Filmmaking
Overview · Filmmaking tips · Interviews · Focus · Tribute · Actor - director relationship · Scriptwriting · 21st Century Film-making · Film Funding · Film schools · Useful websites · Production documents · Premium articles
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Cinematography of China - the cultural (r)evolution
The history of Chinese cinematography first started in 1905. It was the year when the opera The Battle of Dingjunshan, staged successfully at the Beijing Opera, was recorded for the very first time.
How to write a film script - part IV Scriptwriting
Welcome back to our little guide on a scriptwriting. A construction of a script is like a map of consecutive events which characters take part in and it constitutes a draft according to which all elements fit one to another. Every scene is supposed to contain relevant events and conflict.
The Russian and Soviet cinematography - great art from the big country Focus
The history of the Russian cinema may be divided into three periods: the Russian Empire period, the Soviet Union period and the period after Perestrojka and the fall of The Soviet Union.
How to write a film script - part III Scriptwriting
This is a continuation of our deliberations on scriptwriting. First we gathered the basic formal rules and covered the subject of a story world, then we told you about characters. Now let’s carry on. The foundation of a script is its structure. It is a scheme according to which all elements are connected and fit together. A script must be a coherent integrity.
How to write a film script – part II Scriptwriting
Continuing our deliberations about scriptwriting. I’d like to start with pointing out that apart from a story world about which I told you in the first part, an equally important part of a film story are its protagonists.
How to write a film script – part I Scriptwriting
When writing a film script you should start by picturing the film critic, the person who is going to read and review the script first of all. Winning over a critic is your first step to success.
How to finance independent films? Film Funding
As in any businesses, there is always a few different ways of financing film production.
I have already written about funds, grants and fiscal sponsorship and posted a pretty long list of funding organizations from around the world.
How to get funds for your film? Film Funding
Apart from having possibility to apply for funds to various foundations or other organizations giving grants to filmmakers (Read about foundations, grants and fiscal sponsorship or find the right organization for your project)
Foundations, grants and fiscal sponsorship Film Funding
A foundation is a non-profit organization that donates money, equipment or other commodities to an individual or other organization.
Film funding organizations Film Funding
If you decide to make a film you face many problems. First you struggle to catch and hold on to the idea that flickers in your head. Then you try to gather the best cast, crew and equipment for your project. But in most cases the biggest potential problem is money. How to collect the sufficient funds? How to gain sponsors to invest in my film? These questions bother almost every filmmaker.
Cinematography of China - the cultural (r)evolution Focus
The history of Chinese cinematography first started in 1905. It was the year when the opera The Battle of Dingjunshan, staged successfully at the Beijing Opera, was recorded for the very first time.
Funding outline Film Funding
The following information has been based on the fantastic book “The art of film funding” by Carole Lee Dean (I strongly recommend that you read the book as well as visit her website http://www.fromtheheartproductions.com) Carole Dean runs The Roy W. Dean Film & Video Grants.
Pitch Film Funding
You hear it all the time: “you need to have a good pitch to be able to get grant or get any kind of funding for your project.”
Peter Weir - the mood master Tribute
The name of Peter Weir is known to almost every film fan. Who hasn’t raved about and been frightened to death watching his most famous film Picnic at Hanging Rock? With this film, already at the very beginning of his career, Weir ensured himself a honorable spot in the history of film and ensured the world paid attention to the cinematography of Antipodes.
Abbas Kiarostami - a versatile artist Tribute
Abbas Kiarostami is one of the leaders amongst the Iranian directors. He is widely considered as the most prominent representative of this exotic cinematography which has celebrated a lot of successes at different film festivals over the last few years. This is due to the Iranian New Wave, who brought to the world many outstanding filmmakers and made Iran a significant force in cinema world.
The Austrian cinematography - great cinema of small country Focus
Austrian cinematography evolved in parallel to the other European cinematographies, since the Lumiere brothers presented to the world their wonderful invention – the cinematograph. The first recorded Austrian film company, which went down in history as Wiener Kunstfilm, commenced production in 1910, and this point is often referred to as the starting point of Austrian cinema. Already two years later the rival company, Sacha-Film, was founded. The specific characteristics of the Austrian cinema can be seen as being closely connected with the history of the country.
Cinematography of Mexico - the Latin Hollywood Focus
Mexican cinematography began its development in the 1920’s. The first films were mainly documentary newsreels called noticiarios (notices), which showed everyday life in Mexico. Unfortunately many of these films have been lost or destroyed.
Krzysztof Kieslowski - morally concerned Tribute
Krzysztof Kieślowski was, and still is regarded as, one of the most renown Polish directors in the world. He was born on the June 27th, 1941 and died, a sudden death, on March 13th, 1996. His output is composed of numerous narrative and documentary films made for both theatrical release and TV as well as many scripts, most of which were screened but some left only as the typescripts.
Jane Campion - women's cinema at its best Tribute
”Women's cinema” is a pretty new invention. Elevated by feminist orientated critics and theorists to the distinction of a film style it became a buzzword, applied without restraint to analyze all movie products made by women.
Fernando Meirelles – concerned moralist from Sao Paulo Tribute
Since the mid 1990’s the Brazilian cinema has been considered as one of the most interesting cinematographies in the world. Retomada, the revival of the Brazilian cinema was possible thanks to Jose Carlos Avellar, who in 1992, founded RioFilme, a company that financed and distributed new films.
Terms and definitions for film directors/actors Filmmaking tips
a. SUPER OBJECTIVE: The overall OBJECTIVE that carries the character through the entire story.
b. ACT OBJECTIVE: The OBJECTIVE that carries the character through a single act of the story.
The Brazilian cinema – much more than just soap operas Focus
Brazil takes a special place in the cinematic landscape of South America. The roots of Latin American cinema itself came from Brazil. In spite of many maelstroms and spells of stagnation, it is also the biggest cinematographic power on the continent.
Wong Kar Wai - Wiz of the Image Tribute
Wong Kar Wai belongs to an outstanding generation of Asian filmmakers who have created new trends in the 1990’s and made Asian cinema renowned, making ambitious movies. They moved away from the ever present, and highly dominant, Far East action cinema, by creating artistic movies that were exotic in their idiosyncracy that have gone on to win both, the audience’s and the critics’ hearts the world over.
The cinematography of Vietnam - documenting the Wars Focus
The history of Vietnamese cinematography dates back to the 1920’s when a group of intellectualists from Hanoi formed the Huong Ky Film Company producing mainly documentary movies.
Cinematography of Ireland - difficult history, important movies Focus
The history of Irish cinematography is closely connected with the history of the country which, above all else, is the history of the constant battle for independence and national, political and cultural identity.
European Cinema (1895 - 1945) Focus
Europe is regarded as the birthplace of the modern cinema. It was in Paris where the first public cinematographic projection ever took place and from there it spread all over the world. The first filmmakers were the Lumiere brothers, August and Luis, and amongst their first movies, made in 1895, that were ever shown in public were – Sortie des Usines Lumière à Lyon (Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory) and L’Arrive d’un train en gare de La Ciotat (literally the arrival of a train at La Ciotat Station).
European Cinema (1945 - 2000) Focus
In the post-war history of European cinema one might have observed two tendencies that have defined the cinema until today. On the one hand there are filmmakers, concentrated around specific schools or trends, and on the other there are outstanding directors, however derived from one of those schools or trends. The main characteristic of the European cinema has been a tendency to make the author’s movies and those outstanding directors have been creating the very core of such cinema.
Mike Leigh - kind-hearted observer Tribute
Mike Leigh is the head representative of British social realism, within the film industry, and his filmography is a showcase of British cinema in the world. He is often mentioned in the same breath as Ken Loach, with whom he shares an interest in social matters. Leigh is called a “tragi-comedian of everyday life” and a “film humanist” amongst modern directors.
Press Kit Filmmaking tips
PRESS KIT – is needed for film festivals, film markets and also when you send the film to a potential sales agent or distribution company. You must ensure that your press kit looks as professional as possible.
Asian cinematography Focus
Asian cinema as a definition refers to the cinematography of eastern, south-eastern and southern Asia (Far East cinema) and also western Asia (Near East cinema).
Atom Egoyan Tribute
Atom Egoyan, born Atom Yeghoyan on July 20th, 1960 in Cairo, is a Canadian film maker of Armenian descent. His parents, Joseph and Shushan, emigrated from Armenia to Egypt before he was born.
Cinematography of Latin America Focus
The cinematography of South America, or Latin America if you prefer, includes, first of all, the productions of; Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Peru and Mexico.
Cinematography of North America Focus
The United States of America is the birthplace of modern cinema. In 1891 Thomas Edison invented and patented the kinetoscope, a recording device intended for cinematographic projections.
Short history of African cinematography Focus
The History of African cinematography was mainly defined by one giant turning point – decolonialization. One can therefore distinguish two basic periods that determined the characteristics for the cinematographical tendencies: colonial and post-colonial.
Short story of cinematography in Australia and New Zealand Focus
Australia
If one were to think that the history of Australian cinema started in 1970’s, then one could not be more wrong.
Daily news Filmmaking tips
DAILY NEWS – it is a document prepared by the director and his assistant for the benefit of the cast and crew. The purpose of its is that the work on the set can run smoothly or at least as smooth as possible.
Press Notes Filmmaking tips
PRESS NOTES – this is an outline of what information you will need (if you distribute your film yourself) to include in the press release kit.
The Director’s Journey with Mark W. Travis Filmmaking tips
During the Munich Short Film Festival Mark W. Travis, the film director, ran one of his workshops called “The Director’s Journey”. I attended the workshops and found it really useful. Below are some pointers, thoughts and ideas from the workshops which I thought I would share with you.
