Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
You have just gotten your first big film to shoot. This is an exciting time. You want it to be a fantastic experience, because it will be a mainstay of your reel – and a possible entré into the industry. You have a great relationship with the director and even the producer thinks you are… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Harry Potter, Twilight, Buffy, Fringe, Supernatural, True Blood… in the midst of the most scientifically advanced civilization in history we’re seeing a resurgence of interest in magic and other realms. You doubt there’s more to reality than our human senses can perceive? Just watch your cat stalking “invisible” things. The eternal popularity of scary stories … Continue reading ““Creating Characters from Other Realms” by Pamela Jaye Smith”
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
In the cinematographer’s ideal world, we would get every piece of equipment we asked for, and production managers would give us half a day to prepare each setup. However, independent filmmaking reality dictates that we’re more likely to find ourselves four hours behind schedule at 8 p.m. with fifteen setups to go – and that’s… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
To improve your tennis game, play with better tennis players. I am not sure where I first heard this, but it was one of the most important things I’ve learned about improving “my game” as a director of photography. For me, the better tennis players are directors of photography I have had the opportunity to… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Extremely high-speed cinematography presents its own set of unique challenges. It is an art of its own, that takes much time to understand and master. The applications for extreme high-speed photography are vast. Things that the naked eye perceives as instant and mundane become exciting and visually amazing. Take a water drop falling into a… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Pictured above: Kate Bosworth in “90 Minutes in Heaven”. There is no such thing as video lighting, nor DV lighting, digital lighting, HD lighting – anymore than there is Fuji lighting versus Kodak lighting. I mean, what exactly is “film lighting” when that term covers the look of movies from Singin’ in the Rain to… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Written by Scott Spears My advice to startup filmmakers with limited resources is to take a look at the films of M. Night Shyamalan. These films could be made for almost no money if you take out the name stars and do a little trimming in the scope of some scenes. Night’s filmmaking is very … Continue reading ““Making Dramas: High Concept versus the Low Concept” by Scott Spears”
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Media Instructor Andrew Hwang talks with StudentFilmmakers Magazine about award-winning student video “Safe Spaces,” created by students from the Wide Angle Youth Media Organization. STUDENTFILMMAKERS: What inspired the story for “Safe Space”? Andrew Hwang: What was funny was that this wasn’t our original idea. The students and I were working on another idea, but I … Continue reading “Media Instructor Andrew Hwang on Award-Winning Student Video “Safe Spaces””
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
How to Make Kung Fu Films: 8 Training Secrets for Mastering the Art” by Sherri Sheridan Kung Fu films need more than good fight scenes to succeed. The biggest challenge most kung fu films face in capturing Western audiences is character identification, unique genre elements, plot twists and strong themes. Enter the Dragon was … Continue reading “How to Make Kung Fu Films: 8 Training Secrets for Mastering the Art”
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Surprisingly, this is a rule that took me time to learn because when you’re starting out, you tend to think in a linear fashion when on set of your feature. What I mean by that is, you make your plans for the day of the shoot and get your elements lined up to shoot, which … Continue reading ““Never Stop Shooting: The #1 Rule” by Scott Spears”
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Exclusive interview conducted Nash Choudhury Peter Stein, ASC has been shooting films in one way or another for over thirty years working on a wide variety of films from horror classics to children’s comedies to incisive documentaries. Beginning his career in cinematography with one of the highest grossing films of 1981, Friday the 13th Part… …
Written by StudentFilmmakers Magazine
Interview conducted by Jody Michelle Solis STUDENTFILMMAKERS: What is an example of a shot that you are most proud of? Jerry Franck: Being a perfectionist it is not always easy to enjoy your own work as much as your clients do. When we were shooting a Social Distortion music video there was a shot that … Continue reading “Steadicam Operator Jerry Franck Q&A Student”
