If you are a cat parent who blogs or loves social media, making the perfect cat movie to impress your friends or readers must be one of your goals. So, where do you start? It all looks complicated and the tech seems intimidating but don’t worry you can have fun making movies. [Revised October 2020]
Let me help you with solid tips that focus on you, and making a movie of your own. A movie that you make using your own smartphone. This post will give you plenty of tips to get you started and a solid direction to focus on when making that movie
Can I Make a Cat Movie?
I know, you need some convincing. Can you make the perfect cat movie for social media? Would it go viral? Well, you can make a movie you can be proud of, that tells a story and you can have a lot of fun creating it.
- I believe every one of you can make movies you will enjoy.
The most important thing for every new movie maker to remember is this:
You are not making a big-budget Hollywood type production with fancy production values and perfectly framed shots.
Your goal right now, is to get into the movie-making mindset.
- What is your movie about? I list some options further down this post.
- Are you learning, basic smartphone movie making skills.
- Check out my inspiring post about taking different move-making routes like night shots or product videos.
The Perfect Pet Movie – Your Equipment
I suggest using a smartphone. Why?
A smartphone is the one thing you usually have in your pocket and it does everything you need it to.
What if you do have a DSLR or even a cool little video camera? Learn it, use it and enjoy it. These tips are great for you too.
- TIP The best smartphone for filmmakers is the one you have.
Don’t stress about having the latest model smartphone like an iPhone 12. The smartphone you have, if it has the capacity to record video, is enough to make simple movies.
- My Blogpaws® Finalist movie was shot on an iPhone 4S. Nothing too fancy.
How Do I Start Shooting Video?
A small amount of preparation can make a big difference to your very first short cat film. These are simple skills that will make sure your video clips will be better and less unsteady.
Practice These Basic Skills
- Make sure you can open and start your camera app smoothly. Have the app on your home screen where you can easily find it.
- Hold your smartphone as steady as you can. Viewers don’t expect perfection but they need to see what is happening.
- Turn your video camera option (if you have one) on and off reasonably quickly. An iPhone has a camera app and there are options for photo and video formats within that.
- Practice taking lots of short video clips. Look at them and see how you might do something better next time.
These are all you need to make a basic movie, but the more you use your camera, the more confident you will become and the better your results will be.
Movie Making Apps
I use an iPhone, but you may use an Android and you will shoot video using the camera app built into the ‘phone.
The Apple App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android) have software options to help you edit and create movies with the video clips you shoot. New and improved apps are coming on to the market all the time and any ‘top 10 movie apps’ will give a fair assessment of the software you should consider.
Setting the Cat Movie Scene
Once you have worked on your basic camera skills you will be keen to get busy planning your first movie.
Nothing high stress, with to-do lists and must-have’s but you will need a focus, an idea to kickstart the story you want to tell. This basic plan means you will be ready to start filming as soon as you need to.
With your own idea in mind:
- Tell your story in broad strokes. Tell a simple story.
- Collect any props, coloured paper or fabric for your background
- Find a suitable location. This might be your living room, kitchen or garden. (Adventurecats might go further afield).
- If you have a patient pet, and have plans for presenting them in an outfit. Be ready with an outfit for them to wear – but don’t force your pet into something that worries them. Pet distress comes over in a movie – loud and clear.
Know how to turn on your camera quickly.
As you are dealing with cats you might find your model doing what you want to sooner than you expected. You need to be ready to shoot fast.
A good way to do this is to make sure your camera app on your home screen. You will know exactly where it is and can tap it quickly to open it.
What you kind of cat movie you want to make?
Know the story you want to tell. Is it a cute report on your new foster kitten? Or, is it a sponsored post that needs a lot of planning to make it work. Here’s a list to help you focus down on the story you want to tell.
- Informal family fun with cat toys, pet treats galore, opening a pet gift.
- A specific theme. Cats around the Crib: my cat & her Easter gifts: a cat out and about.
- A rescue promotion to help a cat in need?
- A movie expressing how much you love your cat.
- Cats going crazy with snowflakes, Kong toys, in the water.
- Family disasters with my cat(s).
TIP Keep it simple and use good light. You are celebrating your love for your cat not aiming to win an Oscar® for best movie.
Smartphone Movie Software Tips
You will find plenty of short filmmaking apps to download to make your first movie. Some are free, but the apps with better features are usually ones you invest a small amount of money in. Here are some of the apps we have on our iPhone:
- iMovie – Standard with all recent iPhones (so it may be already on your ‘phone)
- Musemage – Has the option to incorporate a blue screen! Filters. Image stabilisation. Plenty of great features. Currently, free but has a steep learning curve.
- Videoshop – (Apple/Google Play) Has a wide range of features to keep a newbie happy. I use this and recommend it.
I am not an Android experts but advise that you look for apps with 5-star reviews. Google Play will help you narrow down your choice of filmmaking apps. You can also ask movie-making friends for recommendations.
One of the most informative exercises to try as you look for an app is to look at the low score reviews. There is a reason for this. People usually have one issue that really bugs them about an app, and they will have complaining about this one issue down to a fine art. If this is the only thing that bugs them and its not a big thing for you, try the app.
On the ‘up’ side for iPhone movie makers, Apple has begun to allow developers to respond to queries and criticisms. This means buyers can often get helpful answers to frustrated feedback so you can see that issues are being noted and acted on.
- TOP TIP This may be the most important piece of advice we give in this post.
Know How A Smartphone Movie App Works
Movie making on smartphone device has undergone huge development in recent months. Mobile software now does so much more than it did even one year ago.
The sophistication of your device and its apps is keeping pace with smartphones themselves and the range of options in every movie app means you can’t just pick one up and use it – you need to practice!
Developers know that not everyone is a tech wizard so they prepare how-to’s on YouTube like the one below for MuseMage. Sites will often have operating tips and videos online. Use these to learn the basics.
Key Skills for Your Cat Movie
- Load video clips into your app
- Edit/Trim your video
- Adjust your volume (remember that noisy TV in the background last year?)
- Add a little text (optional)
- Add music (optional) and remember © Copyright. Apps may include royalty free or copyright free tunes for you.
A reminder. If you have people who are not big on social media make sure you share a link via email. Or when you visit family who are not online, remember to sit down and show them with their own personal movie premiere! This kind of share might bring a real touch of magic to someone’s day.
Social Media Sharing Tips
If you are a big Facebook fan, remember you can upload your movie direct to FB. Your video will be shorter than the time recommended in our quote but, the larger the file size the longer it will take to upload. The quality might also be affected.
“Keep in mind that videos must be less than 45 minutes long and smaller than 1.75 GB. The longer your video is, the larger its file size will be. This may affect the quality of the video – Quora“
Sharing and watching videos on Twitter is not done on such a generous scale, but might be a good fit for your movie. Twitter welcomes videos that are a couple of minutes in length and this might increase soon to match their increased 280 character tweet limit. Uploading a video is done via the Twitter app.
If you are a big Instagram fan you are challenged to tell your story in under a minute. This might be perfect for a one-off quickie event, a cute kitten story or sharing a positive rescue or feral report.
“Increasing video length to a minute took quite a bit of effort. ……. Instagram surprised its users by increasing the 15-second limit of its videos to… 60 seconds, a full four times longer than before – engadget.com“
After You Have Shot Your Video
What the heck do you do? Now you refine your story by editing.
You know what kind of movie you decided to make. Now you keep your focus. Your movie an aims are simple. Stay on course and tell your story.
Review the video you have saved. There will be good stuff and bad stuff. Don’t cringe at a wobbly shot, or groan that something ‘didn’t work’. Your story can be captured with a squeak and people will laugh with you, not at you.
The K.I.S.S. acronym is the only one you need to remember. Keep It Simple Silly.
Bloggers Sponsored Video Tips
For blogging movie makers, a couple of extra tips to make your movie-making life easier.
If you have a sponsored post post is wherever your social media following is strongest, for maximum impact.
- Sponsored posts must have an FTC disclosure statement clearly displayed. No exceptions.
On Instagram this might be hashtags, on Facebook or Twitter the words #Ad or #sponsored are clear indicators. Whatever it is, it must be clear and unequivocal.
The caution about FTC applies to all of your social media outlets. Leaving off a formal disclosure when you receive recompense for an item shows a lack of respect to your fellow movie makers and anyone who makes a living in social media.
Things to Remember
- Be honest and recognise that your time might be limited.
- Learn to operate your movie app. Confidence = success.
- Keep it short and simple.
- Keep calm and don’t stress.
- Realise your movie may be less than perfect
- Remember this doesn’t matter.
- People will love seeing your movies.
What starring roles will your cats take in your movies?
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I am beginning to try working with videos. I’ll be back to read more of your hint!
I really must try this! My cat does such funny things and is always getting himself into mischief. A few keepsake videos would be so great to have.
Great tips! I use my Android smartphone and edit all my videos on my computer. The tip I feel the most is the one about making sure you have quick access to your phone camera app! I can’t tell you how many times I missed an adorable moment because I had to take time to get to the camera on my phone. I totally added my camera app to the home screen on my phone so I can get to it quicker.
no joke; I don’t think I have IMovie on the phone; then again I’m not going to state how long it took me to figure out why I never could hear
incoming calls ~~~~~~~ duh !!! 🙂 ♥♥
One day, the movie making world will be at your feet with a new phone!
Those are fun tips and movie making can be fun and frustrating too!
It can be Brian, my biggest message should be keep trying.
Movies are always the highlight of our night. We love to snuggle with the kids and pop some popcorn, then we put on a movie, it always has to be one with animals. It was interesting that you said that I could make an animal movie myself without much help. This would be such a fun activity to with with my kids!
What GREAT advice for movie makin’! Of course, I, Seville the Cat, do not even allow for the peep to take my picture these days, let alone make a movie of me, but you know… I might just use some of your tips to make a movie of the peeps! A kitty like me can never have too much blackmail materi… I MEAN, Uh… Aw mouses, what the heck. A kitty like me can always benefit from… Uh… I need nip, okay? I need the nip. And if I can get a few extra dollars from a video catchin’ the peep doin’ somethin’ embarrassing, it’s all the better for me. MOUSES!
You always have great video tips! I agree that filming with a smartphone Horizontally is so much better, I was never happy when I did videos on vertically it just doesn’t look right. I’m going horizontal from now on!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I absolutely love this! I had no idea these apps existed for making movies with my phone. The videos I’ve done with my phone, I have edited on my computer and they are truly terrible compared the video tutorial here. I can’t wait to check them out and practice making movies with my big dogs. Thank you so much!
Thanks for this very helpful post for us newbies to video. I kinda jumped right in and am learning as I go. Thanks for sharing this advice. It really helps. I’m pinning as well!
Terrific info!
I definitely need to go back and read through it again.
With cat videos consistently being the most watched videos on YouTube and with video driving so many impressions on social media (and getting so much engagement to boot!), these tips will help every cat pet parent social media influencer immensely. THANK YOU for these!
I need to try videos, but I have a million excuses why I don’t. Hopefully, 2018 will be the year I give it a try. If I get there, it will be because of you! Thanks for sharing not only the reasons to use video and the tools to make it work.
I really need to make short movies of some of the training exercises that I do with Bernie and Lizzie. Even if I don’t publically publish these movies, it would be fun to have them for us and for family members to watch. Pictures are always appreciated by long-distance parents (proud grandpup parents), but movie footage is always a huge hit!
For movies, as well as photos, we found you get wonderful results getting as close to the ground as possible. I accidentally learned when I was laying around in the grass with convalescing Jasmine.
Wonderful article and we’ve been begging the female human to up her video game! Her lame excuse about not knowing what software to use has now been exploded and we had her download some of your app recommendations posthaste. I’m sure we could go a purrrrfect job of making movies but that little issue of lack of opposable thumbs is the pesky obstacle we must deal with.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Tuker, Alpha of The Tribe of Five
I am not even sure I have ever done a movie! 🙂 This is an avenue I definitely want to go down when I have more time – so thank you for giving me some great tips to get started! Great details!
This is a great post and so informative! I do movies and learned a few things in this post. Your pictures are just adorable! Thanks for the post
Excellent tips!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
I need to check out these apps you’re suggesting! I’m going to try to do a video soon! Off to pin so I can keep coming back for more tips to remember to incorporate into my video!
Such wonderful tips, you guys! We bet this will help lots of bloggers to give making a pet movie a try!
Thanks for these tips, I need to start trying my hand at movies. I will have to get one of those apps and give it a try.
Such a great post. We love making videos. We make some portrait for social media and some landscape or horizontal for YouTube. I just ordered a new iPhone 8+ so very excited. Will have to check those apps.
What a well written post Kiwi! I have a suggestion that some folks may not have a use for, but here goes. I shake, bad, always have, so I i always have to find ways to stabilize my elbow to get a usable video.
Then I read about gimballs, do you know about these?
They make them for smartphones, but they stabilize it so there is no wiggle at all, one of those is a great addition for someone like me who has a problem with shaky hands, I thought they might make a good addition to your how-to!
Maybe we can figure out a movie that takes place outdoors. Our place is a mess with renovations!
Yeah, hold your phone horizontally … you wouldn’t believe how many times I forget about that when taking a video of Cookie LOL
Great tips here! We have been enjoying making movies and plan to put together a Christmas one for our blog. Like you, we have an iPhone that we use and find iMovie to be helpful. We also have a GoPro and use iMovie on our computer – so easy and fun to use!
Great tips especially as I have the new camera now and trying to figure it out, although Madam when she sees me trying to film LOL she just sits and looks at me as if I am mad
I haven’t made a movie using an app on my phone yet, but will definitely try it out. Thank you for your tips. I just need to clean up the house so I can have a good place to record a video.
What a great tutorial! I keep meaning to do more video on my blog and this motivated me to brainstorm some ideas!
Your instructions are clear and easy to understand. I’m hoping this means even someone like ME can make a movie. I admit to having tried once and given up in frustration, but I think I’m ready to try again. It seemed so much more complicated when I was trying in the past. I think it was the unnecessarily complicated instructions I was trying to use!
Lori, if you ever need a hand (or a paw) just get in touch via social media. We are happy to help if we can. Just keep it simple!
What an excellent post filled with great tips! I love that you addressed the legalities of using certain songs as well as making sure you disclose any sponsorship — things people often forget. Love how thorough this post is!
Sounds way too complicated for me. In theory I’d like to be able to make a fun movie to jazz up a post or two but you lost me at “smartphone.” I think I’ll stick to enjoying yours!!
I always enjoy your video tips and have learned quite a bit. I’m all about low stress – so thanks for that reminder! Also, really appreciate the app suggestions. We have I Movie, but also good to learn about other options (especially musmage with the blue screen). I’m going to pin, too!
This is such helpful information! I will make sure that my 13 year old gets right on it!! haha
C’mon YOU can do this!!!
This is useful and thorough advice. I really need to learn how to do more video – and not shaky video. (Somehow I appear to fall down at the end). My phone doesn’t have a lot of space for too many aps so I’ve been trying with my camera. Also, I don’t know how people edit those tiny screens … I’m still a desktop person.
My challenge?! Making even ONE movie! I know I need to! I’m just overwhelmed with the task!
Uh-ohh a non-believer here! YES you can. One step at a time towards your Big Dream!
Great tips and sounds like a really fun thing to do this Christmas, and sure beats chasing them sprouts around MOL
Toodle pip and purrs
ERin