Fancy yourself as a Quentin Tarrantino? Mark Ulyatt and Andrew Shaw explain how to turn your celluloid dreams into digital reality
EVERYONE has at some point or other has been to see a film and come out thinking, I could have made a better job of that. With the advent of low cost camcorders, cheap video grabbers and the increasing power of the PC, the time has come for you to turn scriptwriter, cameraman and leading actor all in one. Then what better place to show your wares, then the digital cinema of the the Windows 3.1 desktop.
In this article we will illustrate how to make those features, but also show that the applications of digital direction go much further than you'd imagine. Are you a club secretary for example? What better way than to engage on a membership drive than to film a 10-15 second advert, digitise it, stick it on a HD and send it to people with PCs? Check out the example film (POND.AVI which you will find in the DIGIDIR directory on this CD along with all of the other example videos that go with of the imaginary MAC Pond, set in deepest Cheshire.
It's easy to film a 15 second short of your photographic soceity, ramblers club, golf range or whatever, and remember, all PCs with Windows 3.1 can play video clips!
What we'll be showing you on the technical side is what equipment you'll need to go digital, how to film and digitise everything from 10 second quickies to 15 minute films. Then we'll give you loads of ideas for topics, script and filming tips, and how and where to distribute the end result.
And all with the minimum of expense. If it turns into a serious interest then you'll also be pleased to know that we have contact names and adresses for props, agencies, and funding authorities too.
So gather up your best lines, round up your friends, turn on your PC and do it digitally.
