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Original Post from Claire Creswell
Most recent response from Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Composite DVDs

I want to put four 10 minute films on to a DVD to be screened via a projector. As a DVD holds only 446 (466?) MB, each would would have to be quite low res e.g. Flash. Would th…

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

Single layer DVD holds just shy of 4.5GB, an hour of good enough quality standards definition video. 16:9 can letterbox.

SP User
I'm offering my composer services FREE for a month - do I need a special contract?

I've heard of people offering credits, copies of DVD's and the possibility of future work, but do I need a special contract that secures all this? Is there a template for effecti…

1 response, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

Creative Commons might suit.

Original Post from Chelsey Burdon
Best way to location scout on a budget?

Hi Shooters!

Relatively new Producer/Director here looking for a bit of advice when it comes to finding the perfect location for my upcoming short.
I've found some great, suitabl…

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

Hi Paddy,
Thanks for the response. There was one agency in particular that seemed very against negotiation. But I will shop around a bit with that idea and see if I can't strike a…

Original Post from Shahid 'Shez' Hussain
Most recent response from Bill Hayes
Location Q

Hello Guys


I contacted various location websites and their daily rates are more than what I make in a month!

So I am thinking of renting three apartments, use it as filming loc…

7 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

Great outcome - well done! But for future refernce, if there was a problem - damage etc and you tried to claim on insurnace, then the first thing they would ask to see is your lo…

Original Post from Adam Lawson
Most recent response from cath le couteur
Looking For Bathroom Location

Hi guys,

We have very recently begun pre-production on a new short, and we have a very specific look in mind for one the locations, a domestic bathroom. It needs to be a black an…

7 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

Adam, if you do go the build-set route. Be great to hear from you how much it cost.

Where can I transfer PAL to NTSC in London? Cheap please!

Hi,
I'm helping a friend who's making a documentary for Colombian television. We need to transfer a DVCAM tape from PAL to NTSC, does anybody know where we can get that done with…

3 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

I have exactly the same question - does anyone know of any other alternatives or post-houses that can do this?

Original Post from Karel Bata
Most recent response from David Graham Scott
Why is Kickstarter making it difficult to donate?

Hi.

The video here http://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/backer+questions says that donations are easily made through Amazon.

But when I started a Kickstarter campaign a week a…

7 responses, most recent 11 years, 10 months ago.

I used Indiegogo and it was very straightforward. All payments went via Paypal and even if the donor didn't have a Paypal account a temporary one could be immediately set up. Very…

Original Post from Charles Harris
Most recent response from Dan Selakovich
What does it take to be a professional screenwriter?

What comes first, the professionalism or the cheque?

To be professional means an attitude of thoroughness, of deep knowledge of our craft. Knowing our craft won't make us automa…

18 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Marlom, reminds me of a Robin Williams joke: the Writer/producer/director, the only creature on earth who can blow smoke up his own ass.

Yeah, I too am working on that brilliant …

Original Post from Shahid 'Shez' Hussain
Can i shoot without pro lights??

Hello, hope everyone is well.

I'm doing a 10 minute horror/drama episode for the web.

We're going to be shooting on a canon dslr and a canon hdv camera with a SG blade 35mm ada…

15 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

hello everyone

I tried to copy paste an image here for you guys-a visual reference of ideally what I would like to emulate. Unfortunately I can’t include it here –no option.

So…

Original Post from Sacha Van Spall
How to put together a documentary proposal

I want to put together a couple of proposals for two documentary ideas that I have, which I believe have good commercial value, but have no experience of documentary making. Does…

5 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Thanks Helen, wonderful.

Original Post from Shahid 'Shez' Hussain
Most recent response from Paddy Robinson-Griffin
location, do i need a release form?

hello everyone.

I am going to rent an apartment for filming-one of those rent per night ones.

Quick Q
Do I need the owner/agent to sign a release form for the property even thou…

1 response, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Probably not from the side of image rights, but good idea in terms of who insures what, who is responsible for what, who pays leccy, cleaners, etc

Original Post from Dan Selakovich
I'm tired

Multiple skills required. Just saw this today in the "employment" section:

Editor
this role will require some one who has edited film dramas before and will also need you to be …

19 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Everything you mention for a composer is in the same wheelhouse. At least it makes sense. In fact, a composer that also does sound design can be a great benefit to the film as a w…

Original Post from Paul W Franklin
Most recent response from Paddy Robinson-Griffin
What methods can I use to get Game Footage from a Playstation? And is there maybe somewhere online …

I'm after various shots of game footage from different games.

1 response, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Plug the game video feed into a PVR? Snaffle some from youtube?

If it's going to be published, go to the game studio and ask for permission/clips/samples?

Most recent response from Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Looking for 3rd AD work, but having no real luck

I am looking to go the AD route in films as a career, but am having real trouble finding 3rd AD work on features, any advice at all, would be greatly appreciated.

1 response, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Work as a runner and get in with some 1AD's and badger them for work?

Original Post from Christopher Ian Smith
Most recent response from Nina Streich
Can anyone recommend a good lawyer they've worked with regarding the optioning of book rights?

I'm looking for help optioning a book and agreeing the subsequent contracts. It would be great to get a recommendation for a trustworthy, helpful lawyer that someone has experienc…

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

There's an entertainment lawyer in Florida (US) who does a lot of optioning books and subsequent contracts, if you're interested in an American lawyer. Ned McLeod, email: entlwr@…

Original Post from Richard Cook
Is there any iPhone & Android apps for Shooting people being developed?

I was just wondering if anyone has heard of anything about a Shooting People app for iPhone & Android.
If there was one before that got removed or if there has never been one…

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the quick response! I really appreciate it. :)
It was just a casual question to be honest, I already do use the web version on my phones browser, and I d…

Original Post from Cassius Rayner
Looking for a fundraiser with track record for commission work

Searching for advice and possible recommendations for a fundraiser to help with applications. I've been mentoring and training disadvantaged young people in film/media production …

11 years, 11 months ago
SP User
Hiring a producer

I have a sci-fi film project I have been trying to get off the ground for some time. I think I need the advice or services of an experienced producer in the UK.

I would hire the…

1 response, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Great to see you're thinking pragmatically! However hold off paying anyone for a while until you're in a stronger financial position.

A PM can help you work out your budget level…

Original Post from Simon Bolton Gabrielsen
Can anyone help urgently with mastering a blu-ray in Leeds / Wakefield?

Hi folks. I'm a student producer submitting a short film to numerous festivals and urgently need to produce a BluRay in the next day or so. I'm based in Wakefield / Leeds, and h…

11 years, 11 months ago
Most recent response from ANDY LEWIS
How can I store 40TB of footage in the most cost-effective way?

Hi,

We are shooting a micro-budget feature and have been advised by a DOP that we will get through about 1.5TB of RAW footage a day. Since it is a 12 day shoot and we want to hav…

23 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

I believe in the film industry, on set, they would only print selected takes. The editor would not have to wade through useless shots. I edit my own films. I know it's bad, i w…

Original Post from Michael Davies
Most recent response from Henry Lawrence
Chicken composer or egg lyricist?


With Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers did it first. When it came to Oscar Hammerstein, he usually waited until afterwards. WS Gilbert made sure he had everything nailed down before S…

1 response, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

Chicken and egg? Neither!
The key concept is the essence of the song. Without that you end up either with poetry with irritating music grafted top, or some good music with a ind…

Original Post from Simon Pitts
LA ShortsFest Experience?

Hi All, does anyone have experience of showing your film here? Any tips about how to get something out of it would be great. Thanks everyone. Simon

11 years, 11 months ago
Original Post from Claire Creswell
Most recent response from Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc
What is the best (cheap) projector for both 4:3 and 16:9?

This would be in a venue for about 50 people , lighting dim. I have a screen.

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 11 months ago.

I have a Philips Picopix which cost, I think, around £260. It is SO tiny (not much bigger than a pack of cigarettes) and pops into your pocket. Handy for running around to do pres…

Original Post from Amber Napthine
Most recent response from Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Anyone know of a cheap place to get or hire some camera equipment?

I am making a music video in a few months and have a DSLR camera and i own a tripod and shoulder rig but am looking to either buy or borrow some more equipment like lights and a m…

2 responses, most recent 11 years, 12 months ago.

Hi,

Be aware the things you're asking for for free are the bread and butter work of hire companies. If you're not looking at a package with a camera body, their incentive to do …

Original Post from Steve Rainbow
Most recent response from Peter Ward
Can I use in a film still images taken from the internet (that I haven't got permission for) but ha…

I’m making a documentary and want to put still images of famous people in it at the points they are mentioned. For instance I might be talking about Daniel Day Lewis and then show…

6 responses, most recent 12 years ago.

There really needs to be a dedicated SP FAQ for intellectual property questions! Anyway,what you need to find out is what rights the copyright holder/s claim. If they haven't exp…

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