Filmmaker's Dream Blog

Effectively marketing your film is important for getting it out there. I have put together some effective tips and ways of marketing your film for getting the recognition you're seeking. A few things need to be determined before proceeding, please read the following information below.

Things to determine before getting your film out there:

• Genre ( What type of film is it that you're getting out there?)
• Demo/Psychographics (What kind of people do you want to watch your film? college students? men? women? creative people? etc.
• Feature or Short? Is it longer than 30-45 minutes?
• Effective websites that host video with most amount of viewers (Vimeo vs. YouTube)
    

Effective Film Marketing tips:

• Create a website for your film 
• Include the synopsis, what the film is about, actors, film clips, still images, and a way for fans to connect with you. 
• Wix.com is a great flash website that has free options if you're on a budget!
• Social Media Marketing
• Facebook, Twitter, and other effective social networks are a great way to tell more about your film and get people aware of the movie you're working on.
• Create a Facebook fanpage that gives information on the film and builds a network for fans to like your film.
• Create a twitter for fans to connect with you or the creator of the film to gain feedback.
• Film Distribution
• YouTube and Vimeo are an easy and free option for posting your films online and sending out links to friends and people out there. 
• Netflix is used by many people, but it is hard to get your film distributed to Netflix. You can send in your film via DVD and if they accept it they can stream it on their site. Having a distributor will boost your chances of getting your film on Netflix. 
• Going with a film distributor can be very expensive, but to find a local one near you checkout PlanetIndie.com. My company, PyroDahlia, will be holding a film distribution service affordable for college students coming in Fall 2012. 
• Viral Marketing
• Mobile Apps/ Flash Games, if you're really looking to boost your film and have the funds or skills to do so, create an app or have someone that you know that can do it create one for you. This is an excellent way to get people to know about your film, since apps is really big right now. 
• Release a few of the best clips of the film on YouTube, word will get around about something fascinating and it leaves your audience thirsty for more. They will instantly become intrigued to know what comes after. This is why movie trailers are so effective.
• Email links to your film and have others share them as well. 

Here are some great quick tips to really boost your film!! For more advice feel free to email me questions to pyrodahlia@live.com

Hello readers and viewers!
I'm currently working on a project myself to put together a new film that I think could really leave an impact on the world. It's called CineConfessions.  It's a film where I'm asking people to submit their confessions, thoughts, or true events that have happened to them that they often hold inside. Once enough or a good amount of submissions are sent in, I will then put it together in a script format and make a short film with it. Actors will act out the confessions or stories and all of them will collaborate and be mixed together to make one big life or story made of everyone's confessions. I think this is a great project, because it gives people an outlet and also a chance to see what someone else goes through. The tough part is getting people to submit their stories. I haven't had any submissions yet, but I know once this kicks off it will turn into an amazing film. Check out my website to find out more about it. CineConfessions



Have a great holiday!

    While reviewing some amazing speeches posted on the TED website, I came across this speech titled, 'The divided brain', by Iain McGilchrist. It sparked my interest, because it was animated! I've never seen an animated speech before. Not only what he was going over interesting, but the animation made it very effective to follow along and really understand what he was talking about. Iain McGilchrist is a Psychiatrist and a writer, but most importantly he's a philosopher. His speeches capture the audience's attention and allows them to think as well.
    The speech mentioned how for so long psychologists teach how the left brain and right brain are two completely different hemispheres and one is more logical, while the other is more creative. He explained how it's not true and maybe at some point before our brains began to evolve, that could have been a possibility to have two separate hemispheres. Iain explains how you need both sides to use reason or to be creative. In the speech it is mentioned how the left portion of the brain is directed to a more narrow focus, while the right side is to keep awareness of the person's surroundings.
    The fact that this speaker used animation as a new medium to deliver his speech was very wise on his behalf. In many speeches, by the time the speaker has gone to the next topic or paragraph, I've already forgotten what was previously said. This speech really helped me to understand the topic better, because I was able to visually see what he was going over. The animations were creative and funny and it made me really want to learn more about something that has always been taught differently over many years. The name of the media organization that put this animation together is called RSA Animate. The RSA is a new organization dedicated to bringing new ideas, projects, and activists together in an innovative and creative way. Check out the organization here: RSA.
View the speech here: The Divided Brain Speech
To check out more great speeches check out TED.com

With the holidays coming up, it gets tough knowing what to get everyone, or if you're like me, WHAT TO ASK FOR! Right off the top most filmmakers will tell you they want a Macbook Pro if they don't have it and an awesome DSLR. Wait! You don't have to go out and splurge, because when it comes to filmmaking, being resourceful is key and anything that can help make stories become more believable is a huge help!

Splurge( Over $100) vs. Save ( Under $100)

Splurge list ( You're really playing Santa this year aren't you?!)
* List from less to more

•  Light Kit
• What's so special about it? Lights are highly important for filmmakers and photographers, because it sets the mood for your story, it brings a clearer image and better quality, and it teaches more about using lighting in professional areas. 
• What kind should I get? Lowel is considered one of the top light kits. If you're willing to put forth the cash, it's well worth it. Cowboy studios is also a great light kit brand for a lower cost.
• Best light kits
• * Lowel To Go 95 Tota Light Kit with Soft Case LB-30 GO-95 LBZ*
• Cost - $559.98 
• Description: (2) Lowel 750w Tota Lights and Accessories and a Soft Case

• *CowboyStudio 2275 Watt Digital Video Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit/Boom Set
• Cost- $220.00
• Description:
• Two (2) Top Quality Light Stands, One (1) Support Boom Stand
• Two (2) 20" x 28" Softbox, Two (2) Premium Light Socket, Two (2) Power Cord
• Ten (10) 45 Watt 5000k Compact Fluorescent Daylight Balanced Photo Bulbs, One (1) 65 Watt 5000k Compact Flurescent Daylight Balanced Photo Bulb
• One (1) Quick-Setup Softbox with AC Socket, Three (3) Carrying Pouches for Softbox
• One (1) 2 Section Boom Kit with Grip Head,One (1) Sandbag,One (1) Carrying Case
• * 900w (3x300w) Lighting Photography Studio Kit
• Cost- $298.57
• Description:
• THREE (3) Professional Studio Strobe Lights: 300DI, with their own 75-watt modeling lights. This strobe is typically used for background, fill, or highlighting. 300DI is equipped with buzz function. The modeling lamp can be adjusted from full to proportion. With pre-flash system, it can fire on the second flash in sync. High quality barn door with honeycomb 4 Color Gels (Translucent, blue, red, yellow) Four (4) color gels to allow you to have different background colors. . One (1) Honeycomb designed to give you ultimate control on the direction of your light. Soft box: A soft box is an essential piece of kit for the photographic studio utilizing continuous or flash lighting, creating even, natural, diffused light distribution and eliminating extreme highlights and hotspots. Black/Silver Umbrella: This is an Interfit 33" (84 cm), Sliver/Black Backing Umbrella. Silver umbrellas are used to bounce light onto a subject. A wireless radio 16-channel trigger set comes in the package. Three Professional Duty Aluminum Light Stands. To give you a place to attach your Softbox, the kit includes two lightweight heavy duty aluminum stands that extend to 190cm. Lamp Modules The 300DI produces a superb light that will bathe your subjects in a variety of lighting effects. These are very high quality professional strobes that will give you years of service.

• Camera
• What's so special about different ones? Why not just get a regular camcorder and call it a day? Different cameras are going to provide different quality. Almost everyone is on the HD bandwagon and even some are onto the 3D cameras * check out my post on 3D filmmaking. DSLRs are the new hit to the film industry to provide beautiful quality and gives the filmmakers more versatility with lenses, focus, and more. Professional video cameras are going to bring the best results but cost a huge penny even after purchasing it you're going to constantly provide more accessories for it. 
• Best Cameras DSLR vs. Professional Video Cameras
• Canon T2i, Canon T3i, Canon 60D, Canon 5D ( listed from low price to high price) 
• Canon XA10 HD Professional Camcorder
• Description :
• 1/3" CMOS Sensor
• Native 1920 x 1080
• 24Mbps AVCHD Recording
• 60i, PF30, PF24, Native 24p
• 64GB Internal Flash Drive
• 10x HD Zoom Lens
• Dual SD Memory Card Slots
• 3.5" Touch Panel LCD Screen
• Dual XLR Inputs w/Detachable Handle
• Waveform Monitor, Peaking, Zebra 70/100%
•  Cost: $1899.99
• Sony HDR-AX2000 AVCHD Camcorder
• Description:
• 3 1/3" CMOS Sensors
• 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 30p
• AVCHD Capture (@24Mbps)
• Wide Angle 20x G-Lens
• Manual Zoom, Focus & Iris Rings
• Dual XLR Inputs
• 3.2" Xtra Fine LCD
• 1.5 lux Sensitivity
• 3 Built-in ND Filters
• Uses Memory Stick PRO Duo / SDHC Cards
• Cost: $3499.00
• Software
• What's special about it? Professional and serious film editors often use Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, and Avid. All of these can be quite pricey but very worth it if you're thinking of taking your passion to a professional level or working for someone else as most companies require experience with these software.
• Final Cut Pro (Mac based software) 
• What does 'The Social Network', and 9 Oscar winning documentaries have in common? You guessed it, they were edited with Final Cut Pro. Needless to say this is a very professional video editing software Mac holds a candle to.
• Cost? If you're a student it can be bought for $300. If you're aren't a student it can cost up to $1200.00 Final Cut Pro X costs $300, but has received many low ratings for it seeming to be like an advanced iMovie. Final Cut Pro 7 is still on top.
• Adobe Creative Suite ( Mac and Windows based software)
• What's special? The After Effects program that comes with the suite is every special fx and graphic artists dream! This software can make it look as if someone just got hit by a car, animate, and so much more!
• Cost? Adobe Creative Suite costs around $1600.00  You can purchase one program separately, but to buy the suite together saves so much more money if more exploration is wanted! But for a great deal go to Amazon for Windows Based computers here - Great Deal!
• Sony Vegas Pro (Windows based software)
• What's special? Vegas Pro 11 just added the 3D video editing tool to their software! You can burn Blue-Ray discs,  Edit HD, SD, and 3D format,  and more. It's an excellent editing software for people using Windows computers to deliver high quality results.
• Cost? $600.00 , you may not be able to do the high end graphics like you can with After Effects * which is separate from video editing*, but for this price that's a steal!

Save list ( Wasn't that splurge list scary?! This might calm your nerves)

•  Light Kit
• Light kits at a steal! 
• 2 Photography Studio Continuous lighting kits with two daylight CFL light bulbs and comes with two umbrellas!
• Cost? $52.99 ! 
• Ok, what's the catch? You won't have as much versatility as you have with light kits with barndoors, but speaking from experience this is an excellent light kit that gets the job done at a low cost.
• Light Accessories ( If you can't afford a light kit, accessories are even better!)
• 22" 5 in 1 reflector disc, this can turn any light to a sunnier effect, soften the light, create different moods, and diffuse any light you are using whether is daylight or artificial light.
• Cost? $7.65!
• Ok, what's the catch? Instead of using umbrellas, all you need is either a C-stand or someone to hold the reflector for the light effect you're going for. Most reflectors cost this much and are very compact to throw in the car.
•  Light Cube ( Even I want this!)
• Professional Studio Photography Light Tent, Ever see those commercials where it's a product that's perfectly lit in an all white background? with no shadows? They used a light tent! This is even perfect for photographers. 
• Cost? $36.95
• What's the catch? Nothing. 
• Camera
• There are tons of HD cameras out there for a lower cost!
• Kodak PlaySport Camera is a great HD Pocketcam that is also WATERPROOF! Throw this in your bag and get a realistic feel for an artsy documentary or a great " docuhorror" ( Blair witch project, paranormal activity, etc.) It makes the story sometimes seem more real. 
• Cost? $99.95 ( Yeah I know it's pushing the $100.00 limit) 
• What's the catch? Although the quality is great for such a low price, there is less versatility with creating a cinematic effect.
• Camera Accessories ( Close to 100 killing your pockets? Have no fear lower prices are near!)
• SD Cards!!! Every filmmaker and photographer can never have enough. Memory is always needed The more we can record without having to delete, the better!
• Transcend 16GB HD SD card ( this can get up to an hour on a DSLR camera of recording and more on lower quality cameras) 
• Cost? $19.99
• What's the catch? There's no catch, SD cards can get very expensive so this is a great price!
• * Find more on Amazon! The higher the GB the better!
• Software
• Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 (Windows based)
• This software enables you to edit with 3D formats! Edit with cool graphics, Holds over 360 songs and music to use in your projects, and more. 
• Cost? $63.99
• What's the catch? The features are limited compared to Sony Vegas Pro as far as all of the things you can achieve, but for a fresh amateur filmmaker just starting out, this is a great deal!
•  Amazon Gift Card
• Amazon has the best deals and prices on anything found on the web! I've bought almost all of my equipment from them and I would have loved to have an Amazon Gift Card.
• Cost? What ever you decide!
• What's the catch? Depends on if the person you're shopping for likes to shop online or in the store. If they like to shop in the stores try a Visa Gift Card!

The list for a filmmaker can go on forever, but remember props, costumes, makeup ( fake blood and scar putty *fun), equipment, books, and more can make any filmmaker become giddy! Anything that saves a filmmaker money and shows your support is a great gift!
Leave a comment below on what you think would make a great gift!

The National Alliance for Media Art and Culture is a great association and resource for Independent filmmakers and multimedia art organizations. The NAMAC connects organizations and supports the independent media art industry. It was founded in 1980 and offers a wide range of services. Their website provides a job bank for job seekers in the entertainment industry from all over the United States. Affiliate memberships are free and organization memberships depend on the annual budget size of the organization. Leadership training is offered to all members of the NAMAC as well as extensive research of other organizations, and serves about 400,000 artists!
The NAMAC provides a blog that shares report profiles, strategies, featured videos, and stories from other people in the media industry. NAMAC gathers scholarships for members as well. Currently Heinz college is holding a scholarship for students in a Master's of Arts program and students will receive $6,000 a semester from it. Add your organization to the NAMAC directory and advocate it to make others aware of what you've put together. If you're a single member that isn't affiliated with an organization this could be a great opportunity to find one that interests you the most to become apart of. The best part is that all states are listed with the organization for you to find your best local organization. If you can't attend any seminars NAMAC provides, you can still enjoy valuable information from their webinars that connect you virtually anywhere. Regional meetings are done in many US cities for members of the organization.
Subscribe to their newsletter and become a member of their organization to connect with many other people in your field, network, and become more educated and stay on top of what is happening in the independent media industry. Enjoy campaigns and membership benefits for free!
To find out more on this association go to www.namac.org.
Also follow the organization on twitter - www.twitter.com/namac


References: www.namac.com 

So you're taking film courses or interested in film and you can't exactly remember some key facts dealing with filmmaking. Look no further! Filmmaker's Cheat Sheet is here! Check out some of these key facts that may help you out on a test or two.

1. Standard frame rate for film? : 24 fps  and for PAL it's 24.97 fps (25)
2. Original film format? : 35mm 
3. What do F-Stops do? : Measure the opening of the iris. The smaller the number the more light can enter.
4. Neutral Density Filters (ND): Cut down the overall brightness and keep your film from being overexposed.
5. Fundamental elements in film: Time, Motion, Light, Color, and Space
6. Lenses: Telephoto Lens= Magnify, Normal= mimics the human eye, Wide-Angle= used to establish a long shot.
7. Camera Movements= Pan, Tilt, Track, Dolly, Crane 
8. Creating an anamorphic effect is done by involving two lenses.
9. 3 axis of film = X (horizontal) Y( Vertical) Z ( Depth of Field)
10. 3D effects are done by Stereovision using two lenses at once. 
11. 3 Point lighting includes= Key, Fill, and Back light
12. Leit Motiv= Recurring image or scene.
13. Jumpcut= an object jumps from one screen corner to the opposite side of the screen during a cut.
14. Parallelism= Extends contrast by inter-cutting the scenes.
15. Synchronism= Involves cutting between events happening at the same time. Examples include flashback scenes, or when the hero rescues the damsel in distress before she is ran over by the fast approaching train.
16. Kuleshov= The Russian theorist filmmaker who discovered the aesthetic effect of using a montage.
17. POV= (Point of View) refers to the camera's simulating the index vector of a particular person or subject on screen. Basically taking the angle from the subject's eyes. 
18. 3200 vs 5400= Daylight (blue) vs. Tungsten(orange) expressed in Kelvin degrees.
19. Three domains of Audio= Speech  (narration and dialogue), Sound FX, and Music
20. Spotting= to decided on the placement of sound effects and music in a production.
21. Audio Pickup Patterns= Omnidirectional ( one source) Bidirectional ( two audio sources) Unidirectional ( Cardioid)
22. Elements of sound
1. Pitch: The relative highness and lowness of a sound measured against an agreed upon scale. The pitch of a tone is perceived and measured by its frequency. Frequency is measured by Hertz. If a tone vibrates 100 times per second. The frequency is expressed as 100Hz. The normal human frequency range for hearing is 20-20,000 Hz.
2. Timbre: The tone quality or tone color of a sound. The timbre of a sound tells us whether the sound comes from an organ or piano. 
3. Duration: How long the sound is heard.
4. Loudness (Dynamics, Amplitude, and Sound Pressure): A sound's apparent strength as we perceive it. The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels ( dB) The default dB for audio should be set at -12.
5. Attack-Decay: The part of dynamics and duration of a sound. Attack means how fast a sound reached a certain level of loudness.  Decay means how fast a sound becomes inaudible, The period during which a sound remains at its maximum loudness is called the sustain level. 
23.  HD aspect ratio: 16:9
24. Undercrank= fast motion ( less frames) Overcrank= slow motion (more frames)
25.  Interlaced = Interlaced scan-based images use techniques developed for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)-based TV monitor displays, made up of 576 visible horizontal lines across a standard TV screen. This gives a flickering effect. Progressive= Progressive scanning, as opposed to interlaced, scans the entire picture line by line every sixteenth of a second. In other words, captured images are not split into separate fields like in interlaced scanning.

I hope one of these 25 key facts can help you out! For more please comment below!

 What happens when you add filmmaking and music? a MUSIC VIDEO! By far one of the best things created. Music videos bring a song to life, but how do you make one? Check this out to get tips on creating a music video.
All music videos can be different with different styles which really has to do with the style of the music. How to make one is very broad, but with a guideline to making one can help you get on the right path.

• Costs/Budget: How much will it costs to create a music video? Take these things into account when figuring out the budget of the project.
• Crew - If you're low on cash make sure to feed your crew around the clock with snacks and water or a meal, whichever you decide. 
• Equipment- Do you already own the equipment or will you need to get more? Find out about renting equipment to save costs here: Renting Equipment Online. You can also search for places to rent equipment locally to you.
• Labor costs- This is how much you want to charge for your music video if this isn't a complimentary music video. 
• Style: The style of the video is going to affect everything with producing the music video.
• Live Concert Style: You will need at least two to three cameras to capture simultaneous angles, unless the talent is willing to shoot the same performance multiple times. Check out this one : Concert Music Video
• Flashy/High Quality style: Lights! Lights! Lights! Most music video producers will use something called a ring light which gives the effect of a lighted ring around the singer's eyes and the background is usually a green screen which will allow you to change the background to whatever you like. Check out this video to get a sense of what I mean: Ring Light Tutorial. 
• Story: We've seen the music videos that have a  sort of story that goes along with the song and it really emotionally connects to the audience. One of my favorites is Everytime by Britney Spears
• Animation: There are some awesome animated music videos out there that make it easy for the talent, and allows them to not have to show up for a video shoot. Daft Punk and the Gorrilaz are known for these types of videos. If you have a great animator on your hands this could be a great option.
• Black and White: A black and white music video always seems to add an awesome emotional touch, so if you have one of those tear jerking songs, consider this style. Check out Somebody Like You by Adele
• Collaborate with the band or artist you're doing the music video with and take in their vision and give suggestions from a filmmakers standpoint. If the things they want is out of your reach, let them know and then provide an alternative solution.
• Location: Finding the right place for shooting your music video is very important. Remember the feel you're going for and keep that in mind, be sure you have the right to film in certain areas and ask for permission before filming, although my professor once told me it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.. Use your best judgement.
• Contract: Of course no one wants to be all legal and set rules, but you have to in order to protect yourself. Type up a legal document stating the agreement between you and the artist, any rules you have set, dates, and contact information. Make sure all participants sign the document prior to shooting the music video. 
• Tutorials: Of course I can't leave you without some awesome tutorials to achieve a music video you're looking for. 
• Creating Light Streaks Tutorial
• Cool Zoom Effect
• Motion Tracking
• FCP Music Video FX
• Stay Creative! Think outside the box and make a name for yourself!

Filming with a DSLR can produce stunning imagery and versatility. The accessories and extra equipment can make your films go from great to amazing. Of course you don't have to buy everything at once before bringing your new camera home, unless you can afford it. Here is some awesome equipment you might want to check out.

• Slider/Glider: This gives you that cinematic dolly effect. There are some tutorials out there to teach you how to create on at a lower cost. Most sliders can run around $250  or more. I purchased a pocket dolly which allows you to move it with no limitations. The name of the one I bought is called a Merlin Tabletop Dolly. I bought it for about $90.00 with shipping and handling included. It works great, but it does seem to be uneven on one side which can make it frustrating with moving the back wheels. I highly suggest the GlideTrack for a great quality slider. Check out this video for an example of what effects you can achieve.

•  Shoulder mount stabilizer: Stabilization is a must when it comes to using a DSLR, and although holding one in one hand may work, the shoulder mount is more comfortable and gives you more control over the camera. The cheapest one I found is $40.00 from Polaroid  which includes a pan-head for controlling the camera. Buy here! The best quality shoulder mount rig I found is the Francier Shoulder Mount Rig costing around $160. It appears to be more ergonomically designed than others and it is at a decent price.  Check out at Amazon here Purchase Francier Shoulder Mount Rig.
• High Quality Headphones: Headphones are a must when it comes to listening for audio. Trusting what you hear from the camera just isn't enough, and before you know it you've shot a whole scene with static that you hear once you put it into your editing software. Gear Patrol suggests using Beats headphones which is designed and engineered by Producer, Dr. Dre. They have become highly popular within the audio community. I have seen so many of these headphones broken and of a lower quality on display in the store! I suggest using Bose Noise Cancelling headphones which are more worth your cash and are about the same price as the Beats headphones. You will only hear what is exactly coming from the audio source your headphones are plugged into. The retail price costs $300 and the cheapest online price found is $185.00 .

• Extra Battery/Battery Grip: There's nothing worse to shoot an intense scene and to see that blinking battery icon. Having a battery grip or an extra battery is a must when it comes to DSLR filmmaking. Check out some here: Battery Grips.
• DSLR Carrying Case: Purchasing an expensive DSLR requires a decent bag to protect your precious camera. I bought a Canon Gadget Bag for $60. and I love it! I can pack almost anything in it, including multiple lenses, small tripod, camera, and a few sandwiches (jk). Luckily for you I've found it for under $50! Check it out here:Canon Gadgetbag at a steal!

Check out my previous blog on DSLR filmmaking for more DSLR tips!

Check out this video to gain more inspiration to pursuing your filmmaking passion.



Event Horizon from James Miller on Vimeo.

The color, quality, and lighting in this entire video is absolutely gorgeous.  It was shot on a Sony NEX FS100. Let this become a great inspiration for lighting and high quality you could want to achieve.

I recently stumbled upon a website supporting Independent Filmmaking. It's an organization that is committed to protecting independent film and television production distribution in the United States. It is created as an organization under the IFTA ( Independent Film and Television Alliance) which is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and represents over 150 companies in 23 countries. The IFTA was founded in 1980 and generates over $4 billion dollars a year in revenue.  The site allows you to submit videos, learn more about the organization, watch other independent film submissions and more!

For more information visit www.fightforindpendents.org and support the independent film community!

Doritos is holding a SuperBowl Commercial contest, ' Crash the SuperBowl'.
The possible prize? 1 Million dollars! Create an eye-catching, unique, and fun 30 second spot and win $1,000,000.00 if they choose you!
All assets will be provided by Doritos ( logos, music, bumpers, and more)

Contest Details and Rules:

• Deadline: November 21, 2011 by 11:59 pm EST
• Prizes: 1st place- $1,000,000.00 and produce a future Doritos project with the famous, The Lonely Island. 2nd place- $ 600,000.00. 3rd place- $400,000.00
• You must be 18 years of age or older and be in the United States or the District of Columbia.
• There is no purchase necessary to enter the contest.
• Review the assets provided in the Toolkit on the Web Site.
• Get together your idea for a DORITOS® brand Super Bowl XLVI commercial. Make it action-packed. Make it funny. Make it something you’ve never seen before. It’s up to you. Just make it awesome.
• Your Submission should be in commercial form consistent with these Official Rules.
•  Judging Criteria ("Judging Criteria") is as follows:
• Originality and Creativity - 40%
• Adherence to Creative Assignment - 30%
• Overall Appeal - 30%

• Video file must be submitted – the Video file(s) must be exactly 30 seconds in length (all copyrighted material will be removed)
• The video file size should be kept at or under 100 MB for quicker upload/encoding time (Finalists may be asked to provide higher resolution files)
• Video files must be provided in one of the following file formats: .MPEG; .MOV; .AVI; or .WMV 
• For all video submissions shot in 16:9 aspect ratio, they should be center cut protected. Finalists may be asked to provide the original audio and video files used during production of the entry for broadcast purposes. This may include uncompressed QuickTime files, final audio mix and/or separate audio tracks for dialogue, music, and effects. These items are not mandatory to become a Finalist.
• Submission must be primarily in English. 
• Each Submission must not feature or refer to any food products other than DORITOS® brand Tortilla Chips; it must not feature or reference any NFL Marks or any other third party trademarks; (with the exclusion of DORITOS® brand assets provided on the Web Site); it must not feature or reference any NFL merchandise or NFL player(s); and it must not feature or reference any names or third party logos (other than the DORITOS® brand logo), including but not limited to third party names, logos or trademarks on street signs, panoramic views, vehicle license plates, or clothing such as T-shirts, hats, etc. 
• Do not show anything with distilled spirits (i.e. hard liquor), tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff), contraceptives, feminine hygiene products, fireworks, firearms and ammunitions, prescription drugs, illegal drugs and related drug paraphernalia, nutritional supplements, lotteries and gambling (including horse or dog racing and products or services related to gambling).
• Each Submission must not utilize live animals unless the Entrant has obtained the consent of the animal’s owner and an affidavit from the animal owner or wrangler that the animal was not harmed in the making of the commercial. Entrants are encouraged to contact the local Humane Society prior to filming the Submission to verify appropriate animal safeguards on set.
• Don't include any copyrighted works (other than as owned by the Entrant). You may not include any music except for the pre-approved music provided on the Web Site. Approved music provided on the Web may not be altered. Use of any unauthorized music may result in disqualification of Submission, in Sponsor's sole discretion.
• Five (5) finalist Submissions (each a “Finalist”) will be selected by a judging process in which a qualified panel of judges (“Judges”) will evaluate each eligible Submission based on the Judging Criteria set forth above. In the event of a tie for the fifth Finalist spot, the tie will be broken based on the highest score in the first Judging Criteria, continuing thereafter to each Judging Criteria, in order, as needed to break the tie. The five (5) Finalist Submissions will be posted for the public (ages 13 or older) to vote on their favorite at http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com starting on January 4, 2012 at 12:00:00 pm (noon) CT and ending on January 29, 2012 at 11:59:59 pm CT

Go to : www.crashthesuperbowl.com  to enter now!

    We all love 3D movies and how magical they can make our movie going experience, but how would you like to create a 3D film? There has been a release of some awesome 3-D enabled cameras to give you a different effect. They can range from $155.00 to $25,000. How are they achieving this? By a new technology called Parallex which combines two lenses that captures two images in different positions simultaneously giving you a 3D effect. Here is a list of some new 3D HD cameras.

• Aiptek 3-D HD Camcorder features dual 5MP sensors to give clear and high quality pictures and videos.  One touch enables the 3D feature to give you the versatility of shooting in 2D or 3D. 

•  It works with nVidea 3D vision enabled computers, TVs,  and laptops.
• How much does it cost? The retail price is around $179.99, but you can purchase it for $151.95 from Amazon. Amazon Price
• Test Footage: Here is the test footage from the camera- Aiptek Test Footage
• Sony 3D Bloggie Camcorder captures 3D and 2D footage in HD quality and displays your images and videos on a 2.4 LCD screen. Connect it to a 3D HDTV3 and enjoy! It has an easy flip out USB arm and pre-installed software to allow you to place tags on your movies for easy sharing on Youtube. 
• How much does it cost? in nearby stores it runs about $248.00 and you can find it online for $179.99 here- Online Price
•        Test Footage: Check out the test footage of the Sony 3D here:Test Footage
•  FinePix REAL 3D W1 camera can shoot stills and videos with double 10 megapixels CCD and a 3x Optical Zoom. The buttons are blue and stay illuminated and the menu is even displayed in 3D. The LCD screen is 2.8 inches which makes it easy to see your images and videos on a larger screen. The images and videos can be viewed on any 3D digital image viewer.
• What makes it different? This camera can send images and videos wireless to any 3D digital viewer with IrSimple technology.
• How much does it cost? The retail price for the Fuji FinePix W1 camera is $899.99 and can be found online for $330.00 on Ebay
• There is also a new updated version called the Fuji FinePix W3 which can be checked out Here
• Test footage of the Fuji FinePix W1 can be found here: Test Footage
•  JVC Everio GS-TD1 camcorder shoots in full HD 1080p and 1080i. It uses twin HD GT lenses which shoots in High Definition and low dispersion for crisp, crystal clear, high contrast footage. It has a 5x Optical zoom and an optical stabilization system to give a greater depth to your images. JVC's Biphonic technology for dynamic 3D sound and automatic parallax adjustment to optimize the 3D-video comfort zone. 

• How much does this cost? The retail price for the JVC Everio GS-TD1 costs $1499.99 and can be found for $1089.00 here. JVC Everio 3D Online price 
• Here is the test footage for the JVC Everio 3D camcorder: JVC Everio 3D test footage

There are many more 3D cameras that provide awesome effects, but instead of reviewing all of them I've decided to briefly overview editing with 3D quality. It's a strong question to many filmmakers thinking of upgrading to making 3D films.  Here's a list of some awesome 3D editing software and applications:

• Cineform Neo3D, this application allows you to edit footage in your favorite editing software such as FCP, Avid, After Effects, Sony Vegas, and more. You will have to edit the footage twice when it comes to editing 3D videos. The price for this application costs around $3,000.00. While that is expensive, it makes creating 3D films a lot easier.

• Sony Vegas 10 and Sony Vegas 11 is a very popular editing software that just enabled a feature that allows you to edit 3D videos at a much cheaper price than Cineform at $600.00.
• Magix Movie Edit Pro MX Plus allows you to edit full stereo 3D videos and Multicam editing. This software supports Windows Vista, XP, and 7. The price? for a great cost of only $99.00

Editing your 3D footage is a complicated and can cause a headache, but imagine the awesome effects you could achieve! Features like Rotoscoping will require you to do double the work and you must be sure everything matches up. Enjoy your 3D filmmaking and wow your family, friends, and fans!

You have awesome shots and a great editing software, so what's left? No film is complete with out a great music score. If you are submitting your films to any festivals or a way for the public to watch your films, it's best to use royalty free music if you don't have a great orchestral band to back you up. All Macs come with GarageBand which has royalty free music already included and you can also create your music digitally. If you are tired of those common music tracks or have a Windows there are still some awesome sites that allow you to download free royalty free music.

• Freeplaymusic.com allows you to search for music by putting in the type of emotion or feeling you want to achieve for your film.

• Freesound.org provides some awesome sound effects free for you to use as long as you register with their organization for free.

• Royaltyfreemusic.com shares a section of free music up for downloads.

• Sonnyboo.com allows you to use royalty free music as long as you credit the source of music.

Everyone wants to be original and have their own music for their films that isn't heard elsewhere so collaborate with some new aspiring artists, they'd be happy to work with you and get their music out there! Check out www.ourstage.com, there may be some great artists near you!

What's a Cinemagraph you ask? It's basically a still image with a slight motion to it that makes for an awesome effect. Check out these awesome examples!
<---- click the picture to see the effect in motion!
www.cinemagraph.com
28 beautiful cinemagraphs
A cinemagraph is exported as a GIF that holds a very artsy feel to it and seems to really be picking up in the fashion and photography industry. Many people create them in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, taking multiple stills or taking a mixture of video and stills. Check out these great tutorials to find out how to achieve this effect.

A new style of visual effects is the HDR effect. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It's easy to be done in photos, but for video? I researched how you can achieve this effect and found there are multiple ways of doing it. Below is an example of what an HDR video can look like.



How do you achieve this sort of animated and interesting style of video? Below are a few ways of getting the look.

• Combining two cameras- Video is captured on two of the same cameras but the same exact angle and position so there is no difference between the two. One camera is underexposed while the other camera is overexposed. This increases the dynamic range between the cameras that are set to +/- 2EV this broadens the range to now 4 stops. Using this effect can appear to be more realistic.
• Using one camera- The same process is done as using two cameras by shooting a scene underexposed and one overexposed and then combining the two, but the scene needs to be a still shot such as a landscape, or an object that does not change so the videos will match up. Be sure to have a stabilizer or a tripod to avoid extra movement you don't want that will cause inconsistency.
• After Effects- Import your footage and duplicate your shot. 

1.    Apply the Shadow/Highlight effect to your TOP layer.
2. Raise the shadow amount to 100. 
3. Next apply the tint effect to your TOP layer as well and set the amount to tint to 80-90. *your preference of the look you're going for*
4. Set the blending mode to Hard light.
5. Apply the 'Hue and Saturation' effect to the BOTTOM layer.
6. Increase the Master Saturation to 20-30

To get an alternative look check out this video for a wider range of HDR looks with After Effects.
There are many ways of achieving the HDR look for your videos, this could make a really cool style for a music video, action film, or sci-fi. Apply it to whatever you like. To learn how to achieve HDR with photos check out this excellent website listing tutorials for achieving HDR Imagery.
HDR Photo Tutorials

            John Carpenter's horror idol film, Halloween, has changed the genre of horror. Did you know it was an independent film? All the filmmakers were inexperienced and they were considered as kids that just wanted to make a movie. The score of the film was put together by one person and it is considered to be one of the top 5 most noticeable film scores ever. John Carpenter was barely out of film school and directing his first film. Little did he know it would become one of the most iconic horror films to exist. There was no blood or real gore shown in the film, which makes it more of a psychological thriller. John Carpenter mentioned how he would have liked to directed films in the 1940s. The budget for the film was around $300,000 which is incredibly low for a big production film to be put together. E.T. was considered a low budget film and the budget for it was around $10,000,000. The film was shot in 21 days. John asked his girlfriend to produce the film along with Irvin Yoblans. They all came together to put a fantastic story together. All of the actors were new and inexperienced, although the star, Jamie Lee Curtis brought along a legendary past. Her mother was the star of the film, Psycho. Halloween has changed so many films that incorporate masked men as horrific characters. This was posted to let you know that the most iconic films here today didn't have known actors or a big budget, but a story. Your film can make anything possible! Stay original and follow your dreams!

    Anyone in this industry will tell you to network, network, network! But how?? I have come up with some great networking tips that can boost your recognition and get your name out there.

• Promote yourself! Don't be shy when it comes to sharing your work, promote your work and meet others that are in your field. If you're in school or in college this is a great way to meet people. Go to the drama department and hang out with some actors, Visit the art department and meet people in animation, film, and communication.
• Register! Register with your state or local film commission. All cities have a film commission and are looking for crew work. This is an excellent way to contact directors and producers directly. Talk to the other crew members, actors, directors and share your work and experience.
• Comment! Leave comments and messages with other filmmakers on websites like Vimeo, Youtube, and any other websites that allow people to share their work via internet. Other filmmakers are likely to respond and communicate with you. The closer you can get with them the easier it will be to get them to mention your work to others.
• Create! Create a blog, website, fanpage, and more to show off your work. People want a quick and easy link to click on to take them straight to whatever you want them to see. It's harder for people to want to see your work if they have to search for it. 

These tips will help you network effectively, the more people hear and see your name the more likely they are to get involved with you and your work. 

There are so many film contests out there and  many times you may find it hard to find them. I've gathered some awesome filmmaking contest websites that pulls all of them into one website.
Here are the websites I've found that shows great film contests.

• Film The Next is a great site that is in collaboration with Poptent. Commercial contests are listed and the prizes for these contests are excellent!
• Possible Future Film Contests is a very clean website that makes it easy for people in all different stages to submit a film. ( fresh beginners, amateurs, students, professionals) This is important because you aren't immediately compared to big filmmakers right away . You're able to grow and compete with people on a level similar to your own. 44 countries also participate in the contests provided as well.
• Filmaka is a website that is geared to getting undiscovered filmmakers discovered! You can submit your film and connect with other filmmakers as well to get your work out there and seen.

 Getting your work out there to get noticed can be very tough, but by checking out these awesome websites you can be rewarded, network, and get noticed! Check these out now!

     Every strong filmmaker has a distinct style that comes out in all of their films. When you watch their films they could all be on different stories, but something tells you who directed that film.  How do you brand your own film? It could be the type of color correcting you do, or the angles you use, there are so many things that stand out as different to make your films say your name. Try not to perfect your films to mimic other filmmaker styles, but bring out your own style in your movies. The movies I've seen with a particular style that I like are SuckerPunch, Watchmen, 300. Although these are all different films, SuckerPunch, Watchmen, and 300 were done by the same producers of Cruel and Unusual Films.  I admire the color, tone, visual effects, and editing styles Zach and Deborah Snyder ( Power Couple) incorporate in their films.  I have my own style, but I still have a strong admiration for that particular production company's style. Here is a quick guide to branding your own film.

• Style: As mentioned above your shooting and editing style is key to making your films your own.
• Name: Every production company needs a name and creating one that is different, clever, and defines what you want everyone to see before seeing your film. 
• Campaign: Promote Promote Promote! Don't just leave your films in your computer only for you and friends to look at. Promote your films and your production. Create a blog or website showcasing your style and your films for people to go straight to.  Use Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Vimeo, and any other social networks that may open doors for you to share your films and passion with other people and network. 
• Tagline: All marketers know that having a tagline with the title of your company is important. The more the audience sees and hears the message or title of your film production the more likely they will engage in it. Create a logo to go along with your company.
• Don't Isolate: Isolating yourself is something many artists do, because they are stuck in their own vision, but in actuality it is best to network as much as possible and learn from other filmmakers. Don't isolate yourself you may be cutting yourself off from valuable information and stunt your growth in the filmmaking industry. 
• Unique: Last, but not least remain unique. You may ask, How do i stay unique? There's so many people!!! That's just it! There are so many people that all have different quirks about themselves. Find that one thing that you know contributes to what sets you apart from other people. If your films are similar in some shape or form to other filmmakers, don't become discouraged you may actually find more in common with that filmmaker than you think and you should network with them to learn more about their personalities and filmmaking techniques. You may just find something that you do different that you can emphasize in filming your own movies. 

I hope some of these tips help you with branding your own film production and gets you closer to your goals. Check out some of these websites that can help you out with creating your brand.

Safely naming your own production company
How to Brand Yourself Online
Protecting your Films

 Please comment below on anything that you think adds to your own brand for a film.

        As a child growing up, 'The Adventures of Tintin' were one of the few cartoons I could enjoy watching. It always held magic, mystery, and adventure in every episode. Tintin started in France as a comic book in 1929, and since then has sold over 200 million books! Steven Spielberg mentioned how he bought his first Tintin book, 'The Seven Crystal Balls'. (Grossman, 2011) He couldn't understand french, but he understood the entire story through the pictures and storyboard.
      In 1983, Steven Spielberg contacted the creator, Herge in regards to bringing the stories to life. Herge agreed to the project and immediately wanted Steven to direct it after seeing  'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark'. Before the film could be discussed, Herge died a few weeks later. Spielberg obtained legal rights to Tintin from Herge's wife, but there were some script issues that needed to be handled and so the project stalled. Now nearly three decades later, 'The Adventures of Tintin' has finally been created and set for release.
      The production budget for this film  was a little over $130 million dollars. This film will be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The film took over three years to complete and is being rated PG, for brief smoking scenes, action violence, and some drunkenness. The team for 'The Adventures of Tintin' worked hard to keep the characters and storyline as close to the original cartoon as possible.
      The animation and effects of this film look absolutely incredible and like many other new releases it will be in 3-D. The film uses 85% animation and 15% live action to give it that unique and eye catching look. (Lyttleton, 2011)  Some of the fans of Tintin are displeased with Spielberg's choice to  make the film in 3-D , as a lifelong fan states, "Hergé's comic-book hero is one of the great creations of the 20th century. Which makes Spielberg's film version little more than murder." (Lezard, 2011) Ouch! That's a harsh critique before seeing the film, but I guess all of us will just have to wait until December 21, 2011 to see for ourselves.

References:
Lyttelton, O. (2011, October 16). Steven spielberg says ‘the adventures of tintin’ is “85% animation, 15% live action [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/steven_spielberg_tintin_85_animation_15_live_action/

Grossman, L. (2011, October 23). Inside tintin [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2097373,00.html

Lezard, N. (2011, October 18). How could they do this to tintin [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/oct/18/how-could-do-this-tintin

Casting for your own film is tough, even when you do find actors, they may bail or become unreliable. Here are some tips to help with finding actors for your film.

• Passion! Be sure your actors aren't just your friends or neighbors(unless they're actors), find someone that is an aspiring actor that could use the experience.
• Show previous works or create a quick reel to show the quality of your work. Many actors may be interested in your story, but once they realize you may be a student, they may think the quality of your work may not be good and not even contact you back from their assumptions. Actors may become more excited once they know you produce good quality work.
• Casting websites. Check out Mandy.com, Backstage.com, Actorsequity.org, and in last resort, Craigslist.
• Be cautious! Let's be real, as needy as we are for actors, you may encounter a few delusional crazies that could in turn ruin your film and cause a problem. Interview your actors, really check out their backgrounds, and if you can afford it, run background checks.

*When using Craigslist, there are many people that may be inexperienced so use extra caution with using this resource.
Casting is pretty tough from finding the right look, to being sure they will show up on time and ready to shoot. Use a personal release form when dealing with actors and to protect yourself in some legal situations. Stay consistent with your agreements. If you promised a type of compensation be sure to follow through with it. Be honest. If you aren't a big movie director, they'll only find out when it comes to shooting and that will make them want to  bail as well. Realize that the sky is the limit, let your actors know your plans after you're done with the film. Distribute it. If aspiring actors know the film will be seen more than just on Youtube or Vimeo they will be more excited in learning there may be some recognition after they give their all into it.


These tips can really help when casting your film and make planning go smoother.

     When it comes to putting a film together, many filmmakers are eager to get started on the film itself and may avoid some important and thorough planning. There are tons of software to help aspiring filmmakers with budgeting costs for your film. Check out Gorilla Film Production Software which can help you with putting together a budget for documentation and for other producers to see as well as staying within your own means to make sure you don't exceed costs. Project management is key when it comes to building a film. Pre-production is when all of the planning needs to take place. Many new filmmakers are low on cash and need actors and a crew. Although you may not have the money to pay them, food and drinks make great compensation. It is best to buy in bulk for drinks. Here is a quick example outline of how to keep food under $100 for 1 week of shooting and a crew of 15 people.

• Drinks: Water bottles  2 packs of 24 water bottles -$7 ( entire week)
• Food: Sandwiches are a best way to feed many people for a low cost averaging about $20 (3 days)(buying your own ingredients to make sandwiches will make it cheaper)  2 Large Pizzas- $25 *search for coupons to save more money ( 1 day) Snack tray $20 (3 days) *many people love to snack on foods in between shooting so be sure to include fruits, vegetables, meats ( wings or other meat), and other snack foods. Alternate between days with these foods. Have snacks on monday, pizza on Tuesday, snacks on Weds, sandwiches on Thursday, snacks on Friday, sandwiches on Saturday and sandwiches or snacks or pizza on Sunday *your choice or whatever your crew would like depending on your culture. Use your creativity to stay resourceful.  This averages out to about $72.00 which may leave room for incidentals out of a $100 food budget. 

    Equipment is something to also take note when budgeting. Buy extra light bulbs and backup equipment before shooting just in case something breaks to avoid running out in a hurry and buying either the wrong thing or something more expensive. Buy as many batteries, extension cords, electrical tape, and power surges  as you can. While shooting you don't want to lose the momentum due to the loss of power. *This has happened to me many times and it never turns out good. For DSLR filmmakers purchase a 1 or 2 battery grips to shoot all day without stopping the production to charge your battery for thirty minutes to get the last shot.
     Monitor and control your plan while shooting, when you see a change from your plan occur try your best to get it back to where it was to avoid future problems. Putting a film together can be very expensive especially if this is your very first film and you don't have all of the equipment, makeup, actors, and crew you need. I spent approximately $2000 on everything for my first film after everything was bought and paid for after shooting. Don't be frightened to get started just be sure to take a few of these tips to avoid pulling your hair out and throwing your camera out of the window due to frustrations. Your film may not always go as planned, but staying as organized as possible will keep your film on track.

 Also, Checkout our sponsor - HalloweenMart to get great deals on makeup, special fx, costumes, accessories, props, and more! These make a film even more real!!

Last year every new filmmaker jumped on the DSLR filmmaking wagon, along with myself. I saw the beautiful quality they could produce with video and immediately got the Canon T2i once i saved enough money. I love this camera! Every shot I take with the right application turns out to be beautiful. Not only did it teach me how to take great pictures, I also learned more about film. I found out more about different lenses and the effects they have on the shots you're achieving. There's a lot that comes with filmming with a DSLR to get the truest quality.
Here's a few tips when using a Canon T2i or any DSLR

• Stabilizer : The video quality is great but may be more shaky than other regular video cameras because it's more so meant for taking pictures. A shoulder mount is excellent for providing support and stabilization while shooting. Check out www.bhphotovideo.com for more.
• Lenses: The 18-55 kit lens that comes with the Canon T2i is great, but there needs to be tons of light when using this lens. I purchased a 50mm lens which has an f-stop of 1.4 which can provide more light to come in without altering the ISO. There are many other lenses that provide a lower f-stop. 
• ISO: Sure you can brighten up any situation with bringing the ISO up, but this bring more noise and grain to your video or picture. The beautiful HD quality you're looking for won't seem as crisp so its best to keep the ISO between 100-400 and purchase a light kit or natural sunlight.
• Lighting: I purchased a 3 light kit from Cowboy Studio for only $60. It's not heavy duty, but it gets many jobs done. As a filmmaker on a budget this was a true steal. The only drawback was I couldn't use filters, but it did come with a case and umbrellas to soften the light as well. I still use it and it provides a great source of light.
• Audio: When using a DSLR for filmmaking please be sure there is a mic input. I found the Nikon D3000 didn't have this feature and neither did the Canon T1i. A mic input is crucial, because although you can use the built-in mic and clean up the audio digitally, you want to get the best quality in production. 
• SD cards: Keep in mind the writing speed and memory space on your SD card is crucial. Your HD footage is going to take up a lot of space. 8GB gets you 30mins of footage for HD video. I found a great deal on a 32GB card for $50 on Amazon. 
• RESOURCEFUL: Let's get things straight, being resourceful is veryyyyy important when filmmaking, your DSLR already costs you a pretty penny and lenses can become very expensive a long with other accessories. I used ebay and bought an older Canon FD lens for $40 ( which is better quality than the new lenses for EOS) and bought a FD to EOS lens adapter for 35$. This total was about 85$ with shipping. The price for a new Canon EOS 50mm lens is about 105$ and many people complain about it breaking. Be sure to look into antique shops as many people have retired their old cameras for digital cameras, but the lenses can still be useful! Manual focus lenses are valued more for videographers so you can control the focus. You can also create DIY accessories such as dollys, stabilizers, and rigs. Check out the resourceful links page above that may have some great tips. Until you're in a position to splurge on high end camera equipment, staying resourceful will still get the job done. 

I hope these tips help anyone thinking of getting into DSLR filmmaking. It is easier to handle and produces great quality due to the large image sensor that looks like it came right off the movie screen. There are pros and cons to everything, but for a filmmaker, I'd highly recommend this for getting started.

Paranormal Activity 3 was just released yesterday, October 21, 2011.  The film has brought in over $26 million in the first day being released. It is said that producers only spent $5 million on the entire film. Paranormal Activity 3, is a prequel to the previous films and shows the main characters from 1 and 2 as children. I got the chance to view the film myself and was very pleased. The effects were awesome and very believeable. Seeing the first two films really brought this last film together and actors, especially the children, made it very real. I don't know how they did a few things, but I'm sure with $5,000,000.00 those can easily be done.  The film held a pretty good story and with it being set in the 80s, the producers did an excellent job.

  My mother decided to rent some films today, many of the time she will get films I have NEVER heard of. I'll say is this a low budj mom? and she'll get defensive and explain that it's not. Anyway on to my review for Camp Hell. I thought it would be some sort of knock off Jason film with an axe murderer killing off teens doing God knows what in the woods. From the first 10 minutes I realized it would be a religious film or maybe a film about demons. I noticed that Jesse Eisenburg * star of Social Network, Rio, and many other films* was filming in this movie, he's even on the front cover. Once it came to his role, his scene was there for about 5 minutes. I thought, maybe he'll appear later on in the story. As I continued to sit through the film I was very confused. The story takes place in a strict "christian" camp, yeah you know the ones that don't allow you to do a thing and everything is a sin? First off, it was completely confusing, because they were mixing Catholic and Christianity religion together, which shows the writer probably had no real knowledge base in the religion at all. Throughout the film it is mentioned repeatedly how masturbation is one of the largest sins you could probably make because it brings you closer to the devil.. If that was the case I'm sure about a minimum of 80% of the world would desecrate in the pits of hell. The main character, Tommy, shows interest in a girl going to the camp and they go off in the woods and begin kissing and then dry humping with a few breast grabs. Meanwhile during this entire scene Tommy has a leaf just sitting right on top of his butt which totally throws off the sensuality of whatever this scene was trying to achieve. After this happens a particular "evil" is unleashed and a priest now has headless doves under his pillow, a young teen is "possessed" sitting in his own urine, and well... that's about it. I still have no clue what was going on and where was Jesse Eisenburg? I mean he's on the front cover! A second scene flashes towards the end of Jesse slashing his wrists and sitting in a bathtub... and it ends there. That's it that's what got him on the front of the cover. Anyway, Tommy is again confronted by the priest and all of sudden the "evil" appears and takes over the priest's body. He runs to a chapel where his mother is basically the statue of Mary, the statue falls on him, and the "evil" appears again. He wakes up in a hospital.... says he doesn't believe in God anymore and about 5 minutes  later throws some kind of bible out of the window ... THE END. This movie was absolutely terrible, even for an aspiring filmmaker, I know just how hard it is to get a strong cast, funding, equipment, special fx, etc. , but none of this matters if your story is not good. This film could have had so much potential, but failed miserably. If you see this in your local RedBox just skip to a movie you've actually heard of or one that is just not Camp Hill... or Camp Hope , it seems that they didn't decide on the title either.

    Many people are looking to Youtube to get famous and potentially get their films noticed. Do you feel this is the best way to go? It's an easy access and quick and free way to promote your film and possibly became famous and gain sponsors. So which is the best way to market your Youtube channel to promote short films? Be different but be alluring as well. When you watch something how does it capture your attention? Are you instantly interested ? and what is it that draws you in? Share. Sharing your ideas in tutorials and other formats to teach others how to do something you know how to do will gain views. Everyone wants to learn. Have a professional youtube design. Upgrade your background and design. When first starting out, you have to really make sure your audience knows where your coming from and that you're serious about your work. Comment on other youtubers and share links with each other, do not isolate yourself. People will naturally become interested in what you have to share. If you have any more ideas please leave comments below.

IndyMogul was a staple resource for me in creating my films that required a little special effects for a much lower cost. They take a DIY filmmaking approach, so the things that seem you can't do, you quickly find a solution. Their tag, [Fun, Cheap, Filmmaking] I enjoy watching their Youtube videos and I must admit, their techniques are quite effective. It makes you really want to get into creating more films and going as far as you can without spending loads of money. Putting a film together can become very expensive very fast, so anything that helps towards cost is very beneficial to the producer.  They also have another site which is Beyond the Trailer. It gets the reviews from audiences of new films to find out just how good the new releases are. I enjoy the critiques, because it makes me think twice about spending all of that money for a snoozefest during a movie. Doing it yourself until you make the big screen is the way to go for aspiring filmmakers. I give this site many thumbs up!
IndyMogul Website

     It's time for a review! Earlier I came across Filmmaking.Net, a website with resources for filmmakers. You can find books, film schools, events, festivals, and more. The layout is okay, not very eye catching or alluring, but it's there for the information! The site itself looks unfinished. I wish there was some more interaction to the site, or was a little more interesting for me to get into. Someone with strong marketing skills may be able to turn this site around. I do however respect the resources given, any information is better than none. Please visit www.filmmaking.net to find out more!

Time Warner Cable Announces Short Film Contest

Sat, 10/02/2010 - 13:10 — Waldo Here are portions of the press release on this...
Time Warner Cable announced the launch of the Time Warner Cable Short Film Contest in association with IFC. Video submissions will be accepted from September 15th until October 31st via Time Warner Cable’s new YouTube® channel. Four Grand Prize winners will receive a 4-night trip for two to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, January 20-30.
The Time Warner Cable Short Film Contest in association with IFC calls on aspiring filmmakers across the country to showcase their talents in creating their own short 2-to-5-minute film. To enter, contestants must upload their short film entries to Time Warner Cable’s new YouTube channel.
A panel of expert judges will choose up to 25 finalists based on creativity, quality and content. Consumers can view entries and vote for their favorite on Time Warner Cable’s YouTube channel from November 9th through November 16st.
Each of the four winners will receive a trip for two to the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, including hotel, air transportation and ground transportation. Additionally, the prize will include $500 spending money, two tickets to a film screening at the Festival, an invitation to an exclusive Sundance Channel VIP party, attended by select industry stars and executives, and a one-year subscription to Time Warner Cable digital cable and Road Runner high speed internet services.

       'Gun Hill Road', is a film I have yet to see, but I am dying to see it. It's based on a story of a Puerto- Rican transexual and the things he goes through in life. The director, Rashaad Ernesto Green spoke about directing the film in an interview. Rashaad had no intent to become a director, but spent 3 years in the MFA program of acting at NYU. "Being an actor first was a great way to jump behind camera first", he says.  Rashaad also said, "I thought, “I’m going to be in class with kids who have had a camera in their hands since they were five years old. I am really going to have to work my butt off.” Which I did." It's funny how many people perceive a role before jumping into it. I always thought I just wanted to be an editor, but when I became a director amongst the rest of the roles I took to put the film together, I realized that this is something I truly love to do. Rashaad also mentioned how one of his short films also opened doors to even creating the feature film, 'Gun Hill Road'.  Rashaad tells the interviewer how it was inspired by someone in his family and decided to take the story further. During the casting process, Rashaad explained he didn't do the casting traditionally and spent most of his time on the streets in NY searching in clubs and other places for the right character. This interview was so inspiring to me I decided to follow Rashaad on twitter. Below are some links and references to the film and the interview.
http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/news/2011/08/rashaad-ernesto-green-gun-hill-road/
http://twitter.com/rashaadernesto
www.gunhillroad.com

   As a filmmaker, any and every tip is highly beneficial due to budget and access to many other things. I came across a blog site called, 'The Filmmaker Magazine'. It includes news, festivals, director interviews, and much more. I find it to be useful for me, because it ignites my passion as well as letting me know what's going on in the world. It even features 25 new faces of independent filmmaking. This is such a crucial blog for any filmmaker out there that can sort of get distracted from their passion. The more you surround yourself with your interests the more likely you are to become of it. This is not only just a blog site, it's also a magazine you can get a subscription to. The entire site is something that can be interactive as well as resourceful. Filmmaker Magazine has inspired me to network more with filmmakers, even if they aren't in my local area. This is a great find for any future or aspiring filmmaker.
http://filmmakermagazine.net/news/category/news/