You’ve probably seen plenty of behind the scenes footage of director’s wearing fancy berets and showing “Action!” into megaphones. But you’re probably thinking besides all that, what does a movie director do exactly? So let’s go over all the various things a movie director does both on and off set.
Read MoreI get asked what camera, lenses, and mics I use a lot so I figured I’d bring you a What’s in my camera bag 2021 vlog! Though… honestly what’s in my camera bag really hasn’t changed since you know… I haven’t really been able to shoot much in like over a year. So let’s get to it!
Read MoreMost people are pretty familiar with the term producer, but more often than not they have no idea what a producer actually does. In fact, early on in my film career my own mother used to go around telling people I was a producer instead of a director because well… she didn’t know the difference.
Read MoreAssistant directors, or ADs for short, can be key players when making a movie, especially on set. But most first time filmmakers shoot without them, and that’s probably because they aren’t really sure what an assistant director does. Are they a director? Or are they an assistant? Well neither, so let's get into everything an AD does on and off set!
Read MoreThis is the Tamrac Slim 11 camera backpack and in my opinion it’s the best budget camera bag of 2021! And actually, I’ve had this guy since 2016 when I literally traveled all the way around the world shooting a documentary for the International Olympic Committee. I was lugging around 45 lbs of equipment and let me tell you, I’m so glad I had this guy to do it.
Since then, I’ve used this guy on every film shoot and found it the most efficient and ergonomic way to carry all my camera equipment to and from set. So this week I wanted to go over why I still think the Tamrac Anvil Slim 11 backpack is the best camera bag for filmmakers, so let’s get into it!
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 MoreWhile I know we’re all fans of the visual medium here, at the end of the day every film starts with a script. So I wanted to share with you what I think are the best screenwriting books for beginners.
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 MoreA rehearsal is your chance to start shaping each scene in your film, and holding one can be extremely beneficial not only for the actors, but other crew members as well. However, there are some crucial steps in the rehearsal process, so let’s get into how you can hold a rehearsal effectively.
Read MoreA table read is a key step in the pre-production process, as it's the first time you'll be gathering up all of your cast and key crew members in one place. But there are some important steps you need to take in order to ensure its success. So let's go over how to set up your table read correctly and what to do once you get there.
Read MoreCostume design is another way for you to bring your characters to life. Costumes can also help to ground your film in reality and are often what sets an amateur and pro film apart. So let’s go over some costume design basics so you can outfit your talent like a pro.
Read MoreLet's go over some filmmaking wardrobe kit essentials! As a DIY filmmaker you're probably filling in for several roles and one of those roles is most likely wardrobe. So since you might not be a wardrobe designing pro, let's go over some of the essential tools you'll want to keep handy onset in your wardrobe kit.
Read MoreHard light can be extremely unflattering on your talent, which is why shooting outside can be tough. Direct sun can lead to harsh lighting and while finding shade under a tree can help, it can also result in uneven patches of light. However never fear, for I’ve got a cheap and easy DIY light diffusion trick that will have you diffusing the sun in no time!
Read MoreA three point lighting setup is a basic lighting setup that involves three lights. It’s considered a fundamental lighting setup in the film world, and understanding the principles in this basic lighting setup is key to understanding good lighting in general. So let’s jump into what a three point lighting setup is and how you can achieve it.
Read MoreYou're ready to shoot your film, but are you planning to shoot with one camera, two cameras or maybe even ten cameras? Well, if you're not sure if shooting multi-camera is right for you, I've got some great tips on the pros and cons and best practices of doing so.
Read MoreIf you've ever been on a film set, you might have heard of the mysterious concept of crossing the line. And while this might seem like a mystifying idea, it's actually fairly simple to understand and execute. So let's go over what the 180 degree line rule is, and even talk about some exceptions where you can break it.
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