Making your own movie is not that difficult at all with current digital cameras. If you adhere to a number of guidelines, even the novice filmmaker can make a beautiful film.
* film always from a tripod (not with chases)
* test before recording whether images and sound are recorded
* do not start with each recording until 10 seconds after the camera is running, then you can be sure that image and sound are recorded
* remember that you must also record sound, if there is no sound then record sound separately. For example, you can make an introduction.
* hardly zoom and pan, especially make fixed images, if you do make a zoom or pan, keep the image still for 10 seconds before and after the zoom or pan, so you can start in the editing from a still image
* do not use effects from the camera, you can do all that much better in the editing software
* stand so far away from a conversation that both conversation partners are on screen, then do the conversation again but then film one of the conversation partners, then do the conversation again but then film the other conversation partner
* someone on the left of the image must look to the right,
* someone on the right of the image must look to the left (so do not look out the picture)
* film afterwards intermediate shots, such as everything that was discussed in the conversation, film that up close. You normally need just as many intermediate shots as other equipment.
* also make a recording indicating where you are (room, building)
* see if the images are sharp, daylight shots are the best, when filming indoors, light might be needed, pay attention to continuity, wine glasses that are suddenly full again, etc.
* think of the opening and closing images (can be the same)
* remember that the camera man is almost never in the picture, if you still want it in the picture in the credits then someone else has to film him or you have to stand in front of the mirror
* filming sports and fast moving objects requires very specific knowledge