VIsual Storytelling Seminar Can Help You Boost The Impact of Your Videos

While the technology used to produce films and videos is changing rapidly (putting more power in the hands of more people), the core principles of visual storytelling have not changed.

For an intense, educational overview of the artistic elements and core principles of cinematography, check out The Visual Storytelling Tour. This series of full-day seminars (9 am to 9 pm) will be presented in 31 cities from June 3 to August 4.

 

Oscar nominee and Director of Photography of the Saturday Night Live Film Unit Alex Buono will show you how to dramatically increase the impact of your films.

“I’ll show you how I deal with working in a fast turnaround environment like Saturday Night Live while still delivering my best work,” says Buono. He says you can do the same whether you shoot commercials, movies, documentaries, weddings, corporate videos, or live events.

Designed for both DSLR and Cine-style camera users, the workshop will teach you advanced techniques for lighting, lens selection, blocking, camera movement, audio, workflow, camera settings, visual structure, and more.

The seminar lasts from 9 am to 9 pm and covers topics such as

  • Scripts
  • Location Scouting
  • Shotlisting and Storyboarding
  • Equipment and Crew Lists
  • Camera Settings and Camera Movement
  • Microphone Types and Placement
  • The Media Management and Workflow
  • Getting a Cinematic Look with a DSLR Camera
  • Shooting with a Cine-Style Camera
  • Visual Design in Filmmaking
  • Visual Storytelling

 The Visual Storytelling Tour will be presented in the following cities:

  • Minneapolis, MN: June 3
  • St. Louis, MOi: June 5
  • Columbus, OH: June 7
  • Chicago, IL: June 9
  • Detroit, MI: June 13
  • Boston, MA: June 15
  • New York City: June 16
  • Newark, NJ: June 20
  • Philadelphia, PA: June 22
  • Washington, DC: June 23
  • Charlotte, NC: June 25
  • Ft. Lauderale, FL: June 27
  • Tampa, FL: June 28
  • Atlanta, GA: June 30
  • Baton Rouge, LA: July 7
  • Houston, TX: July 9
  • Austin, TX: July 11
  • Dallas, TX: July 12
  • Phoenix, AZ: July 14
  • San Diego, CA: July 16
  • Irvine, CA: July 20
  • Los Angeles, CA: July 21
  • Las Vegas, NV: July 23
  • Denver, CO: July 25
  • San Jose, CA: July 27
  • San Francisco, CA: July 28
  • Salt Lake City, UT: July 30
  • Portland, OR: August 1
  • Vancouver, BC: August 2
  • Seattle, WA: August 4

If you can’t enjoy the experience in person, you can order a set of DVDs that includes the entire content of the tour’s Cinematography Workshop and Visual Structure Seminar. The DVD set also includes the book “The Visual Story” by Bruce Block.

LINK

Visual Storytelling Tour with Alex Buono

 

Indie Filmmaking Community Seeks Founding Filmmakers

Why should big Hollywood studios be the only ones to decide which films get produced and viewed by the public? They won’t be for long. Whether you are a film lover who would like to see a greater variety of films or an independent filmmaker, alternatives are on the way.

For example, Seed&Spark is building an independent filmmaking community in which filmmakers and film-lovers come together to crowdfund interesting film projects, attract production resources such as cast and crew, and stream distribution.  The process is designed to help aspiring filmmakers build an audience every step of the way.

“Only 1% of the roughly 15,000 indie movies made every year receive distribution through traditional avenues. That means there are great indie films out there that no one has ever heard of!,” said Emily Best, founder and CEO of Seed&Spark. “We want to give filmmakers and independent film lovers an opportunity to connect and make it easier for more and different kinds of stories to find their audiences.”

In this new ecosystem for film production, people who support films will be able to watch more films. Every time you support the making of a moving-picture project (by funding, following, and sharing), you will earn “Sparks” that can be redeemed to watch movies on the streaming platform.

To be considered as a “Founding Filmmaker” submit your work to Seed&Spark by November 20. The selected group of Founding Filmmakers will be part of the official Seed&Spark site launch December 1, 2012.

As a Founding Filmmaker, you will benefit from fee-free movie distribution as well as publicity campaigns to worldwide audiences through the Seed&Spark platform.

Founding Filmmakers will be part of the vibrant Seed&Spark network that includes partners such as Atlantic Pictures that will be distributing films through the site. The trailers of the Founding Filmmakers will be screened at the Seed&Spark Early Adopters Holiday Party December 6 in New York City.

LINK

Seed&Spark

Filmmaking Guide Focuses on Funding and Promotion

If you have ever wanted to become a filmmaker, but didn’t have the money, know-how or freedom to pursue your dreams in Hollywood, you’re in luck. A new book called Filmmaking Stuff shows you how to use techniques such as crowdfunding, internet movie marketing, and video-on-demand distribution and get your movie made, seen, and sold.

“Filmmaking Stuff: How to Make, Market and Sell Your Movie without the Middleman” was written by Jason Brubaker, a Hollywood-based independent filmmaker who has become an expert in Video on Demand distribution. The book expands upon some of the advice has been providing on this popular filmmaking website for several years.

“Filmmaking Stuff does not offer information on 3-point lighting or how to set up dolly track,” said Brubaker. “While all that how-to technical stuff is essential, this book shows filmmakers how to actually get money, market and sell your movie.”

The book is divided into five chapters:

  • Chapter 1: Modern Movie Business
  • Chapter 2: Create Your Story
  • Chapter 3: Get Movie Money
  • Chapter 4: Manufacture Your Movie
  • Chapter 5: Marketing and Distribution

Brubaker believes the future of filmmaking is now in the hands of filmmakers empowered by the digital revolution. Even though you will be competing with filmmakers across the globe, keep in mind that many people are flooding the market with garbage.

If you start with a great, marketable screenplay that you can quickly pitch to prospective investors and collaborators, you can increase your odds of success.

With the decline of DVD sales and the rise of video-on-demand channels such as Amazon, iTunes, and Hulu, it’s no longer necessary to work with middlemen such as sales agents and distribution companies. And, with social media and internet marketing, you can find the audience and generate buzz about your film.

In addition to making his own movies, Brubaker is a contributing author to The Independent’s Guide to Film Distributors and founder of Filmmaking Stuff, a professional resource for independent filmmakers.

LINKS

Filmmaking Stuff: How to Make, Market and Sell Your Movie without the Middleman

Website: Filmmaking Stuff