I Can Create a Video Biography on My Own, Right?
Ah, now that’s a good question. And my gut response will be a resounding YES! But it might help to keep a few things in mind.
1) If your family stories are so far stored in your mind or that of a relative’s mind… and you don’t wish to go the professional route in preserving them… then by all means, wait no longer. Arm yourself with a camera and a recorder, and get started NOW. Because the first and most important impediment in doing it yourself is that ‘later’ always seems like a better time. Between home, work, children and chores, there is a lot to be accomplished in a day… and recording life stories could seem like the lesser urgent of things on the to-do list. Well, that’s mistake number one! Before you undertake this project on your own, it is very important to be convinced of its value… because once the opportunity to document a loved one’s stories slips by forever, you don’t want to have to live with the regret that you chose to go grocery shopping over having a conversation with someone important to you.
2) If you’re interviewing someone you are familiar with, be warned that your most natural handicap is going to be the lack of objectivity. It might seem that you already know certain phases of that person’s life or that there isn’t a need to go into detail about certain things… but keep in mind that the people watching this video will not necessarily have the background information that you do. And also consider the possibility that the information you already possess about this person might not be all there is to him / her… and the events in question. It could get particularly tricky when you’re interviewing your parents or children… because there might be some things they are not comfortable sharing with someone as closely related as you are. It’s odd but self-censorship can sometimes be more pronounced while talking with someone you care about, than if it were a random stranger!
3) Technology – Getting access to a handycam is not difficult these days. If you don’t have one, chances are you know of someone who does. But what about picture quality, white balance, focus, framing a shot… not to mention audio quality? How are you going to record the subject’s voice using a microphone? And will you be able to monitor the playback quality? Are you comfortable with the editing process – because in case they said something they no longer want included in the video, it will be necessary to cut that portion out. If you’re not familiar with these aspects of technology, then you might want to rope in the assistance of a younger relative to help you out… or be mentally prepared that the video will not be as near perfect as you may wish it to be!
Anyone can create a Video Biography – yes. Just like anyone can take photographs of a wedding… just click the button on the camera and you’re good to go. But there’s a reason why people choose to invest in a professional photographer for that important day in their lives. It’s so that the pictures are as beautiful as their memories of it… and so that no part of it is missed out on. Imagine if there ‘wasn’t enough time to get ready to click the ring exchange’ or the first kiss as man and wife… or if some shots were blurry and out of focus… or the framing was all wrong and important people were unintentionally cut off from the picture. Imagine if that’s how somebody’s wedding pictures actually turned out… and it was these pictures that future generations looked at? If these pictures were all they had to base their impressions of you and your family on?
Well, it’s the same for Video Biographies. There’s a reason why professionals do it for you. And it’s so that the greatest story of your life… your life itself… gets the importance it deserves by making sure that not only do you look and feel your best while talking about it, but also that the lighting is perfect, the frame is aesthetically pleasing, the questions are carefully crafted to draw out stories of your life experiences, the sound is clear and that the video is seamlessly edited. Because you’re not only creating a document of your stories and memories… you’re also creating a valuable family heirloom to be shared with the generations to follow!
Author: Aditi Worcester
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax
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