Videobloggers and Filmmaking at VideoCamp Austin

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VideoCamp Austin

Over 175 people attended the first VideoCamp Austin last Saturday, February 27, and the event was a rousing success. Co-organizers Talmadge Boyd and Weston Norton of Reel Social Media and Lights. Camera. Help. co-founder David Neff coordinated the event, which took place at The University of Texas at Austin's Jesse H. Jones Communication Center. Local aspiring filmmakers and videobloggers learned techniques and tricks of the trade from fellow attendees with years of experience. 

VideoCamp Austin followed the barcamp model of the "unconference," in which a large piece of paper was taped to the wall with a handwritten schedule on it. Sessions were written on stickies and then placed in open time slots. Folks who showed up early to sign up had an idea of what they wanted to talk about, such as Arts from the Streets filmmaker Layton Blaylock's presentation on making a documentary. However, spontaneity was the main focus, as Rachel Farris of PetRelocation.com learned. She didn't have a presentation prepped, but used PetRelocation's Pup in the Air videos to demonstrative the effectiveness of "Using Online Video in Your Business." Air Sex World Championship host Chris Trew of The New Movement taught an "Improv Comedy in a Video and Filmmaking" session where a few of the attendees were pulled into the demonstration.

The VideoCamp Austin keynote speech was delivered by videographer/videoblogger Steve Garfield livestreaming via Ustream.tv, and attendees asked questions via Twitter as well as through an online chatroom. Steve's keynote condensed his lengthier "Great Web Presentations Made Easy" into an hour overview of how to get started, what equipment to use, services available for livestreaming and uploading videos. By the end of his presentation, I downloaded a new and inexpensive app to my iPhone that allows me to do more with the video camera feature and had uploaded a short video. The real highlight was a segment on his mom Millie -- who is an elderly blogger -- and her special message to Larry David of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

All of the sessions I attended were extremely informative. As an aspiring documentary filmmaker, Layton Blaylock's discussion helped set my mind at ease about dealing with sensitive subjects. As a Slackerwood contributor who conducts interviews from time to time, the one that really stood out to me was "The Five Minute Interview: From Soup to Nuts" by Sarah Vela. After going through the important points of what makes a good interview, she had attendees pair up and apply what they'd just learned including "The Rule of Thirds" and how to use just two questions to create a five-minute interview.

A major discussion point that folks came back to in almost every session was about learning skills and funding and equipment resources. Presenters and attendees were quick to recommend valuable resources available in the Austin community including Mobile Film School, Austin Film Society's Texas Filmmakers Production Fund, Austin School of Film, and Channel Austin. Communications Director Stefan Wray and other Channel Austin crew had a demo setup and loaned out Flip Video camcorders for day use -- definitely much lighter and easier than my Canon HV20 camcorder, and all you need for video.

I'm looking forward to next year's VideoCamp Austin, but in the meantime will be sure to follow up with all the wonderful filmmakers and videobloggers I met at this unique and educational event.

[Photo Credit: Channel Austin demo table by Callie Richmond , courtesy of VideoCamp Austin]