Top 10 Reasons I’m Not Liking this Video Stuff.

[RentItNow]

#10. I hate the sound of my own voice.
#9. It takes A LONG time to set up.
#8. I can’t remember my own lines (beyond a minute of video or so).
#7. When reading from Que Cards, it looks like I’m reading from Que Cards.
#6.Lighting! What lighting?
#5. My camera is only recording in MOV. None of my software edits mov. Mov goes out of sync when turning to AVI or whatever.
#4. It takes 25 takes to get something good (not screwing up lines!)
#3 Im using no less than 10 pieces of software to go from Raw to Finished Product.
#2 My server is choking on flash files.
#1 The format/encoding has to be exact or it will not work on IE AND Firefox.

Ok, maybe 11 reasons, my family calls me ‘Billy Mays’ now!

Yet despite all this, I am persisting! Do it now! Ready, fire, aim. I’m sucking it all up and going forth anyway.

It has been quite an experience but hey, if it works…I don’t care what it took. Billy Mays may no longer be with us, but I’d take his cash any day of the week if it means being teased now and then.

This is the direction I’m taking and I hope others do as well.

Give me any of your top 10 reasons as well. I would like to know if this is a normal reaction to vid!

[Marc Rodill]

Well, since you said this,

Yet despite all this, I am persisting! Do it now! Ready, fire, aim. I’m sucking it all up and going forth anyway.

I'm gonna let you have it :-)

Originally Posted by RentItNow

#10. I hate the sound of my own voice.

Get over it, whiner!

#9. It takes A LONG time to set up.

I bet it beats roofing houses!

#8. I can’t remember my own lines (beyond a minute of video or so).

Study! This ain't high school anymore, you can't just wing it (without practice!)

#7. When reading from Que Cards, it looks like I’m reading from Que Cards.

Use bullet points, or an outline to remind yourself. When you're shooting live, try to position this card below the camera. It's natural to look down from time to time.

Tip: Make sure you keep 98% eye contact with the camera, it builds trust.

#6.Lighting! What lighting?

Unimportant. Just make sure we can see you. Learn as you go.

#5. My camera is only recording in MOV. None of my software edits mov. Mov goes out of sync when turning to AVI or whatever.

Mine does this, too. Check out "Any Video Converter," it converts video at the click of a button and I use it for free.

#4. It takes 25 takes to get something good (not screwing up lines!)

I bet it beats roofing houses! ;-) Seriously, you work ONCE and it will pay your FOREVER if you systemize it. Do that. Systemize. If for no other reason than that it sounds fancy (oh and isn't a real word.)

#3 Im using no less than 10 pieces of software to go from Raw to Finished Product.

That's a lot. All I try to use is a Video Converter and Camstudio (which I got from my dad.) Before that I was all over the place.

#2 My server is choking on flash files.

Get more bandwidth to solve that problem. Although, I use Viddler for free video right now. You can easily take out their logo, and make the videos private so only you can embed them where you want.

Remove or Customize Logo:

http://www.viddler.com/USERNAME/settings/playerbranding/

Private Embed Instructions:

http://www.viddler.com/groups/faq/discuss/211

#1 The format/encoding has to be exact or it will not work on IE AND Firefox.

Use Viddler for now. It'll save you ages.

Sincerely,

Marc Rodill

[Kenster]

THe best videos ive seen werent scripted. Have a few bullet points so you remember which way to take your conversation, but make it just that....a conversation. You are allowed to stutter a littler, mis-speak a little, it probably will work out better and seem more real.

The real trick is getting comfortable and eye contact. The more scripted you make it, the worse it will come out.


So it shouldnt be as painful as youre making it seem.

[Kelly Verge]

#7. When reading from Que Cards, it looks like I’m reading from Que Cards.

• Write out your full script
• Summarize it in an outline (or bullets)
• Print large enough that you can see it when placed/taped just below camera

It's not a speech. Just talk, making sure you hit all of the bullet points. You'll sound more natural and friendly.

[Steven Wagenheim]

I've done about 50 videos, and I ain't no Cary Grant.

Just be yourself and be HONEST.

People will see that honesty shine through and the rest of it WON'T be
important.

Trust me...I know what I'm talking about.

I'd post a link to one of my videos but that would violate the TOS of this
forum. Just go to YouTube and you'll find them under my name.

[thunderbird]

It is understandable why someone doesn't want to be in front of the camera, or have voice on video. If so, one could write a screenplay for it then outsource the job. Could be pricey.

[Allurre]

You need to learn how to chop your vids up bro.

I went through the same painful emotional ride you did.

However... it gets better through time.

1. Record 15 seconds of yourself -- then string your recordings together when you finalize the cut.

2. It's not how you sound, it's HOW you deliver and WHAT the USEFUL content you offer.

3. Get DVDVideoSoft to convert files that are compatible for Windows MovieMaker.

4. Upload your vids to YOUTUBE. Well, if they are for private usage, and sales material, then find the right balance in quality so you don't consume much space, yet retain the viewable experience.

5. Get a table lamp. Record at night, turn off all lights. You'll find a nice studio effect to it.

Forget cue cards.... type the words out in your screen, and memorize your lines. If you KNOW what you're preaching, then you won't have a hard time IMPROVISING.

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Then you'll be the perfect candidate for my next free giveaway in the War Room. I'm going to give away a bunch of short promotional videos.

[Nickolie0990]

I mainly use camtaisa style videos, when I am providing content.

[pbennett]

this is my next fear to tackle. I need to get over it, but i sound like a little girl on camera.

[seoFool]

I'm new at video's too....and I couldn't do it without a teleprompter.
You CAN'T memorize even a five minute script...it's just not time efficient.

You should make a teleprompter...they cost THOUSANDS of dollars so instead I just
took an old flat screen computer monitor and set it on the floor facing up, then
rigged a couple two by fours at a 45 degree angle over the monitor with a piece of glass that I took out of an old picture frame sitting on top of the two by fours.

If you search at google, you can find free teleprompter software that will make
your text run backwards so that the reflection is straight off the piece of glass.

Oh, you also need a laptop to plug into the old monitor to run the software.

Then you just stick your camera behind the glass, and look into the glass and
read like any other teleprompter. To the camera it looks like you're looking
straight ahead.

Takes a bit of getting used to, but it gets easier to read scrolling text
the more you do it...

[Tim Franklin]

Wow, ok, looks like some good feedback at least some of it is,

First thing, you should get a MAC, everything works with mov files on a MAC.

But, if that is not in the cards, then a good tool to have is FFMPEG which is free...

You can convert, video files so easy even a caveman can do it.

I got into video years and years ago, back when they still used beta tapes, most of the modern days guys will be saying what is that? and no it is not software.

But for all the hassle of doing video it is popular and you can make money at it, Billy Mays is still making money and he has been in the ground for some time now...

sort of irritating that, but hey, you could do worse...

STick with it, it is definitely worth it,

[Quentin]

Firstly even in the movies they do not try and remember huge amounts of scripts to say all at once.

Break it into bits and this also gives you a chance to change the camera angle to break it up etc.

Get something like Sony Vegas to do all the editing. Just one piece of software and then output to mpeg or MOV or WMV to add to any public video site.

For great training and ideas look at DJ TV. I have been watching their tutorials for years and even impress some of my television tech buddies with some ideas.

DJTV :: Digital Juice

Quentin

[avenuegirl]

If your picture here is really what you look like, just put that up and do a VO you can read in the background.



On a more serious note, I am the "um" queen. Some videos I will create a story board first with very crude drawings, write up a script, and plan out.

Other times I will just shoot some stuff and fix in the edit. Then shoot more if needed.

It can be VERY time consuming - especially when you are trying to do it right.

[JohnMcCabe]

As far as remembering your script...

Did you ever wonder why soap opera actors drink so much tea? It's partly to give them something to do while reading cue cards - some misdirection - and partly so they have a place to hide their cues.

The problem with memorizing your pitch is that if you lose your place, you're lost.

Watch the presenters on a show like "Dragon's Den" to see what I mean. You can tell which ones are reciting something they've memorized. Their nerves will take over, and they'll lose their place. Then they'll stare off into space while they mentally recite from the beginning. If it comes back, they start talking again like there was no pause.

As far as hating your voice...

Nobody ever thinks they sound right because the dynamics are totally different for sound traveling through air vs. traveling through bone. As one poster said, get over it.

If you can't, invest in some singing lessons. You'll learn how to modulate the sound of your voice.