Everyone starts somewhere, and the world of video and filmmaking is no different. Whether your aspirations are to get a YouTube channel off the ground or to break into full-length feature films, starting off on the right foot when you're a total beginner is easier than you may think.
When you're first starting out, aside from having the drive and motivation to keep learning and improving, it's the basic foundational things that can make the biggest difference the quickest. In this video, adventure photographer and YouTuber Benjamin Jaworskyj breaks down a few of the basic things that anyone can get right while they are a beginner. Ranging from the basic things about your camera, to stability, to recording sound, this video offers a range of good advice for any novice.
When you first started out (whether you were into photography, videography, or both), do you think that you had strong foundations, or were you just winging it? I think that it's pretty common for people to have rocky starts when we first begin to pursue a new hobby or profession. I know that at the very beginning, when I was experimenting with photography, I generally had no idea what I was doing and was stumbling through things with a trial and error style. Were you in the same boat?
A good lens for $50? What have I been missing out on all these years?
They've been hiding in plain sight really ;). Canon FD lenses (you can get a 50mm FD lens for about 50) for use in filmmaking. Helios, SMC Takumar, Nikkor...you can actually do a lot with these old SLR lenses adapted to modern cameras, especially for video making/filmmaking (where optical quality isn't as important as still images). You also don't really use auto focus all that much if you're actually making films (actors hitting marks to pre-determined focus points.)
I know a few commercial DP's who are using vintage lenses (one I know just shot a spot on vintage cine adapted Nikkor lenses).
The whole filmmaking thing really is a Pandora's box and one really needs to know what kind of videos they want to be making because it's like a tree branch system that can expand WAY out there if you don't know what you're going for.
Ultimately you have to start somewhere ;)
Funny how is these videos they never speak about DaVinci Resolve which is completely free is you use the basic version…
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
Is the free version any good? Have you tried it? Looks quite interesting but couldn't really find what exactly does the free version contain.
I use the Studio version.
The learning curve is a little steep, but once you have understood the whole philosophy behind the software you will understand how powerful it is (and why it is one of the most used in the movie industry). I will never change back for FCP or Premiere.
If you don't need more than the support of 4K the free version should be enough for most of the projects.
https://filmora.wondershare.com/davinci-resolve/davinci-resolve-vs-davin...
I haven't used it much because I haven't really needed to, but a few producers I work with mess around with it to experiment with colour grading options for the series they're producing. I keep meaning to look into it more, but time...is always a problem.
A lot of seasoned editors who I run with have said nothing but positive things about the free fversion. It's defiantly a good place to start and can do a lot from a new to even intermediate filmmaker.
Straight cutting is really foundational that will carry through to the top pro, so if it's not compatible with all those transition packs etc really isn't a problem.
I use the free version since one year now for my vlogs. It has all you need. Editing and color grading are just great and it comes with Fusion which you can use to do special effects, similar to After Effects (other workflow though).
It's only missing some special effects like special sharpening, blurring, deflicker and other stuff which you really don't need that much.
You should give it a try