Brad asked:
Hi, I’m in highschool and currently directing a small movie project. I have a small budget of about $2000. My main question is what kind of camcorder and editing software will I need to make my movie have the look of an actual movie and not some cheap home made film?
Hi, I’m in highschool and currently directing a small movie project. I have a small budget of about $2000. My main question is what kind of camcorder and editing software will I need to make my movie have the look of an actual movie and not some cheap home made film?
I know that some small HD camcorders go for as little as $400, but I wonder if those truely yield as high quality as, say, a $2000 full size one.
hd camcorders
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video just isn’t gonna look as good as film. it just isn’t. film is beautiful, but very costly. and if you were to buy the kind of high end video camera used by some indy movie makers, you’d use up you’re whole budget and then some.
if i only had 2 grand to spend, i think I’d get a mid priced digital video cam. i’d spend the rest on a little lighting equipment and the editing software. i like sony vegas w/ Magic Bullet effects software. it adds visual effects to video that can make if look more film-like.
and of course you need good actors.
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Any decent camcorder will suffice but for a professional movie then download the free 14day trial of Ulead videostudio & try it out. go to to get the download & I would recommend one of the JVC Everio series of camcrder.
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The Canon HV30 captures at 20p and 30p. Prograssive frame capture – specifically, 24p – is what film cameras capture.
Don’t spend your whole budget on the camera – you will need mics, lights, a good sturdy tripod…
And keep perspective. while you do have $2,000 to budget, the big screen films use cameras that are 100 times that amount. Check Panavision, Sony CineAlta, Arri and VariCam, among others. They also employ a LOT of people with a LOT of experience and skill.
Personally, I would much rather want to watch an interesting small budget piece than some over-produced huge budget waste of money. Compelling content is king.
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You can use a Standard DV(file)..and I use ROXIO software..if you have a Vista operating system you can use Microsoft Movie Maker 2(storyboard)Lay-out..Camcorders don’t really create a Hollywood movie..you will not really get great FILM useing a camcorder..you may want to experiment with very(much)about(close-ups)..faces-hands/small scenes like dancing..I think that PAN..works well in the camcorder format–but for glamor..??..I haven’t been able to create a great looking SHOT in camcorder video..lights can be usefull..but camcorders(tend)to be a BIT-sensative about light,,but good luck..SONY really seems the best choice..and you may find that 2-3 camcorders is much more useful..I have 3-software packages I use..ROXIO Creator 10(suite)..Vista Home Premium(DVD-Maker)and Microsoft Movie Maker 2(storyboard)..and a older software called DELL Movie StudioPLUS which is ROXIO Videowave Movie Creator..at times I use all three to create a movie..but Movie Maker 2 is my most used EDIT-process..always keep your FILE in the DV(format)or the DV-avi(format)..and BURN(render)to MPEG2..I get Dolby-Digital Sound Files in my DVD-movies..use the DVD(blanks)that are PLUS(+)format..today most Blank Media seems just fine..but I like the TDK Label..but I also use Hewlett Packard and SONY DVD Blanks(+)..keep it simple..you can always convert to a High-def File later..or just use Wide Screen File conversion..create a Large File(DV-avi).
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I also would recommend the Canon HV30 because unlike the cheaper HD DVC camcorders, this one has manual capabilities. It does have the 24fps feature, which is what film is recorded at. It also comes with “cine mode”, which also give a film tone to the video footage, and you can also find an adapter to put some lenses on. You can get it for about $600 at amazon, and the rest of the money can go towards shotgun mics, lights, tripod, and even software.
Professional editors use programs like Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer. You don’t need professional software to create a high quality movies. Programs like Adobe Premier Express or Final Cut Express should be suffice to edit. But if you have the budget, go for the pro versions. Also, most movies use some kind of color grading.