Free Video School

at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike the usual FAQs pages on many web sites, where you get the questions the author wants to answer, these are actually the questions people like you have asked. When we get a question, we answer it, and then we try to add it here on the theory that if one of you is curious about it, several others are probably wondering too.

Not to worry. That's where we come in. The chances are very good your camera has a FireWire connector. If it does, we can connect our editing computer to it and even control your camera from the computer. Just make sure you bring the camera to editing with you.

Probably not. We own two cameras, one that is more professional quality (mainly more sturdy construction) that we don't normally loan out, and the other that's probably a lot like the ones you can buy at a discount store now for $500 or less. All the cameras we're set up to work with -- from the cheapest to the most expensive camera -- are digital, so the quality of the pictures themselves varies less than you might think.

You can if you'd like. Your camera will automatically adjust for whatever light level you have, but because of the way photography works, higher levels of light allow your camera to keep more objects in focus at the same time. Fluorescent lights tend to be more green than daylight, and incandescent lamps (ordinary light bulbs) tend to be more red than daylight.

It's fine to just set up some extra lamps around your subjects. Try to elevate the lamps so they come in from a tad above the subjects. And make sure you allow your camera to reset its white balance when you move from one form of lighting to another. The easy way to do this is to turn the camera off and turn it back on focused on the shot you want next. The camera will adjust its own white balance when you do. Make sure you let the tape roll for a few seconds before any important action or dialogue happens. This ensures that the tape will have a good time code and allows us to capture it smoothly in post-production.

Purists believe a new mini-DV tape may have a tendency to "stick" if you don't fast-forward it and rewind it for its entire length before using it for the first time. We've not seen any hard evidence that it makes any difference, but it doesn't hurt anything, so if it helps you sleep better, have at it. By the way, if somebody is telling you to unpack a tape, they're obviously knowledgeable. Ask them if they'd like to help us with our ministry!

Certainly. That's why it's important that your first video project be one you show to a comparatively small audience, preferably filled with people who love you unconditionally. You'll be surprised -- and pleased -- at how quickly you learn how to make your work look more polished. Also, as we edit with you, we'll point out little things you can do to improve your shots, sound, etc.