Documenting Your or Your Child’s Life
We’ve all seen those adorable videos of kids that make us smile or laugh. Sometimes kids do things that are cute or make a mess, and those moments are fun to watch and remember. However, memories tend to fade and partially or totally disappear, so recording those moments becomes essential. But is it enough just to record it?
If you’re a parent, you probably have lots of these moments recorded. As the kids grow, the archive of the footage will expand to the uncountable number of videos. At this point, it becomes very difficult to watch part/all of the video to remember important things as it requires huge amount of time and it requires a deep attention, because videos not necessarily are full of action, but mostly full of ‘dead air’.
This article will explain you how to prepare and create a short movie of childhood, whether it is for you or for your child.
Why We Need to Do That
Creating a personal short movie about a childhood is more than just a nostalgic exercise; it’s a powerful way to save memories, capture the fundamentals of past years, and share personal history with future generations. Here are a few compelling reasons to undertake this project:
- Preserving memories: Childhood memories can fade over time. A short movie ensures these moments are documented and can be revisited.
- Sharing Stories: Personal stories can be easy shared with family and friends, providing them with a glimpse into your past and helping to build stronger connections.
- Creative Expression: It’s an opportunity to explore and express creativity through storytelling, cinematography, and editing.
- Emotional Reflection: Re-watching your/your children’s childhood through a short movie can be a therapeutic process, offering a chance to reflect on growth and experiences. Also, using a decent soundtrack a childhood movie enlarges emotional power, what creates a great and warm feelings for a viewer, even if it is not his childhood movie.
How to Learn to Do That
Personal short movie project requires a mix of planning, learning, and creativity. Here’s how you can start.
Research and Inspiration
Watch examples. View short movies and documentaries about childhood to gather ideas and understand different ways of storytelling.
Planning Your Story
Decide the milestone or period from your/your child’s childhood you want to highlight. Create a storyboard and sequence of what you want to show in the movie.
Gather materials
Collect photos and videos that can be used in your movie. Segregate and file footage into the different folders. Folders to be named depending on how you want to categorise them. For example: home, dance, seaside, learning, funny etc.
Learning the technical skills
Online Courses. Platforms like Udemy and MasterClass offer courses in video editing and storytelling.
Tutorials. YouTube is a one big treasure box of courses and tutorials on everything from shooting videos on a smartphone to advanced editing techniques on any video making softwares. Most important thing – it is free of charge, but you have to dedicate your time for learning and gaining video editing skills. Believe us – it is very addictive!
What Video Editing Software You Can Use
Choosing the right software is crucial for bringing your vision to life. Here are some recommendations for beginner video editors:
iMovie (Mac)
Overview. A default video editing software on Mac computers, iMovie is a go-to for Apple users.
Features. Simple timeline-based editing, a range of effects and transitions, easy sharing options.
Pros. Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem, high-quality output, free for Mac users.
Filmora
Overview. An excellent video editing software for beginners due to its intuitive interface and brilliant feature set.
Features. Drag-and-drop functionality, built-in effects, transitions, and templates, supports various video formats.
Pros. Easy to learn, professional-looking results, affordable pricing.
Adobe Premiere Rush
Overview. Designed for on-the-go editing, Adobe Premiere Rush is a simplified version of Adobe Premiere Pro.
Features. Cross-platform support, easy drag-and-drop interface, built-in templates and effects.
Pros. Synchronizes across devices, great for social media content.
Tips for Filming and Video Editing
Camera Level. Keep the camera at the level of the action so you can see your child’s face and understand what’s happening.
Keep Filming. Don’t stop recording too soon. Sometimes the best moments happen when you think the fun is over.
Use Natural Light. The sun provides the best lighting for bright, high-quality videos.
Check the Background. Make sure nothing in the background shows something you don’t want others to see before you start filming or upload a video.
Simple Editing Tools. Use easy and free tools for editing. The right software will make editing enjoyable and ensure your videos are in the correct format.
If you want to publish online, use royalty free music. This is important because using copyrighted music can get your video banned or to be fined.
