Whether you are after a short film for your loved ones or a short film you are filming as a final requirement in your filmmaking class, digital movie making is a mainstay and not only a trend as it appears to some.

Both the amateur trainee and the professional filmmaker must know the things needed to be checked when filming a movie. The following are some basic tips for both kinds of filmmakers:

The Equipment

Digital film technology has been advancing to the point where even those who have zero knowledge of it or of filmmaking per se can come up with professional-looking videos and short movies about their families and loved ones. This is so because of the user-friendly equipment used. However, you should be able to pick one that suits all your needs and varying uses.

You must know that digital video camcorders come in various formats. The MiniDVs would film on small tapes while those video cameras record on HDD or High Disk Drive. dvd camcorders on the other hand film videos straight on discs which you can view on your dvd player.

If you will be using it for family gatherings, the MiniDV is the more appropriate one as it can be handy and easy to operate. The other types of cameras also have their own advantages. Video cameras make it easy for you to share your work with others. This is the perfect choice for those who are studying a filmmaking course and have to share the work to his groupmates. The advantage of the dvd camcorders is its large storage which is suited for those who produce full-length films or professional ones.

You must also have the video editing software but you need not worry as they come built-in with today’s desktop PCs and laptops.

The Angles and Shoots

For you to be able to have professional shots, you need to take into consideration the four aspects: lighting and exposure, stability, audio and editing. Digital video camcorders don’t work quite well in an environment with a wide range of lighting. Always take into consideration that lighting should be uniform.

For stability, especially for the small cams, always use a tripod when filming or use a digital stabilizer if you have one. Bear in mind that a slight movement in the cam can ruin the entire scene.

Any camcorder has basic audio devices to go with it. To have better quality of sound, you can set up a boom microphone on the audio input port and place it closer to the subject during filming.

When editing, it’s always best to keep away from too elaborate effects; be simple and your film won’t be appearing too amateurish.