As people become more eco-conscious and serious about disposing of their things in an environmentally friendly manner, you might be wondering what to do with your old VHS tapes.
While you may be able to sell some classic VHS copies of films on eBay, it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to shift those home VHS tapes of family moments once you’ve backed them up with a video to DVD conversion.
Once you’ve converted those old home videos to a more convenient format such as DVD or MP4, you may be wondering what to do with those old tapes. Maybe you’ve finally gotten around to buying your favourite films on DVD, so you no longer need those VHS versions you bought decades ago. Whatever the case, VHS tapes take up a lot of space, and once the footage has been preserved and upgraded, there really isn’t any need to keep this old format lying around.
It’s a fact of life – when our memory begins to fail us, we trust in recordings to keep precious moments alive.
From your parent’s wedding video to footage of your baby’s first steps, there are a hundred and one reasons why it is simply essential to keep hold of the sacred memories that are stored on VHS tapes.
But when it comes to viewing, displaying or keeping those tiny pieces of time alive, old tapes prove incredibly difficult to use. This, paired with the fact that they are far more likely to break or be misplaced, highlights exactly how pivotal it is to have them transferred to DVD.
There is no question that VHS tapes have seen their day in the audio-visual timeline. But if you lived through the time they were the pinnacle of technology, then there’s a good chance you still have an old collection of VHS tapes in the loft. Perhaps there is an element of nostalgia, and maybe you have always planned to transfer them to DVD but just haven’t got around to it yet. It’s fine, a VHS tape doesn’t have a use-by date or anything, right?
Actually, no! Here are four disastrous things that can ruin your treasured memories that are confined to VHS tapes.
It’s possible that you’ll stumble across your old videotapes after deciding to move house. The question is: should you take these with you to your new digs? While you might feel slightly sentimental at the sight of your VHS collection, it’s not an excuse to lug them all the way to your new property with you. Here are four reasons why this is always a bad idea.
Technology, such as the 3D one, has been rapidly advancing and changing the film industry. But it’s not the only one.
Cloud computing and film aren’t necessarily two things that you’d lump together; one deals with entertaining people whereas the other aids people with saving and transferring of data from one place to another.
However, these two seemingly distant aspects of modern life are closer than we may initially think. While we are more used to the concept of streaming media thanks to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime, the idea of cloud computing – which uses a similar theory – is actually playing an integral part in the creating of some of the biggest blockbusters to hit our cinema screens.
For many people, creating a home video is a hobby. Whether it’s filming a family wedding or documenting a birthday party to remember years down the line, creating something that you’re proud of is generally the ultimate aim.
Home videos might not be intended to be shown in cinemas around the world like huge blockbuster movies, but the principles of movie making still apply – albeit on a much smaller scale. There are plenty of directors who have happily imparted some of their knowledge and experience to other directors – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be useful for home video creators, too!
Are you ready to get inspired by some of the biggest name in film?
Although you’re probably not going to want to be adding blockbuster style effects to your home videos, Steven Spielberg has some sound advice for those who are looking to keep things simple.
“Bloated budgets are ruining Hollywood — these pictures are squeezing all the other types of movies out of Hollywood. It’s disastrous. When I made The Lost World, I limited the amount of special-effects shots because they were incredibly expensive. If a dinosaur walks around, it costs $80,000 for eight seconds. If four dinosaurs are in the background, it’s $150,000. More doesn’t always make things better.”
Even though your home video won’t be heading near Hollywood, Spielberg has a point; many people who are creating videos for their own home use for the future often feel that cramming more content in there is better than only having those special moments, when you’re often just wasting valuable filming time and resources instead.
Keep your video as short as possible and to the point – it might not save you money like it did for Spielberg, but it will cut down your editing time and give you more filming time to play with while still keeping those special moments special.
Well known for films which push at the boundaries of film making, Stanley Kubrick is also one of the directors which has given the world of film makers some helpful tips on how to be successful.
According to his mantra, “If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed”, which is great advice for those people who are worried about whether what they have in mind can be easily translated to film. Kubrick’s style is a great representation of this, with the majority of his films being weird and wonderful creations which many people may have once thought impossible.
If you have an idea, try it out – you never know what the outcome will look like until you do. You may even create a film which you are incredibly proud of that you’ll be able to hand down to your family one day!
It doesn’t matter whether you’re producing a personal home video or a blockbuster movie; knowing how to create something that people want to watch is essential – even if it’s only you who will be seeing it! If you’ve got some old cine film that you’d like transferring to DVD, please don’t hesitate to contact us today – we’d love to help you keep those memories preserved for as long as possible!
As we head into spring and the weather starts to warm up, you might be considering heading outside to film what could become the next big blockbuster.
There is something about this time of year that inspires amateur film makers to pick up their equipment and head for outside. The sun definitely plays a huge part in getting people outdoors, but what else does spring have to offer for these budding film makers?
