Filmmaking in Action

Chapter 1: The Big PictureWhy Make a Film?ACTION STEPS: Getting StartedThree Filmmaking PrinciplesSix Filmmaking ViewpointsPRODUCERS SMARTS: Congratulations, You Are a Movie Producer![video] HOW DO I...? Get My First Movie Made, with Cherien DabisThe Filmmaking PathBUSINESS SMARTS: Taking Care of BusinessChapter Essentials?Part I: Concept and PreparationChapter 2: Start with the ScriptWhere Do Ideas Come From?Original IdeasACTION STEPS: Brainstorming IdeasSource MaterialIntellectual PropertyRights and TitleFair UseTheme, Story, and Character"It's about someone who..."StructureACTION STEPS: How to Avoid Writing a Bad Student Film
Writing and Screenplay FormatsACTION STEPS: How to Get Started Writing Your ScriptDevelopmentDeveloping Your Script[video] HOW DO I...? Respond to Script Notes, with Julia CamaraBUSINESS SMARTS: A Writers ContractThe Studio Development CyclePRODUCER SMARTS: How to Work with the WriterChapter Essentials?Chapter 3: DirectingThe Director's RolePRODUCER SMARTS: Producer and Director, A Working RelationshipSeeing Your Project through a Directors EyesGetting the Script and Working ItACTION STEPS: How to Mark Up Your ScriptCasting ActorsBUSINESS SMARTS: Agents, Managers, and LawyersACTION STEPS: The Audition ProcessSelecting Department HeadsPlanning and Visualizing the ShootPlanning the ShootVisualizing the Shoot[video] HOW DO I...? Set the Tone On-Set, with David Gordon GreenDifferent Styles of Aesthetics and LeadershipWorking On-SetACTION STEPS: How to Work with ActorsSupporting PositionsWorking the Movie You Just ShotFinishing the Movie"Final" CutChapter Essentials?Chapter 4: Conceptualization and Design The Principles of DesignComposition ElementsMis-en-SceneACTION STEPS: Choosing a Color PaletteTECH TALK: Color Theory in Design[video] HOW DO I...? Use Design to Tell a Story, with Alex McDowellDesign PlanACTION STEPS: Design AnalysisResearch and ReferencesPRODUCER SMARTS: Dumpster DivingLocationsSetsTECH TALK: Common Set StructuresPrevisualizationSketches and StoryboardsDigital PrevisTECH TALK: Digital Storyboard ToolsChapter Essentials Chapter 5: Production Planning and ManagementManagement OverviewBUSINESS SMARTS: Business, Insurance, and Legal RequirementsSchedulingScript BreakdownShooting ScheduleACTION STEPS: Be Prepared[video] HOW DO I...? Manage My Productions Details, with Lulu ZezzaBudgetingBudget DocumentBe ResourcefulACTION STEPS: Planning Crew Meals on a Tight BudgetPRODUCER SMARTS: Finding FundingChapter Essentials?Part II: Images and SoundChapter 6: Camera SkillsYour Screen is Your CanvasAspect Ratios and FormatsACTION STEPS: Shooting for Multiple FormatsSpecial Formats: 3D Stereoscopic and Giant ScreenPRODUCER SMARTS: Creative Discussion about the Look of the FilmImage Capture Media and MachinesTECH TALK: What Are You Seeing?Digital CamerasHow Digital Cameras WorkTECH TALK: Picking on Pixels[video] HOW DO I...? Prepare the Camera, with Jacob PingerTypes of Digital CamerasACTION STEPS: Using Your Digital CameraFilmFilm Formats and Film StockHow Film and Film Cameras WorkACTION STEPS: Using a Film CameraTECH TALK: Go Negative!LensesFocal LengthFocusKey Factors: Shutter and ApertureDepth of FieldACTION STEPS: Rack Focus and Depth of FieldSupporting and Moving the CameraBUSINESS SMARTS: The "Camera Package"Chapter Essentials?Chapter 7: Telling the Story with the CameraBasic ShotsLong ShotsMedium ShotsClose ShotsCamera Angles: How You View the SceneACTION STEPS: Low Budget Dutch Angle TrickACTION STEPS: Dirty vs. CleanCompositionWhat is Good Composition?PRODUCER SMARTS: Composition Outside the FrameACTION STEPS: Shooting People and ObjectsComposition in the Moving FrameComposition and LensesACTION STEPS: Low-Budget Hacks to Make Your Student Film Look High-BudgetCreating Images for ContinuityHow to Shoot a SceneDon't Cross the Line!Eyelines, Visual Effects, and Animation[video] HOW DO I...? Motivate the Camera, with Mandy WalkerBUSINESS SMARTS: How Many Shots Do You Need?Chapter Essentials?Chapter 8: Lighting SkillsQualities of LightShadows and ContrastDirectional and Diffused LightingMeasuring LightingExposureApproaches to ExposureElements of ExposureExposure in ActionACTION STEPS: Solving Exposure ProblemsColorColor TemperatureWhite BalanceLighting GearACTION STEPS: Lighting Safety First!TECH TALK: Dont Blow that Circuit!Lighting InstrumentsExterior LightsInterior Lights[video] HOW DO I...? Light with Minimal Tools, with Willie DawkinsBUSINESS SMARTS: Renting LightsPRODUCER SMARTS: How Much is Enough?Mounting EquipmentDiffusers, Gels, and CookiesChapter Essentials Chapter 9: Telling the Story through LightingStyle, Planning, and PreparationACTION STEPS: Planning the Lighting[video] HOW DO I...? Light for Mood, with Russell Carpenter Three-Point LightingACTION STEPS: How to Set Up Three-Point LightingThe Lighting RatioContinuity and Your Lighting TriangleHow Much Light?Adjusting the LightsPRODUCER SMARTS: How Long Will Set-Ups Take?Outdoor LightingAdjusting for Weather and Time of DayPractical Outdoor Set-UpsIndoor LightingLighting DiagramsPractical Indoor Set-UpsSpecial Lighting SituationsLow Light and Mixed LightSkin Tone VariationsLighting for MovementLighting for VFXChapter Essentials Chapter 10: SoundPrinciples of Sound DesignPRODUCER SMARTS: The Sonic BusinessPlanning Sound DesignDialogue and Sound EffectsACTION STEPS: Annotate Your Script for Sound OpportunitiesThe Music PlanBUSINESS SMARTS: Licensing MusicSound RecordingRecording Best PracticesTECH TALK: AcousticsACTION STEPS: Using the Boom[video] HOW DO I...? Fulfill Sound Requirements, with Paul OttossonProduction Recording: DialogueRecording Sound EffectsRecording LevelsMicrophonesRecording EquipmentPost-Production SoundTECH TALK: Mixing ConsolesACTION STEPS: Prepping for Editing and MixingDialogue Editing ADRSound Effects EditingFoleyMusic EditingArt of the MixChapter Essentials?Part III: Production GlueChapter 11: Editing SkillsGetting StartedNLE HardwareNLE SoftwareOrganize a WorkflowPRODUCER SMARTS: Stretching ResourcesOrganize the AssemblyFiles and BinsTimelinesTechnical Assembly TechniquesACTION STEPS: Art of the Trim[video] HOW DO I...? Keep Track of Footage, with Mindy ElliottFinishingTECH TALK: Native EditingACTION STEPS: Adding Titles and GraphicsOffline/Online WorkflowColor CorrectionOutputting a Master FileChapter Essentials Chapter 12: Telling the Story through EditingThe Phases of EditingPRODUCER SMARTS: Watch YourselfFind the RhythmAnalyze the MaterialTransition In and OutACTION STEPS: Cutting a ConversationEditing BasicsThe StylesACTION STEPS: Art of the MontageThe RulesBreaking the Rules[video] HOW DO I...? Show Point of View Through Editing, with William GoldenbergTransitions and CutsTypes of TransitionsTypes of CutsChapter Essentials Chapter 13: Visual Effects and AnimationVFX OverviewPlanning Visual EffectsPRODUCER SMARTS: Affording Visual EffectsStoryboards and PrevisualizationTypical Visual EffectsACTION STEPS: Wire Removal[video] HOW DO I...? Embrace Simplicity in Visual Effects, with Ken RalstonCASE STUDYSpecial EffectsComputer Generated ImageryACTION STEPS: Plate PhotographyCharacter AnimationKey TechniquesMotion CaptureManaging DataChapter Essentials?Part IV: Filmmaking and BeyondChapter 14: Marketing and Distribution Defining the AudienceLearning from your Audience While You Work your MovieACTION STEPS: Preview ScreeningKinds of AudiencesReaching Your AudienceACTION STEPS: Messaging Your MoviePublicity and Promotion[video] HOW DO I...? Market My Movie Like a Pro, with Dennis OConnorACTION STEPS: Making Your Trailer Paid MarketingPRODUCER SMARTS: The Producers Role in MarketingDistributing Your FilmDistribution BasicsDIY DistributionFestivalsBUSINESS SMARTS: Distribution RightsACTION STEPS: Entering a Film FestivalStudio (Theatrical) DistributionDistribution PatternsExhibition VenuesThe Right DateWindowsBUSINESS SMARTS: PiracyChapter Essentials?Chapter 15: Careers in FilmmakingAnalyzing the Credit Roll[video] HOW DO I...? Decide on a Career Path, with Lucy Fisher and Doug WickNavigating the IndustryNetworkingInternshipsHelping YourselfACTION STEPS: Creating a Demo ReelBUSINESS SMARTS: Build Your Online PlatformChapter Essentials GlossaryIndex