Recently, a number of folks here have messaged me for tips about making videos. Because I frequently indulge in this mostly harmless activity, there is an impression about that I’m knowledgeable in the field. Sad to say, Ken Burns has little to fear from me.
But, because I really believe in the democratized technology and distribution systems of video, I thought I should pass on a few things I’ve picked up pursuing this avocation.
First, and this is the Ironclad Rule: You can do this. Really. There are so many cheap and free editing programs available that it’s near-impossible NOT to be able to edit video these days. Every Mac comes with the very good and versatile iMovie. Microsoft gives away Cyberlink’s PowerDirector free. They’re practically begging you to make videos.
And don’t think that, just because it’s free, the software can’t do the stuff “real” videographers can. Super-secret, just-between-you-and-me reveal: almost everything I make is early or final edited in the most Playskool vid edit software around: Microsoft’s Windows Live Movie Maker, so outdated and primitive it isn’t even bundled with Windows since 7. No, it doesn’t do green screen or picture in picture, but it has everything you need to make your point with images. The new Windows ware, PowerDirector, is much more advanced (which means much more manual reading) and other warez even more tricky are available for dough, but my point here is… YOU DON’T NEED DOUGH. YOU NEED IDEAS.
That, right there, is what makes a good video. And every one of you has made them already, in your heads. “The Dems should really run an ad that says….” And yes, they should. SO DO IT. You’re a Dem, right?
But videos also require, like, images. And not everyone has a studio or time or friends to act as, well, actors. (Though, if you have a smart phone or a cheap digital camera, you’re already over-equipped. Just shoot everything that looks interesting. You have no idea when you’ll use it, but you will. When I got the idea for this video, I just walked over to the construction site five blocks from my house and got the stock in 10 minutes.)
But even if you couldn’t aim a camera to save your life, there are infinite riches of video and image stock out there for FREE. The Internet Archive has thousands upon thousands of old educational films, government films, home movies, etc. just waiting for your inspiration. Wikipedia's Wikimedia Commons has gazillions of still images and video clips. Both sites have specific information on whether cuts are public domain, Creative Commons license, etc. so you’ll always know whether or how to credit your sources.
Feeling more expansive? NASA has put its entire media library online for view or download free (you already paid to get the shots, after all).
What about stuff that’s not on those sites? There are a lot of programs, paid and free, that allow you to download YouTube videos, but here things get trickier. You really want to know the copyright status of the material you’re using, and ripping YouTubes will ye or nil ye can lead to your own videos getting taken down and your channel booted from YT altogether.
Plus, not all freeware is benign. Many free programs come with code that will switch your browser to another or otherwise screw with your computer. I particularly advise against the program “YouTube Downloader (YTD).” The core software is Russian and I’ve come to distrust it (though I still have a copy on an old laptop that is never connected to the network except to scarf videos).
Newer editors like PowerDirector often come with “download from internet” function built in.
Sometimes, when I have no other option, or when I want a lo-fi, ominous look, I’ll simply set up the camera in front of the monitor and shoot the damn screen. “Lo tech don’t mean no tech.” — Vernor Vinge.
Still image editors like Photoshop, even the old workhorse Paint, can help, because a simple editor like Movie Maker can take single images and, stacking them in fractions of seconds, make movies. This video was made entirely of still images edited in Photoshop (it took forever and I’ll never do it again, but it was pretty cool).
For audio, there’s a vast universe of free sound (like, a site named FreeSound) and music, plus freeware audio editors like Audacity available to you.
The point is, everything you need to make the messages you want is probably in your house now. Nearly every vid I post is made with nothing more than a hundred-dollar camera, public domain stock and freeware.
YOU CAN DO THIS.
There is literally NOTHING stopping you from making great, impactful videos. You have the technology and the source material to put together pieces much better that the national committees are doing.
YO!
(Only thing missing is U.)