How to Improve Home Movies

Home movies are treasured reminders of time spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, many home movies are boring to anyone who isn't in them, and even sometimes to those who are. It is possible to improve home movies by changing the way the movies are filmed. The result is movies that are interesting and fun to watch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Avoid over-planning the movie. It’s possible that nothing exciting will happen, but if it’s too staged, it will be boring. The most interesting home movies happen when spontaneous things are allowed to occur.
2. Keep the movies short if you want to keep the attention of the people who watch them. A 3-hour home movie is not likely to be enjoyed by many. Try to capture the best moments you can without filming past the point of interest.
3. Make sure the point of interest is in the middle of the shot. People will focus on the middle of screen. If you are filming one person, try to keep their eyes in the middle and make sure their entire face is in the shot.
4. Improve the look of the movie by trying different angles to film the same thing. These angles will all tell a slightly different story.
5. Use a tripod for your camera. This will greatly improve the look of the movie as it cuts down on the jittery scenes that make home movies difficult to watch. And with a tripod, the one shooting the movie can get into the action as well.
6. Turn off the date stamp after the movie is underway. This feature is nice for dating the movie, but it can be distracting if it stays on throughout.