How do I make home video look like a real movie?

[macko]

I want to incorporate some TV shows into my home videos, however home video has a different appearance or look then a movie. Not sure how to describe what I mean. Like a sitcom filmed before a live audience looks different then a movie but closer to home video. Do you know what I mean, and can someone help. Thanks, Mack

[jameshgross]

How about 10 or more years experience in Cinematography.
It doesnt come as a toolkit, filter of file type.
Professional quality equipment helps. So does studio lighting.
Home made video will never look like a profession video.

[macko]

It doesn't have to be perfect. I just want to spice up some boring home video a bit. Does it have anything to do with frame rate?

[edDV]

It doesn't have to be perfect. I just want to spice up some boring home video a bit. Does it have anything to do with frame rate?

How much are you willing to invest in learning. We are game if you are.

First describe in as much detail as you can what you want to accomplish.

[macko]

I fortunately have lots of time, patience, and resources. Here is what I would like to do for example. Let's say in one of my home videos I ask someone "who wants to go for a drive". I then would like to splice a scene from a tv show or movie in which the character would answer, "I'll go for a drive with you". That's basically it. I want to splice scenes from movies or shows into home video. Again, it doesn't have to be perfect, just enough so when people are watching it they will notice and perhaps laugh.

[edDV]

I fortunately have lots of time, patience, and resources. Here is what I would like to do for example. Let's say in one of my home videos I ask someone "who wants to go for a drive". I then would like to splice a scene from a tv show or movie in which the character would answer, "I'll go for a drive with you". That's basically it. I want to splice scenes from movies or shows into home video. Again, it doesn't have to be perfect, just enough so when people are watching it they will notice and perhaps laugh.

So do you want to build your home video to TV standards or lower your rip video to home video standard?

[macko]

Home video look would be fine. I still want it to look like I shot it.

[edDV]

Beginning film students hit the books then face their first lab.

They are issued a basic lighting kit, a camcorder similar to the Sony VX-2100 with Bogen tripod/fluid head and a boom pole mic. Their skill isn't yet up to standard but that equipment is similar to what low budget national cable channels would use. Production skill accounts for 80% of result, equipment 20%.

[edDV]

If you want to dumb down pro video, you need to find a way to ruin exposure and make it shaky. Finish with unnecessary zooms and wild pans.

[macko]

I am really not sure why this would seem so difficult. I have taken movie scenes, cut pieces out and spliced them to my home video. The effect I wanted to achieve is there, however the difference in appearance is very pronounced. It looks like to pieces of film just spliced together. I am not looking to purchase new equipment to reshoot home video. I want to use existing video. What about taking individual frames from either and one by one enhancing or applying some kind of effects. I would think this is what you would have to do.

[edDV]

I described the effects needed above, alter exposure, add hand shake, zooms and pans. This can all be done in Premiere or Vegas.

Another way might be to play the video to a large screen and shoot off the screen with a camcorder. Exposure will be tricky and the effect will be less realistic.

[macko]

I have both programs plus others. I guess there is no "magic bullet". Sounds like this is a project that will test my time and patience. Sounds easier to do then it probably is. I will give it a shot anyway. I will report back if I achieve my goal. Thank you for your replies.

[edDV]

Feel free to ask for advice.

[manono]

Don't you think at least part of what he's talking about is the difference in appearance between having been shot on film and having been shot on video? So I would think he wants to give his home videos the "film look" to more closely match his TV caps. Part of that would be to convert from interlaced 30fps to progressive 24fps (or maybe progressive 30fps):

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=122819
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75523
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=87791

And as stated, even if you know AviSynth, this is far from an easy task, smoothing the differences in the videos from 2 such very different sources.

[theewizard]

like it's already been said

talent, time, practice, it takes time to hone the skills, the judgement , the eye,

any one who spends the money can buy the Pc, and software the camera the equipment, it takes time and patience to develope the artistic talent of "getting it right"

its more about lighting and editing than camera & software

unless all your talking about is fancy menus and sound tracks
, that can be done some software & practice

i'm not there and likely, i never will be, nobody is ever going to tell me, that was really great, you belong in hollywood etc..., i'm glad they don't boo..

[macko]

I found this very informative site. The site includes a good video on trying to turn video into film. Bottom line, you really can't do it. Check it out. BTW, thanks for the additional replies.
http://www.izzyvideo.com/2006/05/21/izzy-video-30-film-look/

[edDV]

I found this very informative site. The site includes a good video on trying to turn video into film. Bottom line, you really can't do it. Check it out. BTW, thanks for the additional replies.
http://www.izzyvideo.com/2006/05/21/izzy-video-30-film-look/

But you can make film look like home shot video. Maybe they call it "Video Antiquing" or if you favor smooth video it could be "Film Modernizing".

[spybart]

How about 10 or more years experience in Cinematography.

ahahahahahahahaha

sorry, but this is such a good answer for a question like this