How to make a better video

Hints for Better Porn Videos

In the last few years I have produced 6 full length adult DVDs and numerous short adult videos for sites like Xhamster, YouPorn, Fetlife and many others with some degree of success. I look on these sites and I see many very good amateur (and by “amateur” I mean “homemade” videos, not the slick pro porn's that call their work “amateur” simply because one or more of the stars may or may not have ever made a film before in order to foll you into thinking it was “real” and not staged as it really was) videos and but I also see many more that are somewhat “less” than desirable. The “less-than” videos all seem to suffer from the same problems, too little expense and effort. Most of these have a number of common shortcomings that I wish to discuss here, in the hopes of being able to pass on some of the tricks I have learned through experience.

First are technical problems. These revolve around equipment and preparation in the making of a videos as well as post production methods.

1. Cameras
The number one biggest mistake an amateur filmmaker makes is using the wrong camera. Making a sex video with a cell-phone might be quick and fun, but it really isn't conducive to making good videos. If you want to be serious about your video efforts then get serious about you equipment. You don't need to break the bank with a $10,000 camera but you do need something better than a Kodak pocket camera. There are many good, low cost camcorders by Sony and JVC among others, that are made specifically for video work, not a still camera doing double duty. These cameras are in the $200-400 dollar range and are very satisfactory for most situations. I use one of each of these as well as a top end Canon still/camcorder combo, and find they do well and give good results. Remember, your video is only as good as your camera, so get the best you can afford.

2. Tripods
I know the rage these days is to try to add action by moving your camera around in a ”POV” effect, but to do it well takes a lot of experience and I personally think it is a seriously over done effect.
Making the audience have a serious bout of motion sickness from moving around too much is not a good idea unless you are filming someone having sex on a roller-coaster. Buy yourself a good, sturdy, tripod and use it. Again, it does not have to be an expensive one, a Velbon from WalMart will do nicely. Set the tripod up and keep your camera on it unless you want to get “deep and dirty” into the action with a very close-up shot. I tend to use two cameras (or sometimes 3 or 4) and I keep one cam in hand for close-up or odd angles and place the other(s) on tripods and lock them down to get specific angles of the general action. This gives me the best of both worlds, I can still get the nauseating fast moving newsroom style shots while also getting the more stable scene setting shots.

3. Lighting
This is one of the hardest things in video work to get right. It is nice to get a motel room, a couple of people and a camera and go to it, but keep in mind – motels generally have the worst possible lighting you can find for a video. There are two things about indoor shooting that you need to always consider – light and space. Make sure there is enough space in the motel for you to get far enough away from the action to get a full shot as well as to move around freely, and make sure you BRING lights with you. Lights, once more, do not need to be expensive. I commonly use those clamp on utility lights with the big silver reflectors (about $8 at Walmart) and some cheap tripods (usually you can find them at places like Goodwill for $1-5) and light bulbs.
Now light bulbs are a special matter. The bulbs in most homes or motels are incandescent “Soft White” bulbs. Despite their names there is absolutely nothing white about the light from those bulbs. Soft White is actually a yellow light, the soft white name is just a gimmick to make you feel comfortable in buying cheap, worthless, and over powered bulbs. Instead buy “Daylight balanced” CFC bulbs. These days you can get them in packs of 4 for around $5-10. Buy a selection of equivalent 60 and 100 watt bulbs (13 and 23 watt respectively) and place them around the action where they will light the scene but not be seen. I also use 250 watt equivalent bulbs but they are a lot more expensive. Be sure to also replace the bulbs in any fixtures with the CFCs or you will get mixed lighting and that is not a pretty sight. Usually 6-8 bulbs in the 100 watt range will adequately light a room for any shooting. Also, be sure to buy a small LED camera light that is daylight balanced for closeups. These can be found for about $20-40 and really make a difference for closeup work.

4. Outdoor lighting
Outdoor lighting is both better and worse than indoor lighting. It is brighter so you don't need extra lights unless you want a fill light (a light used to “fill in” shadows), and it is brighter so you have to diffuse it. Diffusing light (making it more even to avoid excessive contrast) can either be done with a transparent white umbrella and a light stand, or more cheaply with a white sheet and two old tripods. If you use the sheet method just set up two cheap tripods and use bungee cords to secure the sheet to the tripods. Be sure to secure the sheet at top and bottom or the wind might whip it around. If the wind is a problem, take two old pillow cases and fill them with sand or rocks and tie them to the bottom of each tripod. In video terms this sheet is called a “gobo.” It is commonly used to block unwanted light or to soften strong light. I have even seen people use several sheets and poles to totally cover the shooting area to make the light more even and less contrast.

Next I would like to discuss the production problems of shooting a sex video.

1. Quiet on the set
One of the biggest problems I have had to contend with Is noise on at a shoot. It is one thing to have ambient sounds (birds outdoors, people in a bar, cars going by in parking lots – sounds which all add to the “natural” feel of the video) but it is an entirely different matter with distracting sounds. The two biggest contributors to a noisy set are air conditioners and people. Motels are know for their extremely noisy air conditioners, they usually sound like someone parking a Mack truck at the foot of the bed. If at all possible (short of giving everyone in the room a heat stroke) turn off any air conditioners or if it is winter, heaters. Trying to remove noise of this sort in post production is damn near impossible.
The second worst offender is people not in the scene. There is a reason you always hear the director yelling “quiet on the set” in old movies, people talking off camera make viewing very nerve wracking. Keep the shoot quiet. If the people having sex (ostensibly on camera) are making sounds that is one thing, but others in the room should have the courtesy to keep quiet if they are not in the scene. If not, ask them to go outside and talk (a few minutes naked in either 100+ degree heat or sub-zero cold on a motel walk way should quiet them down nicely), and then continue with the shoot. This is especially true for people who bring dogs to a shoot. I spent the better part of a week once trying to get the sound of a barking dog out of a video, so do yourself a favor and ban talky people and barking dogs.
As a general rule there should be no “visitors” at a shoot. This means friends who “just want to watch” or significant others who are there to be sure nothing happens that they don't know about. Allowing these people on a set simply invites noise and problems, so “just say no.”

2. Production software
I won't go into production hardware as few people ever use it any more for anything other than audio. Suffice to say that there is little that a hardware mixer can do that software can't do better. To that effect it is time to consider the most important item needed to make a pro or semi-pro video – the software. There is a lot of very expensive software out there, I myself use Adobe CS6 Premier Pro with all the other parts of the package, but as an amateur there are certain software packs that you should look out for. First of all, Microsoft Movie Maker is great for quick and dirty edits, but it is worthless as a main production engine. If you don't have the money there are a lot of less expensive video editors like Adobe Essentials. Nero makes a good one as well, as does Magix. Find one you like, that has the features you want and get used to it. You editor can be your best friend or your worst enemy, so choose well.
Whichever you choose there are certain features you should always look for in an editor. One of those is the ability to see both the clip you are working with as well as at least one preview clip. You should be able to cut and move video clips on a timeline, this is a function that allows you to line up different cuts from different cameras or times to make the video speak to the audience. You should also have the ability to edit the audio and enter special effects. Nothing says pro more than good sound and nice blends. Remember, no matter how well you shoot a video, the finished product is only as good as the editor.

3. Actors
Finally the actors will either make or break your efforts to put out a descent product. Find people who know what they are doing, understand what you want them to do, and can do it all believably. Bad acting means bad video, and there is a lot of acting even in amateur videos. Don't be afraid to tell the actors what you need them to do. They can't see what you see in the camera so it is your job to explain it and their job to do it. Don't ever go into a shoot sight unseen with actors. Take a few minutes before hand to talk with them and let them get to know you and trust you. Learn what they will and won't do on a bed (sticking a dick up the ass of a girl who does not like anal is not a good way to develop trust and good acting). Most of all have EVERYONE sign a model release. This is especially true of a significant other, as you never know when they won't be and your movie is blocked from getting out. Model releases are necessary for two reasons, first they protect you from someone who changes their mind after the fact, and second they are required under USC 2257 (federal law regarding adult entertainment). So play it safe, have a general model release at the shoot and be sure everyone has signed it before you begin. Should anyone not want to sign, just have them leave.

4. Locations
There is an old adage in the Real Estate business that says that there are 3 things a property needs to sell, “location, location, location.” Well that is especially true in adult video making. Pick your location well. If you plan on doing outdoor shots be sure you are in a location that will not have a problem with you shooting. Also make sure there is some degree of isolation, unless you are doing a “public” shoot. Be sure the motel you are in is not owned by a religious fundamentalist who will call the police as soon as they hear a whimper. Along that same line, if you shoot at home and you live in an apartment building, be sure to keep it down or include the neighbors. Basically use your better judgment in selecting a location, as a felony rap for indecent exposure is not fun.

Of course the main ingredient in making a good video is to have fun. There is no point in doing something you don't like, so if you are going to do it, enjoy it. I know this is not a comprehensive primer of all that you need to know to make an adult video, but hopefully it will guide you past some of the most common problems. Remember, good video is not a talent, it is a lot of hard work and preparation. Follow these guidelines, study up on the art, have an idea as to what you want to shoot, and prepare for everything.
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