Digital Video For Dummies, 4th Edition (For Dummies (Computer Tech))

So you have a camcorder and visions of being the next Spielberg. But how do you progress from shooting so-so footage to showing your own finished movie? Digital Video For Dummies, 4th Edition gives you the know-how and the show-how! Find out how to shoot and edit great movies, using iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, or Adobe Premiere Elements to add the finishing touches like special effects and your own soundtrack. With the latest information and lots of illustrations and screen shots, this friendly guide walks you through:Getting your computer ready to work with digital video (complete with information about FireWire)Choosing a camcorder, including features to look for and features that are uselessDigitizing old VHS videotapes to preserve memoriesPurchasing other movie making gear, including audio and lighting equipmentShooting better video, with tips on lighting, panning, using the zoom, and recording better audioCreating your own sound effects such as footsteps, bones breaking, fire, thunder, insects buzzing, and moreCapturing digital video using iMovie, Windows Movie Marker, or Premiere ElementsEditing, including understanding timecode, organizing and previewing clips, and assembling clips in Storyboard and TimelineAdding transitions, titles, and special effectsImporting and integrating video from phones and digital camerasUsing audio rubberbands in iMovie, Premiere Elements, and other editing programsAdding narration, importing and working with CD audio, and adding a music soundtrackKeith Underdahl has extensive professional video production experience developing kiosk and marketing videos for Ages Software. Realizing that you’ll want to polish and premiere your movie, he includes information on:More advanced video editing, including animating video clips, improving light and color, compositing video (bluescreen or greenscreen), and more13 categories of video effects, ranging from blur and sharpen to transformWorking with still photos and graphicsSharing your video online using QuickTime (/QT), RealMedia (.RM), or Windows Media Video (.WMV)Making tapes or burning DVDs in 9 stepsWith a handy cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts, a chart comparing 10 video editing programs, a glossary, and more, with this guide you’ll soon be saying “Lights, camera, action” and producing your own movie attraction.