TIPS
Hello, Montreal Film Group Members,
This page is filled with helpful tips to help you along the way with your projects. Read through them at your leisure and soak them in!
If you have tips to share with fellow MFG members, please send them in to us here. Thanks to all the MFG members who submitted the tips below!
And now for the Tips...
***
Short film on the realities of making independent documentaries. Featuring MFG member Frederic Bohbot. Directed by Kacim Steet. Watch it here.
***
Article on the merits of 'micro-documentary' filmmaking. Read it here.
***
Very helpful article: "How to successfully pitch your documentary project" Read it here.
***
Excellent tips on how to make invoicing for your film/TV services a breeze. Michael Maher’s “Get Paid for Video Projects Without Sounding Like a Jerk”. Read it here.
***
Werner Herzog's tips on getting into the film world. Read it here.
***
How to create media buzz for your crowdfunding campaign. Very useful tips from the CMF website.
***
Incredibly helpful article on all you need to know about licensing music for your project. Courtesy of MFG friends at Harris & Wolff.
***
"The Seven Arts of Working in Film: A Necessary Guide to On-Set Protocol", excellent article about working on a film set, here
***
Check out this excellent and very inspiring interview with MFG member Mike Konyves (screenwriter of Barney's Version with Dustin Hoffman and Paul Giamatti) here. All about his tips on being a writer.
***
Here's an interview with Jean Luc Della Montagna of NuFilms: producer of music videos by Arcade Fire, Sam Roberts, David Guetta and others. Written by MFg member Charles Déry. Click here to read the article (in French).
***
Here are three articles relating to music composers and directors who work with them. They were written by MFG member Brent Holland. The articles are: Starting Points, Stock Music for the Brave and the Bold, and Collaborating With a Composer. Enjoy these meaty articles!
***
Here's an article from POV Magazine about breaking into documentary filmmaking. It was written by veteran doc filmmaker and MFG member Magnus Isacsson. Click here to read.
***
Ever wanted a few tips on how to network successfully at an industry event? Writer and MFG member Day's Lee has graciously shared her expertise with us all in this short essay called Networking For Newbies. Click here to read.
***
Here's an article by attorney Hendrik Pretorius called "How Canadians in Film and Television Can Legally Work in the U.S.A." It will help give a primer to Canadians in the film/TV industry looking to move from Canada to the U.S.A. Click here to read.
***
Filmmaker and MFG member Carl Laudan offers us these brass-tacks tips on getting your short film made and seen. Click here to read.
***
Here's a quick n' easy top 10 list by documentary filmmaker, St-Ambroise Centre Program Director and MFG member Dave Cool called "Dave Cool’s Top 10 DIY Film Marketing Tips". Click here to read.
***
Are you a composer getting started in the business? If so, you'll definitely want to read composer and MFG member Ned Bouhalassa's helpful "Scoring Tips". Click here to read.
***
MFG Co-Founder Ezra Soiferman's "10 Little Tips For Making A Short Movie". Click here to read.
***
MFG member Thierry Harris recommends « Objectif Film » Un guide destiné aux jeunes du secondaire pour faire des courts métrages. This is a very handy book put out by l'Association des cinémas parallèles du Québec - ACPQ. More info.
***
Filmmaker and MFG member Karen Belfo of Ofleb Productions offers us her trusty Top 5 List: "The Ofleb Opinion on Short Filmmaking": 5) Drink water instead of coffee. 4) Keep extra flashlights and batteries in case of power failure. 3) Be prepared for the worst. 2) Keep a friendly atmosphere. 1) Stay focused.
***
Here's a Stop-Motion Animation Tip from animator and MFG member Jitika Shah: "For stop motion puppet armatures made with wire, use two wires to twist around each other to make a strong enough puppet 'skeleton' to endure the shoot because you will be moving the parts bit by bit ( i.e., animating the puppet) as you shoot frame-by-frame. They have to withstand the wear. Doubling the wires also reduces the tiny, shaky movements taut wires tend to create when you move the puppet for frame-by-frame capture. Contact me for more info: maskaoru@yahoo.ca. Here's a handy diagram. And here's a great site of stop-motion resources.
***
Are you an aspiring DOP looking to learn from the greats? Here's a DVD about legendary Hollywood and international cinematographers: Visions Of Light: The Art of Cinematography
***
Aspiring editors might want to check out this film that takes you up close with big industry editors: Edge Codes. And here's a book by Michael Ondaatje about Walter Murch's craft of film editing: The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
***
Here's one last tip... Visit the MFG's Industry Links page for tons of resources on funding, festivals, schools, equipment, jobs, etc!
***
OK, one more tip... Remember to bookmark the MFG News Page and check back in regularly. Job news, screening news and pertinent member news is posted there nearly every day. It's there for you!
***
Lots of luck with your projects! Bonne chance avec tous vos projets!
|
