How to Use a Zoom Shot – Why the Best Shots Work
Zoom shots fall into a very specific category of editing and shooting techniques the title of which should be, “Just Because You Can Doesn’t Necessarily Mean You Should!”
Zoom shots can be used to make something look incredibly good or incredibly cheesy and the danger is that it is a fine line.
Here’s everything you need to know about zoom shots so you can look like a cinematic genius rather than the king of cheesiness.
Basic Camera Settings for Beginner Filmmaking
This is quite a good explanation of the basic settings available to you on the average camera being used for shooting video.
Just using “auto” settings is really not allowing you to take full advantage of what you can get out of any reasonably good camera.
It is also very restrictive because you can’t really shoot anything that involves moving from one location or shooting angle to another.
Usually what happens is that the auto white balance or auto exposure somehow kicks in and you get a noticeable change.
Learning to operate manually opens the door to much greater possibilities.
It is also a good idea to learn these settings even if you are using a phone to shoot videos.
Most phones these days allow for quite a good deal of control over these settings as well.
Computer Requirements for PowerDirector 365
This is the weekly livestream by Maliek from the PowerDirector University YouTube channel.
I don’t always add these ones because they are generally quite long (around an hour) and unless you are a diehard PowerDirector user, can be a little off topic.
However this week Maliek covers the often thorny subject of computer specs for running PowerDirector efficiently.
The reason this one has more general appeal is that even though they are talking about PowerDirector the exact same specifications apply regardless of what software you are using.
Worth checking out.
Crop, Rotate – PowerDirector Basics
This is another in a recent series of basic tutorials created by CyberLink for new (and old!) users of PowerDirector.
Given that the interface of the program was drastically revamped a year or so ago this is a welcome series of videos.
Now before you start watching any of them I should warn you!
The videos are technically correct, well thought out and easy to follow but!
They have used rather unimaginative A.I voice generation to narrate the videos so… there’s that.
Best Cameras for YouTube Videos in 2025 (From Cheap to Expensive)
OK. I have a camera I use for mainly YouTube or social media work.
That camera is a Sony ZV-E10 and the reason I have it is because my brother in law is a pro cinematographer and he said I should get that one.
That is the the level of knowledge and research I personally brought to the transaction!
It works fine, takes pictures, records 4K videos and from a technical standpoint that’s all I am pretty much interested in.
Clearly I am not someone you should be taking advice from regarding choosing a camera although if you want I can show you how to do it yourself here: Choosing a Camera
Occasionally someone whose information I actually trust comes up with a camera review video aimed at a particular audience so below is just that!
How to insert video in Filmora 14 – Tutorial for Beginners
From the outside this looks like a pretty simple and basic video from Jacky on adding a video to the timeline.
Most people know that as a standard drag and drop process which applies to just about all video editing software.
However that scenario basically only works when you are dealing with an empty timeline.
Adding a video when you a midway through a project is an entirely different matter.
When you are doing this not only are you adding a video but you also have to make decisions about how you want the existing assets already present to behave.
To you want nothing else to move, everything else to move, only assets on the same track to move… the list goes on.
So here’s how to deal with that situation and even if you are not using Filmora the software you have will have similar choices for you to make.
DaVinci Resolve for Beginners – Easier Keyframes & Animations
Before the release of DaVinci Resolve 20, one of the clunkier aspects of the programs was trying to work with keyframes to animate objects or other assets.
Sometimes to had to go into the Color Page and other times you had to use the Fusion Page (quelle horreur!) although sometimes you could do some stuff in the Edit Page… but only sometimes!
Now that we are at Resolve 20 all of that has changed and keyframing is way more accessible and user friendly.
Shockwave & Energy VFX in DaVinci Resolve – for Superheroes and Action Scenes
These are some seriously cool effects you can create using the Fusion Page in DaVinci Resolve.
And just before you start to mentally tune out at the mention of the Fusion Page, relax!
These effects are visually stunning and thankfully quite easy to pull off!
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