Google Drives

The internet is a great resource for your film making. Not only is it full of information at your disposable, you can also communicate with each other synchronously and asynchronously. I'm going to show you how to use that to your advantage through Google Drives.

Last semester I was introduced to Google Drives over a production assignment. We were able to edit the same documents at the same time and upload files for each other to view and edit. I decided that this would be a valuable resource in my future projects.

With Google Drives you have up to 15GB worth of storage. You can share the folders and responsibilities between several accounts. You can set permissions to "can view", "can edit", and "can comment" for all the files and folders.

Through Google Docs, you are able to edit, view, and comment on the latest version of the script at all times. Through an Add-on called Screenplay Formatter, you are able to type your script up in standard screenplay format, similar to programs like CeltX.

You are able to set up electronic spreadsheets to stay up to date with your crew, cast, and props list and all edit it simultaneously or separately. It has all the features of Microsoft Excel and such spreadsheet programs. It's is easy to pick up if you've had experience with spreadsheets before.

You are also able to upload pictures, videos, and various other files onto the drive. That way your main crew can have access to location scout pictures, actor headshots, resumes, audition videos, and etc.

The best part is, it's all free. Stay organized and up to date with all your filming documents through Google Drive. (Note: I'm not a sponsored spokesperson of Google, although I do think they are awesome. ["Blogger" ,however, IS supported by Google])

Resources

A lot of people don't realize the resources around them. Sometimes you just have to ask. Look for people who specialize in the area of what you need. And ask them. If you need artwork, look for a graphic design major. If you need people to do stunts and not act, look for stunt groups, martial arts places. If you need attack dogs, look for dog training academies, K-9 Units.

You might be thinking "Oh, they won't agree to help" or "I don't have money to pay them.". Sometimes you just have to ask. You have a lot more to offer than you think. You are offering them publicity, a chance to be on a film, and things they can put on their portfolio. Sell your product, and make them want to support your project.

One of my friends needed to burn a house down for a DF2 project of his. He contacted several fire departments to find a abandoned house they could burn down. The firefighters were extremely co-operative. They found a house and were able to burn it down. It served as good practice for new firefighters. All of this was done for free.

In this video DevinSuperTramp talks about how he gets funding and help on his videos [3:15]. Also has cute puppies!

Think of what you need. Who would be best for that job. And talk to them! Explore and weigh your options. Think of who your project appeals to, how it can benefit them, and ways you can exploit that. So go out there, and see what resources are at your disposal. You'll never know if you don't look~

The Paperboy Update

Hey guys! Exciting news, "The Paperboy" was just just chosen to be produced. I'm am working with some very hardworking and dedicated people. It's great to have people so excited for my film. I will be posting updates and fun stuff for you in the coming months. Prizes, behind the scenes, test videos, and much more!

The Paperboy was a pitch I had in my DF2 class. It passed the first round but wasn't chosen by the producers. Like I said in my previous post about pitching, you have to be ready to be rejected. You need to stay confident in your idea, and continue to refine it!

DF3 Pitch "The PaperBoy"

Hey everyone, it's finally ready. Here is the pitch video for my senior thesis project.



It has not been confirmed for production. It has to win the class and professor's approval. I'm competing against a lot of great film ideas so wish me luck!

(P.S. All clips and tracks belong to their respected parties, I don't not own any of the clips or music used. This is video purely for educational purposes, not profit. Thanks for watching!)

Zack Dunlop Music Video

Hey everyone still working on my pitch video. Hang tight. In the meanwhile, here's one of the most recent projects I've helped on.

It's definitely one of the biggest projects I've worked on. I had fun throughout. I don't even listen to country and I thought the song was catchy, but maybe I'm just bias ;] who knows.

Non Dialogue Short Film

I'm currently working on a pitch video for my undergraduate thesis project, so hopefully I can reveal it to you guys in 3 weeks. It should be fun!

But in the meantime, here is one of the non-dialogue narratives I made for my digital film class! Hope you like it! (Contains slightly crude humor)

BlenderTexturePaint Tutorial followup (Texture paint with 3ds files)

Hey guys just doing a quick follow up of last week's tutorial. Some people had questions about the model. So I go over briefly how to obtain a 3ds model, set it up, and how to use the 2d paint feature.

TexturePaintv2 from Thien Ngo on Vimeo.

Skin making using Blender's texture paint.

One of the most recent hobbies I picked up over the summer was making skins for a game called "Attack On Titan Tribute Game" by Fenglee.

A Modified Sasha

I'd take the texture map from the source files and edit it in gimp. However if it's your first time working with a texture map it can get a bit confusing. Knowing what goes where, and how the texture warps on the 3d object.

I'm going to teach you how you can directly paint onto the 3d model using a free program called Blender. 

You can use this method to add in preliminary details and refine it later in Gimp or Photoshop. You can use this method for any 3d models you find/create.

Pitching Your Idea

If you're going to shoot a movie, more than likely, you'll need a few hands to help you out and support you. But in order to do that you'll need to sell your idea to them and get them interested. Whether you're pitching to a class, to Indiegogo, or just to your friend; It is important you learn how to pitch.

First off, you don't want to bore them with the details. If you're pitching, think about the bigger picture. Introduce your character, what their goal is, what's the conflict, and how do they go about resolving it. You don't have to give too much away, but you want there to be enough that people get the general idea and get interested in it. Don't start going into details and scenes, keep it short. Most people are usually busy and can lose interest pretty quick, so if you start dragging it out, you might start losing them. Imagine if you went to the movie store, picked up a movie, and on the back it had a long paragraph explaining "this awesome shot where the robot flips the truck over and everyone's like 'aaahhhh'"

A good way to practice is watch other pitch videos. Find which ones you like and try to understand why they work and why the other ones didn't. Ask yourself what about the pitch interested you. Read summaries on IMDB and such. See how they summarize the stories. For good practice, think of a movie you like and try to summarize it up in 3 minutes or less. Compare it to the "official" summary.

Next up is confidence. You need to have just the right amount of it. It's really easy to get carried away with "this really amazing idea" you have that you overlook it's flaws, especially if it's a recent thought. Sit on it for a while, ask other people their opinions, and LISTEN to what they have to say.

Once you've calmed down a bit, grab a timer and practice your pitch. No one wants to hear a stuttering pitch. Know what you want to say and how you want to say it. It will help you with confidence as well if you know your pitch by heart. (record and study your pitch if necessary)

Sell your pitch. I know I said not to be overly enthusiastic with your film, and I still stand by it. It's a careful balance you'll need to have. A good product will sell itself, but you also need to show everyone that you are invested in it, and that you will put all your efforts into it. If don't sell your product, no one's going to buy it.

Finally, be ready for rejection. Not all of your pitches will end well, and there are various factors that go into it. It could just be who you were selling it too doesn't have a particular interest, or might feel like the production is too big. Stay confident in your pitch, listen to the critiques people give, and refine it into a gem. If it's good, then someone will recognize it. Also doesn't hurt to have a little bit of luck on your side so, best of luck everyone!

Go Shoot Movies

The best way to get better at something is to just go out there and do it. Sure you might not have all the equipment nor expertise in the world, but you'll learn. Some creative brilliance can come from constraints. All you need is a camera, a computer, and a few helping friends.

This is a great time for anyone to be a film maker. There are plenty of resources at your disposable. Free yet powerful programs such as Celtx, Blender, or Audacity can help you get started (An article about other great free resources). You also have access to the biggest pool of information ever, the internet. If you have any question in regards to making a film, there's more than likely a couple thousand tutorials out there. And you can find a camera nearly everywhere. Most smartphones these days can shoot in 1080p full HD, that's the same resolution as most of the camera's at my school.

A small short by RocketJump shot on a phone.

Once you have a good idea of what your story is, make a story board. A story board is basically a progressive series of pictures that indicate the shots, camera angles, and actions you will be recording. Think of it as making a comic that you will soon after adapt into film. Story boards can be anything from pictures of dolls, to sketches, to stick figures. Unless you have an insanely good memory, a storyboard is a great tool to help you know what you need to shoot and optimize your time.

Storyboards for short film 'A Pickle'

Once you're ready. Gather up your friends and start shooting. Bring some snacks and water to make sure everyone is fed and happy! Your first movie might not be the best, but that's okay! With each film you work on, you will get better!

(My first film)