ASK & DISCUSS

Of the 5 trailers I saw this weekend, not one gave me any idea what the film was about. Don't the producers know anything about marketing or are they so dependent on idiots who on…

There's one device that's been used to death for a long time now. Usually in comedy or awkward-comedy/drama trailers where the music suddenly stops for a brief 'funny' line... - b…

Hello

I have a problem. I recently filmed a short.

I stupidly made a terrible mistake and shot an actor in a t-shirt with a popular brand logo printed on his sleeve. Now the log…

Shahid, I really wouldn't bother. If the corporation is not ok with it, they won't sue you right away. They'll send you a letter telling you to take it out. Odds are, they won't c…

I've just read an interesting article by Tom Roston over on the PBS blog - http://www.pbs.org/pov/blog/docsoup/2013/07/beware-the-new-doc-vague/#.Ud2r0j5ERP0. In this piece, Rosto…

Our industry is built on lies, TV is pathologically unable to tell the truth in fact. Sweeping, but think about it...

'Guy gets out of bed and leaves the house' if told 'honestl…

OK, I know this debate has been kicked about a lot, but I feel it is worth further scrutiny, if only to arrive at some kind of consensus, if not now, then in the future.Yesterday,…

"Expenses only" should not be synonymous with zero, completely agree with the poster above who said you should try to clarify what are reasonable expenses at the start of any job.…

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but how do films (Titanic for instance) that were not shot using 3D cameras later get turned into 3D films? It seems like it must a really …

Hi Ben! How are you keeping?

I'm shooting some 3D myself next week. Here's the animatic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrU2hjGK4VA

I need an art director/props urgently. Know a…

I was wandering if anyone had any suggestions for established production companies one could work for to further my practical experience while most of my work is still in post pro…

Hi!

(Okay, so this may be less rant, more polite pondering...)

We are in the middle of an indiegogo campaign for a Web series called Kill Day.

We've made a promo, a pitch an…

Well, to be honest we did cry when we saw the Purge being advertised! A lot of hush hush about our project which has been three years in the writing/planning felt like it had gone…

If you didn't catch Mike Figgis's article on The Guardian this weekend - 'Why British film is all kitsch 'n' sink' it's a really good read, if a tad melancholic. http://bit.ly/10a…

There's good interview with Mike Figgis which you can hear on our show here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01bgw8y - also includes Joshua Oppenheimer talking about how he came …

Hi,

I'm looking for a 50mm manual prime lens for my GH2. I currently have 2 manual primes;
> SLR Magic 12mm F1.6
> Voigtlander 25mm f0.95

I bought my first two lenses bas…

Thanks to both Aaron and Lucas - you've given me some great options to think about

Hi fellow filmmakers,

When searching through festivals and competitions on WithoutABox, I find myself swerving the ones that ask for press kits. Obviously, this is foolish of me …

I think that would be a massive help, thanks!
The last thing I would want to do is waste all of the talent that went into making something because I didn't put in the effort to m…

Just resumed casting and audtions after a break. - it is going to be 50% set in England and the Nederlands although will use British locations to double for Holland.
have several …

Hello Guys

Wanted to ask if anyone knows the best way to get votes and comments on SP competition, I've made a short comedy film link below.

"The last hit"
https://shootingpeopl…

Not consumer press like ClashMusic etc - but which trade/industry press?

Have trade/industry features made a difference for you, eg being featured in Creative Review got you a lo…

Hi - Black Book - do you mean here? http://www.blackbook.com/cid_home.php

Dear Shooters

I'm about to start an off-line edit of a feature film entitled 'Bonobo' shot on 2x Red Epic cameras last month.

We will soon be looking for a talented colourist at…

Dear Paddy, Lee and Jason

Many thanks for coming back to answer my query.

I'm not so sure where you got the idea I was planning on editing it at full res...but after watching so…

looking into purchasing mk3 soonish but wondered if there were any good rental companiess lowest price for renting for 2/3 days?

any suggestions.

Thanks

John

I could rent you a Canon 5D Mk 3. Im based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and would rent it to you from my business, Gilpin Film.

Hi shooters,

I'm about to create a project page on a crowd-sourcing website, to raise money for the completion (post-production) of a film I made, and I have to upload a video pr…

Crowd funding is a commercial promo but with written permission you can do anything. Usually people who mark their stuff CC make it easy to contact them as with that license, it i…

just wondering about best networking method and discuss projects and tech issues as a way of work closer with them as DOP / Cinematographer - Arri's standards are great as they ar…

Dearest Shooters!

I will be going to LA end of August on around 3 weeks holidays and wanted to do a refresher short acting course whilst there.

I come from more of a Meisner ra…

Does anyone have experience of using EIS for funding?

I would welcome any stories back that support or not the use of EIS in your funding strategy.

Yen and Howard are saying the same thing with different framing.

Investor stumps up £5000 buying EIS-issued shares. Producer completes paperwork, HMRC issues certificates, produ…

Steven Spielberg thinks the huge budgets of Hollywood films will result in an implosion of Hollywood. It couldn't happen soon enough for me. Here's the article: http://www.hollywo…

Paddy, that's not entirely accurate. For example, box office gross is the amount of ticket sales. Period. It was nothing what-so-ever to do with taxes, petrol, wages, etc. Industr…

Hi,
Hi, I'm trying to start a discussion about how to get into Filmmaking with virtually no money. Right now, I cannot even afford to go to all of the seminars, talks, present…

Hi Matthew,

I’m afraid I don’t have any clear answers to your question because I too am looking for a way to produce short films with no resources. However, I do have experience…

Has anyone used both and can tell the difference?
Any other good options for the lense (Red)?
Regards,
Alexandra!!!

Just to chime in here, I'd say make sure you get the best lenses you can - it's really a lot about the glass you have. If you're using it for filming definitely get the Mark III …

half conscious of the value of working crew who know your ways of working, personality etc. Any methods to falicate that kind of fast rapor with fellow crew?


Thanks

John

Employing them or collaborating with them more often. Pick one's that are fairly local maybe, work on lots of projects together. Chat online. Be nice, respectful. Paying them :-)

Ideally for less than £70, if such a service exists in London. Its for a Canon 5D MkII. I've tried it myself but clearly dont have the dust free/static free environment required,…

Hi,

I work in a London rental house and I use Photographic solutions sensor swabs (dry one in combination with their solvent). I do it myself regularly. Have no fear, there is a…

Just wondering if there are any particular books people would recommend to a MSc qualified DOp looking to advance one's skill set.

Thanks

John