To enter your funny video on this show send your tapes to:
AFHVS
Locked Bag 9999
Crows Nest 2065

* PLEASE NOTE: The Nine Network are only able to accept clips in VHS, mini DV, DVD Video and DVD-ROM formats.

Please be informed, if you are sending a video on DVD-ROM, it must be in AVI format and saved in full resolution (720x576 @ 25 frames per second) for broadcasting purposes. Please ensure your computer editing programme's project settings are PAL (625/50) upper field first and not NTSC (525/60).

Basic shooting advice

The viewfinder display
One of our big pet hates at AFHV is the 'on camera' display. Your video can be ruined by continually showing date, time and other information over the picture

Our tip:

• Set your display and record it only once at the very beginning of your shoot. Once you have used the display to identify the video, turn it off and record a totally clean picture.

The zoom
Zoom control is one of the main features on the home video camera. After all, it allows us to do our framing. However, one of the biggest problems we see here at AFHV is overuse of zoom. Zooms in and out on home video are very hard to watch as the shot is usually wobbly and out of focus. Zooming in too far can result in the image being blurry and lacking in light as the camera lens is being used to the full extent of its range. It can also make the picture very shaky.

Our tips:

• A better idea is for the operator to stay on a wider shot and physically move closer to the action. In return you will have clearer, steadier, well-balanced pictures and the chance to capture more action.
• If you do need to zoom in or out and can't afford to stop recording (eg. during a speech), zoom slowly. That way you can keep the shot steady and the automatic focus can work with you as you go.
• If you are planning on capturing a lot of tight shots, you will need a tripod or at least something to steady your hand to keep the shot from moving.

Editing while recording
Let's face it, most home videos have more useless than useful vision and need serious editing to make them better. But if you don't have access to editing, you can do the next best thing. (NB: This can even help with computer editing.) We pointed out earlier that you are creating a story with your pictures, so think of it as a jigsaw puzzle. You need to find your pieces and put them together. To save time back in the lounge room when you're watching the video, or at the computer for that matter, forget about all the zooming around and panning as you tried to finally get what you wanted. Use the ON/OFF record button! It’s as easy as that. By doing this, you are in a way editing your footage. All that zooming and panning is wasted footage, isn’t it? Record what you need and then hit the stop record button.

Our tips:

Take your eyes away from the eyepiece or viewing screen, as this allows you to see a whole lot more. Look around to see what is happening and what piece of the action you’re after, frame your shot, then hit the record button and away you go. Your audience will love you for it.

Remember to use your framing appropriately. Start with a wide shot to set the scene, then go to a mid shot to get more detail. Tight shots are for extra detail if needed.

Beginning to see the light
Another problem we see a lot at AFHV is "now you see me, now you don't". Ever seen home videos where somebody is standing in front of a window but that person is in the dark or in silhouette? That's because the auto iris feature, which controls the amount of light into the lens, much like your own eye's iris, is working with the main source of light. Therefore, the background light has been captured at the correct light level reading by your camera but your subject matter hasn't.

Our tips:

Where possible, try to find even light when videoing. By this we mean if you are shooting someone in full light, make sure the camera is also in full light. If you are shooting in the shade, make sure the subject is also in the shade.

Avoid shooting into or out of bright sources of light. Put the birthday girl up against the wall, not in front of the window.

Tips for shooting everyday scenes

Now that you have the basics covered, it's time to tackle your next video project. No matter what you are going to film, if you address these basic questions and keep them in mind, your next video will be far more successful.

What am I taping this for?
Answering this question will help you identify how much effort you need to put in to achieve your goal. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime special moment that you can't afford to miss, you will need to take plenty of tapes and batteries as you will no doubt shoot lots more than you need. If you are just capturing another piece of family fun, getting the basics will be enough.

What kinds of conditions will I be shooting in?
Being aware in advance of the restrictions/details of your location can give you more time to think about overcoming problems.

What's going to happen?
If you can find out when and where particular action is going to take place, you will have a better chance of capturing the moment.

Where is the best vantage point?
Think about the action you will be shooting and make sure your position will give you good even coverage, not too far away and not too close. Think about the position of the sun and other light sources to make sure you choose the most even light for shooting. If you have this worked out from the beginning, you can quickly position yourself in the best spot when you need to.

Here are some tips on shooting four of the most popular video scenes we see here at AFHV.

Family members
We see lots of videos of babies, kids and pets shot from both inside and outside the house. We've already talked about better framing and those tips will definitely help you, but there are a couple more pieces of advice.

Always set the scene with a wide shot so the viewer knows where the video is taking place.

Only shoot tight shots if the subject and the camera are not going to be moving. If the subject is running around, stay wide. That way if they come close or quickly run away, you will not miss any action.

If you are inside, do not shoot towards glass windows and doors.

If you are outside in the sun, do not shoot back in through windows and doors.

The barbecue/party
The biggest problem we see with the backyard barbecue is lighting. We have already given you advice about shooting into and out of light or shade and you won't believe how much that will help. Also remember the following:

Try not to capture too much action in one shot. Once you have established the scene with a wide shot, start framing mid shots of three or four people at a time to introduce the viewer to the guests. It is difficult to get large groups of people to stand in the right spot for filming, so it makes sense for the camera to move around the group instead.

There is usually a lot of sound/noise at a party and you might find that commentary from the camera operator is really useful to clarify what is going on and who is there.

Sporting events
Every parent wants to video their kid's first soccer game or sporting event and this is one of those occasions when we stress "shoot wide". Staying wide lets you cover all the action and keeps the camera pretty steady.

If you wondered what kind of occasion would be good for a tripod, this is it. Because the action will be occurring at different places around the field, your camera will be moving a lot. A tripod will keep the camera steady and allow you to follow the ball or the player with ease. If you don’t have a tripod, you must concentrate on keeping the camera steady. Try leaning against something for support.

Make sure you are in the best position to get the most coverage. Don't stand at the end of the field or arena as all the action may happen far away from you.

Concerts/recitals
Filming a large event inside is probably one of the hardest things to do successfully. Here are a few tips.

Find a good vantage point. Nine out of 10 times you will find yourself at the back of the hall/theatre or seated behind tall people. When you arrive, check with whoever's running the event to find out if there is anywhere closer or with a clearer view that you can either sit permanently or move to when you want to shoot.

Most theatres/auditoriums have difficult lighting and sound. Being as close as possible to the stage and the sound system will give you a better result. (NB: Don’t sit right next to speakers as this can result in sound distortion.)

If you can see your camera struggling with lack of light, switch on the night-time function if you have one.

Again, stay wide. Zooming in too closely in lowlight situations makes the quality of vision quite poor. You will notice the picture becomes grainy.