my film

Film Making So you have decided you are going to create a film. You have this great story or concept for a film. You have decided it will be in the style of a comedy. You are ready to grab the camera and get started with the film making. Just hang on a second. Technology with cameras and film making has put making a film within the reach of nearly everyone today. You certainly can grab a camera and start film making. If you are serious about making a quality film that could be shown in your local theatre, you need to be aware that between the idea and the releasing and distribution of a film there are 3 distinct stages. First is stage of film making is the pre-production or planning stage. This is where you should expect to spend approximately one/third of your total time.It is where you create the planning paperwork. Assemble your production team, map out your story board and find and choose locations. It is also where you decide on, and hire cast and crew, deal with the legal paperwo...

We're only four months into the new year and it seems that horror movie buffs all around the world already have their hands full in terms of new gems to get excited about. Horror fans across the globe seem to have been suddenly blessed as of recent. This particular area of the film world has finally begun to thrive into a very glamorous and properly appreciated culture in film. Though we have sure suffered our weight in remakes and endless sequels, it's no doubt that we are seeing some of the most original and artistic horror films of our generation. Though when awards season comes around, reality strikes yet again. The Horror and film noir genre's unique and underground artistic expression just may be doomed to be seen as an underrated spark outside the spotlight. But perhaps we shouldn't feel so down about this, could the fact that it resides out of the spot light be the reason for it's eternal genius? Each year, we see our fair share of remakes of old classics an...

Large format cameras are often thought of as difficult to operate, but there is nothing impossible about using them. If you are organised and methodical they are straightforward, if not exactly simple to use. Many photographers find the idea of using a large format camera daunting because we are all so used to having so much automation in our cameras. Compare a large format camera to a 'manual' 35mm film camera and you will soon see that there is a whole new level to manual when you move up to the largest formats. Most large format cameras are literally no more that an adjustable light tight box with film at one end and a lens at the other. There is no metering, nothing is battery powered. The only thing powering the camera is the clockwork shutter. Despite this, working with these big old beasts is perhaps one of the most satisfying experiences a photographer can have. When I use my camera I feel a real connection to the history of photography and take great pride in being abl...

A creative mind is a low budget filmmaker's most valuable tool. It all starts with an original thought; from there it is all about nurturing that thought until it grows to be a brilliant idea. After that it is a matter of getting that idea made into a movie using every ounce of energy and resources you can possibly muster up. Most of the successful films that are showing at film festivals these days are movies that were made at a fraction of the cost that it takes to make a major Hollywood studio film. Advances in technology have made it so that just about anyone can make a movie. Film cameras, video cameras, sound recording equipment, and just about any other kind of equipment that one needs to make a movie can be purchased at very affordable prices these days. The equipment that is available these days can provide a very low budget movie with a production value that looks like James Cameron had something to do with the project. This professional look coupled with a unique story c...