Ladies and gentlemen, enemies and friends, on this sunny and warm spring day, we have gathered together to watch a DV production - "The Birdcage Mountain Bandit Suppression Record." "The Birdcage Mountain Bandit Suppression Record" captivates with its concise rhythm, rudimentary visuals, absurd plot, and poor acting... This is from Hu Ge's "The Birdcage Mountain Bandit Suppression Record."
This follows last year's highly popular "A Blood Case Caused by a Steamed Bun," another powerful DV masterpiece recently released by Hu Ge. It can be seen on many video websites now, with a significant number of viewers, once again sparking a wave of interest. It should be noted that this is just one of the representative works among countless DV productions. Setting aside discussions about the themes reflected in the original film, just considering its immense influence among DV enthusiasts shows that DV videography is increasingly gaining popularity and being embraced by the masses. It could be said that this is a snapshot of the DV culture and its growing accessibility. Nowadays, more and more people prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through DV videography, bringing joy to the audience while documenting life's moments and preserving vivid dynamic memories.
DV is everywhere
With the continuous drop in prices, DV cameras are becoming increasingly accessible. A camera costing 3,000 to 4,000 yuan has become unprecedentedly affordable, and those priced at over 2,000 yuan are also quite common. What was once a luxury item for a select few has now opened the door to widespread use among the general public. Owning a DV camera has become a new choice for ordinary consumers, entering millions of households. Whether it's at home gatherings, parties, travels, conferences, or campus life, we often see people holding DV cameras entertaining themselves or engaging in creative endeavors.
On campuses, it's common to see groups of students using DV cameras to document their lives, and many interesting DV programs appear during student festival galas. It has become a new way for college students to record their lives, express their thoughts, and vent their emotions, bringing us more excitement. In March 2004, Tsinghua University's Times Forum held a special discussion on "Campus DV Culture" in the form of a salon, and the Student Union organized the first "DV Cultural Festival." The campus DV topics were extensive, with diverse formats including MTVs, story films, comedy dramas, documentaries, and experimental films, delighting the audience. For these college students, most of them use DV cameras for—creation.
On the other hand, household users, especially newlyweds, have become a major consumer group for DV cameras. They record their children's growth process from birth, first steps, babbling, kindergarten, primary school… preserving precious memories forever. We see these young couples willingly spending money on DV cameras (currently, DVD camcorders suitable for family use are very popular, with Sony leading the market). For these family users, most use DV cameras to record daily life and their children's growth process, utilizing DV's most basic function—recording.
Additionally, the commercial uses of DV cameras are increasingly being explored and utilized. For business professionals, hard disk camcorders with ultra-long recording capabilities (currently dominated by Sony and JVC) are favored. We see many users capturing important meetings and events, hoping to document every detail and preserve them as static materials. These images can even be wirelessly transmitted via computer—remember, time is money. Moreover, DV cameras can replace digital cameras to capture outdoor advertisements, POP displays, promotional flyers, etc. For business professionals familiar with computers who need substantial shooting, they primarily use DV cameras for—commercial purposes.
Whether for creation, recording, or commercial use, these are all examples of the continuous exploration and deepening application of DV functions. With the increasing use of DV cameras, their widespread adoption is inevitable. In fact, the "Image New Force—National Youth DV Competition" hosted by Sony Handycam in 2004 clearly demonstrates this trend. The competition not only sparked a nationwide DV culture wave but also received over 700 DV works within three months, achieving unprecedented success and becoming a major DV event of the year. After the event ended, Sony continued to receive numerous DV works, providing the best testament to the competition's strong influence.
DV is everywhere; DV has deeply penetrated our hearts.
Shoot whenever you want, freely mastering DV
"Digital Video (DV), which uses digital signals, has the advantage of being compatible with advanced editing equipment for non-linear editing, making its playback quality reach professional-grade image quality. Its relatively low cost and compact portability make it a golden key for many who wish to express themselves through video imagery.
Unlike professional cinematographers and super fans who require high-performance, multifunctional DV cameras for large-scale creations, for the vast majority of regular consumers, expressing oneself through video, recording the details of daily life, and realizing the collective 'director' dream is the greatest aspiration. For them, owning a simple-to-use, stylish, portable, affordable, and high-quality DV camera already satisfies their needs. As DV operations become stronger and more convenient, more and more consumers are adept at freely using DV cameras, shooting whenever they want. In theory, the quality of a work or even regular video footage doesn't entirely depend on the quality of the camera itself. The climax of "The Birdcage Mountain Bandit Suppression Record" is a case in point. As stated in the film: "The Birdcage Mountain Bandit Suppression Record" captivates with its slow pace, rudimentary visuals, absurd plot, and poor acting...
Appendix: DV Shooting Techniques
1. Hold your DV steadily
If the DV camera wobbles excessively during shooting, the resulting footage will be unstable when viewed on TV or transferred to a computer, causing dizziness akin to motion sickness. Therefore, holding the digital camcorder steady is almost the most critical foundation for any successful DV production. While traveling, try to find stable objects (such as walls, columns, trees) to lean against to maintain stability. If possible, always use a tripod (or monopod). When no support is available, ensure proper camera-holding posture: hold the DV with one hand, centering the weight on your wrist, keep your elbows close to your ribs, breathe steadily, stand with feet apart, and stabilize your body's center of gravity. Absolutely avoid walking while shooting, as this will cause severe shaking, which might not be noticeable while shooting but becomes apparent during playback.
2. Appropriately control the duration of each shot
If a shot is too short, the image won't be clear enough, leaving the viewer feeling unsatisfied. Conversely, if a shot is too long, it may dampen the viewer's enthusiasm, making them feel bored. Therefore, controlling the length of each shot deserves careful consideration.
Suggestion: Close-up shots should last 2-3 seconds, medium close-ups 3-4 seconds, medium shots 5-6 seconds, full shots 6-7 seconds, wide shots 6-11 seconds, and normal shots ideally last 4-6 seconds. When shooting, ensure the content in the frame is interesting. Generally, viewers tend to focus more on moving objects in the frame. If there aren't significant moving elements, a long shot lasting for an extended period will be meaningless. However, this doesn't mean long shots shouldn't be used. If the object in the frame keeps moving throughout, the viewer will remain interested. Long shots are suitable for depicting the entire process of a story, and when used appropriately, they can be very effective, though mastering their use isn't easy.
3. Level your DV
If using a digital camera (DC), a tilted photo can be easily corrected later to return it to a level position. However, if the DV footage is significantly tilted, the image displayed on a TV screen will be unwatchable. Some higher-end professional DV cameras have gridlines visible in the viewfinder and LCD screen to help you maintain level positioning. If your DV lacks this feature, simply ensure that horizontal lines (like the horizon) and vertical lines (like utility poles or buildings) in the frame are parallel to the edges of the viewfinder or LCD screen.
4. Use optical zoom cautiously
Each zoom operation can be considered a special effect involving lens movement. If the zoom is used frequently without purpose, the image may appear unstable when viewed, and frequent zooming increases battery consumption, significantly reducing shooting time. For the same scene, consider using fixed focal length shots from different angles and distances, which might yield better results.
5. Avoid shooting against the light
Shooting with the light behind you ensures clearer subjects. In most cases, the subject should be under sufficient light intensity. Shooting against the light causes high contrast, easily overexposing bright areas and losing detail in shadows due to DV limitations. A good photographer usually keeps the sun behind them, which makes sense.
6. Master white balance
When traveling, lighting conditions change rapidly—bright sunlight outdoors one moment, then dim indoor lighting or dark caves the next. Generally, the automatic white balance of our DV cameras can adapt automatically. However, if possible, adjust the white balance according to the color temperature and subject matter. Given that natural scenery often features red flowers and green grass, adjusting the white balance slightly warmer enhances the greens beautifully. Additionally, if using automatic white balance, turning off and restarting the camera when moving indoors helps recalibrate the white balance. This situation is quite common while traveling, such as when shooting temples in scenic spots.
7. Composition balance is crucial
To master DV shooting well, some knowledge of composition is essential. The principles of composition in videography, photography, and painting are entirely interconnected. The key to composition lies in achieving "balance." Balance can also be understood as harmony, meaning the image looks comfortable. If the positions of the main subject and the environment change and immediately feel uncomfortable, it's a subtle yet indescribable sensation. For instance, when shooting landscapes during travel, the placement of the horizon leaves a strong impression. Avoid placing the horizon exactly at the middle of the frame, as this divides the image into two equal halves, creating a stiff appearance. Positioning the horizon lower in the frame gives a sense of calmness, while placing it higher creates a dynamic, energetic feeling.