YouTube recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, with over 300 hours of video uploaded to the site every minute. The video sharing site has completely transformed the way people think about video, and has brought home movies back to the forefront of the media, and the digital revolution seems to be stronger than ever before.
YouTube is one of the most interesting, lively and vibrant places to be on the internet, and now a video can go viral within minutes. But what is a viral video, and how exactly do you make one?
Here we are going to take a look at just some of the components that make a viral video, and how you could go about making your own.
What is a Viral Video?
A viral video is a video that has become suddenly very popular through the process of internet sharing, which nowadays is typically done via social media, video sharing websites and instant messaging tools.
Viral videos often feature something in particular that attracts huge amounts of people to go and watch them, such as humorous or particularly strange content. The internet is also known for being obsessed with all things cute, particularly cats, dogs and babies – all of which have contributed to videos going viral.
The Animal Factor – Dramatic Chipmunk
There are countless animal videos that have gone viral, but this is definitely one of the best. This five second video features a little furry creature, assumed to be a chipmunk by the title, turn around to very dramatic music.
Although it is very simplistic, this video can easily make you laugh. To date, it has been viewed over 43 million times, and no matter how many times you watch it, it will always make you smile. Why? We’re not quite sure.
The Baby Factor – Talking Twin Babies
This video was absolutely huge when it was released on YouTube in 2011, and has been parodied hundreds of times both on and off the internet.
It features two twins having a conversation in baby talk in its purest, cutest and most hilarious form, with the original ‘Part 1’ video achieving over 18 million views. The baby factor certainly plays a significant role in videos becoming viral, and typically these videos are simple, un-staged cuteness, such as ‘Mommy’s nose is scary’ and ‘baby laughing at ripping paper’. Perhaps these are the home movies of the future?
The Funny Factor – Chocolate Rain
If you’ve spent a significant amount of time surfing on YouTube, chances are you have seen or at least heard of Chocolate Rain.
Chocolate Rain is the title given to a song performed by Tay Zonday in 2007, and its surprise and humour made it a major viral video. As a boy, Zonday approaches the microphone to begin singing, but his voice isn’t exactly what you’d expect. This incredibly funny video has had over 102 million views to date, and continues to be viewed on a daily basis.
The Cat Factor – Nyan Cat
Never underestimate the power of the cat on the internet. Although you may not be able to explain why you’re obsessed with watching cat videos online, you have to just come out and admit it – we all love them.
There are countless viral cat videos to choose from on YouTube, so we’ve selected one of the best; Nyan Cat. No one can explain why they love watching this animated cat riding on a rainbow through space, but we just do. In fact, this video – which has received over 121 million views to date – has been so popular it has even been turned into an online game.
The Weird Factor – Gangnam Style
It was the first video to break the YouTube view counter, and if you haven’t seen or heard of PSY’s Gangnam Style, you were probably living under a rock.
Released in summer 2012, the music video by Korean singer PSY instantly went viral – we can only assume for its rather strange scenes and catchy tune. To date, this video has been viewed over two billion times on YouTube, and we’re sure you won’t be able to resist watching it one more time.
Viral videos are great fun, but making your own videos is even better, and here at Cine2DVD Transfers, we can help you to have all of your home movies on hand to watch any time you want. We specialise in the transfer of Super8 to DVD and digital, so if you want to watch more of your own movies, contact us today on 0800 592433.
We’ve spoken a lot about preserving your memories- it is, after all, one of the best ways to keep everything preserved in stunning quality. But what about creating those memories in the first place? Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to the brilliance of the home cinema.
There’s a lot to take in when creating your very own of cinematic experience. There’s so much awesomeness and creative excellence to capture, and here we will give you an amazing checklist to accompany your home made movie experience!
Setting the mood
Have you ever walked into a screening of the latest blockbuster and had this immense excitement building from the tips of your toes right up to your hairline? Have you felt the air vibrate with a car explosion or been so immersed with the actors on screen that you haven’t realised your dad has been stealing your popcorn? Well, you can blame all of that on the mood. Here’s a few tips to help you recreate it:
Plunge the room into darkness. Switch off the lights and draw the curtains; let nothing but the glow of the TV illuminate your friends and family
Set up the seats so you can easily see the screen – the last thing you want is a crick in your neck halfway through your master piece
Have a bowl of warm popcorn and a can of your favourite drink at hand – trust us, you’re going to want them.
Creating a home movie
Now you’re all ready to go, you need a movie to watch. Although it may be very tempting to watch the latest release in the comfort of your own home, there’s nothing more entertaining than watching the best, the brightest, and the funniest members of your family and friends on the silver screen. So, to get you started on your movie making adventure, here are a couple of pointers:
Plot; before anything else, you should have a plot in mind. From the Adventures of Mr Tibbles the Cat, to a comedy about the neighbours’ tomato garden – your creativity knows no bounds in your plot.
Finding the best actors to bring your movie to life is very important, and of course some of the very best home movies are made with the people you love the most. There’s nothing wrong with letting your younger siblings play adults and your friends two years older than you play children!
Finding the location to shoot your movie is the best part of film making! Whether it’s in a field, a quiet street, a rain splattered wood or a cordoned off a section of your own home; performing different scenes in different locations will make your movie look all the more professional!
Sound
Background noise and the howl of the wind through your microphone can spoil the ambiance you may want in certain scenes. Though in some cases this can’t be helped – unless you want to fork out for an external microphone – you can always adjust the background noise on your computer. Where sound is concerned you can also add in sound effects; a car horn or a dog barking can create that all important cinematic experience you’re striving for!
Watching the film
Once you’ve finished your masterpiece, once your actors have read their last lines and you’ve touched up the final scenes with state-of-the-art sound effects and animations, it’s time to watch your movie. Computers can create an unclear image when transferred to the TV – or from your video camera to the screen – and, for your movie master piece, that is the very last thing you want to happen. Transferring your magical 8mm Cine Film to DVD is the best way to preserve your movie and deliver a top quality picture to your home cinema.
So now you have your crystal clear homemade movie, your homemade cinema and your popcorn at hand, it’s time to sit back relax and enjoy the film. Cine2DVD can help you to turn your homemade movies into a real cinematic experience, so contact us today on 0800 592433 for more information.
For a while it looked as though more technologically advanced formats were going to take over, leaving little room for the pioneering types of film that came before. Luckily these fears turned out to be entirely unfounded – lovers of high quality cinematic equipment are only too eager to embrace the roots of the medium, turning to formats such as Super 8 mm film to recapture the mood of times gone by.
In fact, far from being obsolete Super 8 is still championed by many of the world’s best known and best loved movie-makers. Back in 2011, director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg proved the point by making Super 8. The clue is definitely in the name on this one – following a group of kids as they battle to film their own home cinema epic, this movie plays tribute to its namesake, the Super 8 film stock that got incredible talents like Spielberg and Abrams started while they were still children.
The role-call of famous directors who started out filming no-budget home movies on Super 8 film is impressive – from David Fincher to Peter Jackson, via Tim Burton and Michael Bay. And it certainly isn’t all about dabbing our eyes and getting nostalgic about the film’s history, as directors and cinematographers are still finding ways to incorporate Super 8 mm film in modern movies.
In the 1991 drama JFK it was used to help capture the atmosphere of the historical period being conjured up, while Ben Affleck used it to add an edge of realism to one of Argo’s crucial opening scenes. Similarly, Oldboy has flashback sequences that were shot on Super 8 to help capture the desired mood – and as a keen proponent of the format, director Spike Lee already had his own personal Super 8 camera to use for the scenes.
With so many benefits and so much love from the movie world, we certainly won’t be saying goodbye to the Super 8 format any time soon! If you’re keen on making your own retro-styled films, or still have footage left over from when Super 8 was big the first time around, we can convert your 8mm Cine film to DVD, enabling you to share it with friends and view it at your leisure. Contact us today at 0800 592433, and we’ll be happy to discuss all of your needs!
Picture this; you’ve taken a leap back in time to the wonderful era of VCR and videos…
You’ve just placed your children’s favourite Disney movie into the heavy black machine, the TV is on, and your little darlings have settled themselves down to a good hour of complete and utter silence. You’re looking forward to this when suddenly, the VCR splutters; it whines, it clicks and the movie shows several Aladdins being chased up the screen by grainy white lines.
Oh dear. Now your quiet time is threatened, and the only thing you can think of doing is pulling out the video to stop your little angels from kicking up a fuss. Here’s the problem; the tape gets trapped and is torn from its case. The movie is ruined and so is your hour of peace.
Let’s skip on forward to the twenty first century.
Here at Cine2DVD we’re very keen on preserving your memories; we’ve spoken about it enough. About the glory of the recording evolution and how grandma’s chicken dance will forever be preserved in high definition on an easy to access, easy to store DVD. But what about the actual advantages?
It’s no lie that the quality of your cinematic experience is way better than back in the day. For one, you can sit your kids down to their most beloved movie time and time again without having to worry about the tape wearing down (at least now you get that quiet time you’ve been craving); for another you have so much more space!
We’re not just talking about more space on your shelves (less bulk means more DVDs after all!) but about the capacity the digital world can hold compared to your 90’s videos. Where once the old family movies took up one or two bulky tapes, now it can all neatly sit on one disc! What does that mean? It means more space for more of your favourite family films (and don’t all of you parents just love that?).
But what about the benefits during play? Well for one, you don’t need to fear the rewind button. There’s no hanging around until you return to the beginning of the film. There’s not even any stinted audio when you pause and restart the film.
Fantastic, right? Well, if you’re thinking of having some of your quiet time back, or if you simply want to preserve your family favourites, our dedicated team work tirelessly to transfer your Cine or 8mm film to DVD. Sounds good? Want to know more? You can contact us here or telephone us on 0800 592 433 for more details.
It’s pretty much impossible to establish your name as a hit Hollywood director if you haven’t spent a few years having a go at it on your own first! That’s just as true for the big names in the business as it is for the little guys, so we’re going to take a look at the amateur movies that came before some of the world’s most famous directors made it as professionals.
Christopher Nolan – Doodlebug
Christopher Nolan is one of those rare talents, a director who churns out nothing but hits. From early works such as Following and Memento to the recent blockbuster Interstellar, Nolan has enjoyed success with both critics and the public – but what was he doing before he became one of contemporary cinema’s golden boys?
The answer is Doodlebug, a claustrophobic short about a man’s descent into insanity as he chases a bug across his apartment. The dark mood of this early film would set the tone for Nolan’s later work – movies which have continued to delve into the philosophical and sometimes disturbing aspects of life despite their mainstream appeal.
Martin Scorsese – What’s A Nice Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This?
The incredibly prolific career of Martin Scorsese has seen him moving seamlessly from genre to genre, putting his name to biopics, gangster flicks, dark comedies and much more. What’s A Nice Girl Like You Doing In A Place Like This? is an amusing short about a man with an obsession over a painting that begins to take over his life.
That’s right, it’s another film about insanity; we’re definitely noticing a trend here! Scorsese directed this film while he was still a student – check it out and see whether you can spot early signs of the talent that makes him one of the greats.
Quentin Tarantino – My Friend’s Birthday Party
Much more ambitious than the other two films on this list, Quentin Tarantino spent four years putting together My Friend’s Birthday Party, an amateur film which would have run to an impressive 70 minutes if almost half of the film had not been lost in a fire. Luckily the footage that survived was still edited together– and if Tarantino’s famous cameos have left you desperate to see more of his acting talent then this could be the film for you, as besides writing and directing this early offering he also cast himself in a starring role.
Made five years before the release of Reservoir Dogs would grant him instant cult status, My Friend’s Birthday Party is a great place to look for the tropes and themes which would later populate his work.
If you have home movies that deserve to be immortalised like these three then they’ll need to be transferred from 8mm Cine Film to DVD before you can start screening them among friends and family. Contact us at 0800 592 433 and we’ll be pleased to help you out!
We love a good cheesy home video. It really captures the personality of everyone involved and ends up being the entertainment for years to come, and possibly embarrassing for some people to see what their parents used to make them do as kids.
One child who will look back on his parent’s home videos of him growing up and not have flashbacks of horrendous haircuts and embarrassing clothing is James Hashimoto.
With a dad who is an animator at one of the world’s leading animations studios, Dreamworks, James has definitely hit the jackpot when it comes to having the coolest videos documenting his childhood.
His incredibly creative dad, Daniel set up a YouTube account for the tot, where he uploaded some of the best homemade videos we have ever seen.
With spoofs of Batman and the Matrix, each video has James as the star performer and with the help of his dad’s industry taught skills, we see him wielding lightsabers and sailing on a river of lava, as well as mysteriously disappearing into a puddle.
This unique take on home shot videos take on board the vivid imagination of the little boy and provides viewers with a well thought out and entertaining clip.
You might think you have to be an industry professional with a degree in visual effects to create these fun and engaging videos and effects, but with the software advances of the last couple of years, it’s becoming much easier to be able to add visual effects to your videos.
Some social media apps are also offering video editing and visual effects options when you upload a video with them, which is pretty exciting news.
With YouTube continuing to grow into an amazing platform for people to share their lives with the world; both past and present day, video editing is becoming more and more popular with the public, and is no longer limited to industry professionals
Here at Cine2DVD, we are super excited to see more home videos like James’. If you have a home video that is on a reel, why not have a play and see what effects you can incorporate into your clips! Maybe you could have Aunty Mary dancing with a chimpanzee, or have Granny cast a spell on Grandpa and make him fall off his chair!
We are expert providers of many film transfer services, including converting 8mm film to DVD and other digital formats. We know how important your films and memories are, which is why take the utmost care to ensure the transfer is completed in the safest possible manner. For more information on any of our transfer services, don’t hesitate to contact us today by calling 0800 592433.
On this blog, we often chat about the importance of family and friends in your home movies. You know the sort of thing: Granny Smith’s impromptu disco-fever dance, Uncle Mike’s debauched 40th birthday party. But we’ve always neglected our four-legged family members – until now.
Yep, for the whole of April it’s National Pet Month. Bet you didn’t even know that was a thing, right? Our furry friends sometimes make the best home movie stars, for those faces they pull, the guilty slinking after chowing down your diner while your back was turned, the fact that maybe – just maybe – they actually understand every word you say (And still pay no attention to it!).
Celebrate Colin
National Pet Month isn’t just an opportunity to get your favourite critters on film today; it’s also a chance to celebrate those pets who are no longer with you – remember Fluffy the Doberman? – or remember little Colin the Tortoise in his prime, before he sagged with every step. And what better way than by holding a home video pet night, converting the old cine film to DVD or USB and gathering everyone – yes, even Kitty the cat – to watch those old pet clips back?
In fact, it doesn’t even need to be a straight film conversion. With a little bit of editing, you could turn it into a highlight reel, remember all of your pet’s best moments in a single home movie. And with some titles and a bit of music, like the kind we can put onto your DVD, you’ll have an excellent way of immortalising your animals.
Perfect Pet
Of course capturing those perfect pet moments can be super-hard – and that’s another great reason to get those old film reels put on to USB or DVD. After all, you spent so long waiting to film your pet to do that weird head-bobbing shoulder dance it does, wouldn’t it be nice to see it again? Not only that, but you’ll also be able to watch them wherever you are, without setting up that antique projector in the front room. Oh, and then there’s the fact that you’ll be able to share Roger the Rabbit with everyone, not just on the big-screen, but on the computer screen too, by uploading it to Youtube and the like.
Ready to see your pets in action? Then we can lend a hand! Our pro team have been transferring old films to digital formats, so you can be sure your memories are in safe hands. If you’d like to know more, simply contact us on 0800 592 433 and we’ll be delighted to help.
When it comes to shooting home movies, you may well have your stars (Well, your family and friends), and your action (Like Adel’s 18th birthday, or Verity’s hen-do) – but how the devil do you shoot them?
Glad you asked! That’s precisely why we thought we’d take a look at the different types of camcorders – from the older models to the fresh and funky ones on the market today – so you know what sort of kit you’re dealing with, and what kind you’ll want to invest in for the future.
The 8mm Craze
8mm had been about, in one form or another, since the 1930s. In 1963, Zapruder’s Zoomatic 8mm captured the assassination of President Kennedy. But the format really took off with Kodak’s 1965 invention, Super8, and it wasn’t too long before handheld movie cameras were everywhere. The main downside to these was the lack of microphones, meaning the soundtrack to your film was just the haunting flicker of the projector. Chances are, if you have old film footage from the 60s and 70s, then it was filmed on 8mm or Super 8.
VHS Hits
Ah, the old favourite, the VHS. Shortly after the format hit the mainstream, VHS camcorders came on the market, allowing everyone to film Kirk and Sherri’s wedding – with sound! But these beasts were heavy, so hardly fit for lugging around on your family holiday to Florida. So naturally, the companies adapted, creating S-VHS and Video8, which were smaller – and meant the camcorder could be smaller too.
Maximum Love for Mini-DV
Probably the most successful of all the cassette-based formats was Mini-DV camcorder. Unlike the VHS camcorders of yore, these really were handheld, and because of that, their popularity was widespread. Everyone from documentary filmmakers to your neighbour had one of these to capture great moments.
The Digital Revolution
As we entered into internet age, digital become a serious, if slightly more expensive, recording format. DVD cameras allowed folks to record directly on to disc – although this came at the expensive of picture quality, which was compressed. This was followed by HDD camcorders that converted the film instantly into a digital format; flash drive camcorders followed after – although these are terrifically expensive when compared even with hard drive versions.
The Future
These days, the digital revolution continues at a pretty sturdy pace. Now we can film in high definition, but pretty soon 4K will overtake even the traditional HD models. And then there’s the possibility of 3D camcorders going mainstream – the technology is out there, and even certain models available, although they’re more likely to be used by professional filmmakers, rather than capturing Olivia and Grace’s birthday party!
So, how do you shoot yours? If you’ve got older footage, we offer an awesome service that can effortlessly transfer 8mm film to DVD – ensuring that your memories stay with you long after a format has become obsolete. To find out more about our services, all you need to do is contact us on 0800 592 433. We’d love to hear from you.
Over the past few years, Netflix has become extremely popular. From binge watching TV shows, to watching films, there is usually something for everyone.
However, sometimes you can spend a rather long time searching through the hundreds of movies attempting to find something to watch. That’s why we have put together a short list of some of the films that we think are worth checking out next time you are flicking through Netflix.
Limitless (2011)
This 2011 physiological thriller stars Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper.
It follows Cooper as an unsuccessful writer who is out of work, with no girlfriend and zero job prospects. He agrees to take an experimental pill that claims to be able make him more successful.
Whilst this mysterious pill allows him to access 100 percent of his brain, and therefore turns him into a financial mastermind, it also brings him into a lot of unknown danger.
Whilst we don’t want to spoil the film, we will say that this action thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
A hard-hitting film that follows the 10 year search for terrorist Osama Bin Laden; a search which ended with his death in 2011.
Jessica Chastain plays the role of CIA operative Maya, who is put in charge of interrogating suspects in order to find Bin Laden’s location.
The film suffered some criticism about its realism, but we think it’s an interesting watch and worth a try.
Tangled (2010)
Tangled is a Disney film that the whole family will enjoy. It’s a retelling of the story of Rapunzel, the girl with the ridiculously long hair. It follows her on her first adventure outside the castle she has been trapped inside all her life.
This animation comedy has plenty for everyone, including romance, action and a lot of girl power! It is definitely a film to look out for.
We can almost picture you all rushing to check out these films on Netflix straight away. We all enjoy watching a film we haven’t seen before, but we think it’s always extra special to watch one that holds brilliant memories. Here at Cine2DVD, we are experts in transferring Cine film to DVD, meaning we can transfer all the memories you have on old film to DVD. This is one DVD that you‘ll be watching over and over.
For more information, please contact us on 0800 592433 and a member of our staff will be able to help you.
