Today I Talk About this Mouse

This week's video is about the awesome $10 Zelotes Gaming Mouse. It lights up and changes color-- pretty lit.

Why movies have black bars - video essay

Last week I found myself wondering why movies have black bars. Why were they put there in the first place, and why do we still use them? I did some research and found some really interesting answers, so here's my final conclusion in the form of a little video essay!

Here's a video in which I take a bunch of comments viewers have left on my channel and reply to them.
Vlog with Ringgot?
Does finding a stick make you rich?
Find out by watching this video:

How to edit an object out of an image

Wow... I haven't posted on here in a while...

This is a video in which I show how to make an object  in a shot appear as if it was never there to start with. You can use this if you left a piece of film equipment in the background, or if a pedestrian strolls through your post-apocalyptic setting.

At the end of the video, I show how to create an advanced version of this effect using Mocha.
But I did it wrong :O
So here's a video showing how to do it the right way:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaH9YHY4aEo

Quabbler/Digital Blast goes to England!

Yo! A few weeks ago I flew to England! [Of course] I took a camera with me and filmed a few videos! A bit of editing later, I bring you the blog megapost featuring everything!
[Most importantly] I filmed a cinematic video while in London, as well as two vlogs (and one extra vlog in New York City on my way back:)

The videos previously featured on this post have been removed because they make the site take ages to load. They are still on my YouTube channel, and there are hyperlinks in the text ^

This week: A short film, 1 funny moments video, 1 highlight video (with a special guest!), a vlog, and an Easter special in which I build some rabbits!

Today we look at a few text styles that are easy to create and also look awesome! Enjoy the video!

Today in the world of block game we use the wrong class! Despite my ill preparations, it worked out in the end.

It has been many moons since I uploaded a video like this! Enjoy the short!

Triple Speedart

This video has 3 speedarts in it! Two are thumbnails for gaming videos, and the last one is from a vlog (all of which will be linked when uploaded to my second channel)

Aperture and I.S.O.

Watch this week's video by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

The Basics:
Aperture is the diameter of the hole in the lens that light enters through, and it determines the brightness of the image. The larger your aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. Aperture is expressed as f/a number, and a larger aperture is expressed as a smaller number.
I.S.O. is how much light is needed for your camera to produce an image with the proper exposure. The larger your aperture is, the lower you can set the I.S.O., which will result in less grain. Grain usually becomes noticeable when using an I.S.O. of 1600 or above.

Tips and Techniques for Filming a Vlog

This week we look at a few tips and techniques for setting up a vlog-style shot. Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch the video.
1. Lighting should generally not be intended to appear dramatic. Consistency is the top priority. Tips: if you are using a bright light, don't get it too close to yourself to avoid being overexposed, and if the light is too harsh, try using diffusion like an umbrella on a light.
2. Leading lines are a great way to compose your frame. Find an angle with multiple lines that intersect at the point of interest (probably your face.)
3. Pick your lens wisely. A wider lens will make it easier for you to stay in frame and in focus. Turning up the aperture value of your lens will achieve a similar effect in terms of focus, but will also introduce grain into the image.
4. Depth is one of the most overlooked qualities of a shot, and it is also one of the most important qualities. For good depth, try putting more distance between yourself and the background.
5. The background itself is also very important. Do some creative production design! The YouTube Creator Academy has a great tutorial about this.

The Clutchiest Skybridge Moment in the History of Time

Is this even skillful? Not being a scientist, I do not know...

A New Speedart!

Today we're back with another thumbnail speedart! In this one I make a thumbnail for a video on my other channel!

RC Failures and Derpfulness

In today's vlog we fly a helicopter and it derps out!

Soccer in Minecraft

Today we play soccer . . . in Minecraft!?

Using Presets

This week we look at using presets to make adding combinations of effects a breeze!

This is my first block game video. Enjoy!

Hey there, I need you help naming my logo! If you would like to suggest a name, just leave it in the comments. Enjoy the video!

Pre-Production Process (#youtubersofthemonth)

This video is my entry into Ziovo's Youtuber's of the Month competition! Enjoy!

Exhibit: Film Episode 2!

In this exciting episode of Exhibit: Film we look at a CG render by Gleb Alexandrov and discuss using movement in a still image.

Why do I not film in that old studio anymore? Enjoy the short and find out!

Riding a Scooter-Bike

Today we ride around on a weird thing!

The Return of Speedarts!

Due to technical obstacles, I haven't been able to record speedart videos over the past few months. Those issues have been resolved, so sit back and enjoy the return of speedarts!

Focus Pulling Tips

Watch today's video:

There aren't many people who can pull focus quickly without overshooting or undershooting their target focus.
It's a common misconception to think that pulling focus and racking focus are the same thing. Pulling focus is gradually moving the focus to keep it locked on an object as that object or the camera moves, whereas racking focus is moving the focus from one object to another.
Tip #1: Spend a few minutes every day "practicing" focus pulling by walking around and pulling focus between random objects. Over time you'll become faster and more accurate (the same technique can be used to improve your zooming in/out or adjusting exposure.
Tip #2: Increase your camera's aperture. Technically, this decreases the amount of light being let into the lens*
Tip #3: Use a follow focus (a device that makes focus pulling smoother and more accurate.) You can buy one (about $70-200) or click one of the links below:
Frugal Follow Focus
Knoptop DSLR Homemade Focus Assist
Film Riot $5 Follow Focus
BONUS TIP: Don't rack focus without reason. A random transition from one object to another is awkward and doesn't often make sense.



*when buying a lens, make sure to note the aperture. It will be listed as f/value. A higher number will have a shallower depth of field and a darker image; a lower number will have a shallower depth of field and a brighter image

NEW SERIES!

Welcome to a new series! In this series, we'll look at images and go through the steps the creators took to make them tell a story and look interesting.
*if you would like me to make a video about a certain image, send it to me in the comments!*

Is Teal and Orange BAD?

Today's video:

Let's cut to the chase. Here's what I'm talking about.
The teal and orange color scheme is taking over the film industry, bit by bit. It exists for a few reasons:
Most skin tones can be tied to the color orange.
Blue and orange are complimentary colors, so they look nice together and create visual contrast.
A lot of things on movie sets are teal and orange. The sky, wooden housing, and even the sky and ground.
The problem with teal and orange is that as it becomes the standard color scheme, people feel like that is what they have to do. Long story short, it makes people less creative.
Another problem is that the film industry is beginning to tailor itself to the teal and orange color scheme. Lights, gels, and other gear is being tinted blue and orange, and there are programs that mimic the look of Hollywood blockbusters.
All in all, just do what is best for your scene. If something doesn't make sense, don't do it.

Sledding Fails

In today's vlog we slide down a hill on a thing until we fall off!

Human Eye VS Camera

Watch today's video:

Cameras have evolved quite a lot lately. Breakthroughs in resolution, camera stabilization, and other fields have led cameras to the brink of surpassing the quality of the human eye. Are we there yet?
Resolution: While the exact "resolution" of the eye is debated, it is estimated to be capable of seeing around 570 megapixels, but can only distinguish about 7 of them. The highest quality camera is a satellite camera capable of photographing 121 megapixels.
Frame Rate: The  human eye "sees" roughly 60 FPS (frames per second) whereas the highest framerate achieved by a camera comes from a camera developed by MIT which shoots around 1 trillion FPS (used to visualize the movement of light.)
Low-Light: While a casual DSLR may be outplayed by your eyes in low light, cameras like the Sony A7s perform much more effectively in low-light.
However high your image quality may be, what's most important is still how you use those images and other tools to tell a story.

Doughnut Adventure Vlog

In today's vlog we eat doughnuts and it turns out they aren't healthy!

How to be Less Awkward on Camera

This week we discuss how to be less stuttery and awkward in front of the lens.Watch this Friday's video by clicking below:

Many people have trouble being natural in front of the lens, so here a few tips to improve your skills, whether you aspire to be a vlogger, news anchor, or anything else.

1. Write a script!: Appearing unprofessional in front of the camera is often the result of a lack of preparation. Just write down your lines before you hit record, and your life will be unbelievably easier.

I begin by making a list of bullet points containing everything that will be covered in the video. I then adapt those bullet points into a final script, which I position out of frame and read off of as I record.

2. Edit, edit, EDIT: Editing is essential to a concise and entertaining video. Many people like to use the jump-cut style of editing, where the best lines are cut together, and everything in between is ditched. This saves time, and keeps the video flowing at a fast pace. This way, if you say a line incorrectly, you can just remove it in post and replace it with a better clip.

3. It takes time: Like any new skill, speaking in front of a camera may feel unnatural at first. Some people have no problem in front of the lens, where others may feel uncomfortable for a long time. The only way to get better  is to just do it. Practice, practice, practice, and you'll be there in no time.

The Difference Between Feedback and Hate

This week we tackle the difference between constructive criticism and hate!

An overview of the video is written below (if you wish to read it.)

The crucial difference between feedback or constructive criticism (CC) is that criticism is offered to someone with the intention if making their future work better, where hate is imposed upon someone in order to just make them feel bad.
Clearly, feedback is the better way to go.

[un]Official Rules of Criticism:

1. You must give positive feedback, not just negative comments. For example: I love the beat of your song, but the lyrics were a bit repetitive.
2. You should never just tell someone that they are bad. Saying something along the lines of your vids r bad isn't feedback, because there is no way the creator can improve in the future.
3. Different people will make different differentiations between feedback and hate. What one person might take as feedback, another person may call out as a hate comment.
4. Finally, in order to improve yourself, you must welcome feedback from other people. Without taking the advice of those around you, you will progress at a very slow rate and take much longer to "master" you craft  ;)

Welcome!

Welcome! I've had a- well, actually two YouTube channels for a while now, but today is the day I branch out into the realm of blogs! I've made vlogs, I've seen dogs, and I've heard frogs, but never have I run a blog. So... this will be something new for both of us. Me at least.

If you'd like to check out either of my YouTube channels, you can give them a look below:

Random Banter Channel

[slightly more] Sophisticated Filmmaking Channel