Capturing Memories
Do you have the same problem I do? It seems the older I get the less I remember about my childhood. When I was in my twenties I could project countless memories onto the movie screen within the theater of my mind. Walking tours of houses I lived in. The details of gifts I received on Christmas, 1959, and how my sister and I stayed awake listening intently for sleigh bells that would herald the arrival of Santa. Visits to my grandparents' house and how terrified I was to walk down into the dark, foreboding basement of their home. And a wide variety of other events that I wish I could share but, well, I've forgotten.
Over the past twenty years or so it's almost as if that movie projector in my head has begun to falter. "Film clips" of many events that I had captured and replayed for years have fallen to the floor. And some of those that remain are replayed through a lens that has begun to appear a little out of focus.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to replay hundreds of hours of our childhood memories whenever we wanted to? Perhaps you and I can't, but we can give that priceless gift to our children. A couple of years after our first child was born, my wife and I decided to begin building an archive of memories for our kids so that as they grew to adulthood they would have the privilege of replaying those memories for themselves. So, back in 1987, we dug deep into the family budget and purchased a video camera. They were far more expensive back then than they are now, and at that time, for us, it was a very substantial expense. Two decades and thousands of videotape feet later, we've never regretted it. We now have many hours of the most memorable times our family has spent together. Birthdays, holidays, trips, visits from family members and other important and not so important events are captured.
Not only was the purchase an investment in our immediate family but also in future generations to come. Who among us wouldn't love to see video of our great-great grandparents? What were they like? Were they funny or serious people? What did their voices sound like? What sort of mannerisms did they display? What did they value? Well, you and I may not be able to answer those questions, but our great-great grandkids can have that opportunity.
Today video cameras cost a fraction of what they did in 1987. If you have kids or grandkids and you don't already have a video camera, make the investment. Each year you put it off is another year of memories you miss forever.
There are a number of ways you can enhance the use of your "memory capturer." Here are a few:
Edit as you go.
One of the primary reasons theatrical films, TV shows, and commercials are entertaining to watch is because of the number of their "events per minute," that is, the number of different shots in a given time period. Film and television producers shoot many times more footage than what ends up in the finished piece. But they edit the vast majority of it out, keeping only the best. You probably won't want to post-edit your video to cut out long, extraneous scenes, so as you're shooting your video keep the shots relatively short. Keep in mind how you want the finished piece to look to the future viewer and shoot accordingly. If you do enjoy post-editing and have the software, then by all means, have at it.
Anticipate your shots.
You're basically shooting a documentary of your family. The scenes are not scripted, so, as the "producer/cameraperson," anticipate what is coming next. If shooting a scene that has music in the background, (for instance, at a concert) cut your shot at the end of a musical phrase. The same holds true if you're shooting people talking. Anticipate when someone is going to finish their sentence, then cut at that point. With a little practice you can learn to look in the eyepiece with your right eye and watch the "off camera" action with your left eye. While shooting one scene you'll be able to watch for where you want to pan the camera next.
Don't try to shoot everything.
Remember, the future viewers of your video will tire quickly if there is too much video of an event. I had a friend who shot his family's entire Christmas Eve by setting his camera on a tri-pod and simply letting it roll. Boring!
Vary your shots.
Use different angles. Don't always shoot a scene from the same spot. Alfred Hitchcock was famous for the interesting angles from which he shot the action in his movies. Use your zoom to bring the viewer into the scene. Wide angles are effective for "establishing shots." These are the wide shots that familiarize the viewer with the setting, especially in the beginning of the scene. Zoom in on more intimate moments, such as the look on your son's face when he opens that special present he's been asking for. Pan slowly to the right or left or physically move in, out, or from side to side to give a "point of view" shot of a scene.
Keep your master safe.
The master that your original is on should be kept in a safe place and not used as your viewing tape. Dub copies of your masters and use those copies as your viewing tapes or DVDs. Multiple passes on a section of footage can wear the tape down and DVDs can glitch.
Video your parents and grandparents.
Capture their memories on video. Interview them if necessary. Ask about what the Great Depression was like. Have dad or granddad tell about his adventures in the war. Have them relate what they remember about their parents and grandparents. What a great way to preserve your family's heritage.
Have Family Video Nights.
My kids love watching themselves when they were younger. Watching old family videos as a family offers a great opportunity for reminiscing and interaction. And it helps relive and lock in the feelings and values represented in those memories.
Especially if you still have children at home, a video camera can be one of the best investments you'll ever make in your family. Twenty years from now the money you spend on one won't mean much to you. But the memories you purchased will be priceless.