Notes: In my descriptive speech I would give recommendation concerning home videos. I would not go into much detail. Instead, I would describe the steps that must be kept in mind. I would give some technical details. Purpose: to help create a good home video. Goal: to narrate about an object in a way the audience can visualize the image. Structure: technical details are few but they are recommendations that may be used by the audience. I expect from my audience some knowledge about operating a video camera. My intention is to present the process of creating a home movie in a series of steps. I would never say that many home videos are awful because a home video is not a documentary movie. Its plot may be narrated by editing the event and cutting all that is of minor importance. Creative ideas: home video may not mirror the event; it may show it from a certain perspective. So, memorable events may be performed with the help of the material available. I would make my audience interested in the described object: a home movie that is unique, exclusive, miraculous, and entertaining. Then I would describe the process of creating a good home movie with the steps singled out in separate paragraphs. I would modestly believe, in my conclusion, that the audience would follow my advice. I would talk to the audience as an expert who can talk shop without annoying details. I would never say overtly that many home videos are rubbish. But my recommendations would put it in the implicit – first think, then make a movie of your life.
The intended audience: not friends with technical appliances
DVD movie creation needs skills and experience
Whenever I look in the mirror, I try not to see the changes all of us have to experience with time. However, DVD movie creation commemorates the most cherished and remembered episodes of our lives and makes us feel good, refreshing memories about events and dates, places and people in vivid and unique images. All of us can’t help gathering together to enjoy watching unforgettable moments archived on DVDs, sharing memories and being proud of our looks. I would like to reveal some secrets to you – how to make a good home video. First of all, you have to transfer the video data from the camera into the computer. For that, you need a video capture card to save the material on the hard drive using the card’s hardware encoder. The best solution is constant bit rate (CBR). Keep in mind that the volume of information must be less than that of DVD disc. Second, video editing programs will help you cut unwanted data and adding effects. My favorite is MGI Video Wave. However, something fantastic may be created with the help of professional software programs. I would recommend Adobe Premiere among others. To save edited video material, use AVI format. Do not forget to sane your audio file in a separate WAV file. By the way, if you want to play the video back on TV, use non-square pixels, keep the color range limited, and use interlaced frames. In case the movie is played back on the PC, you would need square pixels, an expanded color range, and progressive frames. Third, authoring is one of the most creative steps in the DVD creation. It’s a matter of great convenience if you know how to cope with authoring in the best possible way. You need to define the following things. Decide what would be the number of chapters to which the player may skip. Think over the overall menu structure. Get an idea of how many sound-tracks you would have. Imagine what effect you want to achieve while watching the movie. Remember that the disc may either play in an automatic regime or show the menu. Fourth, note that previewing is necessary before creating DVD files on hard drive. You may store DVD files in Video_TS and Audio_TS directories. It is necessary to check into opening the file from the Video_TS (the one with VOB extension) in the DVD player. Test DVD files using different players. You must be sure that when your audience is impatiently waiting for the video, technical problems might spoil these expectations. To make a long story short, I would like to remind you of DVD burning. For this, use Nero Burning ROM software. It will help you select a desirable speed of recording. The process of burning takes about several minutes. Now, your DVD is ready for use. When all technical preparations are over, you may fit the disc into the player and watch. You’re lucky to have the best images of yourself, for you have cut all which was not very much to your liking. Your home video product is a well polished mirror for you. But you’re worth it, having spent much time working on high quality and making a video presentation of the event. My granny told me a story of her mother who was admired by a photographer. He wanted to take her photo in the studio, but she agreed to have it taken only together with her sister. They faced the photographer together, saying “cheese”, but she stopped going out with him when she saw a picture where no sister of hers was present. By this I mean: do not concentrate on one particular person that is dear to you. Remember that your video is contextually bound. Do not distort facts. There may be details that you would be able to appreciate many years later. I wish you trained properly before creating your masterpiece. Narrate a story for entertaining your audience. Personally, we need memories of the event. But creatively, we want a miracle which is inherent in our being – a miracle of living, having fun, and enjoying ourselves. Good luck and interesting ideas!