Von Lanken DVD's at DVinfo.net

Cara Starr · September 27th, 2007, 10:12 AM

good morning. I am happy to report that my 9 week old slept from 11pm to 6am without a break. I am ecstatic!

So I am working on editing my footage from the wedding the other day and have decided that i completely suck and need help. :) I usually decide that i suck at anything I do so that I can chicken out and quit before I fail. I don't want to do that this time because I reeeeeeeeeeeeally like doing event videography. I spent a year of college taking film and tv classes, animation/after effects classes and the like so that I would have some clue what i was doing before i began. But they don't have wedding video classes. And i want to be good at this so I am looking at the von lanken training dvd's for help. Problem - i am broke. I stay home with my kids, and my husband is a police officer. (that should sum it up for you - extremely underpaid!) So, if i "splurge" on a training dvd, it can really only be one and it must be good. this is where i need your recommendations. Who has used which one and why do you like it best? or are there any other training resources you recommend?

Bill Grant · September 27th, 2007, 12:05 PM

Moving Camera Techniques. Hands down the bible on camera movement, framing, DOF, and manual settings, etc. Awesome disk.
Bill

Richard Wakefield · September 27th, 2007, 01:27 PM

u might want to ask a dvinfo regular, Patrick Moreau, if he is still bringing out training DVDs from his company :)

Patrick Moreau · September 27th, 2007, 02:51 PM

We've been getting a lot of questions about them lately but we aren't ready to put them out quite yet. Still deciding on what exactly to include and the best way to present it all.

I've never purchased training DVDs myself, but I would say that it is very important to keep in mind the styles you like and how you want to shoot, and make sure whatever DVD your looking at will cater to that style. I believe, and I definitely could be wrong, that the Moving camera Techniques DVD shows how to do handheld and shouldermount camera techniques, among others. Those styles aren't for everybody, so I would keep those things in mind, especially when your looking at only being able to budget one.

Patrick

Dave Blackhurst · September 27th, 2007, 06:10 PM

Cara -
Don't give up just yet <wink>. What stage of the editing is giving you fits? If you just need to figure out what to put on the final DVD, there's a thread here with various approaches. As far as the actual edit, get the tapes downloaded and synchronized (ceremony) as a first step, look through all the footage you've got, and sort of start to envision where you're going with the video. You're telling a story, so you don't necessarily need every shot of every minute of what happened...

Think of movies you've bought or rented, and how they are set up (main feature, chapter menus, outtakes, bloopers, commentaries, other extras.

My typical template is for the opening menu a long form complete ceremony (usually only 15-20 minutes), and I've been adding a highlights short lately, since I see lots of that being done, and it's a nice quick overview of the events of the day.

Then on a second menu page, I'll put the toasts, the garter and bouquet toss, well wishers, perhaps some goofy dancing, etc, etc.

I guess that give you some mixing ideas, mix them up with your own "take" on it!

You probably don't suck at this any more than any of us did the first time out <wink>, and we've survived, you'll be fine!!

If you have specific questions, dig around the threads here, and if there's not already an answer, there's lots of helpful thoughtful folks, and we "work" cheap!

FWIW, I still cringe sometimes at my raw footage, just silly mistakes or "missed takes" - you'll be surprised at how far some creative mixing can go to make a great final result!

Kent Mitomi · September 27th, 2007, 07:53 PM

Hi Cara,

I have the Von Lankens Dvds and have gone to their workshop as well. They have a dvd for camera techniques as well as a new dvd on editing a wedding. They are a great couple and share the knowledge they have learned to help other videographers. The dvds have been a big help for me and easy to understand. If money is tight right now, watch the videos that are posted here. Read the threads and post questions. The talent and help here is just amazing. I am new myself with just under 2 years shooting and editing. Don't give up just yet and just maybe try to learn 1 new technique from here. If I can answer any questions for please let me know.

Kent

Cara Starr · September 27th, 2007, 10:12 PM

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it. I actually have no problem editing. I think it's probably what I am best at. Particularly once i have a song to cut to. I am one of those that envisions a music video in my head every time i hear a song. My problem right now is with my footage. The pre-ceremony stuff is good and i'm proud of several of the creative shots i did. I am OH SO disappointed in the ceremony footage as it was pretty much by candlelight and so so dark. so as i sit editing, i think of everything i could have done differently under the circumstances. I figure at least i'll know the next time.

Vince Baker · September 28th, 2007, 03:14 AM

Hi Cara,

I think all of us here have been in that situation.....not happy with part of the footage and thinking why didnt i do this...and what if....

One thing to bear in mind....although you think the quality is bad, the customer may not. Remember that you are criticle of your work as you understand framing and lighting etc.

You are going to have to put it together anyway, so just piece it together as if the quality was perfect, you will be suprised.

And as you say, next time will be different (and the next time, and the time after that)....

Jason Robinson · September 28th, 2007, 10:33 AM

Consider turning it all into black & white and boosting the brightness / contrast. That may help make it look better. Then play with colorizing it may be so the flowers show up colored, etc.

Douglas Villalba · September 28th, 2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cara Starr

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it. I actually have no problem editing. I think it's probably what I am best at. Particularly once i have a song to cut to. I am one of those that envisions a music video in my head every time i hear a song. My problem right now is with my footage. The pre-ceremony stuff is good and i'm proud of several of the creative shots i did. I am OH SO disappointed in the ceremony footage as it was pretty much by candlelight and so so dark. so as i sit editing, i think of everything i could have done differently under the circumstances. I figure at least i'll know the next time.

It is impossible do anything good under those condition. I hate to even look at footage that looks dark or grainy, but that is the nature of the beast.

I saw at NAB in the FCS2 seminar footage of a Superbowl Commercial that was under exposed as well. What they did was to duplicate the clip and put one on top of the other and used the composite mode to make it look better. It looked better but not good.

You can't see what wasn't there to start with.

I did tried that last week and it improved the look of my clips.

It may help your footage as well.

September 27th, 2007, 10:12 AM	#1
Cara Starr Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Riverbank, California Posts: 32	Von Lanken DVD's good morning. I am happy to report that my 9 week old slept from 11pm to 6am without a break. I am ecstatic! So I am working on editing my footage from the wedding the other day and have decided that i completely suck and need help. :) I usually decide that i suck at anything I do so that I can chicken out and quit before I fail. I don't want to do that this time because I reeeeeeeeeeeeally like doing event videography. I spent a year of college taking film and tv classes, animation/after effects classes and the like so that I would have some clue what i was doing before i began. But they don't have wedding video classes. And i want to be good at this so I am looking at the von lanken training dvd's for help. Problem - i am broke. I stay home with my kids, and my husband is a police officer. (that should sum it up for you - extremely underpaid!) So, if i "splurge" on a training dvd, it can really only be one and it must be good. this is where i need your recommendations. Who has used which one and why do you like it best? or are there any other training resources you recommend?

September 28th, 2007, 10:33 AM	#9
Jason Robinson Trustee Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,997	Dark ceremony Consider turning it all into black & white and boosting the brightness / contrast. That may help make it look better. Then play with colorizing it may be so the flowers show up colored, etc.

September 27th, 2007, 12:05 PM	#2
Bill Grant Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia,SC Posts: 806	Moving Camera Techniques. Hands down the bible on camera movement, framing, DOF, and manual settings, etc. Awesome disk. Bill

September 27th, 2007, 01:27 PM	#3
Richard Wakefield Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 680	u might want to ask a dvinfo regular, Patrick Moreau, if he is still bringing out training DVDs from his company :)

September 27th, 2007, 02:51 PM	#4
Patrick Moreau Still Motion Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,186	We've been getting a lot of questions about them lately but we aren't ready to put them out quite yet. Still deciding on what exactly to include and the best way to present it all. I've never purchased training DVDs myself, but I would say that it is very important to keep in mind the styles you like and how you want to shoot, and make sure whatever DVD your looking at will cater to that style. I believe, and I definitely could be wrong, that the Moving camera Techniques DVD shows how to do handheld and shouldermount camera techniques, among others. Those styles aren't for everybody, so I would keep those things in mind, especially when your looking at only being able to budget one. Patrick

September 27th, 2007, 06:10 PM	#5
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Cara - Don't give up just yet <wink>. What stage of the editing is giving you fits? If you just need to figure out what to put on the final DVD, there's a thread here with various approaches. As far as the actual edit, get the tapes downloaded and synchronized (ceremony) as a first step, look through all the footage you've got, and sort of start to envision where you're going with the video. You're telling a story, so you don't necessarily need every shot of every minute of what happened... Think of movies you've bought or rented, and how they are set up (main feature, chapter menus, outtakes, bloopers, commentaries, other extras. My typical template is for the opening menu a long form complete ceremony (usually only 15-20 minutes), and I've been adding a highlights short lately, since I see lots of that being done, and it's a nice quick overview of the events of the day. Then on a second menu page, I'll put the toasts, the garter and bouquet toss, well wishers, perhaps some goofy dancing, etc, etc. I guess that give you some mixing ideas, mix them up with your own "take" on it! You probably don't suck at this any more than any of us did the first time out <wink>, and we've survived, you'll be fine!! If you have specific questions, dig around the threads here, and if there's not already an answer, there's lots of helpful thoughtful folks, and we "work" cheap! FWIW, I still cringe sometimes at my raw footage, just silly mistakes or "missed takes" - you'll be surprised at how far some creative mixing can go to make a great final result!

September 27th, 2007, 07:53 PM	#6
Kent Mitomi New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 5	Hi Cara, I have the Von Lankens Dvds and have gone to their workshop as well. They have a dvd for camera techniques as well as a new dvd on editing a wedding. They are a great couple and share the knowledge they have learned to help other videographers. The dvds have been a big help for me and easy to understand. If money is tight right now, watch the videos that are posted here. Read the threads and post questions. The talent and help here is just amazing. I am new myself with just under 2 years shooting and editing. Don't give up just yet and just maybe try to learn 1 new technique from here. If I can answer any questions for please let me know. Kent

September 27th, 2007, 10:12 PM	#7
Cara Starr Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Riverbank, California Posts: 32	Hi Dave, Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it. I actually have no problem editing. I think it's probably what I am best at. Particularly once i have a song to cut to. I am one of those that envisions a music video in my head every time i hear a song. My problem right now is with my footage. The pre-ceremony stuff is good and i'm proud of several of the creative shots i did. I am OH SO disappointed in the ceremony footage as it was pretty much by candlelight and so so dark. so as i sit editing, i think of everything i could have done differently under the circumstances. I figure at least i'll know the next time.

September 28th, 2007, 03:14 AM	#8
Vince Baker Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 118	Hi Cara, I think all of us here have been in that situation.....not happy with part of the footage and thinking why didnt i do this...and what if.... One thing to bear in mind....although you think the quality is bad, the customer may not. Remember that you are criticle of your work as you understand framing and lighting etc. You are going to have to put it together anyway, so just piece it together as if the quality was perfect, you will be suprised. And as you say, next time will be different (and the next time, and the time after that)....