Littlest Pet Shop Video Tips
Hey, we all start somewhere!
Many of you have been asking me how I film and edit my videos, so I thought, why not
tell you some of my video tips? Some of you are new to YouTube and need a little
help with starting out, right? Well, you've come to the right place!
If you're not a fan of reading, click here for quick tips!
tell you some of my video tips? Some of you are new to YouTube and need a little
help with starting out, right? Well, you've come to the right place!
If you're not a fan of reading, click here for quick tips!
#1. Starting Out
So, you just made your YouTube account. You got your channel description all set up, check! Your channel art looks totally awesome, check! And your icon is just how you like it, check! …Err…Now what? Hey hey, whoa! Slow down a second! I know you’re probably eager to grab your camera and LPS and start making some videos, but first of all, you should probably get a feel for the whole “YouTubing” experience. Did you check your channel settings? Make sure you've got your privacy settings, email settings, and anything else all ready to go. When it all looks good, you should probably start checking out some other LPS channels.
#2. Making Friends
This might be a pretty easy topic for some of you, but I remember when I first started, I was really nervous. I was afraid people wouldn’t like me. Just be yourself! Check out a few people’s channels and try making some new friends. Number one rule: Be nice. No one wants to be friends with someone who’s rude or just joined YouTube for fame and fans. Don’t just comment on someone’s channel saying, “Hey! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ME!” Noooooo. The person reading your comment will just assume that you’re desperate for subscribers and views and probably won't want to be your friend. YouTube is about posting videos for fun, at least, in my opinion. Anyways, let’s change that rude comment to a much nicer one, “Hey! My name is [Insert your name here]! I really like your videos, and I was wondering if maybe we could be friends? :)” Perfect way to introduce yourself! That shows the other person that you're friendly, and they would probably love to be friends with you!
Also, please try your best not to use curse words. Most people who watch LPS videos are young. If it's a habit of yours to swear, please try to say something like "What the tail!" or "Oh my dog!" instead. Same for your videos. Please don't film something completely inappropriate for kids and post it. You will probably regret it later. Anything beyond making an LPS kiss another LPS is most likely considered inappropriate.
Pretend your videos are an actual TV show for kids.
#3. Ideas
Now that you’ve got some new friends, let’s show them why you signed up on YouTube in the first place, to make some LPS videos! It’s time to make your first video! But wait… what should your video be about? Brainstorming time!
Don’t have an idea yet? That’s okay! All you have to do is use that big thing in your head to come up with something awesome! It’s best to be original and to come up with an idea that no one else already has. I know, I know, some LPSTubers like to make remakes of an LPS series that someone else has already made. To that, I ask… why?! To be completely honest, I’m not sure you’re going to get as many views as the original series. Someone already came up with the series idea and has already posted it. Why would anyone want to watch it a second time, just redone by someone else? I mean, yeah, I know sometimes it's difficult to think up a good idea, but why take someone else’s? Just think. Anything can inspire you. For example, I’m looking out my window right now and I see a tree. A tree? Hmm. How could I incorporate a tree into an LPS series? Well, what if, there was this squirrel… no… a family of LPS squirrels that lived in a tree, and one day there was a huge thunderstorm that knocked over their house. The storm killed one of their family members. *Cue the sad music* Then, they had to venture out and find a new place to stay. Along the way, they run into a few problems and almost get themselves killed by a carnivorous forest monster!!! There! Done! No need to get into the details right now.
And if you still can’t think of a good idea, you can always ask a family member or a friend to help you out. Two brains are better than one!
Now that you’ve got your idea, it’s time foooorrr…
#4. Script Writing / Improv
You can use anything to make a script. Most people write scripts by typing it out on the computer and printing them when it’s done. But if you don’t have a printer, you can always use your trusty pencil and paper. Or, you could write it “caveman style” by writing on your wall, I wouldn't recommend doing that though...
Writing a script is pretty easy, and there are so many ways to do it.
Here’s an example of how I write my scripts:
Mom: Oh my gosh, are you okay?! *Runs to her child’s side*
Child: *Starts to cry* I fell on my knee and it hurts really bad! WAAHHH!
Some people write their scripts like a book. For example:
The mother looked over at her child. Suddenly, the little boy tripped on his shoelace and fell to the ground, scraping his knee on the sidewalk. The mother quickly got up out of her chair and ran to her child’s side, “Oh my gosh, are you okay?!” The little boy whined, “I fell on my knee and it hurts really bad!” He cried out in pain.
Writing the scene like a book takes a lot longer, though, because you have to be more descriptive. But if you’re also planning on publishing a book after you make your series, then go right ahead. Whatever floats your boat.
Not a fan of writing? Then try out improvisation! That’s when you think up what to say on the spot without writing it down first. It’s a little tricky, but you get used to it after a while. I used to do improv when I first started, and sometimes I still do.
#4.5. Characters
I decided I should include a how-to on writing characters and their personalities! Each character you have should have a different personality, because everybody has their own personal styles, interests, and behaviors. I found a really helpful picture on Tumblr with a big list of questions that you should ask yourself when creating new main characters, supporting characters, ect.
First of all, what is this character's personality like? Are they nice, mean, bossy, kind, helpful, shy, funny, selfish, preppy, hyper, lazy, hardworking, ect?
What's their life like? Are they rich, poor, or in between? Do they have a nice place to live? A big/small family?
What is their daily life like? Do they go to school, talk to friends, have a job?
What are their interests? Do they play sports? Sing, dance, draw? Are they a computer geek, an inventor, ect? Favorite TV shows, games, movies, celebrities, ect?
Now it's time to dig deeper! Ask yourself these questions:
What do you know about this character that they don't know yet?
What is this character's greatest flaw?
Who is this character's favorite person (living or dead)?
What is this character's secret wish?
Their most embarrassing moment? Their deepest regret?
Greatest fear? Greatest hope?
Does this character have an obsession?
What's their family like and how does it affect their personality?
If they're angry, what calms them down?
How would a stranger describe this character? How would a close friend or relative describe this character?
Try to list some possible choices they made/could make that led/lead to that character's current predicament/situation/the main conflict in the story.
List some things in their life that they can't control or change.
#5. Where To Film
The best place to film would be on a (preferably white) table or dresser that's near a window. That way, you'll have that natural light from the sun shining through and the scenes will look a lot brighter. The table should be at least a foot or more underneath the window, so then when you’re filming, your viewers aren't looking out the window at your neighbor walking their dog. You should probably start filming when the sun is about to shine through the window. If you want to film a nighttime scene, make the scene dark, but also make sure you have a little bit of light so people can see what the characters are doing. If you don't have a window that you can use, you can always try using a lamp, although you might not get as much lighting quality. Or, you could try searching for professional studio lamps, although they may be costly.
I like to film my videos in my bedroom, but you can film anywhere you want to, as long as there are no loud noises that might distract the viewers. (For example: Pets like dogs that bark, little brothers that like to get in the way, TVs or radios, or your parents... ect.) Before you start filming, you should probably tell your family so they're aware and are quiet. Also, you should probably close the door of the room you're in, just in case.
Just a little tip about pets: My cousins have a dog that likes to steal their LPS and chew them up. If you have a pet that likes to eat your toys, ask your parents if you can buy a bin or storage unit to keep all your LPS safe, and try not to leave them sitting around.
Here's my filming area:
So, you just made your YouTube account. You got your channel description all set up, check! Your channel art looks totally awesome, check! And your icon is just how you like it, check! …Err…Now what? Hey hey, whoa! Slow down a second! I know you’re probably eager to grab your camera and LPS and start making some videos, but first of all, you should probably get a feel for the whole “YouTubing” experience. Did you check your channel settings? Make sure you've got your privacy settings, email settings, and anything else all ready to go. When it all looks good, you should probably start checking out some other LPS channels.
#2. Making Friends
This might be a pretty easy topic for some of you, but I remember when I first started, I was really nervous. I was afraid people wouldn’t like me. Just be yourself! Check out a few people’s channels and try making some new friends. Number one rule: Be nice. No one wants to be friends with someone who’s rude or just joined YouTube for fame and fans. Don’t just comment on someone’s channel saying, “Hey! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE ME!” Noooooo. The person reading your comment will just assume that you’re desperate for subscribers and views and probably won't want to be your friend. YouTube is about posting videos for fun, at least, in my opinion. Anyways, let’s change that rude comment to a much nicer one, “Hey! My name is [Insert your name here]! I really like your videos, and I was wondering if maybe we could be friends? :)” Perfect way to introduce yourself! That shows the other person that you're friendly, and they would probably love to be friends with you!
Also, please try your best not to use curse words. Most people who watch LPS videos are young. If it's a habit of yours to swear, please try to say something like "What the tail!" or "Oh my dog!" instead. Same for your videos. Please don't film something completely inappropriate for kids and post it. You will probably regret it later. Anything beyond making an LPS kiss another LPS is most likely considered inappropriate.
Pretend your videos are an actual TV show for kids.
#3. Ideas
Now that you’ve got some new friends, let’s show them why you signed up on YouTube in the first place, to make some LPS videos! It’s time to make your first video! But wait… what should your video be about? Brainstorming time!
Don’t have an idea yet? That’s okay! All you have to do is use that big thing in your head to come up with something awesome! It’s best to be original and to come up with an idea that no one else already has. I know, I know, some LPSTubers like to make remakes of an LPS series that someone else has already made. To that, I ask… why?! To be completely honest, I’m not sure you’re going to get as many views as the original series. Someone already came up with the series idea and has already posted it. Why would anyone want to watch it a second time, just redone by someone else? I mean, yeah, I know sometimes it's difficult to think up a good idea, but why take someone else’s? Just think. Anything can inspire you. For example, I’m looking out my window right now and I see a tree. A tree? Hmm. How could I incorporate a tree into an LPS series? Well, what if, there was this squirrel… no… a family of LPS squirrels that lived in a tree, and one day there was a huge thunderstorm that knocked over their house. The storm killed one of their family members. *Cue the sad music* Then, they had to venture out and find a new place to stay. Along the way, they run into a few problems and almost get themselves killed by a carnivorous forest monster!!! There! Done! No need to get into the details right now.
And if you still can’t think of a good idea, you can always ask a family member or a friend to help you out. Two brains are better than one!
Now that you’ve got your idea, it’s time foooorrr…
#4. Script Writing / Improv
You can use anything to make a script. Most people write scripts by typing it out on the computer and printing them when it’s done. But if you don’t have a printer, you can always use your trusty pencil and paper. Or, you could write it “caveman style” by writing on your wall, I wouldn't recommend doing that though...
Writing a script is pretty easy, and there are so many ways to do it.
Here’s an example of how I write my scripts:
Mom: Oh my gosh, are you okay?! *Runs to her child’s side*
Child: *Starts to cry* I fell on my knee and it hurts really bad! WAAHHH!
Some people write their scripts like a book. For example:
The mother looked over at her child. Suddenly, the little boy tripped on his shoelace and fell to the ground, scraping his knee on the sidewalk. The mother quickly got up out of her chair and ran to her child’s side, “Oh my gosh, are you okay?!” The little boy whined, “I fell on my knee and it hurts really bad!” He cried out in pain.
Writing the scene like a book takes a lot longer, though, because you have to be more descriptive. But if you’re also planning on publishing a book after you make your series, then go right ahead. Whatever floats your boat.
Not a fan of writing? Then try out improvisation! That’s when you think up what to say on the spot without writing it down first. It’s a little tricky, but you get used to it after a while. I used to do improv when I first started, and sometimes I still do.
#4.5. Characters
I decided I should include a how-to on writing characters and their personalities! Each character you have should have a different personality, because everybody has their own personal styles, interests, and behaviors. I found a really helpful picture on Tumblr with a big list of questions that you should ask yourself when creating new main characters, supporting characters, ect.
First of all, what is this character's personality like? Are they nice, mean, bossy, kind, helpful, shy, funny, selfish, preppy, hyper, lazy, hardworking, ect?
What's their life like? Are they rich, poor, or in between? Do they have a nice place to live? A big/small family?
What is their daily life like? Do they go to school, talk to friends, have a job?
What are their interests? Do they play sports? Sing, dance, draw? Are they a computer geek, an inventor, ect? Favorite TV shows, games, movies, celebrities, ect?
Now it's time to dig deeper! Ask yourself these questions:
What do you know about this character that they don't know yet?
What is this character's greatest flaw?
Who is this character's favorite person (living or dead)?
What is this character's secret wish?
Their most embarrassing moment? Their deepest regret?
Greatest fear? Greatest hope?
Does this character have an obsession?
What's their family like and how does it affect their personality?
If they're angry, what calms them down?
How would a stranger describe this character? How would a close friend or relative describe this character?
Try to list some possible choices they made/could make that led/lead to that character's current predicament/situation/the main conflict in the story.
List some things in their life that they can't control or change.
#5. Where To Film
The best place to film would be on a (preferably white) table or dresser that's near a window. That way, you'll have that natural light from the sun shining through and the scenes will look a lot brighter. The table should be at least a foot or more underneath the window, so then when you’re filming, your viewers aren't looking out the window at your neighbor walking their dog. You should probably start filming when the sun is about to shine through the window. If you want to film a nighttime scene, make the scene dark, but also make sure you have a little bit of light so people can see what the characters are doing. If you don't have a window that you can use, you can always try using a lamp, although you might not get as much lighting quality. Or, you could try searching for professional studio lamps, although they may be costly.
I like to film my videos in my bedroom, but you can film anywhere you want to, as long as there are no loud noises that might distract the viewers. (For example: Pets like dogs that bark, little brothers that like to get in the way, TVs or radios, or your parents... ect.) Before you start filming, you should probably tell your family so they're aware and are quiet. Also, you should probably close the door of the room you're in, just in case.
Just a little tip about pets: My cousins have a dog that likes to steal their LPS and chew them up. If you have a pet that likes to eat your toys, ask your parents if you can buy a bin or storage unit to keep all your LPS safe, and try not to leave them sitting around.
Here's my filming area:
I got the table at a store like Target, but you can find tables like this anywhere! It's a computer table that was originally black, but I painted it white (Hence the terrible paint job on the legs of the table). But if you're looking for a big table like this for a low price, I suggest going to garage sales and checking out a few different stores near you that sell furniture.
#6. Filming / Scenes
NOW is the time for you to take out that camera! You've got your idea, your script (possibly), your channel, and your new friends waiting to see your new videos. Now remember, this is your first video. It might not turn out the best, and not everyone is going to like it. Don’t get too upset if someone tells you they don’t like it. It takes practice to make something perfect!
If you want, before you start filming, check your fingernails. Do they look good? Is your nail polish chipped? You don’t want your viewers to have to look at chipped nails, do you? Just a suggestion! Repaint or file them if needed.
(Unless you're lazy, like me)
Now you can start! Time to set up your scenes. Here are two examples of how I would set up bedrooms for teenage girls:
NOW is the time for you to take out that camera! You've got your idea, your script (possibly), your channel, and your new friends waiting to see your new videos. Now remember, this is your first video. It might not turn out the best, and not everyone is going to like it. Don’t get too upset if someone tells you they don’t like it. It takes practice to make something perfect!
If you want, before you start filming, check your fingernails. Do they look good? Is your nail polish chipped? You don’t want your viewers to have to look at chipped nails, do you? Just a suggestion! Repaint or file them if needed.
(Unless you're lazy, like me)
Now you can start! Time to set up your scenes. Here are two examples of how I would set up bedrooms for teenage girls:
Both of these pictures are from past scenes I made in Totally Super, Bijou's room (left) and Violet's (right). Bijou can be very energetic, and absolutely LOVES fashion, so I added props and things in her room that went accordingly to her personality. Same with Violet, except Violet is more the gothy type, and likes to make music (i.e. the piano and guitar). Her family is also very wealthy, which is why she has such expensive things. Since they're both bedrooms, you should be sure to set up a little bed or a place for your character(s) to sleep (they aren't shown in the pictures, sorry!) Other props like rugs and posters make the scene look more realistic. Be creative! If you’re a fan of arts and crafts, you could make your own little posters with paper and markers or you can print them out from your computer.
Don’t have that many props? You can always go out shopping for dollhouse furniture or buy other LPS sets that contain a few objects that might be useful in your scenes. Check out garage sales too! Make sure each scene is perfect before you start recording. If you're planning on using a mirror in the scene, be careful! You don’t want to accidentally show your face in the video.
Most people ask me how I switch from one scene to another without moving the camera to a different location. Simple! All you have to do is move the camera where you want, and press record. Say the character’s lines or make the character do an action, and then stop recording. Move the camera to another area, press record, say the character’s lines, stop recording, move the camera... ect. Just keep repeating that until the whole video is finished. It sounds like a long and boring process, but you'll get used to it after a while. It'll be worth it in the end!
If your LPS falls over, you say a line wrong, or something happens in the background while you’re filming, stop recording and try it again. But save the clip if you want! People like to watch blooper reel videos. A blooper reel is when you edit together a ton of video clips that you messed up on and let people see it.
Make sure you speak loudly and clearly so people will know exactly what you’re trying to say. Put emotion into the video! If your character is supposed to be sad about something, fake cry or think of something sad. And if real tears come out, that’s fine too. Also, if you talk in a quiet and low voice, no one is going to understand you. Please don't be shy. The camera isn't going to bite! (Hopefully ?? It depends on what camera you have..)
If your character is "cut" or "injured" by something, you can use red lipstick as fake blood. Just make sure you wash it off when you’re done or else it might stain!!!
Be sure to stay on topic. Let's say your story is about an LPS super hero. If your characters start talking about (for example) cereal, and then keep talking about what cereal they like and go out shopping for cereal for the whole episode, that's getting off topic. You want your video to be interesting. Unless, maybe the cereal they buy has some kind of special ingredient in it that could make your character have super hero powers. Anything to keep your viewers viewing!
And the most important tip of all: take your time. There’s no rush! Trust me, your video will turn out terrible if you just rush through the whole thing. Put a lot of time and effort into it. Filming can last up to two days, or more than a week! Like I said before, it’ll be worth it in the end.
#7. Editing
So, you've finished filming your video! Now it’s time to transfer all of the video clips onto your computer and edit them together with some kind of movie making program. Most PC computers come with a program called Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker. I used to use just plain old Windows Movie Maker. I don’t know much about Mac computers, though. I know they usually come with a program called iMovie (I think?), but I've never had a Mac so I don’t know.
There are tons of other movie makers out there, but most of them cost a lot of money. If you want a really good movie maker for a semi-low price, I would suggest getting an older version of Sony Vegas, which usually costs $50, more or less. An older version, because some of the newer versions can cost over $200.
And of course, I have no idea what kind of camera you use. So you’ll have to figure out how to transfer the clips on your own. Some cameras have a USB cord, which is a cord that connects your camera to your computer, and you can transfer the clips that way. Another way is if your camera uses a memory card. You can just take out the card and put it into your computer.
Once the clips are on your computer, they should be saved in a file somewhere and you should be able to drag all of them onto your movie maker. It would be really hard for me to explain every single detail on how to edit the clips, but if you need some help on how to cut clips and add effects, you can look up explanations on how to edit a video with your movie maker on Google, or watch tutorial videos on YouTube. I do that all the time. Or you can just teach yourself how. Try out some of the effects that come with your movie maker!
Also, keep your video down to at least 20 minutes or less. People might not have enough time to watch a hour long video!
#8. Sound Effects / Background Music
This is very important: If you put copyrighted music into your video, YouTube has the right to remove your video and give you a strike. You definitely DO NOT want that to happen! Copyrighted music is anything by a music artist that didn’t give you permission to use it. For example: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, ect. If you get three strikes, YouTube can delete your account. Most LPSTubers use incompetech.com to add in background music to their videos. It’s all free music (no viruses, I promise) and the creator (Kevin MacLeod) gives people permission to use it.
(CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MUSIC LICENSES)
Here’s what you have to do to download one of his songs:
1. Go on incompetech.com
2. At the top, click on Royalty-Free Music.
3. Click on Full Search, View Collections, or ISRC Catalog.
4. Go to the song you want to hear and press the green button to listen to it and see if you like it.
5. If you like it, press Download.
6. Once it’s done downloading, open the folder it saved in. (If you have a PC, it probably saved in your Downloads folder)
7. Drag the song to your movie maker.
And that’s it! Keep in mind that you must give him credit for the use of his songs in your video! I mean, how would you feel if someone started using something you made and didn't give you any credit?
Do you want to add some sound effects to your video? I would suggest going on freesound.org They have a ton of sound effects to choose from!
Here’s how to download a sound effect:
1. Go on freesound.org
2. You need to make an account before you start downloading. Once that’s done, you
don’t really need to add anything to your account ...Unless you really want to.
3. Next, type in the sound you want in the search bar.
4. Click on the sound you want to hear and press play to listen to it.
5. Press Download if you like it.
6. Open up the folder it saved in when it is done downloading.
7. Drag it to your movie maker.
Pretty simple. It would be nice if you wrote down the person’s username that made the sound effect and credited them in your video or your description.
Now you can add the background music and sound effects to your video. Also, PLEASE make sure the volume of the music or sound effect is turned down enough so it's not louder than your voice.
And remember, I'm not an expert at this. I know some people have had problems with saving the music or sound effects or had problems dragging it to their movie maker. Unfortunately, I'm not really sure that I can help you with that. I guess it all depends on what movie maker you use, what computer you have, the type of file that the music file is, ect. I'm really sorry, I wish I could help.
When you've finished editing your entire video, it’s best to review it at least twice. You might catch a mistake you made during a scene.
#9. Uploading
At long last, the video is fully finished. Everything is perfect and just how you like it. Time to show the world your creation! Go on your YouTube account and press Upload at the top of the screen. Next, press “Select files from your computer” and select your new video. Edit the title, the description, and the tags. Tags are what will lead people to your video, so write words like “LPS”, “Littlest Pet Shop”, your username, the title, ect. In the description, you should probably write a few things about the video or the characters. Once you’re done, wait for it to upload. It could take up to a few minutes to a few hours depending how long it is or the video quality, so be patient!
#10. Ta-da!
YAY! Your video is uploaded! Tell your friends to check it out and see what they say! I really hope these tips helped you out. It took me forever to write this whole thing. Good luck on future videos! You can always come back here if you ever need a reminder on how to do something. New tips might be added in the future!
Don’t have that many props? You can always go out shopping for dollhouse furniture or buy other LPS sets that contain a few objects that might be useful in your scenes. Check out garage sales too! Make sure each scene is perfect before you start recording. If you're planning on using a mirror in the scene, be careful! You don’t want to accidentally show your face in the video.
Most people ask me how I switch from one scene to another without moving the camera to a different location. Simple! All you have to do is move the camera where you want, and press record. Say the character’s lines or make the character do an action, and then stop recording. Move the camera to another area, press record, say the character’s lines, stop recording, move the camera... ect. Just keep repeating that until the whole video is finished. It sounds like a long and boring process, but you'll get used to it after a while. It'll be worth it in the end!
If your LPS falls over, you say a line wrong, or something happens in the background while you’re filming, stop recording and try it again. But save the clip if you want! People like to watch blooper reel videos. A blooper reel is when you edit together a ton of video clips that you messed up on and let people see it.
Make sure you speak loudly and clearly so people will know exactly what you’re trying to say. Put emotion into the video! If your character is supposed to be sad about something, fake cry or think of something sad. And if real tears come out, that’s fine too. Also, if you talk in a quiet and low voice, no one is going to understand you. Please don't be shy. The camera isn't going to bite! (Hopefully ?? It depends on what camera you have..)
If your character is "cut" or "injured" by something, you can use red lipstick as fake blood. Just make sure you wash it off when you’re done or else it might stain!!!
Be sure to stay on topic. Let's say your story is about an LPS super hero. If your characters start talking about (for example) cereal, and then keep talking about what cereal they like and go out shopping for cereal for the whole episode, that's getting off topic. You want your video to be interesting. Unless, maybe the cereal they buy has some kind of special ingredient in it that could make your character have super hero powers. Anything to keep your viewers viewing!
And the most important tip of all: take your time. There’s no rush! Trust me, your video will turn out terrible if you just rush through the whole thing. Put a lot of time and effort into it. Filming can last up to two days, or more than a week! Like I said before, it’ll be worth it in the end.
#7. Editing
So, you've finished filming your video! Now it’s time to transfer all of the video clips onto your computer and edit them together with some kind of movie making program. Most PC computers come with a program called Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker. I used to use just plain old Windows Movie Maker. I don’t know much about Mac computers, though. I know they usually come with a program called iMovie (I think?), but I've never had a Mac so I don’t know.
There are tons of other movie makers out there, but most of them cost a lot of money. If you want a really good movie maker for a semi-low price, I would suggest getting an older version of Sony Vegas, which usually costs $50, more or less. An older version, because some of the newer versions can cost over $200.
And of course, I have no idea what kind of camera you use. So you’ll have to figure out how to transfer the clips on your own. Some cameras have a USB cord, which is a cord that connects your camera to your computer, and you can transfer the clips that way. Another way is if your camera uses a memory card. You can just take out the card and put it into your computer.
Once the clips are on your computer, they should be saved in a file somewhere and you should be able to drag all of them onto your movie maker. It would be really hard for me to explain every single detail on how to edit the clips, but if you need some help on how to cut clips and add effects, you can look up explanations on how to edit a video with your movie maker on Google, or watch tutorial videos on YouTube. I do that all the time. Or you can just teach yourself how. Try out some of the effects that come with your movie maker!
Also, keep your video down to at least 20 minutes or less. People might not have enough time to watch a hour long video!
#8. Sound Effects / Background Music
This is very important: If you put copyrighted music into your video, YouTube has the right to remove your video and give you a strike. You definitely DO NOT want that to happen! Copyrighted music is anything by a music artist that didn’t give you permission to use it. For example: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, ect. If you get three strikes, YouTube can delete your account. Most LPSTubers use incompetech.com to add in background music to their videos. It’s all free music (no viruses, I promise) and the creator (Kevin MacLeod) gives people permission to use it.
(CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MUSIC LICENSES)
Here’s what you have to do to download one of his songs:
1. Go on incompetech.com
2. At the top, click on Royalty-Free Music.
3. Click on Full Search, View Collections, or ISRC Catalog.
4. Go to the song you want to hear and press the green button to listen to it and see if you like it.
5. If you like it, press Download.
6. Once it’s done downloading, open the folder it saved in. (If you have a PC, it probably saved in your Downloads folder)
7. Drag the song to your movie maker.
And that’s it! Keep in mind that you must give him credit for the use of his songs in your video! I mean, how would you feel if someone started using something you made and didn't give you any credit?
Do you want to add some sound effects to your video? I would suggest going on freesound.org They have a ton of sound effects to choose from!
Here’s how to download a sound effect:
1. Go on freesound.org
2. You need to make an account before you start downloading. Once that’s done, you
don’t really need to add anything to your account ...Unless you really want to.
3. Next, type in the sound you want in the search bar.
4. Click on the sound you want to hear and press play to listen to it.
5. Press Download if you like it.
6. Open up the folder it saved in when it is done downloading.
7. Drag it to your movie maker.
Pretty simple. It would be nice if you wrote down the person’s username that made the sound effect and credited them in your video or your description.
Now you can add the background music and sound effects to your video. Also, PLEASE make sure the volume of the music or sound effect is turned down enough so it's not louder than your voice.
And remember, I'm not an expert at this. I know some people have had problems with saving the music or sound effects or had problems dragging it to their movie maker. Unfortunately, I'm not really sure that I can help you with that. I guess it all depends on what movie maker you use, what computer you have, the type of file that the music file is, ect. I'm really sorry, I wish I could help.
When you've finished editing your entire video, it’s best to review it at least twice. You might catch a mistake you made during a scene.
#9. Uploading
At long last, the video is fully finished. Everything is perfect and just how you like it. Time to show the world your creation! Go on your YouTube account and press Upload at the top of the screen. Next, press “Select files from your computer” and select your new video. Edit the title, the description, and the tags. Tags are what will lead people to your video, so write words like “LPS”, “Littlest Pet Shop”, your username, the title, ect. In the description, you should probably write a few things about the video or the characters. Once you’re done, wait for it to upload. It could take up to a few minutes to a few hours depending how long it is or the video quality, so be patient!
#10. Ta-da!
YAY! Your video is uploaded! Tell your friends to check it out and see what they say! I really hope these tips helped you out. It took me forever to write this whole thing. Good luck on future videos! You can always come back here if you ever need a reminder on how to do something. New tips might be added in the future!
What I would recommend using:
(You don't have to use/buy any of these items, they're just what I use to make videos and would recommend.
Also, I'm not being paid by any of the companies that sell these items to recommend them, they're simply just what I use to make videos!)
1. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and Sony Handycam
If you want a camera that has amazing video quality, takes crystal clear photos, and that you can adjust lighting/contrast with, the Canon PowerShot is the camera for you! ...Okay, so, I'm totally NOT getting paid by this company to advertise this product, but quite honestly I am IN LOVE with this camera. It's a lot better than some of the cameras I've had in the past. I bought mine at Best Buy, but it was quite expensive... *cough*$399.99*cough*... yeah, it was a lot of money. But it's totally worth every cent, trust me!!! (You can also use this camera for photography purposes, if you want to!)
The Sony Handycam certainly isn't as good as the Canon, but it's a very simple camera that I would recommend for beginners. They definitely cost a lot less, maybe around $100. Some aren't very good at taking pictures, since they're mainly used for filming. But some come with a light on the front which could be very useful when making LPS videos in the dark!
2. Sony Vegas (Vegas Movie Studio)
Sony Vegas is probably one of the most popular video editing systems on YouTube. You can add a lot of different effects, like green screening, adding multiple video clips and audio to the timeline, a lot of transitions, and you can also adjust the lighting, color, add light rays, borders, make videos transparent, add titles and text, ect. I bought mine at Best Buy for about $199.
3. Of course, Littlest Pet Shops!
Haven't got many LPS? Time to start collecting! I've been collecting LPS since I was about 6, and I now have over 200. It's good to have a lot of actors for your movies, because you never know when you're going to need a new character. Also, a lot of them come with little toys or houses that can be useful for setting up backgrounds.
You can find a bunch of old/retired LPS by shopping online (eBay, Amazon, ect). Just watch out! Recently people have been selling fake LPS, they come from China and Hong Kong. They're made with cheap plastic, sort of like rubber duck material, have crazy neon-y colors, and look pretty dirty. Just make sure that before you buy an LPS online, check to see if the seller provides a photo of the bottom of the LPS to see if it has a pink, blue, grey magnet, or a hole on its foot, OR, the words "© [insert year here, for example, 2005] Hasbro, Made in China". If it has "Hasbro" on it, then it's real!
4. Channel Backgrounds/Icons
What I use to make backgrounds is a site called picmonkey.com, a photo editing site (it's free!). I also use a program called Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, which came with a drawing tablet I bought.
(You don't have to use/buy any of these items, they're just what I use to make videos and would recommend.
Also, I'm not being paid by any of the companies that sell these items to recommend them, they're simply just what I use to make videos!)
1. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and Sony Handycam
If you want a camera that has amazing video quality, takes crystal clear photos, and that you can adjust lighting/contrast with, the Canon PowerShot is the camera for you! ...Okay, so, I'm totally NOT getting paid by this company to advertise this product, but quite honestly I am IN LOVE with this camera. It's a lot better than some of the cameras I've had in the past. I bought mine at Best Buy, but it was quite expensive... *cough*$399.99*cough*... yeah, it was a lot of money. But it's totally worth every cent, trust me!!! (You can also use this camera for photography purposes, if you want to!)
The Sony Handycam certainly isn't as good as the Canon, but it's a very simple camera that I would recommend for beginners. They definitely cost a lot less, maybe around $100. Some aren't very good at taking pictures, since they're mainly used for filming. But some come with a light on the front which could be very useful when making LPS videos in the dark!
2. Sony Vegas (Vegas Movie Studio)
Sony Vegas is probably one of the most popular video editing systems on YouTube. You can add a lot of different effects, like green screening, adding multiple video clips and audio to the timeline, a lot of transitions, and you can also adjust the lighting, color, add light rays, borders, make videos transparent, add titles and text, ect. I bought mine at Best Buy for about $199.
3. Of course, Littlest Pet Shops!
Haven't got many LPS? Time to start collecting! I've been collecting LPS since I was about 6, and I now have over 200. It's good to have a lot of actors for your movies, because you never know when you're going to need a new character. Also, a lot of them come with little toys or houses that can be useful for setting up backgrounds.
You can find a bunch of old/retired LPS by shopping online (eBay, Amazon, ect). Just watch out! Recently people have been selling fake LPS, they come from China and Hong Kong. They're made with cheap plastic, sort of like rubber duck material, have crazy neon-y colors, and look pretty dirty. Just make sure that before you buy an LPS online, check to see if the seller provides a photo of the bottom of the LPS to see if it has a pink, blue, grey magnet, or a hole on its foot, OR, the words "© [insert year here, for example, 2005] Hasbro, Made in China". If it has "Hasbro" on it, then it's real!
4. Channel Backgrounds/Icons
What I use to make backgrounds is a site called picmonkey.com, a photo editing site (it's free!). I also use a program called Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, which came with a drawing tablet I bought.
LPS Vlogging
Another form of LPS video making! This is kind of like improv, but instead of having a bunch of different characters, the main character is you!
If you don't know what vlogging is, it's basically a series of "video logs" or "video blogs" that you can make either by yourself or with other people you know, where you talk about video updates, what's going on in your life... anything really! You can literally make it about anything. But instead of the usual vlogging, where you sit in front of a camera and talk, you put your LPS in front of a camera and talk.
Most LPSTubers are not comfortable with showing their face/they're not allowed to, so they've decided to use their favorite LPS / an LPS that represents them as a substitute, and talk about their life, what's on their mind, their interests, opinions, tutorials, making random/funny videos with friends or family, taking their camera and LPS with them while travelling somewhere to record videos of where they went and what they did, ect! The main thing about vlogging is communicating with people on the internet at a personal level.
But if you're new to vlogging, you should definitely remember to watch out for this:
1. If you are not comfortable/are not allowed to show your face, then really try your best to keep your face, and other people's faces, out of the video!!
If you somehow accidentally recorded your face, make sure to cut it out of the video when you're editing it, and before showing another person's
face in your video, ask permission from them first!
2. Do not say specific locations, people's full names, where you live, your phone number, show car license plates, all the usual stuff.
You don't want stalkers!
Just be careful, but have fun at the same time! Vlogging is a great way to express who you really are, and it's really fun, especially when there are two or more people involved in making the vlog. :)
Another form of LPS video making! This is kind of like improv, but instead of having a bunch of different characters, the main character is you!
If you don't know what vlogging is, it's basically a series of "video logs" or "video blogs" that you can make either by yourself or with other people you know, where you talk about video updates, what's going on in your life... anything really! You can literally make it about anything. But instead of the usual vlogging, where you sit in front of a camera and talk, you put your LPS in front of a camera and talk.
Most LPSTubers are not comfortable with showing their face/they're not allowed to, so they've decided to use their favorite LPS / an LPS that represents them as a substitute, and talk about their life, what's on their mind, their interests, opinions, tutorials, making random/funny videos with friends or family, taking their camera and LPS with them while travelling somewhere to record videos of where they went and what they did, ect! The main thing about vlogging is communicating with people on the internet at a personal level.
But if you're new to vlogging, you should definitely remember to watch out for this:
1. If you are not comfortable/are not allowed to show your face, then really try your best to keep your face, and other people's faces, out of the video!!
If you somehow accidentally recorded your face, make sure to cut it out of the video when you're editing it, and before showing another person's
face in your video, ask permission from them first!
2. Do not say specific locations, people's full names, where you live, your phone number, show car license plates, all the usual stuff.
You don't want stalkers!
Just be careful, but have fun at the same time! Vlogging is a great way to express who you really are, and it's really fun, especially when there are two or more people involved in making the vlog. :)
Dealing With HATERS / CYBERBULLIES
I know this really has nothing to do with video making, but for those of you who are just starting out, I need to warn you about the haters (DUN DUN DUN!!). Yes, we all deal with them on the internet at some point in our lives. I've had to deal with many in the past. There are going to be people out there that will comment rude things on your videos or your channel once you start gaining more subscribers, and you need to learn how to deal with them before you get into trouble. For example, a hater comments on your video:
"This video sucks!! I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! YOU'RE A LOSER!"
And what do you do about it? Well, your first instinct is to reply with something like:
"JERK! WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE??? DON'T TALK TO ME OR ELSE I'LL BLOCK YOU, MEANIE!"
It's just human nature. But, you need to stop yourself and think: Is saying something rude in reply going to solve anything? No. It's only going to make the situation worse. Then what do we do?! Block that user, delete their comment, and forget about them. Simple as that. You'll most likely never hear from that person again. It's best not to get involved! Some people just comment rude things on other people's videos/channel for no reason at all, only to make you mad. You can't give in. Just don't listen to them! All they're doing is wasting their time.
Also, I should probably add, please be nice to new LPSTubers! If you see a new account pop up, be friendly! Don't be shy, try saying hi! (Hey, that rhymed) They could turn out to be the nicest person you've ever met. :) I've met a lot of really nice LPSTubers through the past years, who were either new to LPSTube, or who've been here for a while.
I know this really has nothing to do with video making, but for those of you who are just starting out, I need to warn you about the haters (DUN DUN DUN!!). Yes, we all deal with them on the internet at some point in our lives. I've had to deal with many in the past. There are going to be people out there that will comment rude things on your videos or your channel once you start gaining more subscribers, and you need to learn how to deal with them before you get into trouble. For example, a hater comments on your video:
"This video sucks!! I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT! YOU'RE A LOSER!"
And what do you do about it? Well, your first instinct is to reply with something like:
"JERK! WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE??? DON'T TALK TO ME OR ELSE I'LL BLOCK YOU, MEANIE!"
It's just human nature. But, you need to stop yourself and think: Is saying something rude in reply going to solve anything? No. It's only going to make the situation worse. Then what do we do?! Block that user, delete their comment, and forget about them. Simple as that. You'll most likely never hear from that person again. It's best not to get involved! Some people just comment rude things on other people's videos/channel for no reason at all, only to make you mad. You can't give in. Just don't listen to them! All they're doing is wasting their time.
Also, I should probably add, please be nice to new LPSTubers! If you see a new account pop up, be friendly! Don't be shy, try saying hi! (Hey, that rhymed) They could turn out to be the nicest person you've ever met. :) I've met a lot of really nice LPSTubers through the past years, who were either new to LPSTube, or who've been here for a while.
Maybe video making just isn't for you?
This is something I've always had trouble explaining to people. Maybe if you just don't feel that making videos is your thing, don't feel bad about yourself! Maybe editing or filming videos just isn't what you were put on this Earth to do, y'know? But it's okay! This is how you learn. Everyone is good at something, even if it takes some time to find out what it is. Maybe you've got a fascination with cameras, though, and instead of filming, you could try getting into photography. Or maybe your favorite part of the video making process was writing scripts, why not try writing actual books?
Remember, if you're not happy with what you're doing, like video making, then why do it? You're not giving up, you're learning, and getting closer to what you really want to do in life, even if you don't know exactly what that is yet. Maybe instead you'll find that you really enjoy painting, or creating music, or even something as simple as fixing broken things, like toys or car parts. There are so many possibilities out there!!! Don't think that it's the end of the world because you feel like you can't make a good video. Trust me, you'll find your dream job someday. I believe in you. :)
This is something I've always had trouble explaining to people. Maybe if you just don't feel that making videos is your thing, don't feel bad about yourself! Maybe editing or filming videos just isn't what you were put on this Earth to do, y'know? But it's okay! This is how you learn. Everyone is good at something, even if it takes some time to find out what it is. Maybe you've got a fascination with cameras, though, and instead of filming, you could try getting into photography. Or maybe your favorite part of the video making process was writing scripts, why not try writing actual books?
Remember, if you're not happy with what you're doing, like video making, then why do it? You're not giving up, you're learning, and getting closer to what you really want to do in life, even if you don't know exactly what that is yet. Maybe instead you'll find that you really enjoy painting, or creating music, or even something as simple as fixing broken things, like toys or car parts. There are so many possibilities out there!!! Don't think that it's the end of the world because you feel like you can't make a good video. Trust me, you'll find your dream job someday. I believe in you. :)
How to Download Fonts:
I made this video a while ago on how to download different fonts for your videos.