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Articles |
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Articles |
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The following articles are written by our members, and associates and cover subjects we hope will be of some interest to you. Choosing a Good Computer MonitorThis short article from Jeff is about choosing a good computer monitor - an essential piece of kit (especially in you digitally edit your videos using your PC). Filming the Work of a Goat SanctuaryFollowing a visit in July 2009 to “Buttercups”, a goat sanctuary in rural Kent, I as “Mr. Director” directed the group towards making a film of the activities. Nothing like good old fashioned dictatorship to get things done. Read more ... Get to Know Your Actors and ActressesThe latest of our short articles - "Get to know your actors and actresses" by Wendy has some simple but good advice if you are looking to make a scripted film. Lighting Effects - Night Time and LightningOne of our films, Room for One More, has a scene that required a young woman to climb a grand staircase with a candle, at night, during a storm. A number of people have asked how we achieved this sequence so effectively. Read more ... Chromakey ExperienceBrenchley House Players are an Amateur Dramatic Group based in Sittingbourne. We have worked with Valley Films on several occasions over the past few years Read more ... A Morning Never to be ForgottenI was very privileged to have an opportunity of being part of the team who filmed the docking of HMS Kent as it entered the Historic Dockyard at Chatham. Read more ... Memories of Luton VillageAbout ten years ago, I took an interest in researching the history of the village of Luton (near Chatham, Kent), where I have lived most of my life. Read more ... Life of a narrator/presenterI would like to share my experiences as a guest narrator/cum presenter for an ongoing project by Valley Films which is based upon the history of our local Parish of Boxley in Kent. I fondly imagined that ... Read more ... PropsWhat are the things to think about when your club sets about making a film? Good Script, Locations, Actors/Actresses and last but not least Props. We, at Valley Films, have had our fair share of obtaining objects we thought we could never obtain. Read more ... From my Perspective - Sound and CompetitionsAs a filmmaking group we may not always get our filmic storyline right but we make great efforts to set our production values as high as we can. Surround sound for music, good quality XLR microphones for clear dialogue, balanced main and effect lighting for clear pictures and digital semi pro cameras for capturing the best quality image we can. Pre and post-production is done wholly in digital format with the end result being burned on DVD’s. Read more ... DIY Dolly and TrackSeveral of our films have required a tracking shot – where the camera moves along with, or past, a subject. Commercial systems were a little outside our price range, so we decided to make our own.. Read more ... The art of making a short holiday film 3Short films make for happy audiences. Better that your audience says “Have you any more” than “Is that the time….. We must be leaving”. Read more ... DIY Video LightingA key requirement of effective lighting is the ability to precisely manage the distribution and characteristics of the light that falls on the set. Read more ... The art of making a short holiday film 2Your holiday is the reason for filming. Filming is not the reason for the holiday. Read more ... Making 'Frank'Once again, we were permitted by the Spa Valley Railway, to use one of their stations, and after an evening of rehearsal, we were all set to begin our filming. Read more ... My Experience as SoundmanSound is a very neglected part of amateur film making. Most people seem to concentrate on obtaining the optimum picture quality but leaving the sound element to look after itself. Read more ... The art of making a short holiday film 1In this series I define a “short” film as one that lasts no longer than 10 minutes. My dislike of “long” films is well known amongst my friends and wider circle of acquaintances. In my opinion very few amateurs can make films longer than 10 minutes that hold the audience attention. Read more ... Making Train StrikeOne of our recent films Train Strike, required shooting the film on a train. We discussed the possibilities at a group meeting and decided that we should like to shoot the film using a coach at a Kent station, Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Read more ... Music in Video
While many video makers seem to concentrate
exclusively on capturing a good image - correct lighting, exposure, composition
etc, we at The Anatomy of a 1 Minute FilmValley Films were delighted and proud to win “best film” in a major competition with a 1 minute film but saddened by the reaction of some clubs. I quote from one of the letters of complaint :- “How can a one minute film win the best film in the Festival over all those medium length films made with so much more effort” A prime example of “ignore the quality and feel the width”? Read more ...
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This page was last updated 14-06-2010