get her out shooting things. she can figure out the tech details as she goes: she's 12 & doesn't need to know how to do certain things for a job/client. :)

if she's using Vegas (if you have Vegas & are thinking of upgrading to 8, you can give her your old copy, 100% legit, just tell Sony) the help file is a gift from God... if you use it. :)

plus, as a student she gets all student discounts so you could get here Vegas 8 + DVDA for ~$270 when it comes out (student discount!).

but that's what I'd have her do. All she NEEDS to know how to do is hit the "record" button on the camera, capture & render. Maybe some simple editing. A help file/manual can walk you through all the tech processes on that. She can learn as she goes.

Have her watch the movies of the great directors.
Have her watch them a second time with the sound off.

Have her recreate a scene from one these movies. It could be something simple like two people having a conversation at a dinner table.

my course notes:

http://users.bigpond.net.au/kay.wand/video_course/guerrilla%20doc%27s%20web%20version.pdf

leslie

Wow Leslie! That was truly very generous of you to share. Excellent outline on the creation of a Doco.

Your are a Star!

Grazie

I must repeat Grazie's comments " Wow Leslie! That was truly very generous of you to share. Excellent outline on the creation of a Doco. Your are a Star!"

I would consider "hollywoods Works" video training stuff. Great information of camera techniques.... but not free.







'

"Have her watch the movies of the great directors.
Have her watch them a second time with the sound off.

Have her recreate a scene from one these movies. It could be something simple like two people having a conversation at a dinner table. "

You bugger!! LOL
I actually use this method for teaching hahahahaha

Have her check out these instructional videos at Digital Juice's site. There are many topics covered.

Go to The Film Foundation web site (www.film-foundation.org) and download Making Movies: A Guide for Young Filmmakers. It is an excellent guide that is targeted at her age group.

As far as training videos on technique, there is not a lot out there. Everyone assumes that everyone knows the basics so no one makes training videos on it. The only one I've found is John Cooskey's "Advanced Broadcast Camera Techniques". I picked it up on eBay for $25. It's a 2 DVD set and it was worth every penny. His first advice was to get the camera away from your eye and go for low shots, angled shots, waste shots, opposite shots, etc. This is exactly the advice that beginners need so that all of their video isn't shot at shoulder level from one vantage point. He also covers lighting on a budget (with stuff you can buy at home depot) and in general, just gives sound advice for beginners.

~jr

Have her watch the movies of the great directors.

I'd say as long as it's enforced it's a teaching method, yes. I'd want to see movies made by her not someone else's camera work, scripting, sound methods, etc. but done by her. plus, how is she supposed to watch many movies by great directors... many aren't kid appropriate ("alien", one of my fav's, for example!).

http://www.victormilt.com/index.html . .and of course our very own Vic Milt!!![/link]

Yes his work has depth, but also that intangible assist to teaching - INSPIRATIONAL permission to go shoot and try it too!

Grazie