Sources for simple home movie ideas

Hi all,

As a novice filmaker armed with a sony SR100 and Vegas7, I'd like to make some simple, easy films with my kids. I'm looking for something simple that we could do around the house or in the neighborhood, and then bring it into Vegas for transitions, audio, effects and such.

Does anyone know of a good source (books, websites, etc.) for simple movie ideas/scripts like this? Thanks!

For my cheesy home videos we just have an idea and wing it. You could use anything for a movie idea. Ive done a bully movie, ninja movie, poker movie all with the kids.

Joey

Thanks for the reply Lucas!

Any way you could describe some of those movies? I might want to emulate one of them with my own kids. At this point I'm less interested in coming up with something original than I am just getting my kids excited about film-making, plus I'd give ya full credits at the end. :)

My wife was ready to shoot me when I did this but I gave the video camera to the kids to play with when they were like 9 and 6. They came up with so much fantastic stuff it amazed me. There's nothing like a kid for real imagination. They were doing special effects too and this was way before computer editing. They had each other disappearing in the video then reappearing over and over again. They were popping in and out like crazy and they had their stuff doing it too. They made up a whole line of stuff to explain why they were disappearing too. Only a kid could come up with stuff like that and make it sound convincing. Kids have such great imagination.

I can't begin to tell you how great that video is now that my kids are grown. They didn't damage my camera at all either. My wife is so glad I talked her into letting the kids use the camera for a while. It's something I'll cherish for a long time. It was way better than anything I would have set up for them to do. Parents really do lose the ability to play with the imagination of a kid when they grow older.

If you have an older camera I would suggest doing that. I knew my kids would be pretty careful with my camera but still they were kids and I'm sure they could have had an accident but I was lucky and besides I knew we would get another camera if the kids busted that one or cracked the lens or whatever. :)

Hey thanks King, and what a great idea! I may just try that with our old analog cam. Anyone else out there in home-movie land have any good script suggestions or ideas? Lucasberg, might you have the time to describe some of your kid-movies in more detail? Gratis all!! :)

I have a lot of "Kids" movies where the kids just stand and stare at the video camera...

Get them involved in some activity and shoot a lot of video, then that's where editing can make it a good video. Go to a park, let them play ball, fly a kite. Go to the zoo, film your kids as they see the animals. I've had my grand kids watch an older video of themselves while I tape them, used their comments to add as narration to the original video. Throw them in the yard and turn the sprinkler on. Have an Atomic Fireball contest, who can keep one in their mouth the longest before spitting it out. How long can a kid stand on their head? Do some time lapse (speed up the video in editing), or even reverse it.

Kids do some crazy things when playing, without a script...



Rich

If your software permits you to do picture in picture...

Do a mini movie where there are twins (even though there aren't)

This can be done by taping the same person at two different times in the same location using your camera on a tripod to hold the frame of the shot. Then you can overlay the footage along the same timelne and crop out the left or right on the overlay video leaving the background video to show your other half in the same shot at the same time.

An example would be to sit down at a dining room table (opposite ends of table) and have diner with yourself maybe a nice little conversation.

Pull it off well and you'll have the in-laws and family members scratching their heads in awe. (at least the less technical ones)

Have fun with the script... after all you and your long lost twin should have lots to talk about, it's been so long since you have spoken.

;)

I work nights so there are times when mommy goes out to get a break from the kids.

One idea is to go through what happens while mommy is gone. Keeping the camera close and the shots short, outline the hole day. Makes for less editing when kept short.

Example of one I made for mommy:

Cleaning up the house - kids involved (brownie points you know!)

Playing Candy Land - A little longer to get just the right moment.

Oops spilled a pop, time to clean the floor.

Chasing the dog around the back yard.

Jumping on the trampoline

MMM lunch time - grilling out

MMM look at our spread - what a feast!

Time for a bike ride! -:O kids in pull behind carrier with the camera videoing.

Hey! stop videoing my bum!!!

Concluding with a loving we missed you mommy end to the movie.

She loved it BTW

:)

Tip for kids that freeze up upon being filmed....

Film in the living room or where ever your tv is located. mount the camera close as you can near the TV...possibly just above the TV.

Now hook up the camera so the the TV brodcasts what the camera sees (turn down TV volume to remove feedback) Most kids will come alive when they see them selves on TV. Maybe throw on music for them to dance to.

I have also video'd the kids singing into the computer like a Kareoke which turns out good too.

Bring out the star in them!

Great ideas all! Keep 'em coming.

This weekend I filmed my sons battling in Star Wars halloween costumes. Now to add some light-saber sound effects and bright screen flashes. :)