Filmmaker's Dream Blog

Filmmaker's Dream Blog is the go to place for aspiring and passionate filmmakers. We would love to hear from you! What could we add to the site? What would you like to know more about? What are some of your film ideas you'd like to share with us? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!!

There are many experts within the film industry that have to oversee a business plan in order to make sure the movie is successful. The right person to look towards in this case would be the film producer. The responsibilities of a film producer include:

• Producing a film within its budget
• Supervising the film project from concept to distribution
• Secure financing for a film project
• Hire cast/crew to make sure the film is delivered and put together to the best of its ability. 

The list goes on and on as far as what a film producer has to do to make sure the film happens. I decided to research and review two industry experts to see how they gained their success in the business department of film. The industry experts I have chosen are Kevin Geiger and Kathleen Kennedy.
Kevin Geiger is known for films such as, 'Reign of Fire', 'Species', 'Chicken Little', and 'Henry's Garden'. With his major focus being in digital arts, Kevin has also offered great details on having an indie film business plan. Kevin says, "Most indie filmmakers have a strong creative pitch, but not a strong business pitch when going to investors, and if those aren't linked, you've got a problem." According to Kevin, a few key factors investors are looking for an a business plan include:

• How are the investors going to make their money back?
• Prepare a cash flow projection
• Create a business plan presentation for investors
• Select development and advisory teams.

Check out his great informational videos below!
The next industry expert is Kathleen Kennedy, by far one of the most successful film producers of all time. She's produced films like 'Jurassic Park', 'ET', 'Adventures of Tin Tin' and many more. Kathleen attended San Diego State University and later worked as a camera operator, video editor, and floor director. Kathleen started as a production assistant in working with Steven Spielberg and worked her way up to becoming the second most successful film producers in the world. Kathleen Kennedy is now the co-chair person for Lucasfilm. ( Deadline, 2012)
Kathleen Kennedy says she became lucky after taking a job as a production assistant for Steven Spielberg's '1941' and later became a producer. Kathleen mentions how she looks for someone who is talented, nice, balanced, with various interests in the film industry when hiring new people. She also mentioned that for great advice you have to have a lot of tenacity, work hard, and strong values to make it in the film industry. (HollywoodTV, 2007)  Kathleen gives excellent advice in the video below for ways to make it in Hollywood.
 Deadline. (2012, June 01). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/lucasfilms-names-kathleen-kennedy-as-co-chair/

HollywoodTV. (2007). Kathleen kennedy how to make it in to hollywood [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlxCUyC9fmE

When it comes to self-distributing your films online many filmmakers turn to YouTube or Vimeo to post their films. Both video hosting sites are great to use, but have different attributes. We will cover the pros and cons of both websites to market and your distribute your films better.
YouTube
YouTube was created by 3 former employees from Paypal in 2005. YouTube has truly changed so much media by allowing for anyone to upload and broadcast any videos or themselves on the internet. Only a year later, Google purchased the website for $1.6 billion dollars. Later in 2008, YouTube signed an agreement contract with MGM, CBS, and Lionsgate, to build competition with the website Hulu which broadcasts TV shows online. Now that you know some history on YouTube let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Formats to upload: .AV .MKV, .MOV, .MP4, DivX, .FLV, and .ogg and .ogv.
• Upload time: 15 minutes. ( the video is measured by the time not the space which is great, because you may be able to upload a better quality video, but shorter.
• 3D and HD videos are enabled. Users can upload 3D videos!
• Receives over 4 billion views per DAY! (Limer, 2012)
• More people use YouTube, so it is easier to direct people to your films on YouTube.
• Revenue! - You have the possibility of receiving money for your work.
• Cons
• Not an artsy exclusive website. YouTube is more of free range for ANY type of video to be broadcasted on the internet.
• Harder to stand out, amongst the viral videos.

Vimeo
Vimeo was created in November 2004 by Jake Lodwick. Interactive Corp purchased Vimeo in August 2006. The word 'Vimeo' comes from rearranging the word 'movie' but putting it in an order so the word 'me' is also used. Vimeo is strictly a community for indie filmmakers to share their work and films amongst each other. Now that you know some history on Vimeo, let's review the pros and cons.

• Pros
• Extra storage! Vimeo allows you to post a minimum of 500MB a week, but if you upgrade to Vimeo Plus for $60 a year, 5GB a week is the limit you can post. 
• Network.. When you use Vimeo you're amongst all other filmmakers and sharing your work, becoming inspired, and collaborating with others now becomes easier. (Staff TIME, 2010)
• Better Quality.. Vimeo strongly supports HD footage, which if you have the basic package, you're able to upload 1 HD video a week.
• Groups- Vimeo offers different groups and allows you to create your own groups, which helps inspiration and networking.
• Cons
• Less traffic.... Vimeo ranks as #116 on the Alexa ranking site, whereas YouTube ranks as #3.
• No Revenue...Google owns YouTube as well as Adsense so gaining revenue for YouTube videos became an option, but Vimeo has yet to receive that option.
• Less awareness.. Not as many regular viewers that aren't indie filmmakers have heard of Vimeo, so be sure to give them the correct link to your work.

It's a tough decision to choose between both video hosting sites, but it depends on your objective as a filmmaker. If you're looking to build and develop as a filmmaker, the go to website is Vimeo, but if you're looking to gain recognition and get your film seen by anyone, YouTube is the sure option. My recommendation  is to choose both!! Neither website owns exclusivity rights to your work, so you have the option to go with both sites to get the best of both worlds.
*FilmFestival Awareness*- YouTube will be holding a huge film fesitval called, 'YourFilmFestival' as part of the Venice Film festival in Italy. Of course, the film I produced, 'Luv.Net' was entered and the 50 semi-finalists will be announced on June 12 @ 4pm. The audience will get the chance to vote on the top 10 finalists which get to go to Italy all expenses paid!! Stay tuned for further details.

References:
Limer, E. (2012, January 23). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.geekosystem.com/youtube-4-billion-pageviews/
Staff, T. (2010, August 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2012721_2012728_2012746,00.html

Kickstarter is a great website that lets you pitch your idea for anything to gain funding for your project. Kickstarter is also partnered with Amazon and allows you to set up your business account through Amazon to receive any money you gain through your Kickstarter campaign.
Website Review

• User Friendly: Kickstarter is a very user-friendly website and isn't too complicated to use. The layout is very simple, yet keeps you interested in the site. 
• Features: Kickstarter includes your own mail inbox for messages from contributors or other people. You're able to gain inspiration from other projects from the discover feature. A help page and a blog is provided on the top corner of the website to give you any resources or answer question you may have regarding Kickstarter.
• Recognition: Kickstarter has been featured through CNN, TIME, BBC, and Wired.
• Socio-Cultural: Kickstarter has a social network feel to it even though the platform is for funding. The website allows you to connect with so many different types of people and helps you build a fan base. (Malik, 2011)

Process

• During the process of gaining funding from Kickstarter you must have your idea formed and ready to show. The best way of getting your idea understood is by making a video of yourself to give your audience something to connect to. Promote your kickstarter campaign on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Set a goal for when you need the funding for your project as well as how much you want to achieve. You will also need to come up with some type of rewards for your contributors so they receive some sort of incentive for donating money to your project. The rewards can be big or small, but you will need at least 1 or 2 for the people who decide to help you out. 

Success

• Many people have gained a lot of success and funding from Kickstarter. Over millions of dollars have been donated to thousands of projects pitched. A new hit web-series, 'Awkward Black Girl' received over $60,000 from their funding campaign. 

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Kickstarter is one of the easiest ways to reach multiple people and pitch your idea. The amount you can receive is unlimited, all it takes is a great idea that encourages people to want to help donate. If you exceed your funding goal, you can still receive any extra money given. 
• Cons: If you don't reach your funding goal by the deadline, even if its $1 short, you don't receive any of the money that was donated. All the money donated will be turned over once the entire campaign deadline is reached.

Competitors

• A similar website to Kickstarter is Indiegogo. Indiegogo is the largest funding platform website. Indiegogo allows you to keep all of the money that you raise even if you don't meet your funding goal, but with a higher percentage cut. If you reach your goal, you must pay Indiegogo 4%. If you don't reach your goal, you have to pay 9% to Indiegogo. Indiegogo is used by over millions of people all over the world and considered to be a very successful website. The site is extremely similar to Kickstarter, but with a few minor changes. Check out Indiegogo here: Indiegogo

Start your campaign for your wonderful projects today! Don't let money become an issue, because if there's a will, there's a way. Visit www.kickstarter.com or www.indiegogo.com

References:
Malik, O. (2011, May 25). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://gigaom.com/2011/05/25/why-kickstarter-works/

How would you like to publish or distribute your own film/web series/tv show?
Times have changed so much when it comes to getting yourself out there. Filmmakers are almost able to create anything, from 3D movies to getting their film shown all over the world. Did you know that now you can self distribute your own films? A great website to check out is CreateSpace. It's a publishing/distribution website that's owned by Amazon which allows you to distribute your films on Amazon. How awesome would it be to allow others to purchase your film and receive it as a DVD or Video on Demand? While viewing the website they've got everything from publishing books, music, and film, so there's more than one form of media to get out there. With CreateSpace you can be sure to keep track of your inventory with the option of being able to stream your own video. The greatest thing is that so many people use Amazon and that only leads to more exposure for you. Marketing your film can be tough, but CreateSpace also has a full resource center which provides excellent tips on how to market your film and get it out to the right audience. The cost for setting up your online account is completely free! Sure, you could use YouTube or Vimeo, but this is allowing for you to make money off of what you create without having to lift a finger. The CreateSpace Disc on Demand feature reduces the risk of delay in inventory and spikes in demand or product shortfall. The Disc on Demand feature also allows you to get your films out in the market before hitting other retailers. There are some excellent tv shows and films that don't get a chance to make it out on DVD because of the cost for DVD authoring and copies. CreateSpace reduces those costs and makes it affordable for you so that you can get your work seen and out there. If you list your work in their online catalog, it can increase greater availability to future customers. Last, but not least one of the greatest features CreateSpace has to offer is the ability to forecast sales and the likelihood of how much you'll need to spend according to your audience. CreateSpace is an excellent website to use if you're really serious about distributing your own film, tv show, etc. Visit www.createspace.com
References: CreateSpace. (n.d.). Createspace: Self publishing for books, music, film.. Retrieved from https://www.createspace.com/Special/Enterprise/Studio/index.jsp

Here are some very helpful Podcasts I found dealing with the Entertainment/ Film Industry in the legal area. It is important to be informed in all aspects of film and legal matters are definitely apart of that. Enjoy the Podcasts below!
A Legal lens on 'The Descendants' Podcast : Listen to this Podcast!
Controversy over cameras used in supreme court :Listen to this Podcast!
Making of Out of the Ashes, this is a documentary funded by the government to support victims of those that lost loved ones in the 9/11 event. Get the legal background scoop of this story here: Listen to this Podcast!

Managing your own film production is a huge achievement, but it is also tons of work. Aside from all of the basics you learn about filmmaking and business, there's still tons more to know. One thing that you'll have to deal with is conflict. Dealing with a conflict in a film production will arise especially with a larger crew. Your actors will need to relax and be comfortable before performing. Going into a film production company with a positive attitude and knowing how to manage stress will help keep tension low.
      Usually, the film director is in charge of keeping a peaceful environment together. Here are some tips to help you manage your own film production company and help with others.

1. Give a motivational pep talk

• Before everyone starts to get into a frenzy of shooting, let everyone know how valuable they are. Give gratitude to everyone there and make sure everything is calm before starting.  

    2. Be direct

•  No one else is going to be able to read your mind, so stay as clear and direct as possible when giving instructions. Remain respectful but still show assertiveness when speaking. Send emails and reminders before meetings and shoots to keep everyone on the same page. A great way of communicating is to create a group on Facebook or using Google Groups, to keep everyone on the same page.

    3. Don't waste time

•  The biggest value to a filmmaker is time. Don't waste time on petty things that can be addressed later. Prioritize the most important things that need to be completed at that time.

      4. Stay cool

• Always remain cool, calm, and collected. Although you may feel comfortable with the crew and actors, but everyone will be keeping a close eye on how well you manage the set. You don't want anyone telling any prospective teammates that you're difficult to work with. (Joel, 2011)

       5. Treat everyone as a team

•  Everyone's role is very important. From the PA to the lead actor, everyone should apart of the team. When people feel they belong to a team they are more likely to value their position. Let everyone know how their role depends on others and vice versa. This will decrease the risk of people not showing up at the last minute.

**The last important tip is to always have back up plans ready, because  usually Murphy's law will show up.

References:

Joel. (2011, January 15). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.austinfilmmeet.com/resources2/how-to-manage-conflicts-in-the-film-production/

    Becoming a manager for an actor/actress can completely benefit you and the artist and numerous ways. Many artists are so creative they don't always know the effective ways of managing themselves or marketing their talent to stand out and succeed. The entertainment industry is a very tough field and getting out there and noticed is just half the battle. So what is an Artist Manager exactly? An artist manager is someone to help guide the artist in any way possible in such a way that they succeed. Here are some great tips to becoming a manager.
1. Experience and or education is key.
Artists want someone that is going to be able to handle the pressure and hold the knowledge of managing them well and knowing how to get them into fame. Gaining a Master's degree in business management or entertainment business can truly help in this situation. Finding local bands, actors, artists, or public figures and helping them establish their career can gain great experience.
2. Management Agreement
Creating a management agreement will only help the you and the artist to stay on track. If any disputes or complications arise, it's always beneficial to have it documented so both parties are able to review the rules and regulations. Management agreements are divided into eight major subject areas:
1. Appointment of Authority

•     Appointment Designation: This provision designates the manager to perform certain specific acts. It is important that the appointment decisions be made clear.
• Manager's Duties: All of what the manager is to do to help the artist should be laid out on the table and gone over multiple times. Here are a few key phrases used in the artist management world. 
•   To represent the artist as an adviser in all business negotiations. 
• To supervise professional engagements.
• To consult with employers in the entertainment and literary fields.
• To cooperate with and supervise relations with any booking and literary agents whom the manager may from time to time employ with the artist's consent.
•  Power of Attorney: A power of attorney is an instrument authorizing another person to act as one's agent or attorney.
• The Employment Agency Disclaimer: Many management agreements disclaim any duty to employment for the artist.

2. Management Compensation
 When the artist and manager have agreed on what the compensation to be paid for what the manager's services will be, many issues still need to be resolved. Many of the issues may include percentage base, time of payment, reimbursement of expenses,  and other matters connected with the term of the agreement.

• Establishing the Percentage Base: Once the management percentage has been established, after the form of compensation is utilized, the parties will need to determine the base of the percentage to apply. Most managers earn about 10-15% of the artist's income.
• Determining the Time of Payment: Determine when you as the manager will be getting paid. Time of payment may be monthly, quarterly, or semiannually.
• Reimbursement of Expenses: Normally a manager will be reimbursed for all of the direct expenses an artist needs. Depending on whether or not the artist's money is at stake, may determine a negotiation between the artist and the manager to where both are able to benefit. 

3. Exclusivity: Representation of the manager is very important. Usually the artist grants the manager an exclusive right of representation, but the manager is not obligated to the same provisions as the artist. The basic reason for this one-way type of exclusivity is to capture the unique talent of the artist. It's virtually impossible to duplicate the style and personality of another artist.

4.Terms, Options, and Extensions: The term of the manager agreement is important so both parties know how long they are obligated to abide by the rules set between the manager and the artist. Options should always be considered, because things change constantly and you don't want to feel trapped in a situation. Extensions are also helpful, a future project may arise and may take longer than expected and an extension may be needed.

5. Termination: No one wants to go through any type of termination or cancelling of anything. Everyone wants to hold strong and positive relationships to avoid negative emotions. While managers always hold hope and anticipation for their artist, goals and plans may not always stay up to par.
 (Frascogna, 2004)
Now that you're aware of some pretty important tips when becoming an artist manager or know what has to go in, you can get an idea if this is a job you think you may want to pursue.
What's the difference between an agent and a manager?
The difference is quite simple, an agent takes care of booking for shows, movies, etc. A manager oversees everything helps the artist succeed including contacting agents to help with booking.

Reference: Frascogna, X. (2004). This business of artist management. (4th ed., pp. 50-60). New York: Crown Publishing Group.

What do you love most about Photoshop besides making yourself look like you're in space with Tom Cruise? Well only the simple fact that you can retouch things, get rid of blemishes, and basically bring out that gorgeous supermodel underneath all of those flaws. It sucks that it can only be in pictures though, right?...... WRONG! Red Giant Software has created a great plugin for After Effects called Cosmo under the new magic bullet series. It can smooth out skin to make you look amazing and the best part is that it can be done on video!! Now you know that the real people in those music videos don't truly look all that great after all. Red Giant is selling it for only $99. which is a true steal! I got a chance to play with it myself and was pretty impressed. Check out this video to get an example of how it was used.

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

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!

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!

    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