A New Way Forward For Creatives

A New Way Forward For Creatives ...

Over the last 5-10 years, our industry (film) has undergone a massive change. The tools are cheaper than ever, their quality continues to rise, and it is easier than ever to deliver content directly to specific audiences. On the one hand this makes for an exciting time, as we creatives are no longer beholden to the "big studios" telling us what we can and cannot produce. We have the tools, and we can create!

On the other hand, as I have noted before, this has also resulted in the death of the specialist, and the further abuse of our fellow technicians in our industry. And while I still maintain that it is bad business to be a cinematographer, I am seeing market trends and a societal shifts that are opening up new doors for creatives to not only succeed, but to thrive in this new world.

There is an exciting way forward for those of us who are willing to jump out and take a risk. All it requires is that we abandon our "traditional" thinking and approach.

How To Get Better Delivery From Non-Actors For Under $200

Sorry, no assistant today- enjoy my ugly mug! ;-)

If you're like me, you've done a lot of interviews with non-actors who need to look straight into the camera, and you know how intimidating that can be for the "talent." As soon as the camera turns on, they clam up and turn into robots- their great personality quickly disappears. The solution to getting the performance you need, while still having them look straight into camera, is to have them look at someone's face instead.

By looking at another person's face that is responding to their answers you get a more natural response, and a more engaged interview. It is much more comforting for someone who has never been on camera to look at another face, instead of having to stare down that intimidating camera lens...

If you've done much research on gear that allows this to happen, then you've probably stumbled upon the Eye-Direct System. I've used this exact system on a number of shoots across the country. However, at $1,400, it is relegated to the classification of speciality gear that most will rent. But what if you could use tools you already have, and spend less than $200 to create something similar? Well, you are in luck, as I'll show you how I did just that.

Three Filmmaking Apps You've Never Heard Of

While I have previously shared my list of recommended apps for cinematography, this week I thought I would add three apps that I have stumbled upon recently, and now use in my own filmmaking endeavors. Here are three apps that can help your own production, and that you've probably never heard of.

Three Tips For Faster Project Delivery

As I continue my experiment and journey with FCP X I have been looking for ways to further speed up my own workflow and shorten the time it takes for me to deliver a project. As a part of that process, I have developed and refined a system that is now allowing me to turn projects out faster than when I began working with FCP X.

And even though in this example I'm sharing examples form FCP X, I believe that I can take these same concepts and apply them to my Premiere Projects. So without further ado, here is a complete look at the system I've developed, and three tips for faster project delivery.

How To Effectively Deliver Your Stock Footage

Delivering your stock footage is the last and most crucial step in your stock footage endeavors. Having the greatest content out there doesn't matter one bit if it isn't being found, or more importantly, being bought.

In this post, I share with you the two strategies that I use to get the most out of my stock footage content.

A Second Chance For Final Cut Pro X?

Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile already know that back in August I wrote that FCP X was dead. Those were not easy words for me to write, as I used the program since version 1. At the time, when I gave it another spin, I still found it to be a tightly closed system that didn't fit my needs, so I continued to use Premiere.

In the last several months, Apple has updated the app to version 10.1.1, so I decided to give it another chance. After three weeks of solid use, I still have some frustrations with it- but overall I'm liking what I am experiencing.  So here is the low down on FCP X.

A Human Life= $2,633.64 & We're To Blame

In 1997, Brent Hershman fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a telephone pole, killing himself after working a 19 hour day that was preceded by four 15 hour workdays as a second assistant camera on the film Pleasantville. Assuming he was getting the standard rate for that position ($38.73/hour*), that equates into $2,633.64 in overtime pay.

Alternatively, to put it a bit more bluntly, $2633.34 is the monetary value that the production felt that it was worth to push Brent to the point of breaking, in order to make their film. Is this what it has really come to? Do we Americans value the dollar so much that we knowingly abuse each other, and allow ourselves to be abused, in order to make an extra dollar?

After watching the documentary Who Needs Sleep, by Haskell Wexler, ASC, I'm convinced that there is a HUGE problem out there, and that problem is us.

How To Maximize Your Post Workflow For Stock Footage

Now that you actually have gone out and shot content to begin building your stock footage library, it is time to start processing it. But what is the best approach? In the end, this is a business- so it is important to keep things as efficient as possible. So here are 4 tips that you can use to maximize your post workflow ...

How To Shoot A Talking Head In Two Sizes At The Same Time

When I first began shooting corporate videos, it was standard practice to have the talent deliver to the interviewer off screen. And this is still the standard practice today. However, with the increasing volume of YouTube videos out there (where people are delivering straight to camera), it is becoming more and more the norm to deliver straight to camera.

All of this is great and easy to do if you are shooting with one camera. But what do you do if you have to shoot a talking head that delivers straight to camera and you need it in two shot sizes? Well, I recently spent the day experimenting with setups and came up with a solution that is easy and affordable to implement.

Five Crucial Steps For A Successful Stock Video Shoot (Part 6)

If you've followed steps 1 - 5 of this how to guide for stock footage, you will now be well on your way towards your first shoot. Before diving in and shooting content, however, I recommend starting with a clear plan. By following these five steps, you will not only set yourself up to shoot better content, but you will also be able to spend less time creating it. And the more efficient you are, the more profitable your stock footage will be.

Three Places To Find Actors For Your Stock Footage Shoot

Last week, after I posted the Three Principles to Successful Stock Footage Content, Brynn Sankey sent me a tweet asking if I had any tips on how to find and pay actors for stock footage shoots. And since I do not directly address it in the Zacuto articles, I thought I'd share with you the three places you can find actors for your stock shoots, regardless of the size of your budget.