Produce (Short) Movies

January 29, 2010

Solid Video Cameras: The Canon GL1, Canon GL2 and the Panasonic DVX100A

As technology keeps improving, it is hard to keep up with the latest gadget.

I’m sure you already know this, but for a filmmaker, it can be frustrating because if you want to buy a camera, you want to keep in mind that it has to produce a level of quality for you not only for now, but ideally for the next several years, so that you really get your money’s worth.

Unless you are shooting features, I would not go crazy with an expensive camera. Nothing over $10,000.

Don’t break a sweat though, I’m not even thinking in that ballpark in terms of price.

I’ve noticed over the years that the same cameras keep popping up. The DPs that I’ve worked with like them. They’re relatively simple but offer a lot of important features, and they are in a reasonable price range.

Here are my two favorites:

The Canon GL1, Canon GL2 and the Panasonic DVX100A.

Before I continue, I want to make clear that I come from an ACTING background, not a technical one. I am not a cinematographer but I’ve had to familiarize myself with the technology as a director.

I like these cameras because even though they are not HD, they will give you a nice picture and they allow you to manually adjust the shot.

**VERY IMPORTANT** They have external sound jacks, which means you can use a mic other than the one that is inside the camera.

This is key to making movies, even shorts, because poor sound quality is a sure give away to low production value. It’s the kind of thing that no one notices if it’s good, but everyone notices if it’s bad.

I’m not going to get into all the details, but these cameras also have a lot of accessory possibilities that will allow you to get more technical and professional with your shots as you grow into the camera.

They use Mini DV as storage which isn’t going to go anywhere any time soon.

Festivals accept films shot with these cameras. I’ve worked with feature film DP’s that like them.

And all of these cameras can be found on the Internet for under two grand, although the DVX100A might be challenging to find. You will probably come across the DVX100B which is in the $3K price range, but if you are going to pay that much, better to go with a lower end HD cam.

Canon GL1

Canon GL1

Post to Twitter

January 26, 2010

Ebert’s Best Movie Posters

Filed under: General Filmmaking — Tags: , , — Leslie @ 9:46 pm

For those of you on Twitter, Roger Ebert is a great person to follow.

He tweeted about a post he made recently about the best movie posters of the decade.

I agreed with a lot of them, some I didn’t.

Here’s the link!

As a filmmaker, it’s good to take a look at these posters, because it gives you an idea of what will sell your own projects.

Some of these movies are downright awful (and I find it unfortunate that a large portion of them are for horror flicks), but their posters are incredibly striking.

Let me know what you think!

Post to Twitter

January 23, 2010

To Sundance or not to Sundance?

One of the questions I often get when asked about how to become an actor is whether or not to go to Sundance, the big film festival that happens in Utah every January.

I’ve never gone.

I get invitations to parties and to roommate with people every year, but I’ve been to Salt Lake City other times of the year and the idea of a large portion of Los Angelenos descending upon that tiny town every year makes me hyperventilate from claustrophobia.

I mean, should the opportunity come when my schedule is free, then I might check it out, but I don’t personally think it will benefit most actors and there are better ways to network.

Sundance started as a way for the indie filmmaker to get the word out about his or her film, but it has gotten so big that it has become a celebrity stomping ground, complete with schwag tents and photo-ops if you are on the A-list.

What does that mean for the beginning or intermediate actor?

It means that you could probably meet some interesting or even powerful people at the event, and see a lot of great movies premiere and attend some awesome parties, but it won’t do much for your career.

As a filmmaker, the advice I’ve gotten regarding Sundance is that you should go if you have something screening, otherwise it’s kind of a waste of resources. A fun waste, but a waste.

My advice would be to seek out smaller film festivals. If you are from LA, go anywhere in the nation that has a film festival and you will find filmmakers from Los Angeles. YAY!

If you are not from L.A., go to the festivals that are local to you. The reason is that most festivals favor local filmmaking talents and encourage them to apply. This means that you will be networking with filmmakers in your area, which means you have a good chance of being cast in their next project (or at least auditioning.)

And don’t forget to go to the galas at these smaller festivals. Sure, you may have to pay a bit of an entrance fee, but it’s like an automatic set up for you to talk with people. Tables are shared typically (awesome!) and lots of mingling ensues. Congratulate the people that win awards and follow up after the event with an email. Ideally, you got to see their project during the festival. Tell them what you liked about their work and that you would like to get involved in their next project if there is an appropriate roll.

Finally, if you do go to Sundance, go to the workshops. Great place to meet people. And also waiting on lines for standby tickets for films. But really, you’ll meet people everywhere when you go. After all, it is Sundance and a majority of the industry people go just to chat it up with other industry people.

And as always, Have Fun!

Post to Twitter

January 2, 2010

A Few of Good Resources for Los Angeles Actors…

I was thinking about a friend who recently moved to LA to do some acting and was trying to decide what resources I would refer him to.

There are three off the top of my head that I wish I had discovered earlier.

The first is Suzanne Lyon’s Flash Forward workshops, which I have mentioned here several times.

The second is Jeffrey Gund’s InfoList, which is a regular email that gives you information on the latest events and workshops in town.

And the third is CCI, Center For Cultural Innovation.

They focus a lot on the business of art and I had the pleasure of going to one of their free artists info days which they hold approximately every 6 months.

The topics at that even ranged from legal assistance to doing your own PR to getting yourself organized (called “Getting Your S**t Together”), and while CCI tends to be more geared toward visual artists, I found it to be extremely valuable for other artists, such as actors, filmmakers, musicians, etc…

Great networking, too!

Post to Twitter

December 31, 2009

Happy New Years!!!!

Filed under: FUN! — Tags: — Leslie @ 9:46 am

Have a great one and stay safe!!!

Happy 2010!

Happy 2010!

Post to Twitter

December 29, 2009

“Ten Steps to Wrapping up 2009…and Giving Yourself the best Holiday Ever!”

It is tremendously helpful to start the new year with a clean slate and I, in some way or another, usually go through my previous year and review all that has happened, all the successes I have achieved, where it has left me at the end of the year, and, most importantly, where I am headed in the next year.

I have done many different systems that all work well, depending on the sort of mind frame I am in and the sort of experience I see myself having in the new year.

Suzanne Lyons runs a workshop in December called Launching the Future, and though the even has already passed, here is a message from Suzanne on how to get “complete” with the previous year, so that you may step into 2010 full steam ahead and with all of your energy moving toward what you want to achieve.

Suzanne with Alfred Molina "Undertaking Betty"
“Ten Steps to Wrapping up 2009…and Giving Yourself the best Holiday Ever!” by Suzanne Lyons

1) Take a thorough serious look at your year. Go through your calendar, day timer, diary, etc. See where you are out of communication, out of touch, and out of integrity with colleagues, family and friends. Make a complete list.

2) Take your list and write up what you would need to do or say to clean things up (to be complete). I am not saying that you have to take the actions. You can take the actions if you want to, but often just the act of acknowledging what is incomplete will have it disappear.

3) Go back through your year and take note of all the projects, areas and anything from your “To Do” list that is incomplete or unfinished.

4) Take this list and write out what actions you could take to be finished or be complete. It is up to you whether or not you take the actions, but once again in order to be complete with 2009 it is important to take note of the above and acknowledge what is left unfinished.

5) Accomplishments: Now it’s time to brag! I love this part. Go through your year again and this time make a list of all of your accomplishments…no matter how small you think some of them might be. All too often we focus on what’s wrong, what we didn’t get done or what we should have done. So now I want you to focus on everything you accomplished. Claim it! Be proud of it! Take joy and pleasure in it!

6) Acknowledgment: There are two sides to this one. Giving and receiving. Both are very important and both are missing in our culture. And it is all part of being complete. In all of 2009, what would you like to be acknowledged for. For example, “I would like to be acknowledged for sticking to my weekly exercise program.” Write out a list of all the things you want to be acknowledged for and share it with a friend. Perhaps you could have a friend or family member do the exercise so you can share your lists with each other. A friend of mine, with her family, does the accomplishment and acknowledgment lists every Christmas. Wow!

7) Acknowledging others: Who do you want to acknowledge? Make a list and include the acknowledgement in your holiday cards, calls and emails. Acknowledge not only what they did, but also who they are for you and the difference they have made in your life.

8) Expectations: A friend of mine once said that “human beings are walking expectations just waiting to be unfulfilled”. So that said, what about going into the holiday with your friends and family with absolutely no expectations at all! Just allow them to do what they do and be who they be and have no reaction. Just keep falling in love with them over and over again no matter what. Wouldn’t that be a fun adventure to take on for the holidays?

9) Appreciation and Gratitude: There is a great quote by Melody Beattie where she says that “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Create a list of all the wonderful things you appreciate and are grateful for. Come up with at least 50! Look at this list everyday and keep adding to it.

10) Contribution: Since this is the season for giving, the greatest gift you can give is yourself….your time, your love, your kind words, your ongoing commitment to be an example for humanity…bringing excitement, possibility, joy, love and passion to everything you do and everyone you touch!

(BTW, I recommend you sign up for Suzanne Lyon’s newsletter by going to her website!)

Post to Twitter

December 26, 2009

Comedy Movie Online… from College Humor

I’m keeping it light this week with a new comedy movie online…

I just acted in a promotional video for my college and I have to say that it was nothing like this one from the folks at College Humor:

Honest College Ad

Post to Twitter

December 24, 2009

My Picks for Movies Coming out on Christmas

When I’m with my family for the holidays, we often go out to see a movie or two…

Here is IMDB’s Holiday Movie Guide!

I’m especially excited about…

It’s Complicated (I like romantic comedies and has great cast and love Nancy Meyers who is directing/producing/writing )
Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. rocks and it looks exciting)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (with the late Heath Ledger)

Post to Twitter

December 22, 2009

Happy Holidays!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Leslie @ 11:25 pm

I celebrate Yule, so today I’m posting my Happy Holidays to you this season!

Whatever you celebrate, I wish you great fun and joyful times with friends and loved ones!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Post to Twitter

December 19, 2009

And Speaking of New Comedy Online… The Jersey Shore (MTV)

The Jersey Shore on MTV

The Jersey Shore on MTV

If you haven’t seen The Jersey Shore on MTV yet, then you are a bit out of the loop…

Or maybe I just heard about it because, while not being guido (or guidette), I am from Jersey (and New York) and I am Italian.

But it seems to be making a lot of hooplah and I can see why…

Aside from it just being outrageous in its portrayal of Italians and New Jerseyites, MTV’s The Jersey Shore brings up a lot of social questions such as “Is it ok for a population to use derogatory terms, such as guido, in a positive way when it’s self-referential? Does it negate the negative connotation of the term eventually? Is it ok because they are proud they embody the characteristics the term suggests?”

Many people are comparing this to the conversation of African Americans using the N word.

So I should totally hate this show, right?

Um… well sometimes I do, but most of the time I find it quite fun to watch.

Sorry for not being all P.C., but if I laugh out loud a few times during a show, I will watch it again…

And, to be honest, I have seen girls and guys like these at the Jersey Shore when I hang out there in the summer.

And I don’t judge them. It’s just not my style. (And I give them credit, because a lot of them are in really great physical shape.)

But still can resist looking through a comedic lens. Or find others looking at things through a comedic lens…

So here is Bobby Bottleservice’s audition tape for next season at The Jersey Shore:

Bobby Bottleservice – Jersey Shore Audition Tape – watch more funny videos

And here are a few more articles about MTV’s The Jersey Shore:

Paul Farhi on Pop Culture: MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore and the guido controversy

Another day at the ‘Jersey Shore’; MTV staff receives threats, advertisers bolt

MTV ‘Jersey Shore’ sucker punch pulled from show: ‘Snooki’ seen in Los Angeles

PS to Actors: Being on a reality TV show is NOT how to become an actor. (Unless you are Bobby Bottleservice.) Well, I have one friend that turned his stardom in reality TV into an ok career, but generally, you will always be known in the public as that guy on __________ (insert name of reality show here).

Post to Twitter

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress

Twitter links powered by Tweet This v1.6.1, a WordPress plugin for Twitter.