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.

The Importance Of Choosing Who You Work With

Still Frame From "The Kid" (Look Created Completely In Camera)

Last week I had the opportunity to shoot a short film with Jeff Winograd- a director that I highly enjoy working with. Over the years, Jeff and I have worked the gamut of projects, ranging from big brands like Adidas, down to small local companies you've never heard of. And, as we joined forces last week to shoot his short, The Kid, on the 5D MKIII using the Magic Lantern RAW Hack, the experience reminded me about the importance of choosing who you work with.

While this is a business, and it is important to make a living, there are a number of intangible things that will directly affect your success and your sanity over the long haul. In what follows, I share what matters to me, and what values you should consider as you develop working relationships with others in the filmmaking profession.

An Untraditional Approach To Getting Your Start In The Film Industry

Since writing my blog posts on Film School and Breaking Into The Industry, I have received a number of emails asking for specific advice about getting one's start in the film industry. As I have responded to these emails it has helped me to formalize my thoughts into the following bits of advice. I believe that if you follow what I've outlined here, you will be setting yourself up for success in the film industry. It is not a traditional approach, but then again, this is not a traditional industry...

The 2 Things You Need To Know To Break Into The Film Industry

(Filming A WWII Spec Piece)

After publishing my articles on How To Succeed As A Freelancer and How To Determine Your Day Rate I have received emails asking me how I broke into the film industry. As I have been reflecting on how I got my start, I realized it can be boiled down to two simple principles. By applying these principles to your career, you will be able to break into the film industry and grow your career.

Why Tax Incentives For Film Are Not The Answer

© Ryan E. Walters: Stock Footage

At a time when personal, local, state, and federal budgets are stretched thin and when people have been out of work for more than a year, it would seem like a great idea to attract new business to drive economic growth. After all, more work equals more income which means more revenue for everyone. Why not attract film productions to our states through tax incentives? Unfortunately, this is not proving to be the case. Instead it is developing into a race to the bottom where the only winners are the studios and producers.

How To Succeed As A Freelancer

© 2009 Ryan E. Walters - Stock Footage

So you have decided to quit your day job and venture into the exciting world of freelance work, where you get every day off, you set your own hours, and life is always enjoyable. At least that is how it feels as you sit behind your desk finishing out the remainder of your two week notice. It is true, there are many perks of living life in the freelance world. However, it is not for the faint of heart, as it brings with it a whole new set of struggles. In what follows, I'm going to to give you seven tips on how to succeed in the world of freelance, so that those struggles will be fewer and easier to bear.

The Training You Need To Get Ahead

As a visual artist, the most important asset you have is your vision. It is what sets you apart in this challenging marketplace. However, that vision is of no value if you do not have the skills to implement it. To stay on top of your game, you need to invest in yourself through education. Last week I talked about benefits and drawbacks of film school; this week I am sharing my extensive list of training resources (both paid & free) that will enable you to develop the skills you need to implement your vision.

Repurposing A Photographers Tool For Cinema Use

Since the DSLR revolution began, we in the filmmaking community have been repurposing photography equipment to create motion pictures. I recently stumbled across another tool used by photographers that can be repurposed for our needs: the Pocket Wizard. Continue reading to see how to use this tool on your sets.

Resources For Filmmakers & Cinematographers

The internet has become a treasure trove of great resources available to everyone on just about any kind of topic. (Anyone up for Underwater Basket Weaving?) But part of the problem of this large body of information is trying to sort through it all to find the truly helpful and useful information. This is especially true with filmmaking and topics related around cinematography. This is why, over the years, I have been slowly gathering and organizing that information and I want to offer it to you.