filmmaking

The Invisible Cut: How Editors Make Movie Magic

Submitted by steev on 6. February 2010 - 10:36.

The Invisible Cut: How Editors Make Movie Magic

Author: 
Bobbie O'Steen
Date read: 
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Review: 
This book would probably have been more useful if I didn't already have as much experience as I do editing. However, it was great review and reinforcement of general concepts, and it was really good when it went through specific scene examples from well-known films, like Chinatown, Body Heat, The Big Chill, etc, breaking it down cut by cut and explaining why the cuts were made the way they were. In many cases this was interspersed with interviews by the directors and editors of these films, providing even more insight into why the edits were made they way they were. Definitely worth looking at for any but the already most accomplished editors and filmmakers.

Truth On The Line site feed

Submitted by steev on 29. January 2010 - 16:47.

posts from the Truth On The Line website.

Post-Production Proceeding

Submitted by steev on 29. January 2010 - 9:03.

This is an exciting time in the creation of the Truth On the Line pilot episode.
Truth On The Line framegrab boards #2

We have a first assembly rough cut and the story is finally all there together. But of course there is still lots of work at the edit suite left to do. Alternate takes and shots must be assessed, sound must be cleaned, music selected, graphics needs to be generated and placed, and color correction will be necessary.

From the beginning of post, 5 large "frame grab boards" have hung on the wall of the edit room. These boards are a practice inspired by famed editor Walter Murch. Each camera set up in the show is represented by one or more printed still photos, arranged roughly in shot order. As we work, the boards on the wall provide a quick and easy visual representation of the project and what material is available to us.

This week has been a busy time of meetings with department heads and trusted advisors. Decisions and discussions that will determine the shape and future of the show are underway.

As we go forward from here, we'll also ramp up our efforts to get the word out about this project and start talking with interested allies. Expect to see more and more activity on this website as the final cut approaches! To be sure you stay up to date, be sure to get on the mailing list (on the front page of the web site) or join the facebook group if you're reading this there. Read more>>>

Reel To Real: Race, Sex, and Class at the Movies

Submitted by steev on 27. December 2009 - 15:09.

Reel To Real: Race, Sex, and Class at the Movies

Author: 
bell hooks
Date read: 
Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:01:42 -0800

Subtitling Redux: Subtitles y Subtitulos

Submitted by steev on 1. December 2009 - 10:51.

A few years ago I wrote a blog entry about subtitling and a little text-processing tool I wrote for preparing text so that it could be imported into DVD Studio Pro.  I wrote it because often someone doing translation for you is not putting timecode start and end times in, not to mention chopping things up into lines short enough to fit on the screen.  My program simply made up some rough timecodes based on the time offset at which you'd like subtitles to start and a constant duration for each subtitle, then inserted them before each line in the STL format. Read more>>>

Free To Pursue Your Real Talent

Submitted by steev on 30. October 2009 - 10:59.

I just read this great rant by a movie industry bigwig, screenwriter of "A History of Violence." It's entertaining it's extreme honesty and openness about the craft of screenwriting, and it's funny, and it's called "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script." I recommend reading it if you are any sort of creative person.

One of the best ideas is this: Read more>>>

In the Blink of an Eye

Submitted by steev on 15. August 2009 - 15:42.

In the Blink of an Eye

Author: 
Walter Murch
Date read: 
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Review: 
This book is really excellent if you're interested in editing films. It's not a nuts-and-bolts kind of how-to book about editing, but it is quite specific to the craft and assumes that the reader is already conversant with some of the fundamental mechanics of how film is edited. But Murch is really a wise, big-picture kind of guy (no pun intended), and he illustrates his points with very intelligent metaphors and analogies. For instance, he compares recent developments in film technology with the changes that painting underwent when pigments on frescos gave way to oil on canvas back in the 1400s or whatever.

The Cinema of Werner Herzog: Aesthetic Ecstasy and Truth (Directors' Cuts)

Submitted by steev on 4. August 2009 - 14:28.

The Cinema of Werner Herzog: Aesthetic Ecstasy and Truth (Directors' Cuts)

Author: 
Brad Prager
Date read: 
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Review: 
This is a great analysis of Herzog's work. Not as good as the Cronin book, "Herzog on Herzog", more academic, but still very very interesting if you really like his work, like me. Reading academic, theoretical kinds of works like this about film is also quite instructive because it keeps one aware that there are lots of interpretations and analyses possible beyond the intentions of the author, of any creative work. Prager does a pretty good job of not reaching too far beyond what Herzog's thinking probably was, but he does manage to bring to light a few troubling or problematic things about some of the films and tendencies, for instance, Herzog's treatment of war, and his representation and use of Africa.

Directing Feature Films: The Creative Collaborarion Between Director, Writers, and Actors

Submitted by steev on 13. July 2009 - 18:01.

Directing Feature Films: The Creative Collaborarion Between Director, Writers, and Actors

Author: 
Mark W. Travis
Date read: 
Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Review: 
This book is an excellent take on the art of directing films. Mark Travis is an amazing teacher of &#34;the big picture&#34; of filmmaking. He's a great teacher too, and I would highly recommend attending one of his directing workshops if he comes to your town. <br/> <br/>I'm tempted to start a new &#34;shelf&#34; called &#34;using&#34; because I've been not only reading this book but also using it in the pre-production and production of a film I'm shooting this summer. The book has been tremendously helpful in terms of casting, re-writing, rehearsing, and general organization and collaboration with cast and crew.

Shaking The Money Tree, 2nd Edition: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video

Submitted by steev on 22. April 2009 - 10:08.

Shaking The Money Tree, 2nd Edition: How to Get Grants and Donations for Film and Video

Author: 
Morrie Warshawski
Date read: 
Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Review: 
I sort of skimmed this, I must admit, since I'm trying to quickly raise just A LITTLE more money so I can finish a film. A lot of the book is about organizing your filmmaking career in the process of trying to raise funds for a new socially-conscious film. I'm actually toward the end of making a documentary, and just need a few grand to finish editing. <br/> <br/>In fact, if you want to help support the film, which is about war and taxes, please see <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://deathandtaxes.detritus.net">http://deathandtaxes.detritus.net</a>

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