FAQ's

How do I record with my smartphone?

You should always record video horizontally. It maintains the correct aspect ratio to playback on all video players. In other words, the video will fill the whole screen when played back on your laptop or uploaded to YouTube. If you record a video vertically it creates two black strips on either side of the video during playback to fit the height of the video and therefore does not use the full screen. Additionally, here are some other great tips to keep in mind when recording with your smartphone, https://wistia.com/learn/production/shooting-video-with-an-iphone

How do I ensure good sound quality?

Some great tips for getting better sound in your smartphone videos are available here: https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/film-advice/3-simple-tricks-to-record-great-audio-with-your-phone

How do I ensure good lighting?

Some tips you can keep in mind when finding the perfect lighting for your video are available here:  https://www.techsmith.com/blog/get-perfect-lighting-video/

 

How to trim a video with iMovie?

you can add or remove frames with the clip trimmer.

  1. In the timeline, select the clip you want to trim.
  2. Choose Window > Show Clip Trimmer. The clip trimmer appears over the timeline.
  3. Do one of the following: Extend the clip: Drag the edge of the clip away from its center. …
  4. Press Return to close the clip trimmer
  5. Hide other people faces for privacy

Where can I get free images and sound to use in my video?

York University offers some free resources: https://teachingcommons.yorku.ca/resources/free-resources/

 There are several websites that offer royalty free sound and music, here are links to a few examples:

There are several websites that offer free images, a few examples are listed below:

How do I use Microsift Photos to make and edit video?

For PC computers with Microsoft Windows, you have a free option that comes with your computer (Microsoft Photos Application). If you have on older version of Windows, you may also try Microsoft Movie Maker (Free – with Windows).


Tutorials: The videos below are very short – and they help you address the different tools and features of video editing

      1. Getting Started: Starting a Project and Importing Your Media (Images, Video Clips, Photographs)
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30s-vPccI8A&t=9s
      2. Editing: Sequencing Images and Video Clips, Editing and Trimming Clips
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEyn2NYVZqw&t=2s
      3. Adding Texts and Titles
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LM43thAjhI
      4. Sound Files: Audio Clips, Music and Voice-Overs
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns0JPLpN8t8
      5. Here is a different (longer) video that discusses most of basic aspects of video making using Microsoft.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edKDxJ7C8HE