A brief article on how I produced my video "Top 13video"

Video-Now
by Henry Burt Stevens
06/30/2005

Sandie Angel posted "I think all poets need to know" on June 22, 2005. The post was to alert readers to the good reception

Sandie had to her recent poetry reading Later, Sandie received surprise applause when retelling her experience at an other

venue that was not a poetry group. Sandie's point was that, "poetry is in fashion," along with poetry reading by poets. Her

post has so far received 18 review/responses, indicating a strong postive response from her readers.

Sandie's post prompted me to revisit the idea of home made poet readings in video that could be presented on the internet.

It had been a year since I'd looked and what I found out I want to share. I'm going to briefly describe what I used to create

my recent video "Top 13 video."

I used Microsoft Movie Maker 10, which ships with the XP Service Pack. It's easy to use. Instructions are clear, and it is

only a basic program.

My recording set up is pictured above. I have a small Averatec computer on which I have mounted a Creative lap top

camera. It's the little knob at the top center of the screen frame. I have a small clip on mike. I printed out my poems, one

each on a piece of paper as a script, and using the capture video, start the capture and read the poems and close the capture

at the end of the poem. This was saved as a file. Repeat for as many poems as you are including, one file for each poem.

Start a movie time line and add the poem files one by one in the sequence you wish. Go back and insert the written info and

title names you wish to use, the credits and save this file as the completed video.

This video can then be uploaded on AuthorsDen to your storage area and then linked to your poem page.

I also uploaded my video on Google Video and it is now being reviewed. If accepted, it will mean that this same video on

AD can also be viewed on Google Video.

I was working on this project over the last weekend, June 25 and 26. On the 27th Google made the block buster

annoucement that their new open source Video Player was ready for download. This is called VLC Media player and it will

play many, many formats. I downloaded it right away. It's neat, tight and sure enough plays my Top 13video just fine.

All this is to say that spoken word, poetry readings, author readings-however you want to think of it, will now become easier

and more available. Ages ago poems and epics were recited. Printed words are still very important, but now spoken words

are available on the internet. Jump in and enjoy.
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Chitchat is a short video showing my equipment and a few comments on how to use it.

Click here, to download ChitchatWeb.wmv