Digital Video Project

So, you would like to know more about taking and editing video? This guide will take you through skills such as the basics of video composition, how to use a digital video camera, and how to use Movie Maker to edit video. Remember that you can visit this site as often as needed. You may find that you need to review a particular skill again.

	Watch Videos and Compare 1. Compare the following two videos. Notice things that you like and dislike about each video. Print out the follow sheet to help you organize your thoughts: Promotional Video Comparison. University of Tennessee Promotional Video Georgia Mason University Promotional Video
	Composition 2. Go through the following PowerPoint about video composition. Then, fill out the guide that will help you plan how to use a variety of video techniques in your project.
	Using a Digital Video Camera 3. Watch the Harvard podcast, "Videos of the Week (Vol. 8: Multimedia): Using a Digital Video Camera," to learn basics about a digital video camera. - Open iTunes and click on "Music Store." - Search for "Harvard" in the top, right hand corner. - Scroll down to podcasts and click on "Harvard Extension School's..." - Scroll down to the podcast titled "Videos of the Week (Vol. 8: Multimedia): Using a Digital Video Camera."
	Practice using the Camera 4. Practice using the video camera. To help you become comfortable with the video camera, try one technique from each category of the checklist. You should try a total of 4 camera angles or techniques.
	Transfer Video Footage to the Computer 5. Now you will need to transfer the video footage that you have taken to the computer. When you transfer video, the file must be saved to the computer's hard drive. If you are at school, this will mean that your teacher will have to log into the computer for you. After you are logged in, you will first need to know how to connect the camera to the computer, and then you will need to know how to use Movie Maker to capture the video. Below you will find video for both steps. Video of connecting the camera to the computer Windows Movie Maker Capture, About.com "Take control of your raw footage - learn how to capture video in Windows Movie Maker, and take the first step to editing the video into a completed project."
	Edit Video Footage 6. A few basics before you get started. Before you begin learning the ins-and-outs of Movie Maker, there are three types of files that you need to know about. 1. The first type of file you will create is the raw video footage that you take from your video camera and move to your computer. When this video is used in Movie Maker it is called a collection. 2. The second type of file is the Movie Maker project. The project file is what you see along the bottom of the Movie Maker screen. The file doesn't actually include the video but just the instructions about what to do with the video. It tells MovieMaker to edit it at a particular spot, to add a transition that you select, or to add an effect to the video. Because the project does not include the video, you will always need to video file in the same folder you your computer as the project file. 3. You create the third type of file once you have made all of the changes and edits that you want. This file combines the video footage collection and the instructions of the project file, and makes a final movie that can be shown in Windows Media Player. To learn how to edit the footage that you have taken, begin by selecting several tutorials depending on your skill level. Remember that if you have problems once you start editing, you can go back and rewatch the tutorials as many times as you need.

Creating a Video from Start to Finish