Home Video Tips

So you’re trying – woo hoo!! You’ll be surprised at how far a little effort can go. A big hindrance to filming is the anxiety one will either miss their holiday because they’re seeing it through a lens, or one has to haul the camera everywhere. Rubbish! Each year, I choose to film my kids about 4/5 days, and for the other 360ish days, relax. But on those few days, have fun and embrace it.

Creative tips

• Choose events to film. Whether that be a sports day, or a day at the beach, choose fun.
• Filmmaking is about story-telling, and an old adage is “show, don’t tell”. So a big secret to filming is getting better linking shots, which help the story unfold.
• So on your adventure, think like Sherlock Holmes, looking for clues. If you are visiting somewhere, get a wide, medium, and close shot; this often just means to film outside for 3 secs, film a person walking in (like your kids), and a close up of the door opening (and closing, for when you leave). Boom – it’s easy.
• Continue your Sherlock thinking throughout the day, getting a variety of shots. Think landmarks, hotel signs, atmosphere, cutaways, extreme close-ups, street signs.
• Once you’re settled into your core subject, release your inner Morgan Freeman and narrate. Speak softly – the camera microphone is inches from your face. Make wisecracks – often others won’t hear you, but your editor will, which permits a whole layer of comedy to your film. So describe where you are and contextualize events, “this is Freya’s first time on a beach… let’s hope she doesn’t drown.”

Technical tips

• When zooming, it’s very difficult for anyone to keep the frame steady. Lean against a tree, use both hands or a banister, but steady that frame!
• Avoid long pans around the room, unless it’s to juxtapose dad napping while everyone else is making supper. Otherwise, let the editor bring the clips together.