Show a a? If they’re still tense “Talk to them ask them questions and have them respond looking into the camera" says Daniel Petrie director of Cocoon: The Return Or to enter the picture and engage them in conversation Once they start talking they’ll relax Also look for humor in holidays Douglas Day Stewart director of Thief of Hearts and the forthcoming Scheider movie says if the granKirk Cameron-Ro- y dparents argue about politics cut to the ldds ignoring them and playing with their food It’s funnier than just panning the table and more accurately reflects what families are like Don’t record everything Choose what’s fun and shoot it get another person WEDDINGS Take 3 (cameras) That’s the best way says Rid Wallace producer of NBC’s LA Law One camera can shoot the ceremony while the other two get reaction shots of guests — people who are happy for the couple people whose feces say this marriage is never going to work Then edit them together But if you’re working with just one camera and if Whether you’re taping the upcoming holidays your lad’s birthday or a wedding 12 experts ted how to make a home video that’s no turkey (It’s easier than you think) DIRECTOR ROBERT TOWNSEND ACTS OUT TOP VIDEO TIPS hanksgiving dinner Christmas morning your birthday a lavish wedding You’re settling down for a relaxing time with family and friends when suddenly you look over and see it The video camera aimed straight at your face Home videos are hot Millions of people are putting family memories on screen and the fastest-growin-g way to do it is the camcorder — a combination video camera and VCR Two million camcorders are in US homes right now that number is expected to shoot to 44 million in five years So grab your camcorder or rent one and follow this creative advice from Hollywood directors HOLIDAYS short shots You don’t want your home movie to look like an Andy Warhol film four houn of one Go for uninterrupted shot (usually of a turkey) Robert Green-wal- d director of Sweet Hearts Dance and TV’s The Burning Bed suggests: Break up the action with “cuts” Do short shots lasting only a few seconds of different scenes or objects in the room Later mix them with the long shot (For editing tips see box) And get the range of the holiday not just the feast Q USA WEEXENDNOVtMBER 1388 day A few days ahead get short shots of the shopping the preparations On the day of the holiday get shots of setting the table the guests arriving Then move to the dinner and the guests at various times of the day Robert Townsend who directed the movie Hollywood Shuffle and two HBO specials urges you to plan your video before you take out the camera Make a storyboard — a sketch scene by scene of everything you want to film “They can even be stick figures” says Townsend “of your favorite relative the turkey the dynamite pie that Aunt Suzy always makes” Or you could simply write a short script or a list of the shots you’ll want to remember says Susan Seidel-ma- n (director of Desperately Seeking Susan and Cookie due in early ’89) Decide ahead of time whether to shoot the scene in close-up- s or at a distance “If it’s an emotional family reunion or Mom’s bringing out the turkey and it’s the best one she’s ever cooked move in close-u- p and get those feces” she says To get people to relax do what documentary filmmakers do suggests Scidelman Bring the camera in early and pretend to shoot Eventually people get so used to the camera being around that they’re no longer That’s when you turn on the mar-hius not too intrusive shoot the ceremony from behind the results: the bride and person conducting it The feces instead backs of their heads Afterthe of groom’s ward shoot the guests Interview them get their critiques of the ceremony and comments about the couple Then have each give a toast to the couple on-fil- m KID S’ PARTIES Don’t be too cute Directing kids requires a straight-o- n approach says Sam Weisman a director of NBCs Family Ties “Talk to them and be clear about what you want them to do Encourage them to be natural above all” Consider turning the video into a roast Have each child get up and say something about the host or birthday child Amy Heckeriing director of National Lampoon’s European Vacation and Daddy’s Home confesses she’s “hopeless technically and can’t operate these cameras” So she hired a film school friend to shoot her daughter’s birthday party Her main advice to him: “Remember who’s the birthday girl “If parents are going to be really honest they’ll admit that they’re only interested in their kids And that’s all I wanted to watch her doing what she naturally does" |