Videography Advice Requested

Early next year I'd like to finally start making some YouTube videos. Some will be interviews of ordinary casino workers, and those with other common Vegas jobs. Others will be straight forward gambling instruction. However, about all I understand about my video camera is the on and off button.

I'm looking for somebody to record and edit the videos. This should include, at a minimum, the ability to add captions, graphics, and music. I'd prefer somebody who can give constructive comments on general direction too. This would pretty much have to be somebody who lives locally. I'm sure I can find somebody by searching, but would like to extend the offer to members of the board first.

Hah, might be a time factor with you. But I'll try to convince you that a 7 year old could learn to use Moviemaker pretty quick.

You drag clips (just like pictures) and drop them where you want them. You have many premade FX that you drop in place. Type titles/captions instantly that appear in all kinds of formats for you to choose from to appear at the beginning end, or over the video. Cutting clips in half and rearranging them is a click event.

Here's one of many short videos on youtube on editing and video. (i picked this randomly, but there's many to choose from)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZXK68NS7gU&feature=related

Yes, I think the days when there was a need for a professional videographer are long gone. Too many simple editing programs exist.

Some hints:
Keep the volume at a consistent setting, I hate it when they switch to a different person speaking and the volume changes.
Keep any Intro's short. If you make several tapes and put them on YouTube with autoplay ... viewers will become tired of hearing the same old Intro over and over, so keep it brief.
Make the titles truly representative and succinct. The title will often be displayed in truncated fashion so don't waste those first few characters.

Quote: FleaStiff

Yes, I think the days when there was a need for a professional videographer are long gone.

Although I suppose a pro can see the difference, I suspect 99% of the people won't know that you're not a master filmmaker (okay, maybe that's a little stretch on being a master, but it can look pretty good).

I also forgot to mention, adding music, or just sounds is easy too. You can drag any old mp3 files and other common sound files into the program. You can visually see where they are on the timeline related to the frames and drag forward or back.

YOU can even try this program with pictures and and mp3, making essentially a crude animated slide film. Although there are even easier programs for doing that. But that's how easy it is.