Best Practices for “Green” Filmmaking

A new Code of Best Practices for Sustainable Filmmaking was just released by the American University School of Communication’s Center for Social Media and Center for Environmental Filmmaking.

…filmmakers create carbon debt with our work. However, as in other industry sectors, we can take action immediately to reduce consumption and waste in our profession; to educate peers, employees and interns; and to support policies that register the true environmental costs of production.” [from centerforsocialmedia.org]

This initiative also includes tools such as Checklists (actions needed to create a sustainability plan), Carbon trackers (track production activities that use energy and produce carbon emission) and some relevant web resource links. Check out the “downloads” below:

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Online Film Distributor – Caachi – Gives Filmmakers 75% of Sales Revenue

Caachi is another interesting site that offers a ‘no-strings-attached’ online distribution deal for indie filmmakers. On top of the non-exclusive, cancel-anytime agreement, they pay .75 cents for every dollar earned to the filmmaker.

Marketing your film will always be a challenging endeavor and Caachi adds a unique element – an affiliate program. Similar to any other affiliate program (i.e. Amazon, iTunes, etc.) website owners can display ads and earn revenue through direct sales of any or all films from Caachi’s library. This allows for an expansive reach beyond a “viral” campaign. Also, the Caachi Vidget (video widget) can show off your film’s trailer via an embeddable code ready for any social networking website like Facebook and MySpace.

Caachi also offers free films. Check it out here.  FYI…to download films, you’ll need to use the open-source video player Miro.

Storybids Connects Content Creators with Advertisers

Storybids is an interesting site that looks to give content creators a link to the product placement marketplace. Storybids provides an outlet for auctioning online content to advertisers to include their products in online video content. Their tool provides an option for filmmakers/content creators to off-set production costs and even make a profit on their creation. If this endeavor is successful, it will lay a foundation for independent filmmakers to bridge to monetization resources traditionally only available to big budget productions.

Now advertisers are turning to the Internet and shifting their budget to online videos, product placements and viral videos. By 2010, experts estimate online advertising will grow to an $11 billion business. Agencies just aren’t geared for these types of media – and there is a new generation of computer savvy film and video makers out there who have great ideas that need a distribution channel. That’s what Storybids.com is all about.” [from storybids.com]

Watching (clip): “DIY Dinner N…

Watching (clip): “DIY Dinner NYC” by FromHeretoAwesome –

http://fromheretoawesome.blip.tv/#1457284

Reading: “Top Five Digital Str…

Reading: “Top Five Digital Strategies for Social Issue Filmmakers” -
http://tinyurl.com/3wh8zn

Listening to (podcast): “DIY F…

Listening to (podcast): “DIY Filmmaking in an Indie Apocalypse” -
http://tinyurl.com/9rtjcw

Reading: “…GFEM link funders…

Reading: “…GFEM link funders with filmmakers” -
http://tinyurl.com/8rc6vc

Create an Animated Film with Moviestorm (Free Software)

Moviestorm provides a complete animation movie-making package useful for the novice to the professional animator. It uses video-game-like Machinima 3-D animation technology first made famous by underground community of gamers. I see its minimal use for filmmakers as a free alternative to buying Frame Forge storyboarding software (retail costs: $100-400). You can create your scenes in a 3-D storyboard; save time & money in virtual test sets and get an idea if certain scenes will work on your actual shoot.

Moviestorm’s parent company is UK based Short Fuze – game design production consultancy house that produced the Machinima short demo film, titled, No Licence.  Here’s how they describe their movie-making tool:

Moviestorm is a fully integrated complete solution that takes the user all the way from initial concept to finished, distributed movies. Its ease of use makes it accessible for first time movie-makers, while its advanced features and compatibility with existing tools make it suitable for pro-am users. It allows individuals and groups to create many different types of movies; from comedies, music videos, video blogs, soaps, drama and documentaries, through to high-quality complex movies that traditionally have only been affordable to fully funded film-makers. Our goal is to make Moviestorm the ubiquitous platform of choice for animated movie production. ” [from Shortfuze]

They have basic tutorials to help you get started. The initial software suite is free and they constantly update their content packs – giving users new sets, characters and themes. More premium sets are also available for a fee.

Here’s a sample clip from one of its users:

Continue reading Create an Animated Film with Moviestorm (Free Software)…

DV Cameras Comparison Guides

Are you trying to decide what DV camera to use/buy/rent on your next film? Check out these valuable sources which sort numerous options for you.

+ Slash Cam has 83 models in a database with sort able filters for you to compare different camera models. It has every conceivable category for you to choose from.

+ HD Cinema: HD and Digital Cinema Camera Blog has another CHART. This is a straight up list from cameraman, Ben Cain which includes some of the higher end DV cameras like the VariCams, The Red One and the Genesis. He also adds another list from Fletcher Camera (PDF file).

And last but not least… Zacuto, the Chicago based camera house has a great ‘comparison’ video (via Vimeo) that compares all of the new HD cameras on the market to each other in a same scene, same lighting set-up comparison test. Check it out (below):

+ “Zacuto’s Great Camera Shootout ’08”

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YouTube PROJECT: DIRECT Can Get You to Sundance ‘09

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival and Youtube’s short film competition can send you there with PROJECT: DIRECT. The winner will go to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and meet with Sundance’s Director of Programming, screen your film to a live audience, plus $2,500 cash. Submissions, no longer than 5 minutes long are due by December 14, 2008.

Here’s the gimmick: Your entry must include two props from their list – plus a red telephone. There are 25 props samples to choose from. Each represent a classic Sundance Film Festival film – i.e. a hockey stick from Clerks, an instant photo from Memento, a bunny suit from Donnie Darko, etc. Here’s the FAQs.

For the full rundown, check out the clip below from writer/director Darren Aronofsky [IMDB]:

Continue reading YouTube PROJECT: DIRECT Can Get You to Sundance ‘09…