I try my best to go through and answer all email/YouTube messages I get, but I get a lot of them, so here’s a handy FAQ – please check this bad boy first before sending me a message – I might already have an answer for you below!
What camera equipment do you use?
We use a variety of HD cameras – basically whatever we can borrow and whatever happens to be available. We’ve used, in the past, everything from the Sony EX1, the Panasonic HVX200, and the Canon 5D/7D/550D. Most behind the scenes footage and B-Camera footage is taken with the Canon 60D, and most main channel stuff is shot with a Sony EX1.
For DSLR shooting, we use rails and supports from RedRock Micro.
Additionally, we use tripods, jib arms, and camera support systems from Libec.
What software do you use?
It depends on what we’re doing – for video editing, we use Final Cut Pro, and for effects, we use Adobe After Effects. But I’ve made videos with everything from iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, Avid, and Final Cut Express.
You have to remember: when it comes to editing software, almost all software is essentially the same. They all will cut video just as well as the other. It comes down to personal preference – and at the YouTube/online video level, no single piece of software is objectively “better” than the other.
And a little video talking about this question:
What camera should I buy?
Rule 1: If you can borrow a camera, just borrow it! Otherwise, get the nicest camera you can afford. I’m super jealous of all you guys nowadays because almost any camera you can buy is about a thousand times better than what I used to use. Otherwise, look for a camera that shoots HD, and a camera that ideally doesn’t record to tape – that way you don’t have to deal with capturing from tapes, which can be a pain.
DSLR cameras are currently the best blend of being affordable while still providing a professional quality image. If you don’t take a lot of still photos, I recommend the Canon T3i or the Canon 60D (T3i is slightly cheaper). If you do take a lot of still photos, look at the Canon 7D or 5D. Alternately, the Lumix GH2 is another really good DSLR camera.
What editing software should I use?
For straight editing, Windows Movie Maker or iMovie are both very good programs. If you want to drop some money, take a look at Final Cut Express/Pro on the Mac side, or Sony Vegas Movie Studio.
Above all, never let the fact that you don’t have a certain program or a certain camera be an excuse that stops you from making movies – you don’t need any of those things. If you don’t have an HD camera, shoot SD. If you can’t cut, rehearse your shots and cut in camera. Having better software or better cameras don’t make you a better filmmaker – making loads of crappy movies does.
Where do you get your sounds? Where do you get your gun sounds?
Sounds are from a variety of sources. I have a fairly big library of things I’ve recorded myself as a result of needing certain sounds for different projects. I also use a few sound effects libraries. For gun sounds, I would recommend you look at video game sound effects replacement packs – things like replacement gun sounds for TF2 or Counter Strike – those are a good place to get some meaty gun sounds.
Where do you get your music?
Usually the music is composed by myself using a combination of software samplers and recorded guitar/bass in Logic Pro. Occasionally I’ll dig into a royalty-free sound library like the music samples from Soundtrack Pro or Pro Scores by Video Copilot.
How do you do blood effects?
Our blood hits are from our own personal library – red chalk dust against a black backdrop and composited in. You can very easily shoot your own versions of this with any sort of dust that you tint red in post production. Lately, we’ve also been taking smoke puffs from the Action Essentials 2 pack, and tinting them red.
Where do you get your guns?
The guns are airsoft guns – usually you use them a lot like paintball guns, but instead of paintballs they shoot plastic BBs. They’re great for movie props because you don’t need them to be working. We get our guns from a variety of places, but check around online for airsoft retailers. We’ve had good success with Evike.com in the past (they have a gun graveyard with non-working ones that are good for props).
Here’s a video talking about airsofts:
What do you do for a job?
Brandon and I do YouTube full time.
Can I hire you guys to do VFX/Sound/Shoot my movie?
While I would love to help out on your projects, the truth is, I barely have enough time to handle my own projects right now! So at the moment, I’m afraid I generally won’t be able to help out on outside projects, but if you think you have something really cool, feel free to shoot me an email.
How long do your videos take to make?
We try and make one a week, so at the most, one week. Generally though, shoot for a few hours, edit in a few hours, VFX/Sound/Music/Color Correction 2-3 days.
How do you have the custom subscribe button on your channel page/How do you do the banner at the top of your channel?
That’s a customization feature that only YouTube partners have.
Hey can you check out (my video here) and tell me what you think?
I would love to, and will try my best to do so, so feel free to send in links to your work! However, I can be really slow with responding, so apologies in advance – I’ll try and get to it eventually, and my response will probably be in the form of a comment left on your video.
Can you help me/my friend/my wife win this contest?
As much as I would love to help each and every one of you dominate internet contests, I get so many of these requests that it’d be impossible (in some cases, a bunch of requests from different people for the same contest, which would be utterly self-defeating). So unfortunately, I can’t help, because odds are, there’s been four other people who’ve asked for help for their videos in the same contest you’re doing.
Where can I get that awesome desktop background? The one with the jumping dog?
You mean… this one?
