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Karen Allen and Steven Spielberg on the set of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
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Baz Luhrmann and Isla Fisher on-set of The Great Gatsby (2013)
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Do you know how to shoot an interview? We’ve got 10 tips that’ll turn you into a pro »>
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Stanley Kubrick on the set of Barry Lyndon (1975).
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We spotted this stupendously detailed cardboard replica of a Nikon SLR over at the Etsy blog.
It’s made by the very talented cardboard artist ...
by Katrina Diamond
Session Notes from “How SNL Produces Short Films in 48 Hours or Less” at the NAB Show.
Speakers: George Winslow, Rhys Thomas, Stacey Foster, Alex Buono, Adam Epstein
(Basically, the SNL Film unit produces killer shorts in less than the time it took me to write these session notes).
First, they kicked off the session with a montage of some of the best recent SNL shorts, including ‘Red Flag’, “Sopranos Diaries” and the “Real Housewives of Disney”.
See More Here: http://www.rhyst.com/filter/snl
Then they showed my personal favorite, the Louie CK parody “Lincoln.”
How many of you would have guessed that happened in the wake of Sandy? More to come on that later.
In an age of dwindling attention spans, online marketing is trickier than ever. Here’s the truth: People may find your company online, but most of them will leave your website in about eight seconds. (And, if they actually read what you’ve written, they’ll only remember 10 percent of it.)
There’s a better way to use your marketing budget. Putting your company’s message into a video means that you can share more information in less time, and your audience will remember more of it — 58 percent more, in fact.
Essentially, you have two choices: Very few people can remember 10 percent of what they read on your website, or many more will remember 68 percent of what they saw in your video. The choice is simple. But why does it work?
Most Super Bowl ads are exquisitely planned, taking months of pre-production involving the best creative minds in the business. They also are blessed with stratospheric budgets. But what happens when your client calls you to produce something for the big game, and it’s only weeks away? Put down that Ambien, there’s no need to fret — this survival guide can help you rise to the challenge! The University of Notre Dame found out they needed an “institutional message” to air during college football’s BCS title game. This title game was expected to draw over 30 million viewers, becoming the highest-watched sports game in history outside of the Super Bowl. We received a call to see if I could direct the crew and if my company, Explore Media, could produce the entire spot. The caveat? This happened on a Tuesday morning. They needed to shoot by Friday of the same week! If we wouldn’t have had the background tips I’m going to share in this guide, I don’t think there’s any way we would’ve achieved the results.
by Steve Rotz
* Reel them in ASAP.
Make sure you update your reel with your most recent project(s) on display. Employers love seeing your latest work and having an up-to-date reel shows you take the time to create new projects and take pride in showing off your hard work. Always try to show off your projects from after college. Doing this shows that you have experience outside of a classroom environment, and that you take time out of your day to create new on-going projects.
* Create a call-to-action! No brainer? Yes. Does everyone do this? No.
Make sure your email, phone number and/or social media site is clearly shown somewhere in your video for employers to contact you if interested in learning more (which they will, if you take our advice!)
by David Redish, Co-founder of Slice Media
Art must be compelling to its audience. Otherwise, it’s a flop. Video advertising, as a medium, is no exception. Even a 30-second ad can feel too long to some viewers. To keep people watching, it’s integral to engage them within the first five seconds.
Think of a 30-second ad as a first impression, and the opening five seconds as the handshake. You want it to be just right — not too firm and not too loose. A catchy font for the opening title, a swelling score, or a shocking action can all make for a great grip on the viewer.
by Jessica Nin
Lucas Urgoiti is not only a Harvard graduate, but a freelance writer and Production Secretary who has worked for Clint Eastwood’s film company, Malpaso Productions, for feature films: INVICTUS, HEREAFTER, and J. EDGAR. Most recently, Lucas worked on the Warner Bros. feature film, GANGSTER SQUAD, which is set for release in January. Lucas’ passion for screenwriting and his distinguished production background keeps him actively involved with films while also furthering the development of his own works in the production industry.
Urgoiti definitely knows a few things when it comes to transitioning from a student to a pro in this industry and shares with us Tip #1:
“Being personable is perhaps the most important skill any person can have as they try and get involved in the production industry. Production people want to work with people they like, especially if they are spending 15 hours of their day with them.”
by Alex Torrenegra, CEO of VoiceBunny, an online platform for crowdsourcing voice overs from over 100,000 professionals in minutes.
Working with children is a challenge, though a rewarding one. Kids behave and think differently than adults do, so directing children for voice overs – as well as targeting the material to children – requires a different approach. But many companies can use the boost of having a youthful voice attached to their material, making it a worthwhile investment.
Consider these easy dos and don’ts to get the most out of your next recording:
by Jeremy Pinckert, Explore Media
A creative device is the sing-along chorus refrain of “Hey Jude”, the thick paint strokes and striking blue colors of Van Gogh, the long-camera takes and wide-angle compositions in a Wes Anderson movie. They are, simply put, what’s memorable about your project. Watch the video below to see a great example of a creative device.
Designed to engage the viewer visually, think of a creative device as going deeper into the connective tissue of your web video by syncing the audio message and video visuals on an emotional level. Often called a “visual hook”, this is the theme. This is what the author, songwriter, director, or artist wants you to interpret from their visual masterpiece. If you are planning an online video campaign, don’t forget this essential element.
by Jessica Nin
Consider yourself a gamer? If so, you might have already heard the popular AES Convention’s Game Audio Track events that are lined up. Game Audio Track Chair, Steve Martz, THX Ltd. Senior Design Engineer, has developed a group of innovative presentations guaranteed to fascinate and inform all its attendees. The presenters Martz has assembled for the 133rd AES Convention are quite impressive, and it is anticipated that there will be a high turnout for the events.
by Jessica Nin
Juan Diequez, Senior ADR Recordist/Mixer at New Art Miami has been in this industry for a while, and knows a thing or two about recording/mixing for some of Hollywood’s summer hits like “Ted”, “Savages” & “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer”.
