Nowadays it feels like we spend our whole life on zoom. It’s how we connect with friends and for some of us even how we work. I mean right now my entire job is remote directing where I’m on zoom all day. And like probably most of you, I suffered from bad lighting and unflattering camera angles at first, but as a filmmaker I knew this wouldn’t fly. So I thought I’d share with you some handy zoom video lighting tips so I can show you how to look better on zoom calls.
Read MoreYou’ve finished your film and you’re excited to start submitting to film festivals, but slow down there speed racer because there’s some important steps you should do first. So, let’s go over some tips to know before submitting to film festivals.
Read MoreProduction assistants, or PAs for short, are pretty common on sets, all the way from big budget Hollywood films to small indie films. But what does a film production assistant do? Well the answer is a lot of things, so let’s go over all the various things a PA does on set.
Read MoreWhen your film shoot is over and everyone’s rushing to wrap the set, it can be tempting to rush through wrapping up equipment. However, not wrapping XLR cables probably can actually damage the cords on the inside and result in a knotted mess the next time you try to use it. So let’s go over some tips on how to wrap a cable properly.
Read MoreYou’re ready to cast your film and want to hire the best you possibly can, so you’re thinking of hiring union actors! Union actors, or SAG actors, are usually more experienced and thus can offer more polished performances, which is a major up side. Plus by going union, you might have the chance to attach some known actors to your film. But on the downside, there’s lots of steps involved in hiring SAG actors, and on top of all your normal paperwork, there’s lots and lots and lots more paperwork to do. So let’s go over the various pre-production steps and paperwork you’ll need to do to hire SAG actors.
Read MoreAs an indie filmmaker you might find yourself working with non actors from time to time. These can be friends or family you’ve roped into helping you make your film for free, locals you want to use for authenticity, or perhaps people who answered a help wanted ad you ran for your film.
Whatever the reason, just because they are non actors doesn’t mean you can’t get good performances out of them. You just have to approach them with completely different tactics than you would professional actors. So let’s talk about a few tips and tricks you can use for directing non actors for film.
Read MoreToday I wanted to do a e-image video tripod review, because I think it might just be the best budget tripod for 2021. So let’s go over the pros first.
Read MoreOften when people think of working with actors, they think you just give them their character motivation and send them on their way. But the director/actor relationship is far more complex, so let’s go over some simple tips that you as a director can do to help keep you and your actors happy.
Read MoreDirecting might seem pretty straight forward, you yell “action,” direct the actors, and then call cut, but there’s actually a lot more to directing than just coffee and berets. So let’s go over some directing tips for beginners to help you manage all the nuances of being a director.
Read MoreDirecting on set can be chaotic, especially if you aren’t prepared. So here’s some tips on how to work with actors on set and ensure a stellar performance.
Read MoreC stands are handy tools to have on set, but they can also be dangerous or downright deadly if not set up correctly. So let's go over these extremely important tips, so you know how to set one up safely.
Read MoreSo you know that the director calls action before a take, but did you know there’s a bunch of other things that are called out before that? You did? Oh… well you can skip to the next video but for everyone else let’s go over the order of operations on set when you’re going for a take.
Read MoreYou might know that this beauty is called a slate or clapper board, but chances are, if you're a first time filmmaker, you're probably using it wrong. So let's go over some tips so you can be slating like a pro.
Read MoreYour shoot day is finally here and you're practically oozing with excitement, but before you step foot on set, it's important you know proper set etiquette. So let's go over some of the do's and don'ts of being on a film set.
Read MoreI know you're probably chomping at the bit to get filming, but have you considered doing a test shoot first? Test shoots can be a crucial part of filmmaking, but you've got to know when to do them, so here are a few tips on when you might want to do a test shoot.
Read MoreWhen it comes time to actually shoot your film, you might find yourself asking the age old question. Do I rent my gear or do I buy it? So let's go over some pros and cons for both, so you can decide which works best for you.
Read MoreYou've got your camera gear and your lighting gear, but what about all the other essential things you need during production? Well, that's where I've got you covered with my list of production gear that's essential for any shoot.
Read MoreYou might've seen that exciting Apple keynote, where Apple shows how the iPhone can shoot cinematic quality footage. And sure, it's impressive, but let's be real. That footage is all shot by extremely talented filmmakers using big budget filmmaking equipment, you know, besides the iPhone. So can you really shoot a movie on your phone?
Read MoreWhen picking a frame rate for your film, you might be surprised to discover that there's a rainbow of choices to choose from. So let's go over the different types of frame rates and why you might choose them for your film.
Read MoreAs DIY filmmakers, you probably are already considering shooting your film on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. But when it comes time to picking one, do you choose full frame or a crop sensor? Can you even tell the difference? Well, let's go over some of the pros and cons for each, so you can decide which sensor size fits your filmmaking best.
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