The Video Scribe:Blog

March Snow

Tracy Christman — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:31:24 +0000

Kirksville YMCA Youth Soccer Video

Tracy Christman — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:02:32 +0000

Kirksville’s YMCA youth soccer program has started for the Spring. I will be at one of the games today to capture the budding stars in all of their 5-year-old greatness. When the season is over, I will make a highlight video of all of the action and include special video clips for the two kids I am “following” so far, in addition to shots of the entire team. They and their families will each receive a DVD, complete with a personalized, custom case, which has stills of the little soccer stars on the cover.

If you are interested in having your child’s soccer season covered, use the email address in the “Contact” box and let me know.

Be The Early Bird

Tracy Christman — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:26:42 +0000

Spring is here and, my schedule is quickly filling up with shooting outdoor sports, senior videos, and weddings. I am up to my eyes in editing work now, so yesterday’s hike in the woods was really a refreshing break from the front of the computer screen.

Hiking around outside yesterday, I remembered how beautiful Spring can be in Kirksville. While it is not that way yet, I know what is to come! I decided to pass on my enthusiasm for the beauty of Spring by offering three “early bird” incentives.

The first is for Seniors, 2009. Book your Senior Video package by May 31, 2008 and receive an additional location shoot for free. Free! If you have already decided to book the packages with three locations, I will give you the package for the two-location price.

The second is for brides. If you are planning a wedding in 2008, book your wedding videography package by May 31, 2008 and receive either The Growing Up Montage or the Bride Getting Ready Montage video for free. Free!

The third is for families or anyone with the desire to create an heirloom piece more elaborate than a simple photo album. The Digital Scrapbook Video packages incorporate your photos, video and other memorabilia to create a dynamic, multimedia family video presentation you will cherish for years to come. Book The Video Scribe by May 31, 2008 to create one for you and receive %10 off your order because,

Memories fade. Videos linger.

The Spring Expo

Tracy Christman — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:30:21 +0000

The Kirksville Chamber’s Spring Expo is Saturday, March 29th from 8am to 4pm. Stop by my booth for a chance to win booth prizes, such as discounts on videography or montage packages. There will also be door prizes throughout the day.

And The Winner Is…

Tracy Christman — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:01:40 +0000

Last Sunday’s Bridal Expo at Silver Rails Event center in La Plata, MO was a success. I have drawn a winner from the pool of names who signed up, and will contact the winning couple today. In addition to a gift basket of goodies, the couple will receive 10% off any wedding videography package I offer.

Wedding packages range in comprehensiveness from a very basic, ceremony only coverage, to full-day coverage of your ceremony, reception, and other events of the day. The more inclusive packages feature add-on options such as The Bride Getting Ready Montage, and The Love Story Interview.

If you are planning a wedding in the Kirksville or surrounding area, contact The Video Scribe for wedding videography that uniquely and creatively captures your special day.

The Video Scribe Does Wedding Videography

Tracy Christman — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:33:40 +0000

I will be participating in my first wedding/bridal expo on February 24th. The event is for wedding vendors in the Kirksville and surrounding area and will be held in the brand new convention center, Silver Rails, in LaPlata. Stop by my booth for a chance to win booth prizes.

Digital Scrapbooks

Tracy Christman — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:03:53 +0000

Digital Scrapbooks

A photo album, some home movies, possibly some narration, and certainly some great storytelling. Your digital scrapbook video is all of that and more with your personal input. The Video Scribe can work with you to create a digital scrapbook that will certainly be fun to look at, and will impress your friends and family who only have old photo albums, hiding incomplete in the drawer. Moreover, these digital scrapbooks can be made in duplicate, giving you the ability to send copies in the mail to loved ones or store it in “the vault” for safe-keeping.

Collect your memorabilia

Memorabilia such as old postcards, letters, ticket stubs, photos, and more can be digitized and stored in your digital scrapbook. Some documents can be scanned, some will need to be shot on video. Think of the sentimental value of your child or loved one holding the special piece of memorabilia in a video clip. That is an even better way to remember that piece. Of course your photos and video clips can be added to the digital scrapbook. The crowing piece to a digital scrapbook would certainly be a family elder telling their story and embedding the audio over those great memories you have tucked away in the attic. Maybe you can even convince them to tell the story on video!

Happy Holidays

Tracy Christman — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:02:21 +0000

The holiday season is here. What will you be giving for Christmas? Make it a hit.

Memories fade. Videos linger.

The Status Queue

Tracy Christman — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:17:03 +0000

I received the Christmas postcards I ordered last week and plan to get those out Monday. I am also planning to send out a small newsletter this week. Now for the Queue…

Retirement from MODOT montage: complete and delivered.
Sherry’s VHS to DVD project: in progress, estimated completion date is December 21st.
Walt & Dawn wedding video: “Highlight” video complete, main wedding ceremony segment in editing, nearing completion. Still ahead is DVD authoring. Sony Vegas has been a tremendous help on this project, though I am slowed down a little by learning some elements of the software while editing. I HOPE to be completed before Christmas.

Give A Gift That Becomes More Valuable Every Year

Tracy Christman — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:18:54 +0000

The Holidays are here!

One of my all-time favorite gifts from the past is a collection of old home movies, compiled on DVD. My aunt knew the value of these movies in our family history, and she also knew the old 8mm film and projector would not last forever. Her foresight prompted her to do something that created access for the entire family to a treasure of memories. A number of years ago, she had the 8mm film transferred to DVD, and gave copies to the entire family for Christmas.

My copy is one of my “prized possessions,” surely in part because it contains footage of my mother. To see her form a smile versus seeing the smile formed and static (as with a photo) is of greater value to me than I can describe. This DVD also contains footage of grandparents, great-grandparents, and various great-aunts and uncles, many of whom are no longer living. Some of the later footage includes siblings, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles, and a host of other important people. Knowing I can easily access any part of that footage at any time is somehow comforting, and would not have been possible if the whole collection was still on 8mm film at my aunt and uncle’s place.

I treasure my DVD more with each passing year as I more fully realize its value.

If you have old home movies, you are already ahead of many people. Video tells a story that pictures can not fully tell. Think about that. Which would you rather have, a few snapshots from your great-grandparent’s wedding day, or the video on DVD? For many people, there simply aren’t any “old home movies” to watch, let alone transfer to DVD, but for anyone who has them, I urge you to consider transferring your home movies to DVD. Reasons include the following.

DVD media lasts forever.
DVD media takes less space to store than traditional film or video.
It is easier to put in a DVD and watch than to set up the film projector.
DVD media will not deteriorate and/or age as traditional video and film will.
DVD compilations can include photos AND video.
DVD compilations make great gifts.

Your 14-year-old may not thank you for a DVD of his family, but consider this, your 14-year-old will one day be a 35-year-old and will likely be most thankful to you for preserving the special memories unique to him and his family. You may even become a hero!

Some tips for your home movies:

Take LOTS of footage, you can always have footage edited for highlights, but you can NEVER go back in time and capture more footage.
Be sure to fully charge your batteries.
Get at least one spare battery.
Take along plenty of extra video tape.
Always tape in plenty of flattering light.
Avoid harsh lighting.
Avoid the use of “in camera” special effects. These types of effects can sometimes cause you to miss critical moments of your shot and can never be edited out. Special effects are best left to editing software.
In addition to typical posed shots, get plenty of spontaneous footage.

And remember, if your event is too special for YOU to be behind the video camera, The Video Scribe can help you out.

“Memories fade. Videos linger.”