Friday, June 14, 2013

Auditioning Actors



I know Chris Henderson covered this topic in depth on my blog awhile back, but how to find actors is a question I get asked over and over. While it is not an expensive process, it will take a bit of time and effort to line up all of your ducks and get people interested in your project enough to want to work with you. If you already have a reputation, this might be easy. If you don't, you've got your work cut out for you.

Either way, I hope this video helps in your pre-production process.

Collection Day Audition Notice (designed by Stephanie Stephens)
Collection Day Audition Sides (attached as notes to the CD Facebook page)
Directing Actors by Judith Weston
Chris Henderson's series on "Casting Your Microbudget Film"
Thumbnail photo courtesy Morguefile.com

P.S. Don't forget to be professional during auditions. Actors (like crew) are doing you a huge favor. Treat them with the respect and professionalism they deserve, whether they are good for the part or not. This is where you will begin building a reputation with the local filmmaking community, and everyone talks. Give them good things to say and you'll always have the talent you need.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Recap Q&A: Which Editor and Why?



Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/thefrugalfilmmaker
Twitter Feed: http://www.twitter.com/frugalfilmmaker

"Collection Day" Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/CollectionDayMovie

Rosco Cinefoil (black wrap)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NEJ13A/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thefrugfilm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B005NEJ13A&adid=0HVXQFZB0XSKED17Y76Z&

Watch "Tip: External SD Monitor Battery"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9smEWrIcc

Digital Prism 7" portable television/monitor
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001W8WEGC/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thefrugfilm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B001W8WEGC&adid=10NVNQ2DNP68FK5SXVEJ&

Sony Vegas Video Editors (with 30 day free trials)
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegassoftware

6 filmmaking tips from Richard Linklater
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/6-filmmaking-tips-from-richard-linklater.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-filmmaking-tips-from-richard-linklater

DIY digital stabilized camera gimbal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSpDA1Qv7wg

Amazon Storyteller turns scripts into storyboards
http://venturebeat.com/2013/06/07/amazon-launches-storyteller-to-turn-scripts-into-storyboards-automagically/

An actors guide to producing your own film
http://www.guerillamasterclass.com/from-acting-to-producing/

Mounting options for photography (or video) backdrops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6cH-DHHgSU&feature=youtu.be

How to make a soft DIY LCD hood
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Diyphotographynet/~3/tpCWTH6Vb9w/how-make-solf-diy-lcd-hood

Conquering creative burnout: put down the camera
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PetaPixel/~3/5CVbpe_ZAw0/

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Collection Day 5: More Auditions Tomorrow

Our makeshift greenroom. The ironies abound!
I really like auditions and I love actors. They are the ones who breathe life into your characters, the ones who literally inhabit this world you have created for them. The best ones will totally commit to these characters, no matter how strange or silly the story might be. They are fearless. If they trust you, they will move in the directions you guide them. If you trust them, you will listen to their insights and feelings about the character. You don't always have to agree with them, but they are the ones living in your character's skin. Pay attention.

I was encouraged by what we saw in round one of our auditions on Saturday (despite the heavy rain). There is another audition tomorrow night and the trilogy ends this coming Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing more local talent and very excited for callbacks when we get to start pairing people together to see how their chemistry plays out.

Casting is sort of like looking at paintings. You don't know what you'll like, but you recognize it when you see it.
--Steven Bochco

Monday, June 3, 2013

Recap Q&A: What Non-gear Storage Storage?



Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/thefrugalfilmmaker
Twitter Feed: http://www.twitter.com/frugalfilmmaker

"Collection Day" teaser from Fist Full'a Fedi Productions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jre5bYSye0o

"Collection Day" teaser from Miika Was Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPBkG34CSk

Large pistol (shotgun mic) case
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013RD6OG/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=thefrugfilm-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0013RD6OG&adid=1K8TRKZP2F2AFNDHJ65V&

Interview with Brian Paulin of Morbid Vision Films
http://charlestcochran.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/an-interview-with-brian-paulin-of-morbid-vision-films/

NEX-6 with Lens Turbo converter
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/05/27/my-nex-6-with-lens-turbo-converter-by-jason-wang/

Lens Turbo Full Frame adapter for NEX
http://youtu.be/HdEpBZ8sp9k

Adobe Creative Cloud Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgNRzGSbcP4

Review: Fotodiox macro extention tube
http://filmflap.blogspot.com/2013/05/review-fotodiox-macro-extension-tube.html?spref=fb

Tough, low cost travel tripod review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KLfE0FBCag&feature=youtu.be

Shooting a reality show with two pocket cameras
http://rungunshoot.com/how-i-made-an-mtv-reality-show-with-two-pocket-cameras-and-a-macbook/

Macro shots on a pocket camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8FozYX6X5g

$1 DIY sandbags
http://youtu.be/UWYyogjC0tU

PhotaREX softbox for redheads review
http://youtu.be/1ukK-rZxdo4

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Review: Fotodiox Macro Extension Tube



I've never done much macro (extreme close-up) shooting, but I still think it's pretty cool.  When Fotodiox offered to send me an adapter that would make any of my lenses into macro lenses, I jumped at the chance.  At only $10 (for the Sony NEX version), it's a steal. It's definitely not perfect, but the low price more than compensates for the hoops you may have to jump through to get it to work properly.


PROS
Cheap
Lightweight
gives you uber-cool extreme close-up video

CONS
is only effective with manual lenses (no electronic pass-through)
adds weird tilt to camera (when used with Fotodiox lens adapter with tripod mount)
need long lens for practical use (only a con if you don't have one)

Fotodiox Macro Extension Tube
Macro Slider Rail