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Episode #71: The Film and TV State of the Union Address

2011-05-03T18:45:00.017-04:00

Tonight Weds. - May 4th @ 9pm EST

Listen in LIVE here OR call in at 646-929-1956

On the next episode of the Double Down Film Show,we’ll be giving our first ever Film and TV State of the Union Address discussing the major developments that have affected our industry in the past year from technical developments, to shifts in distribution models to production workflow... we’re gonna touch on them all and how they directly affect us as independent filmmakers.

How have sites like KICKSTARTER changed the game?
What does the proliferation of 3D mean for indies?
What is the future (and present) of “TV ANYWHERE”?
Should we close or hold tight to the THEATRICAL WINDOW?
How has the landscape shifted for FREELANCE video producers?

We’ll discuss the changes, challenges and many ripe opportunities in the current state of the film

and tv union and what they mean for informed and motivated indie filmmakers. Don’t let a single new challenge catch you off guard or a golden opportunity pass you by. Listen and learn about the business, craft and hustle of filmmaking every Wednesday night… by film hustlers for film hustlers. Straight up. Practical. No B.S.

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10 pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Stream Live:

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A Rough Week for Film

2011-04-25T00:11:00.002-04:00

Last week the film world saw two filmmaking related deaths, as mentioned on last Wednesday's Double Down Film Show. Both are tragedies that shake us up and make us remember how important safety on set is.

Tim Hetherington, an American Documentarian/Journalist/Photographer was killed in Libya this week, along with a British photographer, Chris Hondros, while working on a human rights multi-media documentary. According to reports, the two men, accompanied by two others who were wounded, but survived the attacks, were bombarded with grenades soon after they got behind enemy lines in the war-torn city of Misrata. Mr. Hetherington directed last year's Oscar-Nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning documentary, Restrepo. You can read the entire article in the New York Times HERE.

And make sure you check out Double 7 Image's Tribute Page here for more info on Tim's work.

The second was a bit closer to home. Justin Amorratanasuchad was a junior film student at Emerson College. During a film shoot he accidentally fell of a roof in Seatle. He was 21 years old. An article about the accident can be found in the Boston Herald HERE.

Both of these deaths, though radically different in nature, can at least serve to remind us all that there is danger inherent in our business. Be it in the pursuit of human rights stories for you documentarians out there or any stories that require you to go into precarious situations, or for all you fiction narrative folks, whenever you go to a film set and are surrounded by many things fragile, sharp, electrical, heavy, etc.

A lot of us, be it those who are starting out and often forgo safety protocols because they require time, money, effort or whatever, or for the seasoned filmmaker who maybe has done these things so many times that a checklist seems unnecessary, we often find ourselves letting protocol slip by the wayside. In the hurried rush of a set, something as simple as "got it" when you hand off equipment, or "striking" when you turn on a light, can seem like unnecessary formalities. However, they are there for a reason!

I could not help but think of my own friend, John, who died in a school film set just two years ago, shaking up the NYU film community. Our archived article about that can be found HERE.

Even in the most professional film sets, there are casualties. Some of the best known of these include Brandon Lee who was shot with what was supposed to be a blank bullet but ended up somehow being a real bullet, as well as actor Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le, 7, and Renee Shin-Yi Chen, 6, who were killed in an accident involving a prop helicopter which got damaged by pyrotechnics, killing all three.

We all get passionate in our filmmaking and take great risks. In the case of conflict photojournalism high risk is inherent in the job, but I know that many of us ordinary filmmakers can look back and think of times when we unnecessarily endangered ourselves or someone else. Please remember all of you out there, it cannot be emphasized enough, SAFETY FIRST.

NAB 2011 Wrap Up

2011-04-20T14:20:00.024-04:00

The 2011 NAB Show in Las Vegas just wrapped up last week and as always there were plenty of hot new cameras and tools for filmmakers unveiled and equal measures of education and inspiration in the panels and classes. Here are my favorite picks from the show floor...

The Super Cameras:
We'll be weighing in on the specifics of some of these cameras tonight on the Double Down Film Show , but here are the top prosumer-level cameras that were gathering buzz at his year's show and links to more info on each:

The Red Scarlet and The Red Epic (Price TBD)

Panasonic AG-AF100 ($5000.00)

Sony PMW-F3 Super 35mm Camera ($16,000 w/o lens)

The Best of the Rest of the Floor:

1. The Sony HXR-NX70U
The newest of Sony's NX Cam line up is water and dust-resistant and just to prove it, Sony displayed it with a live picture on the view finder while continually running water over it in a fishtank!

Quick Stats:

Records in AVCHD
Native 16:9 CMOS sensor
Memory Stick or SD Cards
Ultra-wide Angle 26.3mm G lens
Assignable Lens Ring (Focus/Zoom/Iris)
Infrared NightShot® (night vision)
built-in 96GB flash memory (8hrs at 28Mbps)
Simultaneous recording to the Memory card and built-in flash is possible in some modes.
1920x1080 60P full HD recording at 28Mbps
GPS Geo Tagging A built-in GPS receiver
3.5” touch-screen LCD display (921K)
Direct Copy to external HDD without PC
Detachable handle/ professional audio control unit

Ant's Take: A tough little affordable camera like this may be a good choice for high schools, action sports and extreme shooting situations such as third-world environments and notoriously rainy places.

2. Sound Devices PIX 220 & 240 Digital Video Recorder ($1600.00 / $2600.00)

Sound Devices, already an industry leader in digital audio devices such as their 702 Recorder or 302 Mixer has stepped up their game to cross over into the world of large format video with a brand new digital video/audio recorder Quick Stats:

Quicktime file type
5-inch, 800 x 480 pixel display
Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD* codec at multiple data rates
Mic preamps phantom, limiters, line input
CompactFlash or removable 2.5-inch solid-state hard drives
Mac OS and Windows compatibility
built-in time code generator, with genlock (PIX 240 only)
Simultaneous HDMI and HD-SDI output (PIX 240 only)
Up/Down/Cross Conversion of 480i, 525i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
The Pix 240 is HDMI In/Out only

Ant's Take: From the stats, it seems like the Pix 240 could be a great device for large format shooters and at $1000 less, the Pix 220 model may be a good option for the serious HDSLR crowd since it is a 3-in-1 solution: Video Recorder, Audio Recorder and Monitor. While there were a number of new and less expensive digital video recorders at the show, Sound Devices is a rock-solid brand name that's synonymous with "quality" and "durability", which are two features well worth paying for.

3. Sony HXR-NX3D1U 3-D Camera ($3500.00)

The show this year was all about the maturing of 3D. Sony introduced a new cute little compact 3D camera whose LCD screen dos not require glasses. It's got built-in flash memory (another recent trend), but can also record to SD cards.

Quick Stats:
• One card slot accepts SD or Memory Stick
• Built-in 96GB flash memory
• 3D Worldcam 50i/60i compatible
• 3D Recording Mode: 50i/60i/24P (28Mbps)
• 2D Recording Mode: 1920×1080/60p, 50p, 60i, 50i, 24p, 25p
• SD Recording Mode: 720×480 60i, 720×576 50i
• Double HD lenses, 10x optical zoom in 3D
• Automatic or manual parallax correction
• Glassless 3.5-inch LCD
• Removable Audio Pod with XLR connectors
• Time Code recording
• 28Mbps AVCHD with AC3/LPCM 3D recording
• Side by Side or Frame Packing output via HDMI

Ant's Take: 3D is not just a fad, it's still growing up, but it's here to stay, like it or not and sooner or later clients are going to start requesting it and only a few people at the indie and freelance level will be in a position to offer it. I think this is the first affordable opportunity for indies to get in on the ground floor of a budding format, learn it and play around with it.

4. Go Pro Hero Cam LCD BacPac and 3D System

The Go Pro Hero Cam booth consistently had a crowd lined up to check out it's new products and sign up for a coupon to get a GoPro HeroCam for $100 off (a sweet 33% discount). The two most intriguing advances at the Go Pro Booth were a pop-on LCD screen, the GoPro BacPac, for later generation (last 1.5-2years I think) GoPro HeroCam models. But most intriguing to me was an item that premiered in a demo on the show floor last year, but is actually shipping this year - the GoPro 3D System, which believe it or not was some of the most impressive impressive DIY 3D I saw this year or last! It was crisp and clean and jumped out at you without a lot of fuzzy lines or other funkiness.

Quick Stats:

GoPro LCD BacPac

Attaches to 1080p HD HERO cameras featuring the rear HERO Port
Simple one button design allows for easy on/off and playback control
Normal speed, fast forward, and fast reverse video and photo playback
Integrated speaker with volume control

GoPro 3D System

Mounting System is compatible with all GoPro accessories
3D waterproof housing is rated 180’/60m deep
Record 3D and 2D video and photo files simultaneously
Includes FREE easy-to-use 3D editing software—GoPro CineForm Studio

Ant's Take: I think it will still be a few years before we see the first viable indie 3D project that isn't just gratuitous, but actually works for the storytelling genre. I suspect that horror and action films will be the first narrative forms to pull it off when it happens. But even before then, action sports docs shot in 3D are a no-brainer. And at a total costs of $700 for the whole 3D system (2 Go Pro Hero Cams $600 + 3D Kit $100.00) , I think it's a no brainer for cheap entry-level 3D shooting.

5. Sony CLM-V55 5" External LCD Monitor

Sony has come up with an affordable external monitor aimed at the DSLR crowd with several very practical features – a base that swivels and tilts, a lens hood to shade the screen from the sun and, best of all, peaking.

Quick Stats:

5" Clip-on LCD monitor
800 x 480 pixels
Tilt/swivel for viewing at any angle
Color peaking and pixel magnification for precise focus confirmation

Ant’s Take: The monitor image in and of itself isn’t that dramatically better than other offerings on the market. Hell, it’s not even HD its________. The ability to tilt and swivel for easy viewing can really come in handy to integrate into tricked out custom DSLR rigs. The lens shade is a nice practical bonus that’ll save you the cost of buying a Hoodman.

Just like 3D, I think DSLR cameras are also here to stay, despite their obvious downsides – most notably for me: audio hassles, need for multiple accessories, and tiny LCD screens, but huge 35mm imaging chips. However, this little LCD monitor has a killer app that solves the last and biggest issue on my list of DSLR grievances – peaking. (If you aren’t familiar with peaking, it’s a camera feature that is to focus, what zebra stripes are to exposure. Peaking super-imposes a posterized colored outline over everything on the LCD screen that’s in clear sharp focus, so even though you are shooting on a full 35mm frame with a tiny-ass monitor, you can still accurately judge focus.) I started using peaking regularly on Sony’s EX1 camera’s in the last year or two and have vowed to never shoot HD again without it, or a very very big monitor at my disposal. I think it’s a killer app for the DSLR crowd. ‘Nuff said.

6. Lite Panels MicroPro

The LED Lite Panels debuted years ago and quickly became the choice of video freelancers and pros everywhere for their light weight, soft light, cool touch, long-lasting AA battery power and dimmability...so nothing new there. However, they just added one slight twist that I think is worth a new mention on my list – a standard 1/4” screw hole at the bottom of the base, which can also be mounted in a camera’s hotshoe. (It's also worth mentioning that they also just came out with a hybrid unit that also acts as a flash for still photography.)

Quick Stats:

Size: 5.5" W x 4" H x 1. 5" D
(139mm x 101.6mm x 38.1mm)
Weight: 10.5 oz (300g)
Power Draw: 9 Watts
Six AA batteries (internal)
5600°K Daylight Output (cool white)

Ant’s Take: This little addition of a screw mountable base opens up whole new possibilities for this powerful little light unit to be removed from the camera and mounted on a stand that can be placed anywhere. It ain’t just a camera light anymore…now it’s just a cool little versatile all-purpose light.

6. Cam Caddie Tabie iPad Tripod Mount

This new device from a company called Cam Caddie does one simple, but very valuable thing – it allows you to safely mount an iPad to your camera rig to be used as a straight-up full-fledged teleprompter. The iPad offers several excellent telepromter apps, but the real challenge has always been finding a safe and effective way to mount the iPad in a good position for talent to read it.

Ant’s Take: If you follow the Double Down Film Show at all, you know how I feel about teleprompters in general – at $1300.00 for a simple device that is little more than a stripped down word processor with a mirror attached, I think the teleprompter companies have been sticking it to freelancers for decades now. Thanks to the iPad, the tables are turned now, with full-featured teleprompter apps going for $10 or less. Now that you have an easy way to display the iPad screen to talent facing the camera, the playing field is leveled. I’ve tried all kinds of funky solutions to my teleprompter blues and though effective, they were always awkward and a bit of a pain in the ass. But those days are gone now.

That's it for now. Check out our NAB Wrap-Up episode of The Double Down Film Show for more details.

The NAB 2011 Wrap-Up Show

2011-04-19T02:13:00.004-04:00

Wednesday, April 20th @ 9pm EST
Listen in LIVE here OR call in at 646-929-1956

It’s the N.A.B. 2011 Wrap-up Show on Episode #70 of the Double Down Film Show. We’ll be discussing some of the most exciting announcements, panels and new cameras and tools for filmmakers that were announced last week at the N.A.B. (National Association of Broadcasters) Show in Las Vegas, which is the largest trade show for the film and tv industry in the world.

What’s so NEW about the new FINAL CUT PRO X?
Are there any AFFORDABLE options for indies to shoot 3D?
What camera can STILL operate in dust or a downpour?
Do the RED SCARLET & EPIC cameras really EXIST?
What’s new in the world of DSLR CAMERA’s?

We’ll answer all these questions and more as we give you our perspective on the news out of the NAB 2011 Show, plus we’ll talk about the hot trending topics discussed at panels and classes from DSLR’s to the future of 3D to the savvy new breed of “Digital Rebels”. Plus more special guests and show segments!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10 pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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"Brick City" Co-Exec. Producer/Co-Director - Mark Benjamin This Weds. at 9pm

2011-04-12T00:56:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, April 13th @ 9pm EST
Listen in LIVE here OR call in at 646-929-1956

On the next Double Down Film Show, we’ll be talking to Mark Benjamin the co-executive producer and co-director of the riveting and popular Sundance Channel documentary series, Brick City, which has been described by TV Guide as “A real-life version of The Wire”…

This gritty documentary series follows the inner workings of the city of Newark, NJ alternating between the storylines of Mayor Cory Booker, the police department, local Blood and Crip gangs, the city council and the school system. Mark is partners with documentary filmmaker Marc Levin (Slam, White Boyz, etc.) , Apart from Brick City, Mark is also the director of Gang War-Banging in Little Rock and Jails, Hospitals and Hip-Hop.

What attracts him to such GRITTY subject matter?

What’s his secret to gaining unfettered ACCESS to subjects?

Why does Mark also SHOOT the projects he directs?

What’s the SHOOTING RATIO for this documentary series?

Why did they shoot everything CINEMA VERITE w/ no interviews?

Get the answers to these questions and more when we talk to veteran documentary director/cameraman Mark Benjamin on the next episode of The Double Down Film Show.

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

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Award-Winning Veteran D.P., Sandi Sissel A.S.C. TONIGHT at 9pm!

2011-04-06T10:03:00.007-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we'll have a special extended interview with Award-winning veteran Director of Photography, Sandi Sissel, A.S.C. With four decades (and counting) in the film and tv game, Sandi has D.P.'ed such notable feature films as Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay, The People Under the Stairs, and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns.

She has also worked in the camera department on more than 50 feature films including Fame, Blow, Rock Star and as a 2^nd Unit D.P. on Master and Commander, which won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

How did she manage to break into a MALE-DOMINATED union?
What should a young D.P. know BEYOND the camera?
How is the career path to D.P. vastly DIFFERENT now?
What does she tell other WOMEN that want to be D.P.'s?
How do you become a PARENT and still have a film career?

Sandi Sissel will share her insight into all of the above, plus a whole lot more candid wisdom from her decades as a veteran image-maker. Find out how sisters can do it for themselves and craft long-term careers in the male-dominated film industry, only on the next Double Down Film Show.

Be sure to Join Our Facebook Fan Page too!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

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FREE SCREENING of "Gun Hill Road" This Thursday at NYU

2011-03-28T15:54:00.009-04:00

Get FREE Tickets to see Raashad Ernesto Green's debut feature, Gun Hill Road, which just premiered at Sundance. We recently interviewed Rashad on an episode of The Double Down Film Show. Listen to the trials and tribulations of how he made the film, went to Sundance and got distribution - then go see it for yourself...

Thurs., March 31st

6:00pm-8:30pm -
NYU Cantor Film Center

RSVP Here to get Tix

Don't Miss Oscar-Winning Writer/Director Luke Matheny This Weds. Night at 9pm!

2011-03-28T08:56:00.000-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be talking to writer/director, Luke Matheny who just won an Academy Award for his short film, God of Love.

Luke is a grad student at NYU’s fabled Tisch School of the Arts Dept. of Film and TV. Apart from God of Love, Luke also helmed the short, Earano.

How have things CHANGED since winning an Oscar?
What members of his CREW were most instrumental?
What role does he think FILM SCHOOL played in his success?
What’s NEXT in the production pipeline?
How did his team approach the CINEMATOGRAPHY for the film?

We’ll give the answers to all these questions, plus more insight and inspiration when we rap to 2011 Oscar-winning director and up and coming filmmaking talent, Luke Matheny.

Straight up tips and real-world filmmaking advice from a diverse selection of the best in the business – past, present and future every – Wednesday night at 9pm, only on The Double Down Film Show.

Can you dig it?!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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The Freelance Video Show - Special Keynote Episode

2011-03-21T19:35:00.012-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be serving up another one of our special keynote addresses. This episode is entitled The Freelance Video Show. We’re all filmmakers, but let’s be real - narrative and documentary filmmaking rarely pays the bills - shooting videos for hire DOES.

Co-hosts and award-winning filmmakers, Anthony Q. Artis (author of “The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide”) and Pete Chatmon (Director of “Premium”) will break down a laundry list of best practices, do’s and don’ts and insights into all the inside knowledge they’ve only learned the hard way - through years of successfully producing marketing videos, promos, commercials, concert shoots, music videos and many other video projects for hire.

· Where and how can you best land NEW clients?
· How can freelance production further your FILMMAKING career?
· How is freelance video very DIFFERENT than personal filmmaking?
· When and how should you collect the MONEY?
· What should you ‘TRAIN” your clients to do?

We’ll answer all these questions and more on the next Double Down Film Show. Real issues. Real knowledge. Real Practical. By filmmakers for filmmakers. Every Wednesday at 9pm the back door to film school is open once again.

Be sure to Join Our Facebook Fan Page too!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Two New Docs on the Infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

2011-03-21T14:28:00.006-04:00

Trailer

HBO is premiering a new doc on the historic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire that sparked the modern Labor Movement. I was very struck with this story when I first read it in a third or fourth grade history book. You learn a hundred little lessons along the way, but this story always stuck with me. And now some 30+ years later I work a block away from this very building, so the story has even more personal resonance.

The American Experience series on PBS just did a an excellent hour show (The entire epiosode, plus extras is available free online - see below) on the same topic a month ago, so I'm curious to see how HBO's treatment will stack up.

I knew about the fire, but I really had no clue how rough and tumble life was in this very area a century ago...We've got nothing to complain about on any job compared to what these women and girls endured long before the fire even struck.

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

Darius Monroe Clark's Short Film"Train" Named Vimeo Staff Pick

2011-03-15T22:11:00.005-04:00

Check out my homey Darius Monroe Clark's award-winning short film, Train, which was just named a Vimeo staff pick. Waiting for that first feature to drop now, man!

Filmmaker and Film Marketer Ava DuVernay TONIGHT on The Double Down Film Show

2011-03-08T19:02:00.004-05:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we'll have a conversation with filmmaker and film marketer, Ava DuVernay, whose new feature film, I Will Follow is being released this Friday and was just dubbed by Roger Ebert, "The best film I've ever seen that deals with the loss of a loved one."

Ava formed her award-winning publicity firm currently known as DVA Media + Marketing, in 1999. In addition to directing, she has provided marketing strategy and execution for more than 100 mainstream Hollywood film and television campaigns including Hairspray, I - Robot, Spider-Man 2, and Collateral, just to name some.

Before her most recent release, Ms. DuVernay directed the documentary projects This is the Life and My Mic Sounds Nice: The Truth About Women in Hip-Hop.Her latest venture is founding the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), which organizes limited engagement theatrical releases for Black independent films and was recently profiled in a feature article in the New York Times.

· How did she TRANSITION from marketing to directing?
· What does a modern indie film CAMPAIGN consist of?
· When should you seek and when should you avoid press?
· When should you seek and when should you avoid press?
· What MISCONCEPTIONS do many filmmakers share?
· At what POINT does an indie film need a publicist?

We’ll answer all these questions and more in another insightful episode of The Double Down Film Show. More practical filmmaking wisdom than you can shake a stick at…every Wednesday night at 9pm E.S.T.

Be sure to Join Our Facebook Fan Page too!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Writer/Director Julius Onah TONIGHT on The Double Down Film Show

2011-03-02T06:45:00.006-05:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll delve deep into the practical realities of making your first feature with writer/director, Julius Onah. Julius was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. His debut feature, The Girl Is In Trouble, is executive produced by Spike Lee, stars Columbus Short and Wilmer Valderrama, and is poised to launch him firmly onto the independent film scene.

A graduate of Wesleyan University’s theater program, Julius transitioned from being in front of the camera to writing and directing. He’s currently a Thesis student at NYU’s grad film program where he’s shot a slew of notable short narratives and documentaries with diverse casts and subject matter that have gained him international festival attention including Szmolinsky, Linus, and The Boundary. (*Get the special password to view these films TONIGHT on the show.)

· How did SPIKE LEE come on board as Executive Producer?
· What was the HARDEST part of directing his first feature?
· Why does he use so many INTERNATIONAL characters and settings?
· Why did he love making two films entirely on CELLPHONES?
· How can budget and time limitations HELP you as a filmmaker?

We’ll answer all these questions and more in an insightful and wisdom-packed interview with writer/director, Julius Onah. Why learn it the hard way on your set, when you can learn it right here on the Double Down Film Show first? We aren’t film fans, we’re filmmakers helping other filmmakers every Wednesday night at 9pm E.S.T.

Be sure to Join Our Facebook Fan Page too!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

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Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Josh Fox, Director of the Oscar-Nominated Doc "Gasland" - This Weds. at 9pm!

2011-02-21T23:05:00.008-05:00

On the next Special Oscar Edition of The Double Down Film Show we’ll feature an exclusive interview with Josh Fox, the director of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Gasland which explores the controversial and little-known practice of hydraulic gas fracturing or “fracking” and how it’s threatening America's water supply.

Shot in just over a year, Gasland began as a personal documentary about an issue affecting the Fox family’s Pennsylvania home. In the year’s time since it’s initial release the film has won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance, been picked up by HBO, sparked a recent hearing in congress and is now a hot contender for the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

What was the RESEARCH PROCESS behind the documentary?
Why did they shoot on SEVEN different cameras?
What’s been the FALLOUT of the film?
How did Josh find his interview subjects ORGANICALLY?
What was his APPROACH to post-production?

Tune in to find out the answers to all these questions and more as we explore the down and dirty making of this activist documentary from concept to the Academy Awards and the whole journey in between with our exclusive guest, Gasland director, Josh Fox.

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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"House Party", "Boomerang" Producer - Warrington Hudlin - Tonight at 9pm EST

2011-02-16T00:11:00.007-05:00

On the next episode of The Double Down Film Show we'll converse with Producer / Director - Warrington Hudlin of the notable Hudlin Brothers producing/directing team. With his brother Reginald Hudlin in the director's chair, Warrington helped to fuel the Black film renaissance of the early 90's by producing such hit films as House Party and Boomerang starring Eddie Murphy. He also produced the animated hit Bebe Kids starring the late Robin Harris as well as the provocative sci-fi feature, Cosmic Slop.

Warrington currently serves as the President of the Black Filmmaker Foundation (BFF) and is the Founder & Chief of the DVRepublic.org and the CastAndCrewOfColor.org online communities.

What does the act of PRODUCING entail?
What's the FUTURE of indie distribution?
How can the filmmakers HARNESS the power of the web?
What is the state of filmmaking for people of COLOR?
What HAPPENED to the Black film renaissance?

We'll get to the bottom of all these questions and more in our exclusive interview with producer, director and media community organizer, Warrington Hudlin, this week on The Double Down Film Show.

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Stream Live:

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Spiderman the Musical is so Bad It's GOOD

2011-02-11T10:43:00.006-05:00

So, this is not filmmaking-related, but felt I just had to share my perspective on one of the most popular topics in entertainment at the moment...

So last night I went to see Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, the infamous new Broadway musical. I wanted to see it despite all the negative pre-publicity it got and even despite the scathing review this week in the New York Times. I really wanted to like it, especially after all the bad-hype and digs it's taken in the media. I was hoping it would be like the story of the making of James Cameron's Titanic. (Remember all the trash the media was spreading while the movie was still being made - before it went on to become the highest grossing feature of all-time, wow audiences and win Oscar gold?)

Well, I'm happy to say that I DID end up liking Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, but not because it was so good, but because it was sooooo BAD. It was so bad that it was actually fun to watch the spectacle unfold and wonder what cheesy, over-the-top, poorly written thing would come next and to try to guess where all that $65 Million went. I would equate it to watching Roller Derby, Professional Wrestling or a Troma movie...so bad and over-the-top that it's fun to experience. I really think there's a reasonable chance that Spiderman could become the first cult-classic Broadway play. - People may go just to make fun of it and see how bad it is.

I could easily see groups of people going in dressed as their favorite character, saying the bad dialogue along with the cast and coming up with their own shout-outs and audience participation routines. Or perhaps it will become the stoner comedy of Broadway..."Dude, let's go see Spiderman again this weekend!"

One big caveat I must make clear here is that I got heavily-discounted tix at $52.00 each via my day job and took my 7-year old son, Tai, who really wanted to see it. (And genuinely enjoyed it through and through.) Had I paid the $140.00 each going rate for tix, I might not have been merely so amused. [pictured above: Spidey get's stuck for a minute or two due to technical difficulties]

As much as I thought they were being unfair and harsh on the production, I think the NY Times review was a pretty accurate picture of what I experienced, so I won't go into more specifics except to point out that the music was completely unmemorable and mostly sounded the same - lame. The story is a jumbled mess of silly exposition, non-sensical dream/fantasy sequences and just an ill-conceived plot that has very little to do with the actual Spiderman comic or story. The very best and most impressive parts are all the parts that have nothing to do with Spiderman, but involve a character called Arachne, a kind of sexy (if you're into that sort of thing) evilish spider Goddess whose costume, numbers and back-up spider minions were a great visual spectacle. In fact, everything that actually involved spiders (usually not Spiderman) was pretty entertaining on the whole.

The only salvation I see for this ill-conceived show, is to embrace it's cheesy, ill-conceived "craptitude" let's call it, and play it up for laughs and encourage the audience participate, shout out and maybe even throw things at the stage. If they did that, and maybe lowered ticket prices by half, no doubt this show will continue to sell-out and be a Broadway "hit" for years to come.

You gotta see it for yourself.

It's The Writers Show on the Next Double Down Film Show - TONITE!

2011-02-08T01:16:00.004-05:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be having an in-depth conversation with celebrated Screenwriter, Playwright and Professor - Richard Wesley.

Richard is the comic mind behind the iconic 70’s smash hits Uptown Saturday Night and Let’s Do It Again starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby and an all-star casts of A-List Black comedians. He has also penned many other titles for stage and screen including Native Son, Deacon’s for Defense, 100 Centre Street, Mandela and de Klerk and Bojangles amongst many others.

Richard still actively writes for the stage and screen and is currently chair of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Rita Burton Dramatic Writing Program.

· What are the most common MISTAKES among new writers?
· What does writing give you the POWER to do?
· What should each scene BUILD on?
· How did Sidney Poiter TRAIN him for showbiz?
· How do you actually LEARN the craft of writing?

Come get a candid crash course M.F.A. in dramatic writing and listen to the whole inside story of how two feature comedies with an all-Black cast made film history and became break-out hits and instant classics…only on the Double Down Film Show. Y’all know how we do.

Filmmaking Reality Starts Here:

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Season 5 Kickoff - Show #60 - Rashaad Ernesto Green

2011-01-30T22:00:00.001-05:00

This Wednesday, February 2^nd at 9pm we'll be kicking off Season #5 of The Double Down Film Show with a return visit by director, Rashaad Ernesto Green. Rashaad was a previous guest on the show in season 1 to discuss his shorts. Now he's back to share the lessons he learned while making his new feature drama, Gun Hill Road, which just premiered and SOLD at the Sundance Film Festival.

Rashaad, who was also recently named as one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces, began his career as an actor and soon turned his attention to the other side of the lens by enrolling in NYU's grad film program where he made several award-winning shorts including Cuts and Premature, which also aired on HBO. Gun Hill Road is his first feature film and stars, Esai Morales, Judy Reyes, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

· How did he successfully cast a young NON-ACTOR for a lead role?

· Why did they shoot on the RED ONE camera instead of 35mm?

· What was so DIFFERENT about making his feature vs. his shorts?

· Which crew positions did he come to rely on the MOST?

· What do you need A LOT more time for than you think?

We'll get the low down, inside skinny and straight dope on everything it took for Rashaad to go from concept to production to Sundance premiere...and survive with a smile. We dive straight into everything they don't teach you in film school, every Wednesday night at 9pm E.S.T. only on The Double Down Film Show.

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NYU Alums Represent at Sundance 2011

2011-01-27T23:01:00.000-05:00

Hey good people, after a busy winter hiatus I am back on the blog scene. I've been spending some much neded time with the family, finishing up some projects for some of my corporate clients and getting deep into writing my next book, The Shut Up and Shoot Freelancer's Guide which I'll be sharing exclusive excerpts from as I go right here on this blog, so stay tuned for that.

But I want to start off this new blog year by sending out a heartfelt congratulations to several of my favorite NYU people who all have films opening at Sundance right now. One of the greatest blessings that my position as an Administrator and Adjunct Professor at NYU affords me is a front row seat to observe some of the hottest new filmmakers as they grow and develop.

These are all filmmakers I've known and watched through the years from their first rough cuts to the polished productions that got them into Sundance. They are all incredibly talented, smart and gracious filmmakers who are just getting their first (but definitely not last) moments in the international spotlight.

Kinyarwanda
By Alrick Brown

Synopsis: Inspired by true stories, Kinyarwanda interweaves six tales that provide a complex and real depiction of life and human resilience in the face of unimaginable danger.

Pariah
by Dee Reese

Synopsis: A Brooklyn teenager juggles conflicting identities and risks friendship, heartbreak, and family in a desperate search for sexual expression.

Gun Hill Road
by Rashaad Ernesto Green

Synopsis: After three years in prison, Enrique returns to the Bronx to find his wife estranged and his teenage son stumbling towards a sexual transformation that will put the fragile bonds of their family to the test.

Close
by Tahir Jetter

Synopsis: One night after a casual visit, Angela is all but ready to leave Derek's apartment. Derek, howver, is determined not to let her go without a fight.

Top 10 Filmmaking Words of Wisdom - TONITE at 9pm

2010-12-07T23:27:00.009-05:00

TONIGHT, Wednesday, Dec. 8th - 9pm (E.S.T.) on the final episode of Season #4 of the Double Down Film Show, we'll be sharing our Top 10 Words of Filmmaking Wisdom from our guests over the past 2 years on everything from making the most of festivals to dealing with difficult actors.

We'll be reprising clips from 10 of our most insightful and inspiring guests:

Sam Pollard - Producer/Editor
4 Little Girls, Mo' Better Blues, Clockers
- "The Evolution of Becoming an Editor"

Zoe Saldana - Actress
Avatar, The Losers, Drumline
- "What NOT to Say to an Actor"

Chris Gore - Author/Filmmaker
The Ultimate Film Festival Survivor's Guide
- "The Zen of Networking"

Sheril Antonio - Vice Dean
N.Y.U. Tisch School of The Arts - Film/TV
- "The Necessity of Passion"

Sig De Miguel - Casting Director
Premium, The Good Shepherd, United 93
- "Getting Name Talent for First Time Directors"

Cliff Charles - D.P.
When the Levees Broke, Nike Commercial
- "The First Thing to Do w/ a Script"

Roberta Munroe - Festival Programmer, Author
Sundance, "How Not To Make a Short Film"
- "Story vs. Style"

Darnell Martin - Director
Cadillac Records, I Like It Like That
- "Handling On-set Freak Outs"

Lloyd Kaufman - Director
Toxic Waste Avenger, Class of Nuke 'Em High
- "What Propels a Movie"

Hill Harper - Actor / Author
CSI, Lackawanna Blues, Premium
- "Show Art vs. Show Business"

This final installment of 2010 will be another one of our special wisdom-packed no-B.S. "keynote" episodes and a guaranteed instant classic. Listen in or download the show after it airs and go to film school through the back door courtesy of some of the best in the business.

Thanks for listening and supporting the show. We'll be back in the new year with more filmmaking inspiration, wisdom and advice. Have a happy holiday!

FILMMAKING REALITY STARTS HERE.

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The Double Down Film Show

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

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Listen to it on your computer
or phone live TONIGHT @ 9pm

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The Vendor-Client Relationship...In Real Life

2010-12-07T09:00:00.002-05:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate to this very funny video about clients.

Stay tuned for my next book, The Shut Up and Shoot Freelancer's Guide (working title) where I'll be giving tips on managing these types of encounters with clients amongst other concerns for those of us that make money making videos.

The Vendor-Client Relationship...In Real Life

(*Shout out to Robert Holley for the link.)

Life Imitates Art - Tron Bike Realized for $55K!

2010-12-02T08:56:00.002-05:00

Life imitates art. Witness a real-life Tron Light Cycle built by the creative geniues at Packer Brothers Choppers. For a cool $55,000 you can finally ride something to make the macho guys who ride superbikes feel inadequate when you pull up next to them...

"You call that a bike? This is a real bike, baby! Wheel hubs are so 20th century! Do you even have neon lights on that shit?!"

*Thanks to my brother-in-law, Francisco Rivera for the tip!

Candid Conversation w/ a Hollywood Power Couple this Weds. 9pm!

2010-11-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be trading industry notes with a rare Hollywood power couple - Meena Payne and Sylvain White.

Meena Payne is Director of Development at Rainforest Films (Takers, Obsessed, Stomp the Yard 1 & 2, etc. ) and engaged to director, Sylvain White, who has helmed such films as Stomp the Yard and The Losers.

Each started out as a mere intern and then hustled and busted their butt to get to their respective positions on the studio backlot.

How did they each go from intern to POWER player?
What actually IS the development process?
What should you always be VOCAL about as an intern?
What are OPTIONS and how do they work?
What is it like to be a COUPLE in the industry?

Tune in and take notes as they lay out their blueprints for perseverance and success in a rough and tumble industry. Plus they will candidly discuss the challenges and rewards of being a power couple in Hollywood.

The Losers Trailer

Real talk about real filmmaking issues that can make or break your career every week – only on the Double Down Film Show.

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PEEP THIS: Laugh Your Medieval Ass Off

2010-11-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

James Franco, Danny McBride and Natalie Portman star in the new film, Your Highness from the director of Pineapple Express, David Gordon Green, which looks to be a new genre - the "Medieval Stoner Comedy".

What exactly is a Medieval Stoner Comedy, you ask? You gotta watch the trailer for yourself...and I'd suggest you don't do it at work or while drinking milk, 'cause it's that damned funny oh and raunchy, definitely very raunchy!

WARNING:
This trailer is Rated "R" for too many inappropriate things to name, so you'll have to "verify" your age to watch it.

Thanks to Dustin Chang from the Floating World film blog for tipping me off to the trailer!

Video Game (Not Movie) Smashes 5-Day Media Sales Record

2010-11-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

Increasingly the world of video games and movies are merging with the latest video games now include more involved multi-layered storylines, lush "cinematography", even many big name actors as voice talent and now BIG BIG box office.

The NYU-Tisch School of the Arts (where I also work and teach film) has recently started a Game Center right along side their renowned and well-established film school - same floor even.

As a casual gamer I've been blown away by titles like Metal Gear Solid and the Call of Duty franchise (which I'm pretty sure I'm now gonna need therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder from just the few hours I've played so far. More than once I've had to turn it off and take a break from the intense action on-screen).

Witness this NY Times article which cites how Call of Duty: Black Ops has just set a world record for the biggest 5 day sales of ANY MEDIA - that's movies, music or video games by generating $650 million in worldwide sales in 5 days. That means no title of any genre has ever made more money faster and that's damned well worth paying attention to.

While I don't think a videogame will ever surpass the total box office of say a blockbuster movie like Avatar or Dark Knight in the near future. The day may not be far off as videogames are now learning to milk money from secondary markets like downloadable extras. (FYI- The previous record holding title was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

The other figure worth noting here is the cost of the average game at about $50/unit and the amount of time spent engaged with that media - upwards of 20-30 hours for the most popular big titles.

Maybe time to change that big budget action script into a game script, eh?

BRICK CITY - A Real-Life Version of "The Wire"

2010-11-21T21:54:00.003-05:00

I'm honestly not sure how I missed this when it originally aired on the Sundance channel, but for the past few weeks I've been riveted watching Brick City, a powerful....I truly hesitate to use the term "reality series", because I think it cheapens the real value...so let's say it's a 5-hour, 5-part documentary by award-winning filmmakers Mark Benjamin and Marc Levin.

Entertainment Weekly described it as a real-life version of The Wire and I have to concur. It's an unprecedented look at the inner-workings and heart of a troubled urban city. I've been watching it on Netflix streaming and I'm only on part 4 of 5, but I've enjoyed it so much and been so moved and fascinated that I had to share now.

The doc basically shifts between four main storylines - the inner-workings of Mayor Cory Booker's office, the Newark Police department's effort to curb its notoriously high murder rate, the fate of Central High a tough inner-city school and the personal life of gang members trying to go legit and mentor a new generation. Each in their own way is trying to reform their slice of a very rough and corrupt city against overwhelming odds.

It is at once depressing, heart-wrenching, insightful, inspiring and most of all - real. There don't seem to be any easy answers to the tough questions this doc examines without blinking, but I guarantee you can't look away.

It's also worth noting that the doc was beautifully shot on the Sony EX-1. Read more on the hi-def cinematography HERE.

Another great doc that touches on similar subject matter - the fate of the city of Newark - is Marshall Curry's, Street Fight, is a perfect warm-up film before watching this series and a powerful doc in it's own right.

Together, these documentaries paint a stunningly intimate portrait of an American city in crisis and the real people who are doing battle to save it and navigate the politics of a sick system. Docs like these are why I truly love the genre.

Rig It, Test It, Burn It, and Crash It w/ Stunt Coordinator - Roy Farfel!

2010-11-16T10:48:00.010-05:00

This Wednesday night 9pm E.S.T. on the next action-packed episode of The Double Down Film Show we’ll explore the world of high action and falls and punches with veteran Stunt Coordinator/Driver/Performer, Roy Farfel.

Over the past 25 years Roy has helped craft and execute the action for such films as Goodfellas, Transformers, The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, Jack Ass 3-D and many more major films and tv shows.

At what point should you BRING ON a stunt coordinator?
How do you BECOME a stuntman?
What exactly does a stunt coordinator DO?
How do the director and stunt coordinator WORK TOGETHER?
How do camera angles, audio and editing help “SELL” a stunt?

We’ll extract the answer to all these questions and more as we “rig it, test it, burn it, and crash it” with Roy Farfel on the next cliff-hanging episode of Double Down Film Show.

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The Trials and Tribulations of a First-time Feature Tonite!

2010-11-09T09:24:00.008-05:00

TONIGHT at 9:00pm EST on The Double Down Film Show we’ll be recounting the trials and tribulations of a first time feature with Writer/Director - Rafick Khan. Rafick is a long-time listener of the show who successfully converted his Double Down Film Show knowledge into action with his debut feature entitled “Chessboxing”.

· What finally gave him the COURAGE to make a feature?
· What WORKED when he broke the rules?
· How did THIS SHOW prep him for the process?
· How did he land then lose a BIG NAME actress?
· What 3 positions did he have to FIRE AND REPLACE?

We’ll provide all those answers and more as Rafick Khan walks us through his feature journey from screenplay to film-in-the-can. Listen and learn from his first-time trials, tribulations and ultimate triumph.

Get your full serving of indie film education and inspiration every Wednesday night on the Double Down Film Show.

Filmmaking Reality Starts Here:

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The B&H HDSLR Camera Guide

Interactive DSLR Camera Guide

2010-11-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

My good friends at B&H have taken the time to create a cool little interactive guide to video-capable HDSLR (High Definition Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras. HDSLR is the hottest new thing on the indie film scene, but there is a lot to understand before you drop $2000+ and dive-in.

Everyone seems to be rushing out to get these affordable new cameras, but the HDSLR format and shooting style definitely has some major disadvantages and some unique benefits depending on genre, budget and crew experience/size.

Check out B&H's advice and save yourself some heartache and headaches BEFORE you dive all the way in.

Hollywood's New Kid on the Block This Wednesday Night!

2010-11-02T08:47:00.000-04:00

After taking a week off, The Double Down Film Show is back this Wednesday, November 3rd with our special guest Writer/Director, Dan Schechter, whose next project is The Switch.

Dan is adapting the screenplay based on the popular Elmore Leonard novel. The Switch is actually a prequel to Quentin Tarantino’s, Jackie Brown, following the characters that were played by Sam Jackson and Robert DeNiro, but twenty years prior to the original story.

· How can writing parlay you into the DIRECTOR’S chair?
· What are the PROS AND CONS of casting big name talent?
· What are the challenges of writing for OTHER ethnicities?
· What are the most important keys to your ULTIMATE success?
· How can a big budget fall through DESPITE big names being attached?

Listen as we drill Hollywood’s new kid on the block, Dan Schechter, for the inside dope on all these questions and more.

***PLUS! – We’re gonna rap with friend of the show, D.P., Cliff Charles, about cinematography and his brand-new Master Class for aspiring D.P.’s.

Your favorite underground film class is back in session with more real talk about everything they don’t cover in film schools and books every Wednesday night.

Big Bad Swim Trailer

Filmmaking Reality Starts Here.

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SKILLZ: D.P. - Cliff Charles Teaching Cinematography Masterclass

2010-10-26T22:16:00.016-04:00

Peep this hot news - D.P. , Cliff Charles is giving a rare private Master Class in Cinematography - Saturday, November 6, 2010 in New York City.

If you aren't already familiar with his him, Cliff (a.k.a. The People's D.P.) is the Emmy-nominated D.P. of such films as Spike Lee's When the Levee's Broke, If God is Willing and the Creek Don't Rise and Chris Rock's Good Hair documentary amongst many other projects. He also runs the popular educational online cinematographer's magazine, DPTV.com.

Cliff will be highlighting:
Camera (setup, movement, and composition)
Lighting (creating mood, color balancing, lighting methods and styles)
Image Manipulation (filtration and color grading)
Equipment Options (Do I rent or by, which camera and lights should I choose)
PLUS -Registration includes:
Lunch
Network Social
Resources
Vendor Discounts
One-on-One Training

D.P.'s, Don't Sleep on this! Admission is limited to only 20 students. This is RARE opportunity to get up close and personal training with one of the busiest D.P.'s in New York City.

In fact, if I were you, I would register first and tell my friends just after. (I've already registered, hence the blog post now.) This event is guaranteed to sell out. Just don't say I didn't tell you.

Download full details HERE.

For more info contact: work@thepeoplesdp.com

Listen to Cliff's Interview on The Double Down Film Show.

The People's DP Reel from Cliff Charles on Vimeo.

The People's DP Spot Reel from Cliff Charles on Vimeo.

John Gruber on The Auteur Theory in Filmmaking

2010-10-25T08:55:00.002-04:00

I just came across this interesting blog entry in a post originally by Andrew Hazlett. It's a talk by John Gruber on the Auteur Theory as it applies to filmmaking. In a nut shell, it addresses the question of how talented people can sometimes turn out mediocre projects and how mediocre talents can sometimes turn out great projects...

Talk on The Auteur Theory
By John Gruber

Why is it that some projects never rise to the level of the talent of those who made it? It’s oft said regarding good work that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But sometimes the whole is less than the sum of its parts—a company or team comprised of good people, but yet which produces work that isn’t good.

In his session, John will explain his theory to explain how this happens—in both directions—based on the longstanding collaborative art of filmmaking. Learn how to recognise when a project is doomed to mediocrity, and, more importantly, how best to achieve collaborative success.

Audio:
Download: The Auteur Theory of Design

Wes Craven Live Online - Weds. Night

2010-10-25T08:49:00.002-04:00

The New York Times brings you yet another live TimesTalks event at The Times Center in New York City, and this one's just in time for Halloween.

The master of horror Wes Craven (“Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Scream”) meets the next generation of the genre as he and Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”) talk about scary movies with Times theater critic Jason Zinoman. Craven will no doubt provide new details about Scream 4 and Peli will respond to reactions to his sequel, out now.

Watch this meeting of the minds live Weds. Oct. 27th - 6:30pm E.S.T. at: http://livestream.com/nytimes.

Netflix May Go Streaming Only...A New Blow to DVD's

2010-10-21T08:55:00.003-04:00

On the Double Down Film Show, we recently introduced a segment entitled "Startin' Some Sh*t" where we do weekly anonymous "man-on-the-street" audio segments on some controversial debate in filmmaking such as "film vs. video" or "the future of 3-D cinema".

Last night during the show we posed the sh*t startin' question:

Are DVD's Dead?

Click below to hear the man-on-the-street response:

...My co-host, Pete Chatmon, and the majority of our interviewees felt like DVD's are mostly still alive and well and going nowhere soon. I see it differently.

As you know I already declared DVD's to be dead (at least on life-support, anyway) on this blog earlier this summer. And now it appears that Netflix may be doing it part's to pull the cord on DVD life support and speed up the process. (Good thing too, I've got a lot of bets riding on DVD's imminent demise.)

Read the NY Times Netflix article HERE.

SKILLZ: Learning From the Masters - Julio Macat, A.S.C.

2010-10-21T08:27:00.001-04:00

Hosted a great private workshop for students at NYU last night with previous Double Down Film Show guest, D.P. Julio Macat, A.S.C. (Home Alone, The Nutty Professor, Ace Ventura, Wedding Crashers, etc.)

Listen to Interview

Julio was very generous with his knowledge. He talked alot about the conventions of lighting and shooting comedy and gave a nice demo of some effective and simple lighting set-ups. Here are some of the hilight tips of his presentation:

You can shoot with a lighter in front of the lens to create a heatwave effect.
If some big name actresses like the way you make them look, they may start to request you to the director on their future projects.
Always do the ordinary first, then ask yourself, "How can I make this extraordinary?"
Julio often goes by himself top "pre-film" a location by shooting various angles and lighting conditions on his own pre-production film camera test.
Alot of comedy comes from the audience knowing something the characters don't, so a lot of comedy is best played out in wider shots to better establish the comedic situation.

...There was much more, but those were just some of my take-away notes. His whole presentation just reinforced one of the messages I already preach to my students and audience plain and simple...

It ain't about the toolz. It's about the skillz.

Using the simplest of tools (chinaball, 1 open-faced light and some bounce material), Julio lit a model and made her look great. Plus showed the subtle, but powerful differences that little things like direction of the light, netting off light on clothing, and double diffusing can have on the quality of the image.

Even on the biggest budgets, the core of what the cinematographers do, still comes down to having great knowledge and skills.

Thank you Julio for driving the point home.

The Craft and Hustle of Acting with Dorian Missick

2010-10-20T08:42:00.002-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show it’s all about the ins and outs of the acting game in a candid rap session with our special guest actor, Dorian Missick.

Dorian dedicated himself to the craft (and hustle) of acting early-on and landed a few commercials as a teenager. After that first taste of professional acting, there was no turning back.

He began to methodically build a career as a working stage and screen actor starring in such films and TV shows as Lucky Number Slevin, 6 Degrees, The Manchurian Candidate, The Bounty Hunter and Double Down co-host, Pete Chatmon’s first feature, Premium… and he did it all while managing to avoid the most common pitfalls of young actors.

· What is the acting "MIDDLE CLASS" and why do most actors end up there?

· What are the unique challenges of CARRYING a feature film?

· How important is IMPROV to an actor’s toolbox?

· What to do if a scene is grossly inaccurate or gratuitously OFFENSIVE?

· What’s the difference between film and tv work for ACTORS?

Once again the back door to film school is open and we’re giving up “the game” for FREE on yet another real-life episode of the Double Down Film Show.

Almost Hollywood from Aqiyl Thomas on Vimeo.

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Is Guerrilla Filmmaking For You? Discussion

2010-10-20T08:06:00.001-04:00

Recently in their newsletter, Shooting People sent a link to this discussion: Is Guerrilla Filmmaking For You?

This fellow film blog, A Recipe to Ambleton Delight, discusses how, just because you have a guerilla crew, doesn't mean that your film will benefit from the indie style. Both this article and the blog in general are worth checking out.

For anyone interested in the topic further, Anthony teaches a full seminar on guerrilla film mindset and tactics called "Down and Dirty Filmmaking: Guerrilla Tactics - Professional Results"

Here are some video clips from the seminar:

Guerrilla Special Forces

Attracting Name Talent

10 Commandments to Become a Better Filmmaker - Tonight!

2010-10-13T08:10:00.000-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show, it’s that time of year again where we share some of our own indie filmmaking wisdom directly with you in a special keynote episode...

This time out, we’ll be giving our 10 Commandments to Become a Better Filmmaker.

This will be our break out list of 10 things that you can do to improve the quality (and quantity) of your filmmaking, regardless of whether you are a veteran filmmaker or just reading your first film book. From the cerebral, to the technical, to the intangible, we’re going to share some best practices and habits to take your craft to the next level and keep your career moving.

From wack to good to great filmmaking in 10 Commandments or less, only on the next Double Down Film Show.

Every Wednesday, 9pm - 10pm E.S.T.

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The A.I.R. DIY Reflector Tutorial

D'you have what it takes to be an AD?

2010-10-12T22:01:00.000-04:00

Applications for this years Assistant Director's Training Program recently opened up on October 1st. This program, part of the Director's Guild of America, is a legit two year stretch of hands on training on sets.

Is your interest peaked?

The DGA website makes no attempt to sugar coat the rigorous nature of the program once you're in.

A Trainee must be able to be on time for all calls and to stay on a set for long hours, in extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow and wind) with little rest time... Trainees are at the beck and call of the producers and directors ... seven days a week, 24 hours a day. A Trainee may be required to stand for long period of time, to run, to climb, and to lift and carry equipment.

In addition to all that ball breaking fun, you get seminars and counseling and special assignments and, yes, even monetary compensation. Then you graduate and can join the DGA as a 2nd AD!

BUT ... first you have to get in. And that's no easy feat. There are applications, written exams, interviews, etc. But a lucky handful get this top-quality, hands on opportunity of a life time.

D'you think you have what it takes?

http://www.dgatrainingprogram.org

A Sturdier Portable D.I.Y. Reflector

2010-10-04T08:49:00.001-04:00

One of the great things I love about teaching is that students are always teaching ME things too and keeping me up on what's going on in the Down and Dirty filmmaking streets...Case in point this cool new-fangled design for a DIY reflector at DIYPhotography.net.

In the Sight and Sound Documentary curriculum at N.Y.U. I teach a lesson on mastering the use of sunlight and mixed lighting sources that ends with students creating their own "ghetto-flectors" tm , which are DIY reflectors of cardboard, paper and aluminum foil.

My non-stop mantra to my students comes from a bit of Forrest Gump wisdom...

"A tool is as a tool does."

...and that is especially easy to apply to reflectors. What's cool about this new design is that it seems particularly portable and sturdier than others I've seen and experimented with. Shout out to Mohammad T. for the tip, which I can now share with all of you.

See how that works?...I teach them, they teach me, I teach you, you share it with your peeps and our guerrilla knowledge grows!

The Indie Team Behind "The Unidentified" on this week's Double Down Film Show!

2010-10-02T13:08:00.011-04:00

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be breaking down an indie film case-study with writer/director, Kevan Tucker, and Producer/Editor, Tim O’Neill, the creative team behind the independent film, The Unidentified.

Although a narrative film, The Unidentified was completed for $130,000, partially-improvised and shot amongst real-life events including a massive anti-war protest in Washington, D.C. After winning multiple awards at festivals across the country including Best Breakout Performance, Best New Director and Best Feature. The film is slated to premiere on PBS this weekend.

What was the most pivotal thing to raising the money?
How do you get your crew invested in your film?
How do gather and keep project momentum?
What should you rely on beyond festivals for distribution?
How has the indie film marketing evolved in recent years?
Why is it important to show up at your festival screenings?

Break out your indie notebooks as we answer all these questions and many more on the next episode of the Double Down Film Show. We don’t just talk about making films, we talk about making careers in filmmaking. Listen and learn every Wednesday night.

The Unidentified - Secrets from Tim O'Neill on Vimeo.

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