21 Feb TIPS FOR CREATING A SCENES FROM THE WEEKEND FILM
I’ve been making Scenes From The Weekend films as part of my #MiniMondayMovies project for five years now. It’s been one of the best projects I’ve ever done because the collection of memories is pretty special. Take a look at year One :: Two :: Three :: Four or see all the films over on Vimeo.
If you’re inspired to start shooting video of your weekend moments, here are my tips for turning it into a film, you’ll treasure for years to come.
Just start – I say this to participants of my online courses all the time. Just start shooting video clips of something… anything from your weekend. You don’t have to commit to shooting every weekend. Just begin with the weekend coming up and create one film.
Use whatever camera is with you – You can use any camera or even a variety of cameras. I shoot on a mix of DSLR, iPhone or compact camera. Don’t get caught up on having to have the best camera.
Get prepared – If you’re using a mobile device, make sure there’s storage available and you’re fully charged, as video does use more battery power. For camera users, charge your batteries & clear your memory cards. Then keep your camera with you all weekend, so you’re ready to shoot whenever a moment arises.
Get them onside – Make people you’ll be with aware of your project. Encourage them to be an active part of your film. Especially children, they love being part of the process!
If you’re looking to add music – Perhaps pick out some music tracks in advance if you can, just so you’ve got some choices in the edit. Check out my favourites – EPIDEMIC SOUND & SOUNDSTRIPE or this blog post shares more of my fav music libraries. You might know in advance the type of weekend you’ll be having….. so the music could reflect that – is it a lazy cosy one, or are you out and about doing chores or with family?… choose your music accordingly.
Vary your shots – include a mix of compositions and angles to make the film more interesting – Wide and close ups… shoot along the floor, from above, through objects – be experimental! You could even add a time lapse… Turn it into a visual feast!
I like to think of my films as a collage of clips, all pasted together as a moving memory. Seek out the details or moments that represent this particular weekend. I always like to include signs of the season that make me remember what time of year it was – autumn leaves, bare or blossoming trees and golden summer light.
Notice the everyday stuff – The ordinary stuff and details are what change over the years, so include as many as you can.
REMEMBER – you don’t have to film every… single… thing you do. It will be too much footage and it’s about looking for key moments and your unique stories.
Include audio – Add snippets of the sound you capture on video, if you can, it’s another layer of emotion. Most cameras have integrated microphones, so get familiar with it or use an external mic if you’ve got one. Beware of background noises or the wind when shooting outside, these can disturb the main source of audio that you’d like to capture.
Put yourself in the frame – set your camera up on a tripod or table and film yourself. It’s important you’re part of the story.
Make time to edit – Sunday evenings are my time to pull my film together, so it’s ready to share on Monday morning, as part of my hashtag #minimondaymovies – look for the best bits of footage that tell the story of your weekend. Cut out anything that doesn’t fit or clips that are too similar to others. Fill your film with your “best of the best” bits.
Here are some of my favourite phone editing apps to get started.
Hopefully some of these tips have been helpful and you’re all set to create your SFTW film. Just go for it! It’s a wonderful film to make and something you will love looking back on in years to come. These memories are priceless. Come and join #MiniMondayMovies and share your creation with me.
If you’d like more guidance to start making your own videos – check out my online courses where I share everything you need to get started and inspiration to take you through the whole process and find the love of making videos!
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