Guide Note
The advent of digital video camera technology made the medium of film production widely available to most film enthusiasts. Amateur films can document domestic life, travel, work, and can be either fiction or non-fiction. However, the viewings are no longer limited to a small circle of family and friends. The introduction of video sharing web sites on the internet has made amateur films accessible to a world-wide audience.
Fast Facts
- Editing video footage on a computer requires an advanced graphic card1
- Users require video-editing software2
- Footage can be burned to a DVD or kept on a PC's hard drive
- Online video sharing sites: YouTube, MetaCafe, Viddler, Ustream, Qik3.
Short History
The first video recorder for home use was introduced in 1960s. The first truly portable system appeared in 1967, filming in black and white. In 2000, a new video format for consumer digital camcorders, DV, was introduced. Camcorders today have almost reached the quality of 35mm film.4
Which Equipment?
The burgeoning filmmaker has several different decisions to make before purchasing a digital video camera. Size and portability are an issue, though small cameras are directed more toward casual filming than for more ambitious filmmaking purposes.
The consumer also has several options for editing. Apple's iMovie comes bundled with the iLife application that is installed on most new Macintosh computers. This is one of the more simplistic and straightforward editing programs available. Apple Inc. also develops Final Cut Pro, a more advanced editing tool that allows for broader, non-linear reorganization of footage.
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