ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 4 months ago - Andrew Morgan

It might be helpful for you to separate the art of editing from the software/hardware you think you need to use - editing HD and 4k requires a lot of resources but many people still watch DVDs (720x576) which are much less demanding and you can use editing software such as Lightworks (www.lwks.com) for free to practice your skills - there's plenty of low/no-cost alternatives to Photoshop/After Effects too (Photoline/Fusion).

Don't let the tools the 'pros' use be a barrier to your own learning since the best editing 'tricks' aren't about the software, they're about the footage and how you use it.

Regarding hardware, a refurbished PC laptop will cost you far less than a Macbook and allow you to do much the same things (apart from running Final Cut and Logic).

9 years, 4 months ago - Al Carretta

Hi Ellen,

In short, no, not yet. Unless you have a HUGE social network you will unlikely gain the interest and reach the funding target, however, read on...

Firstly, checkout "Sanitation". A short documentary about the slums in the Dominican Republic; where they only have water on Sundays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSBtXQQ3nfQ

This was shot on an iPhone 4, had no budget and has been to festivals around the world (including Nightpiece, which I run).

Secondly, ignore the need for money and consider the above film. Money is a barrier, yes but deconstruct your project and identify what you can to do to make it self-sufficient on the current resources you have. Essentially, work on the basis you have £0. Who can help?

Detail the exact budget you need for the film as a document in print but work out what you can do to improve and service what you have. With no resources you have to find solutions and compromises but if you have existing tech, you can make it work for you.It's highly likely you can speed your 2009 Mac up with a new harddrive, extra memory or just a clean install so seek practical solutions based on what is available.

Thirdly, as a piece of work your documentary subject has a unique selling point; it is a human interest story focused on the local community and a key social problem; homelessness. Go to the local newspaper/website/twitter feed and email or call their newsdesk. Push for an article on your piece. With media interest about what you are doing the project gains a broader scope; you are raising awareness and interest about a greater issue. By creating this platform you have a project with purpose and objective. You also have a piece that shows much greater initiative as you have planned the bigger picture.

So, develop your project, give it objectives beyond your own motivations (e.g just getting a computer) and a 'Gofundme' page will make sense as it will resonate. Undeveloped, it will hang as there is nothing to separate it from hundreds of other projects.

Hope that perspective helps!

Al Carretta

9 years, 4 months ago - Marlom Tander

For the docu, content matters more than kit. So that's a saving. If you can beg/borrow pretty much any consumer camcorder from friends/family you can do a lot. Good live sound might be more difficult, but OTOH that depends how you want to tell the story. Gruby live sound can be OK if you can add an audio later.

One option to explore is to make your mac a dual boot with linux and explore the various linux software packages for editing. They are usually free. kdenlive for example. Performance might be better too as nothing else going on.

One thing you should def talk to is any local authority groups and/or charities that deal with your local homeless. That's a network that might lend you kit/camera.

BUT - while talking to the residents is good, have you talked to the homeless? Do they want to be in your film?

9 years, 4 months ago - John Lubran

All of the above is valid. I particularly agree with Andrew Morgan; why people remain so enamoured with overpriced, under powered and restrictive Macs defies empirical reason. PC'S have improved exponentially while Macs have been treading water with the only real improvements during the same period being Apples adoption of PC derived technologies. Why for example are the big buck edit systems such as Avid now primarily PC powered? I know of a young person who has just set up a 4K ready PC/Adobe suite with HD monitor for £800. He did duck and dive a bit but he can operate at a high technical standard.

9 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Story, story, story. A killer Mac can't do the editing for you, the story is found by the editor. 4k workflows can't tell a better tale, it takes skill and practice. The great news for you is that you're entering the industry at a time our predecessors could only dream of.

Hitchcock used kit that was terrible compared with what we have today, '28 Days Later' was shot on DV (a resolution only marginally better than VHS). Story first every single time, and that costs nothing. A new Mac can't do anything the old one can't, except for increased resolution, and as demonstrated, the number of dots on the screen isn't what makes or breaks a movie. There's a ton of 4k trash out there, 99% will never even make it to the cinema. Story is everything.

9 years, 4 months ago - Dan Selakovich

"Tangerine" is a great example of a film shot on an iPhone. Sound is extremely important, so maybe your money should go to that. If you take John's advice and go the PC route, you can download "Lightworks" for free. The only difference in the paid version is having more codecs. So if you need those down the road, even the monthly fee for Lightworks is really cheap. It is a truly excellent editing app. So you'll not need to buy software for a PC system. Though I understand all of the money you've poured into Mac for software, so I understand your need for a mac. I think the computer you have can get it done.

So, do you want a new computer or do you want to do this documentary? If you crowd fund, you can use the money for anything that helps you get the film done. I certainly wouldn't say "I need a new laptop" in the crowd fund pitch.

As others have mentioned, you need an audience BEFORE you start a crowd funding campaign. Get the crowd first!