. Your house has lights, right? Pick up some flashlights for spot-fill.
5. Find a nice crack whore and bring her to your house. You don't need a studio. Houses make the model more comfortable.
6. Have the crack-whore do her own makeup. She knows her face better than you do.
7. Put her in your bedroom. It will look natural.
8. Kneel down, twist your body in odd positions, and zoom in a lot. Say things like "yeah, yeah, that's it baby, you're a star!". It makes her feel good and makes you seem professional.
9. Tell her she's so hot, you are getting horny, and it's interfering with the "creation of the art". Tell her she needs to give you head so you can get that behind you and continue the creative process. Shoot a lot of video from all angles. Use those flashlights to change the mood.
10. Go buy the most expensive laptop video editing platform you can find. Throw away the manuals. You won't need them.
11. Export your video at the highest possible resolution you can. Don't bother editing, just export it.
12. Link it up on GFY in a downloadble format. Don't bother with streaming. You don't need it.
13. Make money!

DWB · 09-04-2009, 02:29 PM

The other guys pretty much said it all so I won't waste your time. Though, I will tell you about when I was getting started.

I was at Randy West's house, he was checking out a female friend of mine to shoot for a DVD, and I was picking his brain on the best way to shoot. He quietly listened to everything I said, didn't interrupt, and waiting for me to stop yapping. When I stopped, he said, "Shoot what you like to jack off too, your audience will find you."

He side stepped all my tech questions and for a few seconds it didn't sink in what he had said. Then it hit and it all made sense. His scenes were not the best lit, the best shot or shot in HD, however, they were shit fucking hot with incredible girls who loved to fuck. That's what he liked to shoot, hot chicks who love to fuck, and because he shot what he loved, it turned out great regardless of his lighting or camera work. A hot scene is a hot scene, no matter how it's shot, though I will admit, it is easy on the eyes when shot and lit well. I was so caught up in HOW to shoot it, I forgot that the most important part is to film GOOD SEX. And if I don't like what I shoot, how could anyone else?

He went on to ask me what I personally liked, I told him, and he said shoot THAT. Don't worry about anything else, just shoot what turns ME on. So I did and I've made an incredible living doing it. The few times I've strayed from what I like and shot what others like, it didn't sell as well. When I shoot what I love, I make bank.

With all of that said, I've made the most money to date with content that was shot in cheap hotel rooms, with a bootleg light kit, a 2nd hand Canon GL2, a small 4MP photo cam, a few horny friends and real life Asian street hookers. Edited on Windows Movie Maker. Not in HD, not with Kinoflos, not with known porn stars, not at expensive locations, not with a crew, not with photo strobes, and not in a studio. Those toys have their place, and I have them now too, but my point is, you can make money without them.

Focus on what gets you off and on hot sex / scenes. Everything else will fall in line with practice. Though, I will give you one tip, and I think Dave agrees with me, spend the money on the best male talent you can afford. He will probably make or break the scene. A lame guy is a scene killer.

DWB · 09-04-2009, 02:31 PM

Though, it may help to know what your goal is. Do you want to make a living or do you want to be the next AVN award winner? It's not always the same road.

Riffhard · 09-04-2009, 08:53 PM

I'm a 20 year old college student so I'm on a really tight budget. I got myself a used Canon HV20 and equipped it with a wide-angle lens, a shotgun mic, and a steady cam all for less than $700. It works well for the type of stuff I shoot and it films in HD as well. I started out using work lights but have since upgraded to a professional set. Lighting is by far the most important thing when it comes to filming. I edit using Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate. It's a very user friendly program. Here's a sample of mine. I only did cuts and transitions; no color correction:

But like someone said above me, I'm already feeling the urge to upgrade my equipment.

SamuraiBarbi · 09-04-2009, 11:55 PM

Great info guys! ( for those with serious posts ). LOL at those funny posts

fusionx, that really should have been:
Step 1) Buy camcorder
Step 2) Get girl
Step 3) ?????
Step 4) Profit!!!

I definitely appreciate those willing to respond point for point to the questions or post their stories about how they got started. Keep em coming guys, anything and everything you'd like to share is helpful.

As for my goal, I'd say to make a living doing something that I enjoy and that stimulates my creativity. For me, ( and it's probably going to sound weird ) filming and editing scenes feels like a kind of art. I like to think of creative ways of capturing the beauty, the intensity, the rawness of a scene, and concentrating it into something that captivates a viewer. If I can accomplish that and manage to make a living doing it then I've achieved my goal.

09-03-2009, 04:06 PM	#1
SamuraiBarbi Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 11	Tips for Filming and Editing Porn Hey guys and gals, as someone trying to break into filming/editing porn I've got several questions regarding the topic of filming and editing: Do you have any tips for someone starting out that will be handling the shooting and/or editing of adult videos? I started working in Sony Vegas several weeks ago, is there any video editing software that you've come to prefer working with? What type of equipment would you recommend? I've got a $2000 - $3000 camcorder budget. Are there any handheld camcorders you've worked with that you found were particularly good for HD video? Should I bother with lighting equipment or boom mikes right now? Were there any mistakes that you made when you first started filming or editing that you feel could have been easily avoided in hindsight? Like, what do you think are common mistakes that people starting out in adult filming/production or editing make? How long does it usually take you to film a scene? Do hardcore scenes take significantly longer to shoot than masturbation/solo scenes? Thanks in advance for any responses. Hopefully this thread will prove to be very useful to other film/editing noobs like myself.

09-03-2009, 06:40 PM	#2
J. Falcon www.AdultCopywriters.com Industry Role: Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 31,607	Bump for the content guys. __________________ Adult Copywriters SEO Content for Porn Sites sales at adultcopywriters dot com

09-03-2009, 10:21 PM	#4
$5 submissions I help you SUCCEED Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Pearl of the Orient Seas Posts: 32,195	Bump to help a fellow webmaster __________________ Need a NON-ADULT income stream? We build your YOUTUBE CHANNEL for only $20 per video! For Hire: $3/hour or $400 per month Marketing Specialist Virtual Assistants

09-03-2009, 10:45 PM	#6
JustDaveXxx I AM JUSTDAVE ! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: LA Posts: 4,111	you need to be more specific dude. What you are asking is; how can i make money shooting porn. If you have specific questions, i got answers, but your question is to general and would take pages to answer. 1st, you need to buy and editing book. 2nd, you need to buy a shit load of porn and watch it with a stop watch.(something you like) 3rd, you need to time every shot in every scene abd see how long the shots are being held. You will start to see a pattern. 4th, you need to time how long every position is held. 5th, you need to learn what the positions are and count how many are used per scene. 6th, you need to buy a lighting book and learn how to light before you actually do 1,2,3,4, and 5. 7th, I can do this all day long for 10 pages do you really thing its right for someone else to do all of you research and work for you? I highly recommend you find someone who is good and work for them for free for a year or 2. So you can learn hands on. Thats what i did. I put my time in with 2 directors, 2 different photographers and read 80+ books on, lighting for video, lighting for stills, strobe lighting, editing video, organizing video systems, editing photos, CS2, CS3, CS4, ETC. Not trying to be a dick, but is it fair for someone to post a how to book for shooting content when it is so obvious you haven't done any research?? If you ever have 1 or 2 questions to help you out, im down, so is everyone else, but to do all of the research for you is lame. Good luck with learning what you need to learn __________________ Smut Peddler Productions.com ICQ #378-696-435 / / Skype: JustDaveXxx "We shoot custom, exclusive content your way" Last edited by JustDaveXxx; 09-03-2009 at 10:49 PM..

09-04-2009, 01:00 AM	#8
grumpy Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Holland Posts: 9,870	cut out the male talents as much as possible __________________ Don't let greediness blur your vision \| You gotta let some shit slide icq - 441-456-888

09-03-2009, 09:55 PM	#3
SamuraiBarbi Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 11	Someone on here has something useful to contribute to this thread, stop hiding, haha.

09-03-2009, 10:31 PM	#5
stickyfingerz Doin fine Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 24,983	Hey guys and gals, as someone trying to break into filming/editing porn I've got several questions regarding the topic of filming and editing: Do you have any tips for someone starting out that will be handling the shooting and/or editing of adult videos? I started working in Sony Vegas several weeks ago, is there any video editing software that you've come to prefer working with? Most any of the NLE programs will work. The only thing is if you do intend to edit HD make sure the program you use will handle HD. For what you use its really what you are most comfortable. What type of equipment would you recommend? I've got a $2000 - $3000 camcorder budget. Are there any handheld camcorders you've worked with that you found were particularly good for HD video? Should I bother with lighting equipment or boom mikes right now? There are tons of choices there. Personally I prefer Canon for Video. Look for an xha1 depending on what options you get with it, it can be right around the 3k mark and well worth it. On lighting YES if you plan on shooting HD lighting is very much a key ingredient. Boom mikes you can get away with out depending on type of scene you are shooting, and what camera you end up with. The xha1 is going to do pretty well even without a boom mic as long as you aren't a long distance from the dialog. Were there any mistakes that you made when you first started filming or editing that you feel could have been easily avoided in hindsight? Like, what do you think are common mistakes that people starting out in adult filming/production or editing make? If you can afford it get the equipment you really need and don't buy cheap just to get started. Im not saying that someone can't make great porn with cheaper equipment, but while it seems like you are going to save money doing that, you'll feel the urge to upgrade a lot quicker than you think. How long does it usually take you to film a scene? Do hardcore scenes take significantly longer to shoot than masturbation/solo scenes? Yes of course, with hardcore you are dealing with a possibly floppy cock, him not be able to cum, etc etc. Just the fact you have more than one person is going to slow things down unless you are working with people that shoot all the time. Thanks in advance for any responses. Hopefully this thread will prove to be very useful to other film/editing noobs like myself. Always glad to help someone out. Ill also talk to you in the morning about your email.

09-03-2009, 11:04 PM	#7
Jim_Gunn Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Where The Teens Are Posts: 5,702	The answers to such broad questions could be comprised of hundreds of thousands of words. Dave's advice was good about putting your hands-on time in as well as reading.

09-04-2009, 01:09 AM	#10
Major (Tom) Noticing Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Null Posts: 29,922	i can some it up with one word PRACTICE Duke __________________ My mother said, to get things done You'd better not mess with Major Tom

09-04-2009, 01:51 AM	#12
PornMD Mainstream Businessman Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 9,291	Shoot it with your cell phone (quality shmality) and keep it on the guy's face or ass the whole time (make sure he has a hairy ass...even paste some hair on it if he doesn't). Tune out whatever moans and groans the girl makes and never focus on her face, boobs or pussy because we've all seen all that stuff already. Definitely make sure to focus on his face when he's cumming because that's really what everyone wants to see. That's money right there...while everyone zigs you'll be zagging. Sorry, couldn't resist. __________________ Want to crush it in mainstream with Facebook ads? Hit me up.

09-04-2009, 05:53 AM	#13
bronco67 Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 29,032	Crawl back into the womb, and be reborn as Jules Jordan. __________________

09-04-2009, 06:41 AM	#14
CIVMatt Amateur Pimpin Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 13,075	Lighting Lighting Lighting Ignore everything else until you can light a scene __________________ Make easy money with Webcams

09-04-2009, 11:50 AM	#16
fusionx Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Olongapo City, Philippines Posts: 4,618	1. Buy the most expensive, feature rich camera you can find. Throw away the manuals. You don't really need them. 2. Buy all the accessories. 3. Get a good ball-cap with the camera brand on it. It makes you look professional. 4. Don't waste money on lighting. Your house has lights, right? Pick up some flashlights for spot-fill. 5. Find a nice crack whore and bring her to your house. You don't need a studio. Houses make the model more comfortable. 6. Have the crack-whore do her own makeup. She knows her face better than you do. 7. Put her in your bedroom. It will look natural. 8. Kneel down, twist your body in odd positions, and zoom in a lot. Say things like "yeah, yeah, that's it baby, you're a star!". It makes her feel good and makes you seem professional. 9. Tell her she's so hot, you are getting horny, and it's interfering with the "creation of the art". Tell her she needs to give you head so you can get that behind you and continue the creative process. Shoot a lot of video from all angles. Use those flashlights to change the mood. 10. Go buy the most expensive laptop video editing platform you can find. Throw away the manuals. You won't need them. 11. Export your video at the highest possible resolution you can. Don't bother editing, just export it. 12. Link it up on GFY in a downloadble format. Don't bother with streaming. You don't need it. 13. Make money!

09-04-2009, 02:29 PM	#17
DWB Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Encrypted. Access denied. Posts: 31,779	The other guys pretty much said it all so I won't waste your time. Though, I will tell you about when I was getting started. I was at Randy West's house, he was checking out a female friend of mine to shoot for a DVD, and I was picking his brain on the best way to shoot. He quietly listened to everything I said, didn't interrupt, and waiting for me to stop yapping. When I stopped, he said, "Shoot what you like to jack off too, your audience will find you." He side stepped all my tech questions and for a few seconds it didn't sink in what he had said. Then it hit and it all made sense. His scenes were not the best lit, the best shot or shot in HD, however, they were shit fucking hot with incredible girls who loved to fuck. That's what he liked to shoot, hot chicks who love to fuck, and because he shot what he loved, it turned out great regardless of his lighting or camera work. A hot scene is a hot scene, no matter how it's shot, though I will admit, it is easy on the eyes when shot and lit well. I was so caught up in HOW to shoot it, I forgot that the most important part is to film GOOD SEX. And if I don't like what I shoot, how could anyone else? He went on to ask me what I personally liked, I told him, and he said shoot THAT. Don't worry about anything else, just shoot what turns ME on. So I did and I've made an incredible living doing it. The few times I've strayed from what I like and shot what others like, it didn't sell as well. When I shoot what I love, I make bank. With all of that said, I've made the most money to date with content that was shot in cheap hotel rooms, with a bootleg light kit, a 2nd hand Canon GL2, a small 4MP photo cam, a few horny friends and real life Asian street hookers. Edited on Windows Movie Maker. Not in HD, not with Kinoflos, not with known porn stars, not at expensive locations, not with a crew, not with photo strobes, and not in a studio. Those toys have their place, and I have them now too, but my point is, you can make money without them. Focus on what gets you off and on hot sex / scenes. Everything else will fall in line with practice. Though, I will give you one tip, and I think Dave agrees with me, spend the money on the best male talent you can afford. He will probably make or break the scene. A lame guy is a scene killer.

09-04-2009, 02:31 PM	#18
DWB Registered User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Encrypted. Access denied. Posts: 31,779	Though, it may help to know what your goal is. Do you want to make a living or do you want to be the next AVN award winner? It's not always the same road.

09-04-2009, 08:53 PM	#19
Riffhard Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 659	I'm a 20 year old college student so I'm on a really tight budget. I got myself a used Canon HV20 and equipped it with a wide-angle lens, a shotgun mic, and a steady cam all for less than $700. It works well for the type of stuff I shoot and it films in HD as well. I started out using work lights but have since upgraded to a professional set. Lighting is by far the most important thing when it comes to filming. I edit using Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate. It's a very user friendly program. Here's a sample of mine. I only did cuts and transitions; no color correction: But like someone said above me, I'm already feeling the urge to upgrade my equipment. __________________ Glad to be here. Glad to be anywhere.

09-04-2009, 11:55 PM	#20
SamuraiBarbi Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 11	Great info guys! ( for those with serious posts ). LOL at those funny posts fusionx, that really should have been: Step 1) Buy camcorder Step 2) Get girl Step 3) ????? Step 4) Profit!!! I definitely appreciate those willing to respond point for point to the questions or post their stories about how they got started. Keep em coming guys, anything and everything you'd like to share is helpful. As for my goal, I'd say to make a living doing something that I enjoy and that stimulates my creativity. For me, ( and it's probably going to sound weird ) filming and editing scenes feels like a kind of art. I like to think of creative ways of capturing the beauty, the intensity, the rawness of a scene, and concentrating it into something that captivates a viewer. If I can accomplish that and manage to make a living doing it then I've achieved my goal.