April 2006 Premiere Issue

April 2006 Premiere Issue
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
APRIL 2006 PREMIERE ISSUE
News
4 Tribeca 2006 by Lauren Simpson
Front Line
6 Working in China by Larry Jaffee
Insights
10 No Such Thing As Video Lighting by M. David Mullen, ASC
6
Lighting
12 Lighting in Small Spaces by Kevin Zanit
HD Technology
14 Focus Assist and HDV by Tony Levelle
16 Show Business by Leonard Guercio
Filmmaker Spotlight
18 The Wraith of Cobble Hill:
Student Project Wins at Sundance by Mary Ann Skweres
Master Classes
22 Story First: Narrative in Documentary by Sheila Curran Bernard
28 Avoiding Amateur Hour by Scott Eggleston
18
22
Pre-Production
31 Shooting in New York by Matthew Marshall
36 How to Feed the Crew by Anthony Q. Artis
Film Business
40 Finding Your Film Project’s Hook by Mark Steven Bosko
Product Review
43 Putting Digital Intelligence into Focus by Jody Michelle Solis
How-To
44 Fast Track to Vidcasting by Chris Cavallari
Poetry
47 The Constant Lover by Bruce F. Kawin
Seminar
48 High End HD Cameras Offer Creative Advantages by Kim Welch
52 Open Calls
54 Film Schools
56 Contributing Writers
44
On Our Cover:
Shane Kennedy from the short film Here and There
directed by Jacob Mason
April 2006
studentfilmmakers
3
May 2006
RED ONE
Is It Real?
All This HD Footage…
What Now?
Going Global
with Film Festival Winner
Taron Lexton
Makoto Shinkai
Do-It-Yourself Animator
Hard Drive Recording
The Answer or Just
More Problems?
from the Publisher of
StudentFilmmakers.com
The #1 Educational Resource for Aspiring Film and Video Makers
13 Things Bad Screenwriters
Commonly Do
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
MAY 2006
Technology News
4 RED ONE: Is It Real? by Jon Firestone
Filmmaker Spotlight
10 Makoto Shinkai: Do-It-Yourself Animator by Patrick Drazen
14 Going Global with Film Festival Winner Taron Lexton
by Lauren Simpson
4
Insights
20 Pre-Production: The More Organized You Are, the More Creative
You Can Be by M. David Mullen, ASC
HD Technology
24 All This HD Footage... What Now? by Ryan Hensley
26 The More Things Change... by Leonard Guercio
28 HD Production Options by Julia Camenisch
Directing
30 Notes on Working with Young Actors by Sebastian Corbascio
Master Classes
34 Hard Drive Recording by Bryant Falk
14
30
Pre-Production
36 DIY Sci-Fi Set Design by Mark Cheng
Screenwriting
42 Things Bad Screenwriters Commonly Do by Brad Schreiber
46 No Limitations by Michael Halperin
How-To
48 Budgeting for Guerilla Filmmakers 101 by Anthony Q. Artis
Poetry
51 Buster and the Magic Tomb by Bruce F. Kawin
Product Review
52 Canon REALiS SX50 by George Avgerakis
54 Film Festivals and Open Calls
56 Many Thanks
On Our Cover:
Taron Lexton filming “United” music video in Ghana
36
May 2006
studentfilmmakers
3
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
JUNE 2006
Front Line
6 Lighting Big Spaces by Kevin Zanit
Filmmaker Spotlight
10 The Making of Shadow of Afghanistan by Mary Ann Skweres
16 Sex & Camping, Cannes Film Festival 2006 Official Selection
by Jody Michelle Solis
22 Dead End Job Wins Best Student Visionary Award at Tribeca
by Jody Michelle Solis
10
Insights
20 Q & A on Lighting by M. David Mullen, ASC
Directing
30 Talking to Your Crew and Cast by Arthur Vincie
36 Actors Are Not Plug-and-Play by John Badham
HD Technology
38 HD Solutions by Leonard Guercio
Master Classes
40 Audio & Animation by Bryant Falk
16
22
Documentary
42 Shooting A Rock Band Documentary by Sebastian Corbascio
Post-Production
46 The Essence of Editing by Paul Ewen
How-To
48 How We Made A Movie for Less Than $1000 by Glen Tickle
50 Anatomy of an Animation Enhanced Video by George Avgerakis
Film Business
54 The Business Side by Michael Wiese
56 Many Thanks
On Our Cover:
Shooting Sex & Camping inside a cafe
42
June 2006
studentfilmmakers
5
Hot Tamale
Michael Damian's Extension
Recording for MTV's The Shop
High Definition Adventure
Lighting vs. Illuminating
Learn How the Movie Ends
Before It Begins
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
JULY 2006
HD Technology
6 An Adventure in High Definition Filmmaking by Jon Firestone
Filmmaker Spotlight
10 Interview with "Hot Tamale" Director Michael Damian
by Jody Michelle Solis
36 Interview with Filmmaker Paolo Dy
by Jody Michelle Solis
10
Lighting
16 Lighting Practically by Saro Varjabedian
18 Lighting vs. Illuminating by Jeffrey M. Hamel
Insights
20 Learn How the Movie Ends Before It Begins
by M. David Mullen, ASC
Post Production
22 Editing the Truth from the Hype - NLEs by Marc Franklin
Music & Sound
24 Music and Your Movie by Leonard Guercio
28 Recording for MTV’s “The Shop” by Bryant Falk
16
24
Pre-Production
30 The Importance of Finding the Right Talent by Scott Eggleston
How-To
40 Video Techniques: The Shutter by Thomas McKenney
Directing
42 Set Politics and Working with the Talent by Kevin Woods
Product Review
46 Serious Magic's DV Rack by Marc Franklin
52 JVC's New HDV Offering by Jon Firestone
Film Business
48 10 Guerrilla Filmmaking Ideas by Anthony Q. Artis
54 Marketing Your Movie by Robert Marich
Events
32 CalArts Tribute by Mary Ann Skweres
56 10th Annual Cine Gear Expo 2006
StudentFilmmakers Joins Exhibitor Line-Up
36
On Our Cover:
Diora Baird in "Hot Tamale" Directed Michael Damian
(Photo by JoBee, courtesy of Riviera Films.)
July 2006
studentfilmmakers
5
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
AUGUST 2006
Front Line
6 When the Levees Broke
A Conversation with Co-Producer and Editor Sam Pollard
by Sheila Curran Bernard
Pre-Production
10 Mapping Your Visual Destination
How to Create a Shooting Blueprint by Saro Varjabedian
6
Lighting
12 Illumination
Lighting Tips and Pointers by Thomas McKenney
Insights
14 A D.I. Primer by M. David Mullen, ASC
Filmmaker Spotlight
18 Chalk: High School Teachers Graduate to Filmmaking
by Mary Ann Skweres
30 High Maintenance: Interview with Director Phillip Van
First Place 2006 Eastman Scholarship Winner
by Jody Michelle Solis
18
30
How-To
28 Filmmakers’ Sketchbooks
Capturing Daydreams On Hard Drives by S.D. Katz
40 Tips for Working with Camera Jibs by Jon Firestone
44 The Importance of Dolly Shots and Setting Up Your Track
by Michael Corbett
Screenwriting
36 "Go Ahead, Make My Day"
An Interview with Screenwriter Joe Stinson by Leonard Guercio
Music & Sound
38 Texture in Sound
Deciding On Audio Texture for Your Film by Bryant Falk
Film Business
48 How to Get Foreign Distribution for Your Film by Stacey Parks
In Production
50 Creating Sci-Fi Effects by Mark Cheng
Events
56 SIGGRAPH 2006
40
On Our Cover:
Shannon Harragan (Mrs. Reddell) sets up for a diary camera
interview in Chalk
August 2006
studentfilmmakers
5
September 2006
StudentFilmmakers.com
The #1 Educational Resource for Aspiring Film and Video Makers
Cinematographer Adam Biddle
Insights into Shooting HD Feature
Crank
Emmy Award Winner Tim Kolb
Top Editing Tips Digital Video: A Cool Medium
Award-Winning Film,
Fragments of Daniela
3 Key Audio Special Effects for Your Film
US$ 2
Table of Contents
September 2006
Front Line
6 Interview with Adam Biddle, Cinematographer for “Crank”
Insights into HD Feature Making
by Jody Michelle Solis
Filmmaker Spotlight
12 Interview with Emmy Award Winning Director Tim Kolb
Includes Top 3 Editing Tips
6
32 Award-Winning Sex-Trafficking Film, “Fragments of Daniela”
Interview with Writer/Director Sasha Knezev
by Paige Cram
26 “ Smile”: A Look at the Animated Short Film
Student Animator Gets Online Distribution Deal with iTunes
by Karelisa Falkner
How-To
20 How to Build a 2.5K Soft Light Box for Under $250
by Saro Varjabedian
54 Lens Selection
Maximize Your Aesthetic by Knowing Your Lenses
by Phillip Van
12
New Media
24 Digital Video: A Cool Medium
The Unique Qualities of Video Storytelling
by Dana Dorrity
Music & Sound
38 3 Key Audio Special Effects for Your Film
Phoneizing Effect, Reversing Audio, and Reverb
by Bryant Falk
42 Indie Composer Joel Diamond
Scoring is Not a Post-Production Slap-On
by Larry Jaffee
32
50
Film Business
46 Advice on Film Industry Internships for Students
by Fred Ginsburg, C.A.S., Ph.D.
Screenwriting
48 Tips for Writing Better Dialogue
Keeping It Brief
by Sebastian Corbascio
Documentary
50 Low Budget Documentary Filmmaking
A Journey with Twists, Turns, Angst, Strife, and Black Holes
by Chris Cavallari
On Our Cover:
Co-director Mark Neveldine (left) with Jason Statham on the set of CRANK.
Photo credit: Ron Batzdorf, courtesy of Lions Gate Entertainment.
September 2006
studentfilmmakers
October 2006
StudentFilmmakers.com
The #1 Educational Resource for Aspiring Film and Video Makers
US$ 2
Neten Chokling on Milarepa
The Monk Who Would Be A Director
Steven Ascher Discusses Documentary
So Much So Fast
RED ONE: Delivering Results?
Lighting a Room ‘Night for Day’
A Script for Calling a Shot!
October 2006
studentfilmmakers
Table of Contents
10
October 2006
Technology
4R
ED ONE: Delivering Results? by Jon Firestone
Lighting
10 Lighting a Room ‘Night for Day’ by Kevin Zanit
Filmmaker Spotlight
14 The Monk Who Would Be A Director
Interview with New Filmmaker, Neten Chokling on Milarepa
by Larry Jaffee
20 Intimacy and Objectivity
Documentary Filmmaker Steven Ascher Discusses So Much So Fast
by Sheila Curran Bernard
Camera Work
26 A
New In-Camera Way to Achieve Old Style Process Shots
by Jeff Barklage, S.O.C.
30 The On-Set Cadence
A Script for Calling a Shot! by Michael Corbett
14
Directing
32 D
irecting for the Cut
Change of Distance, Change of Angle, and Action Within the Scene
by George Avgerakis
Post Production
36 U
sing the Panasonic DVX100A Camcorder with Final Cut Pro
by Chris Cavallari
Music & Sound
38 Foley on a Shoestring by Fred Ginsburg C.A.S., Ph.D.
42 The Portable Studio by Bryant Falk
20
54
Documentary
44 The Art of the Documentary Interview
by Anthony Q. Artis
Screenplays
48 Key Ingredients that Make a Great Script by David K. Irving
Film Business
52 Making a Dogme 95 Film by Dana Dorrity
54 M
arketing: Award-Winning Animated Short, The Mantis Parable
by Jake Lovell
On Our Cover:
From the film, Milarepa. Kargyen in the kitchen.
Photographer: Rasa Bahls.
October 2006
studentfilmmakers
November 2006
StudentFilmmakers.com
The #1 Educational Resource for Aspiring Film and Video Makers
US$ 2
DP Bill Klayer on Law & Order
Polarizers: Behind the Imaging Magic
Filming the Issue
Documentary Filmmaker Ellen Bruno
The Future Is Here
The Digital Intermediate Process
DV & POV: The Camera as Character
Table of Contents
November 2006
Front Line
4 Interview with Law & Order Cinematographer Bill Klayer
by Kim E. Welch
Cinematography
8 Polarizers: The Truth Behind the Imaging Magic by Ira Tiffen
10 R
evealing the Secrets of the Universe through Cinema
by Michael Karp, S.O.C.
4
14
Filmmaker Spotlight
14 D
irector Ben Wu Discusses Shooting Docs On DV
by Jody Michelle Solis
20 F ilming the Issue: Documentary Filmmaker Ellen Bruno
by Patrick Drazen
Pre-Production
24 S toryboards: The Benefits to Production by Mark Simon
Directing
28 S hooting Effective B-Roll for Dramatic Films by George Avgerakis
32 G
etting Good Performances by Mark Kerins
Post Production
36 The Future Is Here: The Digital Intermediate Process
by Myrl A. Schreibman
New Media
38DV & POV: The Camera as Character by Dana Weidman Dorrity
Props and FX Makeup
42 Special Makeup Effects and Pre-Production by Todd Debreceni
20
38
How-To
46 U
sing Firearms and Other Weapons in Student Films
by Fred P. Watkins
Music & Sound
48 C
ompressors and Limiters by Bryant Falk
Film Business
50 J ob Advice for Camera Assistants by David E. Elkins
Product Review
52 S ony Vegas + DVD by Jeff Deel
On Our Cover:
On the set of the TV Series, Law & Order.
November 2006
studentfilmmakers
December 2006
StudentFilmmakers.com
The #1 Educational Resource for Aspiring Film and Video Makers
US$ 3
Award-Winning Short,
My Backyard Was A Mountain
Interview with Michael Apted
49 Up and the Up Series
Character-Driven Screenplays
Mounting Cameras to Vehicles
Scripting a Deal for Novice
Film Investors
Promoting & Distributing Your Work
Table of Contents
December 2006
Front Line
4M
ichael Apted Straddles Features and Documentaries
... But the Up Series is the ‘Most Important Work I’ve Done’
by Larry Jaffee
Cinematography
10 Reflecting On... Reflections by Ira Tiffen
4
14
Filmmaker Spotlight
14 N
ew Latin Filmmaker Adam Schlachter on Award-Winning Short,
My Backyard Was A Mountain
Student Project Creates the Illusion of a Different Time and Place
by Jake Lovell
Directing
20 F inding and Hiring the Best Actors for Roles by David K. Irving
24 U
nderstanding the Written Word to Get Character-Driven
Screenplays by Myrl A. Schreibman
Reviews
26 S tories That Need To Be Told
Director Richard Linklater’s Fast Food Nation
by Dana Dorrity
How-To
28 M
ounting Cameras to Vehicles by Brian Flees
Music & Sound
32 S even Suggestions for Stellar Soundtracks by Mark Kerins
36 L oopularity & Exploring the Intersection of Sound and Moving
Image by Maurice Methot
Props and FX Makeup
38 Transforming an Actress into “Gertrude Stein” from Molds to
Makeup by Todd Debreceni
28
32
Film Business
44 S cripting a Deal for Novice Film Investors
by William F. Vartorella, Ph.D., C.B.C.
50 M
y Movie Is Complete... Now What? by Ben Williams
54 A
pproach to Assuring Your Success as a Professional Crew Member
by Michael Corbett
On Our Cover:
On the set of My Backyard Was A Mountain.
December 2006
studentfilmmakers