Airsoft. The new paintball?

I shot and edited my first video for my video class on the game of Airsoft. It proved to be an interesting challenge compared to shooting stills, but one that I enjoyed. The editing portion was especially fun knowing you can shape and mold your story using both visuals and audio in hopes of creating an experience for your viewers.

A few things I learned along the way:

No matter how steady you think you can hold the camera. You can’t. I quickly realized the importance of using a tripod or bracing yourself against something to get a steady shot. Now granted there’s a place for shaky footage in a film like this(think heat of the battle type action) but for a whole piece it’s be a little much.

Headphones are the key to good audio, but don’t forget to do a visual check of the audio levels on your camera.

The more you shoot the more you have to edit. If at all possible know what you’re going after coming into a story. That’s not to say go in with the story already written because the beauty of life is that it’s unscripted.

Don’t let the camera shoot for you. Turn off auto everything and do the thinking for the camera. It’ll guarantee you the results you’re after.

You can never have enough detail shots.

Depending on the pacing of your video (ie: alot of fast cuts) you better make sure you have a wide variety of material to work with.

A good soundtrack can help reinforce what you want your audience to feel. Care must be taken though not to abuse that power.

Editing is a gift/skill that I one day hope to have.

Check out my first attempt here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OUmA9w1MUY[/youtube]

Or download the movie here.