Filmmaker's Dream Blog

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