Well, I think I am going to do it.

[BAMSS04]

I have made up my mind. I think I am going to shoot a Movie.

I have no idea how, or where. So I think I 'll start with a when. I just think that if I don't at least try this I'll never forgive myself.

I'm going to start Casting Feb 2006. Shooting in May 2006. :eek:

I am half done with the script. :eek:

My budget amount at the moment is 0. :eek:

But I am still gonna do it. :confused:

Advice?

[Droogan_Leader]

I have made up my mind. I think I am going to shoot a Movie.

I have no idea how, or where. So I think I 'll start with a when. I just think that if I don't at least try this I'll never forgive myself.

I'm going to start Casting Feb 2006. Shooting in May 2006. :eek:

I am half done with the script. :eek:

My budget amount at the moment is 0. :eek:

But I am still gonna do it. :confused:

Advice?
For advice, all I know to say is what Kevin said on "An Evening with KS", and that is to get a lot of credit cards!

[Dave]

are you making a feature or a short?

[BAMSS04]

Feature length. Might get it to 90 mins but not much longer....

Like I said Biggest problem is my budget. I have none.

Nor do I have someone to do sound? I have less than than a year to get all I need. I need ideas getting cheap but good equiptment, and stuff like that. This is all kind of spur of the moment, and I am trying to figure out where to start first.

But its a RUSH!! :)

[DangerSeeker]

Dunno if I've ever passed this one along, but I highly suggest that anyone who wants to work on movies read this site. The whole thing if you can. Some articles are more helpful than others, but overall it gives a lot of great advice, suggestions, and just things to think about.

http://www.wordplayer.com/

[Matt1]

And don't forget to read Chance Shirley's articles on the shoot.

[Razorback]

Shoot in DV. Loop all your sound later. Get a nice editing program like Adobe Premiere Pro (or, if you have a Mac, you can just use their stuff). And remember, coverage!

Also, make sure you get a good editor. A good editor can make a crap scene work (provided that he can use coverage). Modern video/audio editing programs allow you to cheat a lot too... so even if you don't have the shot you can create it.

So, look for a 15-year old in your area who will work for pizza and coke who loves to edit with his pirated copy of his favorite editing program. Then, find some broke but serious musician who has tons of audio gear and offer him beer to be your sound editor.

Finally, if you don't have actors then grab your friends. If you don't have friends, go to your local junior college drama department and hand out flyers. Also, if you plan on having special effects, repeat the first suggestion and find a 15-year old with a pirated copy of Adobe After Effects.

[Matthew]

Then, find some broke but serious musician who has tons of audio gear and offer him beer to be your sound editor.


Heh, I fit that. I spend almost all my expendible income on audio stuff.

[cberquist]

Loop all your sound later.

If you are talking about not worrying about sound while you are shooting and doing ADR on the entire thing later, I think that is the WORST advice I have ever heard. Find somebody with some solid sound experince to record sound for you on set.

The best advice I can give you is to work as hard as you can on the script. Write, workshop, and rewrite it as much as possible. You can write and edit for free, but everything else is going to cost money.

If you have a solid script and you aren't a complete dick, it will be much easier to get people with experience to help you out in all aspects (especially the budget). You are going to need as many of these people as you can get.

Then, when you have a tight script and have workshopped it to perfection, shoot a minimum of two short films. This will give you a good idea of what you have to do to start laying out your plan for shooting your feature. The more stuff you produce, the better you will get and the fewer mistakes you will make. Best to make the huge mistakes on a short where there is very little at stake than to make them on your feature that you will be working for over a year on.

[Dave]

It's too bad your not doing a short. I'd be happy to help you with that, being an Editor and all, I have time in my schedule for a short, but i can't really devote myself to the time it takes to really put together a feature. Clint's advice is good though, get the script really together, and DONT loop if you can help it. Inexperienced actors have a real hard time getting the flow of dialog back while doing a loop. It's almost inpossible to get good sync, and hell on the editor.

Don't forget to take detailed shotsheets while shooting either, it'll save lots of time later on, i promise.

[BAMSS04]

Thanks Everyone!!!

I can't explain why I am going to go trough with this, but just to say that I have a great idea. I tend to be a little bit on the crazy side once I get a fire under my ass. I am just lost at this point though. I know what I need but I have no idea how to get it. I know you all don't know me very well at all but for me to do something this impulsive is a BIG step. I will PROMISE you all this I will share in every step of the way, about whats going on. I will post clips and get feed back and when all is said and done I will GIVE anyone here who wants it, a free copy of the finished work. Its going to be a great ride!!

thanks for your help and I'll be counting on it when I am broke and cloaked in failer. Because make no mistake about itm I have NO idea how to shoot a film. :)
( To answer the question that I am sure is rolling around in your heads, YES I am drunk. However, I did mean everything I said. )

[Razorback]

If you are talking about not worrying about sound while you are shooting and doing ADR on the entire thing later, I think that is the WORST advice I have ever heard. Find somebody with some solid sound experince to record sound for you on set.

I didn't say he shouldn't record the sound on set, I said that he shouldn't worry about the sound on set. I am all for looping everything later. Otherwise you end up with the usual crappy amateur audio that almost every no-budget amateur film has.

Record the dialogue and then loop it. Create your own sound effects (there are tons of sample audio files around the net that will help you there too, or you can do it yourself). Otherwise, go with cberquist's idea and have your film sound like it was shot in a can... which will make it suck ass, just like his response to me.

[cberquist]

Otherwise, go with cberquist's idea and have your film sound like it was shot in a can... which will make it suck ass, just like his response to me.

Yup.. I'm wrong and Razorback is right as usual. Go ahead and loop everything with a 15 year old editor, first time actors and a first time writer/director. Sure, the already lengthy post production process will take 3 times as long and your film will look like a badly dubbed foreign film, but at least you will have that pristine 24 bit studio audio. Since you are just using a 15 year old editor who is working for pizza you don't have to worry about how long the process is going to take or anything.

Better yet, make sure to get on a message board where there aren't a lot of filmmakers and ask how to make a film. Find the loudest, most unexperienced people and do everything they say to do. Should work out just fine.

If you are serious about it though, you may want to get involved with your local film community or start hitting some other filmmaking sites to get advice from people who have actually done it. As much as I like this site, this isn't it. A couple are mentioned on this thread a couple others are indieclub.com and zoetrope.com. Shoot, even the viewaskew site has a few decent resources (but you have to filter through a little more hot air there). Everyone in the world you ask will have advice. The key is being able to separate the good advice from the bad.

[BAMSS04]

I take any advice. I am very open minded!!! I consider all options. I would of course like to mention that I am nieve about a lot of things. The last time I directed anything was at my High School Televison Station. Years ago!! So, I will take all the help I can get!!

[Razorback]

Yup.. I'm wrong and Razorback is right as usual. Go ahead and loop everything with a 15 year old editor, first time actors and a first time writer/director. Sure, the already lengthy post production process will take 3 times as long and your film will look like a badly dubbed foreign film, but at least you will have that pristine 24 bit studio audio. Since you are just using a 15 year old editor who is working for pizza you don't have to worry about how long the process is going to take or anything.

Sounds good to me... if you have no money and no experience, you do it cheap and with whatever help you can find. It is not like he has a deadline (except for maybe a personal one). I say, do it slow, do it cheap, do it right, and do it out of the realm of the "real film maker" asshats who think they know better than everyone else who has ever done it different from them.

[DarthMaulRat]

Having just completed a week long lighting course, I'd have to say that while lighting can be skimped on, it will completely make the difference on whether or not your film looks good or even remotely professional. In the past week I've shot the best looking material of my entire education using the right lighting. Unfortunately, lighting equipment costs a lot, even to rent. If you're going to do lighting without a budget, you need to find a way to do it cheap or free. Look around for any high schools that are scheduled for closing or demolition, you might be able to get a great deal on those dusty theatre lights. Also, there's a small portion of used DJ lighting equipment that can double for effect lighting.

Also, don't even think you can do it alone. You need others to share in your vision, otherwise you'll go nuts trying to get anything done.

Also, if you really have a good idea, I suggest paying the $75 (?) to register your work with the US Copyright office. Even if your film turns out so-so, there may be some jerk just looking for ideas to steal. Happens more often than you'd think. Expanding on this topic, be sure to do some paper work, and document the process in some form so you can prove the work is yours.

Also, look over your script for technical areas and start running camera tests. Night scenes, car scenes, handheld shots, it certainly helps to know what you're doing and what troubles you might confront. Experimenting beforehand will save you frustration on the actual shoot and usually gives you a few more good ideas on the look of the film.

I'm also shooting a movie this summer on DV (the project actually has more in common with a demo reel, so don't be suprised if nothing comes of it), so I'm currently looking for ways to cut corners. I'm doing pretty good on the lighting, but its a bit tougher for the audio. I might have to shell out some money for a few mics. But I shoot second week of August all week, so wish me and my crew luck.

[cberquist]

Sounds good to me... if you have no money and no experience, you do it cheap and with whatever help you can find. It is not like he has a deadline (except for maybe a personal one). I say, do it slow, do it cheap, do it right, and do it out of the realm of the "real film maker" asshats who think they know better than everyone else who has ever done it different from them.


Done it different? I didn't realize you had "done it different", I just assumed you fell into the "hasn't done it, but knows exactly how they would do it if they actually were going to" realm. My sincere apologies then. Where can I see your films?

[Razorback]

Done it different? I didn't realize you had "done it different", I just assumed you fell into the "hasn't done it, but knows exactly how they would do it if they actually were going to" realm. My sincere apologies then. Where can I see your films?

You can come to my house, bud, and we can watch them together. ;)

Anyway, I have to go to the theatre and see your awesome movie. I hear it is a blockbuster.

I should mention how funny it is (and reveals the asshat pretentiousness I have always hated about people like you) that you thought the 15-year old editor and the drunk sound editor was a serious suggestion. You make one movie that makes it into a festival and you lose your ability to find humor in the obvious? Sad, dude.

[cberquist]

You can come to my house, bud, and we can watch them together. ;)

PM me your address and I will PM you mine. We can do a swap. I am pretty interested.

Anyway, I have to go to the theatre and see your awesome movie. I hear it is a blockbuster.

I like the sarcasm, but I have never said anything about a blockbuster. I have maintained from post 1 that it is a full on independent film. It will be released straight to DVD by the end of the year. Like any movie, some like it, some don't. Some love it and some think it is garbage. It was a great learning experience and has opened a lot of doors for me so far.

I should mention how funny it is (and reveals the asshat pretentiousness I have always hated about people like you) that you thought the 15-year old editor and the drunk sound editor was a serious suggestion. You make one movie that makes it into a festival and you lose your ability to find humor in the obvious? Sad, dude.

I don't see how anything I said had any pretentiousness. I see a guy hop on a message board and earnestly ask for advice. You gave advice that was obviously bad and I said that it was bad. Now, all of the sudden it is supposed to be a joke and I am prententious. Funny Joke! I sure hope BAMMS was able to discern your "fake" advice from real advice.

BAMSS says he wants to make a movie. I try to encourage him and let him know what has worked for me in the past and what hasn't. I don't hide my real name. I have written three feature length screenplays, one of which I produced and directed myself. I have been involved with over a dozen shorts in every aspect from acting to sound to producing to effects to editing. I have directed and produced TV pilots (our most recent will probably be getting picked up). I have produced and edited a ton of stuff for musicians (my last DVD actually helped secure a deal for a TV show with A-list talent for the musicians). I have also started my own film festival that received press from every major publication in a top-10 media market. To program the fest, I watched over 200 independent films, which gives me a pretty good idea about what works and what doesn't. My advice to BAMMS was solid and not a joke. I would like to help people who want to be filmmakers be successful because there have been a lot of people who have helped me along the way. It is always easier if you can learn from others' mistakes instead of having to make the mistakes yourself.

You, on the other hand provide obviously bad advice and later claim that you were joking and not to be taken seriously. You allude to projects but provide no specifics. Then, you accuse me of being pretentious. Umm, OK. Who am I for disagreeing with the mighty Razorback anyway. I mean, a guy with over 7000 quality posts. Better Hurry! Once you get to 8000, people may start to think you are Kevin Smith icognito or something. Then, your advice may actually be good.

If BAMMS wants to follow your advice, I say go for it. But, he should refer back to my advice about shooting a couple shorts first. He should do one where all of the audio is looped to see if he likes it. If he does, great. Do then entire film that way. If he doesn't, at least he only ruined a short and not a project that he will likely be spending several years of his life on. But wait, was that the "fake" advice or was that "real" advice. I guess I am just too stupid after making my 1 film to tell the difference.

[Tydyed Bandit]

PM me your address and I will PM you mine. We can do a swap. I am pretty interested.



I like the sarcasm, but I have never said anything about a blockbuster. I have maintained from post 1 that it is a full on independent film. It will be released straight to DVD by the end of the year. Like any movie, some like it, some don't. Some love it and some think it is garbage. It was a great learning experience and has opened a lot of doors for me so far.



I don't see how anything I said had any pretentiousness. I see a guy hop on a message board and earnestly ask for advice. You gave advice that was obviously bad and I said that it was bad. Now, all of the sudden it is supposed to be a joke and I am prententious. Funny Joke! I sure hope BAMMS was able to discern your "fake" advice from real advice.

BAMSS says he wants to make a movie. I try to encourage him and let him know what has worked for me in the past and what hasn't. I don't hide my real name. I have written three feature length screenplays, one of which I produced and directed myself. I have been involved with over a dozen shorts in every aspect from acting to sound to producing to effects to editing. I have directed and produced TV pilots (our most recent will probably be getting picked up). I have produced and edited a ton of stuff for musicians (my last DVD actually helped secure a deal for a TV show with A-list talent for the musicians). I have also started my own film festival that received press from every major publication in a top-10 media market. To program the fest, I watched over 200 independent films in the which gives me a pretty good idea about what works and what doesn't. My advice to BAMMS was solid and not a joke. I would like to help people who want to be filmmakers be successful because there have been a lot of people who have helped me along the way. It is always easier if you can learn from others' mistakes instead of having to make the mistakes yourself.

You, on the other hand provide obviously bad advice and later claim that you were joking and not to be taken seriously. You allude to projects but provide no specifics. Then, you accuse me of being pretentious. Umm, OK. Who am I for disagreeing with the mighty Razorback anyway. I mean, a guy with over 7000 quality posts. Better Hurry! Once you get to 8000, people may start to think you are Kevin Smith icognito or something. Then, your advice may actually be good.

If BAMMS wants to follow your advice, I say go for it. But, he should refer back to my advice about shooting a couple shorts first. He should do one where all of the audio is looped to see if he likes it. If he does, great. Do then entire film that way. If he doesn't, at least he only ruined a short and not a project that he will likely be spending several years of his life on. But wait, was that the "fake" advice or was that "real" advice. I am just too stupid after making my 1 film to tell the difference.

Take a chill pill, man, he said the joke was about the 15 year old editor and the drunk sound editor.

Besides, have you ever tried looping the audio? If not, then how can you say it's bad advice?

[cberquist]

Besides, have you ever tried looping the audio?

Yup. Plenty. It is a useful tool at times, but in my experience it is more of a band-aid than a course of action.

[Tydyed Bandit]

Meh, to each his own. I'd suggest the looping, though I have no experience with filmmaking, but most on-set sound that I've heard from indie films is SHIT!

[Razorback]

I like the sarcasm, but I have never said anything about a blockbuster.

Dude, I wish you luck. From second one, in this thread, I have mostly been playing it pretty thick in the sarcasm department. You kind of flipped your lid there and took it seriously and I gave you a couple of chances to catch on. You are still missing it.

I don't see how anything I said had any pretentiousness. I see a guy hop on a message board and earnestly ask for advice. You gave advice that was obviously bad and I said that it was bad.

Tongue in cheek. How come other people IM'd me about it and said how funny it was and yet you jumped all over it?

Now, all of the sudden it is supposed to be a joke and I am prententious. Funny Joke! I sure hope BAMMS was able to discern your "fake" advice from real advice.

Ask Bamms about it... I bet you he laughed at the idea that he should get a 15-year old to edit his movie.

I don't hide my real name. I have written three feature length screenplays, one of which I produced and directed myself. I have been involved with over a dozen shorts in every aspect from acting to sound to producing to effects to editing.

Ahhh, there he goes. Posturing with his "accomplishments" because someone made a funny and he didn't get it.

I have directed and produced TV pilots (our most recent will probably be getting picked up). I have produced and edited a ton of stuff for musicians (my last DVD actually helped secure a deal for a TV show with A-list talent for the musicians). I have also started my own film festival that received press from every major publication in a top-10 media market. To program the fest, I watched over 200 independent films, which gives me a pretty good idea about what works and what doesn't. My advice to BAMMS was solid and not a joke. I would like to help people who want to be filmmakers be successful because there have been a lot of people who have helped me along the way. It is always easier if you can learn from others' mistakes instead of having to make the mistakes yourself.

You know... if I ever come to this board and start telling people what I have done with my life, kill me. Please. I hope to never become "that guy."

You allude to projects but provide no specifics.

Yep. Because I don't need to prove anything, kiddo. I am not so fragile that any comment that challenges mine has to be met with a breakdown of what I have done in the last 33-years. It is why I don't post anything about myself. I kind of think it is... well, nevermind. I am not this kind of guy either. Go on with your bad self...

Then, you accuse me of being pretentious.

Oh, you have proven that with this response, skippy.

Umm, OK. Who am I for disagreeing with the mighty Razorback anyway. I mean, a guy with over 7000 quality posts. Better Hurry! Once you get to 8000, people may start to think you are Kevin Smith icognito or something. Then, your advice may actually be good.

It is like you are inside my head. I am looking for the cameras.

If BAMMS wants to follow your advice, I say go for it.

Because you, unlike a couple of people who have never made a film and still got my funny, took it seriously... but go ahead, keep up with the silly (I can only imagine the horrid mess that goes on within your mind that now helps you type up this sad attempt at knocking me down a peg) crap:

But, he should refer back to my advice about shooting a couple shorts first. He should do one where all of the audio is looped to see if he likes it. If he does, great. Do then entire film that way.

That was my one serious point, and that is why I countered yours. I have no idea how you ever made student films (or did you?) without running into the mass looping problem. Not to get into my work in YOUR industry, but I have "heard" that people end up looping most of their early movies, unless they have money to afford the "good stuff."

I guess I am just too stupid after making my 1 film to tell the difference.

The real advice was the looping. I never said anything about not seriously suggesting it. You said it was the worst advice that you could possibly imagine. At best that was hyperbole. Funny thing is, our advice could easily be combined. He could shoot a short and loop it. Shoot another and do no looping. Shoot a third and use a mix. He was asking for advice, but you thought it best to shoot down mine (and then tag on the obvious humor, that you missed, and shoot that down too) because you were so confident that I had never experienced what your brilliance is now an expert at.

But hey, I'm the mean, evil guy and you are the one who was wronged here. Oh, and of course I am backtracking and was seriously suggesting that he get a 15-year old to edit his movie and a drunk musician to loop his sound.

Everyone, gather around. I may have to quit the board now. I am so ashamed of myself.

[cberquist]

Oh, and of course I am backtracking and was seriously suggesting that he get a 15-year old to edit his movie and a drunk musician to loop his sound.

Interestingly enough, I don't think getting a 15 year old editor is awful advice. I actually know some 15 year olds who edit and some are real up and comers. Quite often 15 year olds have a lot of time on their hands (which can come in handy). Anyone with the patience and passion to sit down and edit has my respect and shouldn't necessarily discounted just for being 15.

What I thought was awful advice was going into a shoot with a first time writer/director, most likely first time actors and an unseasoned editor with the plan to do ADR on the entire thing.

But, what do I know? I am just a pretentous jerk with no sense of humor posturing about his projects and you are just a warm human being with a great sense of humor. Obviously it brings you great pain to use up any of your 7000+ posts to pimp any of your many films, so I won't ask you to do it again. Instead, just shoot me a PM with your address and I will do the same for you. We can just swap stuff off the board and not clog things up with anymore of this. I am seriously interested in seeing what kinds of great stuff you have been up to and I am not scared of showing you my stuff. Lets do it (unless, you are too busy on the Catch and Release set. In which case, I have already seen it all anyway :)

[cberquist]

Meh, to each his own. I'd suggest the looping, though I have no experience with filmmaking, but most on-set sound that I've heard from indie films is SHIT!

No worries. I actually spend a ton of time on auto repair sites giving advice about how to fix engines although I have never picked up a wrench. I completely understand where you are coming from. Sure is fun isn't it?

As far as indie films having bad sound, most of them do. Most of them also have no-name actors and soundtracks as well. The great ones all have interesting characters and story though (which comes through developing your screenplay properly). Spend this time developing the screenplay instead of worrying about looping or not looping. Then when you have a great SP, shoot a couple shorts and see what you like. If your script is good enough and you have decent shorts, maybe you can get the resources to not have bad sound or no-name actors.

[Razorback]

Interestingly enough, I don't think getting a 15 year old editor is awful advice. I actually know some 15 year olds who edit and some are real up and comers. Quite often 15 year olds have a lot of time on their hands (which can come in handy). Anyone with the patience and passion to sit down and edit has my respect and shouldn't necessarily discounted just for being 15.

Uh huh...

What I thought was awful advice was going into a shoot with a first time writer/director, most likely first time actors and an unseasoned editor with the plan to do ADR on the entire thing.

I don't see how this is bad advice. It seems that you think he should make his first epic in his first attempt. I was basing my comments on the fact that he seemed gung-ho about doing his first movie as a feature. So, I am not expecting him to make anything worth watching (at least not by anyone but his family). I think it is very important to learn ADR. I know that I have argued with many directors about my points of view (I think the editor is the God of the film, followed by the sound editor) but you can make or break a movie, or just a scene, in editing.

Obviously it brings you great pain to use up any of your 7000+ posts to pimp any of your many films, so I won't ask you to do it again.

Heh... many films? This is so pathetic, I can't believe you actually think this stuff works on me. I haven't said anything about what I have worked on, when I worked on it, or in what context I have ever worked on a film, documentary, short, commercial, blah blah. Are you really this fragile?

Instead, just shoot me a PM with your address and I will do the same for you.

Yeah, right. :D I don't even like you like that.

I am seriously interested in seeing what kinds of great stuff you have been up to and I am not scared of showing you my stuff.

This is so high school I have to giggle at the immaturity of it all.

[cberquist]

Empty vessels make the most noise.

[Razorback]

Empty vessels make the most noise.

Fragile people need constant validation.

[BAMSS04]

OK,


I now have some real questions for you guys!!!



What do you think of my choices:

Editing: $3995
http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/pcsystems/Little-Sis-b2.jpg



Cameras: X 2 Here (http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?icatid=4566&stk_code=pannvmd9000&svbname=305)

[Mighty Wingman]

Bamss, I think I just came in my pants a little.

[Razorback]

OK,


I now have some real questions for you guys!!!

What do you think of my choices:

Editing: $3995

Now, as previously established, this is the worst place for you to get advice about what you want to do... but, I will probably need a link to that workstation to tell you if it is worth that price. I know that if you find a tech and an editor who know what they are doing (and what they need) they could probably find you a similar setup for less than $2000 (but I am just guessing).

As for the camera... PAL is not going to work for you. You will want NTSC since it is the video standard in the US.

(pssst... I am serious because I have to be... no joy!)

[Dave]

You'll definately want a NTSC video version of that camera, not PAL. I've never heard of that editor but i'm going to dig a little online and see what i can find out about it.

Take a look at this message board (http://forums.creativecow.net/cgi-bin/new_view_posts.cgi?forumid=29) on creativecow.net. It's a good resource for asking questions to editors who use all kinds of different products. they have forums for almost all boxes, Avid, Final Cut, and even the Canopus Storm. I'd go on their an ask there advise on what would be the best software for you're needs. remember, you're buying software that you are going to want support for on future projects, so i would find out about the strenght of the company making the editor. As an Avid guy, it pains me to say this, but i would look into Final Cut Pro if i was you.

[TLS]

I have made up my mind. I think I am going to shoot a Movie.
Cool! Good luck with that (or is it, break a leg). Anyway I think you'll do just fine.
Advice?
Sorry, no advice here.


Oh, and if you happen to need someone to play a goat...
nevermind, old habits die hard. ;)

[BAMSS04]

Bamss, I think I just came in my pants a little.
So did I and then I saw this!!! This is The Daddy, $28,000.
http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/pcsystems/NewPCImages/Monster-Main.jpg

Its ok you can pee too!:)

[Razorback]

So did I and then I saw this!!! This is The Daddy, $28,000. Its ok you can pee too!:)

I used something like that once... once. :D

[DarthMaulRat]

As an Avid guy, it pains me to say this, but i would look into Final Cut Pro if i was you.

I've checked about 5 close colleges now, and all they teach is Final Cut Pro. Unless this is just a Pennsylvania thing, my guess is that FCP is more than likely going to become the new standard in the next few years. I wanted to learn alternative programs, but its impossible to find schools that teach em'. (That and I don't feel like building a computer just to run pirated programs other than Adobe software).

[BAMSS04]

I used something like that once... once. :D


Yeah, so have I. Its a blast!!!

[KHoliday]

BAM,

Best wishes to you but I know you won't need them. If you are determined and willing to ignore rejection, you WILL succeed.

My education doesn't exceed high school but I got a book published a couple of years ago and it was from sheer willpower, I believe. I just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

By the way, I haven't been around because I have been VERY ill....well....my back went out and I went through the worst week of my life. I lost about 15 pounds and all of the color has been drained from my skin. I look like a waif of the woman I was just two weeks ago. It was TOUGH. I, literally, felt as though I was in the trenches of hell.

It's getting better now...one day at a time.

Again, best wishes and happy trails!

[Razorback]

Yeah, so have I. Its a blast!!!

It really ruins it for you when you then edit on a single monitor. That is so time consuming. Plus, I like it when someone else creates macro's for me. I am so lazy.

Not to mention the fact that I have been editing on some shit equipment for the last couple of years.

[Dave]

I've checked about 5 close colleges now, and all they teach is Final Cut Pro. Unless this is just a Pennsylvania thing, my guess is that FCP is more than likely going to become the new standard in the next few years. I wanted to learn alternative programs, but its impossible to find schools that teach em'. (That and I don't feel like building a computer just to run pirated programs other than Adobe software).

That's because Apple underprices FCP, in order to sell the hardware needed to run it. That makes it the go-to box for cash strapped colleges, and frankly production houses. As an Editor FCP is every bit as good as an Avid (i have some friends who claim it's better because it's a more intuitive program). Truely it is the way things are going. It won't edge Avid out entirely, but it has taken up huge chunks of market share. And with the advances in tech., (and faster render times) Avids and FCPs can come close to doing things that were at onetime only available on Discreet products.

[BAMSS04]

Well, the first draft of the script is done!!! We are having a little party tonight. Step 1 of 1,000 is done. None the less, its still short and needs a lot of attention to make it ready. I will make a printable version for all who wish to read it , just as soon as I finish with all the re-writing. Anyways, the good news is that we know where we are going, how we get there, and it all pieced together perfectly.

So since you guys are my Online Family Here is the Offical Sound off:

EnCypher Studios is pleased to Present:

"Just a Phase"

Written By: Brian Stanford and K. Stephen Jenkins

Casting Begins : Feb. 2006

We're just truckin' a long.

[DarthMaulRat]

Congrats!

The movie I've been writing is actually scheduled to be completed tonight. My cousin and I took a very different approach to writing, since its a comedy. The plot line was written out first then elaborated on. The movie easily broke into 3 acts, so we then spent each week apart writing our own versions of one act. Then on sundays we get together and take the best parts of each script and then combine and streamline. This is the third and final week.

Shooting begins tommorrow (like I've said earlier, this isn't a very professional flick). I'll keep everyone updated in case anything good happens.

[Matthew]

Very cool Bamms!

Will this movie feature people hitting each other with wet fish? That would so rock!

[TLS]

Congrats to both of you. I only wish I was that dedicated to putting a movie together. Don't forget to keep us informed. :)

[By-tor]

Way to go guys. Good luck with the process. And if ya need anything in the printing dept.(flyers, dvd covers,..etc.) please contact me here on the board. I think I could possibly help with your budget in that manner. Again, congrats.

[jjcourtright]

Written By: Brian Stanford and K. Stephen Jenkins The guy from Third Eye Blind is the co-writer? Kickass.

[Zens7s]

The guy from Third Eye Blind is the co-writer? Kickass.He needed something else to get him through this semi-charmed kind of life.

[Dave]

groooooaaaaaaan.
;)

[Zens7s]

groooooaaaaaaan.
;)I couldn't help it. It was a reflex reaction. Also I couldn't name one other third eye blind song.

[BAMSS04]

Very cool Bamms!

Will this movie feature people hitting each other with wet fish? That would so rock!

There is really no telling. You'll have you wait and find out.


Thanks Everyone for all the best wishs and praise. I can promise you all this, when the last draft gets done ( the script) anyone who wants to can read it. I respect your opinons and really want to hear them!!

[BAMSS04]

OH and Darth, Best of luck to you , man!!! I hope you'll hit us up with a trailer or something.

[DarthMaulRat]

There may be something online sometime. We've been assembling a website but haven't bought webspace yet. Our hope is to get our best clips available from the movie and show for viral video one day. So far the shooting has been going great. As I said before, this is basically an advanced home movie that we're making, so don't be suprised if you never see any of this. Its just a showcase for our writing, and, if we're lucky, a way to raise some money to make better episodes of our show. So far the lighting has been completely by eye, and the audio has been going through a good mic but an unbalanced line (its only 20ft. or so, so nothing bad), on a boom made out of a golf ball fisher and strong rubber bands.

But we've been getting by. My friend had a super bright work light that was the perfect color temperature for an "Indiana Jones locates the temple" shot in my attic (you know, the one with the staff and the amulet). Everything else has been lit by regular household light bulbs, bulbs for indoor lighting, flourescents for night shots. This is going to be a post-heavy movie. Fortunately, the overcast skies have made it perfect for outdoor shots. We don't need an exact time of day to be represented or for the light to reflect any emotions, so we're lucky in those reguards.

As for Indiana Jones, well, about a third the movie is some sort of movie parody. We've completed the majority of the first act, and so far we've parodied "Its a Wonderful Life", "The Village", Indiana Jones, "Donnie Darko", and probably a few more. Sometimes I fear the movie is turning into an hour long episode of Family Guy, but most of the parodies actually move the plot foward instead of bringing the narrative to a dead stop.

We really lucked out on locations. We showed up to a diner we always patronize, and they had no problem letting us in (once again, the downside was some flat yet pretty practical lighting).

Frankly, the amateur look of the movie is making me more anxious to do the "technically proficient" episodes of our show, but those will have to wait until college starts back up. Equipment, money, and free time never seem to go hand-in-hand.

Tonight is the taping of the big (note: small) musical number, so wish us luck!

[actualsize]

Goood Luck! It sounds like a ton of fun. Props to you and your buds actually DOING it!

[DarthMaulRat]

Its funny, but my friend skipping a semester of college is the best thing that could ever happen to him. His friend that was supposed to be his roomie at a film school in LA dropped out, so he was left with the choice of finding all the cash for a damn expensive apartment or waiting until next semester to go.

Long story short, he's had a ton of time to work on the movie and is already nearing completion on the first round of editing. I watched a rough cut of the flick this saturday with my crew, and we were all pretty excited. Currently, the movie clocks in at about an hour, and it has some great momentum to it. For having no budget, there's a lot to see in this movie. Locations range from train tracks to a 1920's saloon to cafes to offices to shadowy forests and abandoned warehouses. We had access to some great costumes (silent movie era garb and a Village People sequence stand out) as well a couple great props (really, how lucky am I to have access to manequins and film projectors?)

Oh, getting back to my friend, he is also lucky because about a week into this semester, he was asked by a friend to edit a show that cable whore Bam Margera is producing about his tattoo artist. The details are still sketchy, but if we can find a way to tap into that market, its gold diapers for everyone!

Of course, I got a kick out of the movie because I wrote it. But I really want to test this sucker with a real audience. During the editing sessions I sat in on, we had passerbys laughing so hard they were crying. So there's some great material in there, I just hope people will be able to sit through the whole thing. The story is a bit hard to follow right now, some of it has to do with muddy audio that has to be replaced, and some places need a bit of extra narration (which we planned on including from day one, thanks to a healthy diet of Arrested Development).

Of course, there's still plenty of work to be done. Besides the dialogue, all the audio levels have to be worked out (hard to do with a tinny G4 speaker). There's a couple of reshoots that need color correction bad. The musical number is in dire need of a re-recording with good singers, as well as some real instruments to replace the digital ones. And there's a few effects shots that I need to complete or re-do. The zoom in from space has to be completely redone. I'm working with astronomically large graphics (30,000 pixels wide) on 128 MB RAM at my apartment, which, to say the least, is slow work (I could do this at the school library computer labs, but then I couldn't enjoy a beer while working).

But overall, I'm very pleased. Making a movie is one of the most satisfying things I have ever done, and I'm glad I had a chance to do it before graduation. Hopefully this thing is going to open up doors elsewhere, and who knows? Maybe you'll see the Phil Claroni Show on TV someday.

One more thing. The website should be coming soon. It's all on my friend's hard drive right now, we just need some more material (video clips and pictures), and we need to stop sitting on our hands and pitch in some money for webspace and streaming video. This will hopefully all be ironed out by winter.

[jjcourtright]

Who the fuck is Phil Claroni?