No I dont have any software for this type of thing except keying out with Aftereffects. I did not use a green screen because I was more worried about spill over in the little room I had to film in so I ended up cutting out the frames by hand (masking). I guess it was close to 1000 frames.

So now you see why I will never film again without a real set... though I dont mind enhancing the background and foreground with digital components... just no more cutting out the background.

Holy cow a 1000 frames?! How long did that process take you?

:}

I think it took a couple of weeks working nights. On some areas I was able to key the background out. This would have been a 3 day project otherwise.

Scripts of short films that have been made
 

This isn't really an announcement but its on the topic...

I am buying an XM2 soon and i want to make a short film as a way of 'breaking it in'. I'm looking for scripts of short films that have been made, so that I can watch the existing version to get an idea of where to start.

I would be really grateful if anyone could let me know of any websites with such scripts on them.

cheers

Hagopm@dog.com

You might have better luck finding a feature film script you like and just film a scene or two from it.

Try these...

http://www.script-o-rama.com/oldindex.shtml

http://www.movie-page.com/movie_scripts.htm

http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.htm

http://www.moviescripts.de/


It might be difficult to locate a specific short film script.

If you do come across such a site let me know. I wouldn't mind taking a look at the 1994 "Bottle Rocket" short screenplay by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. Also, there is a short film I really love titled "Stalker Guilt."

Regards

It is better to write your own, that way you can write abou the stuff you have to work with.
It is just a practice film afterall.

lovely dv film- Chelsea Walls
 

I alternately loved and hated Chelsea Walls,
now on dvd. Absolutely beautiful, innovative cinematography- shot on Sony Pd100 w/Magic Bullet - an adapted stage play- gets painfully talky in parts- but a must see for the acting and cinematography.

Team up with writer who is starting out.

thanks for the info elvis. The script-o-rama site is great, I downloaded quite a few from there, including what looks like an unmade Kevin Smith film (Superman lives)

I've taken part in a few productions that have been written by inexperienced directors, and they are often a a bit one sided. I think doing a scene or two from a feature film is a good idea, and would probably give the most professional result

I rented that
 

I rented this movie last night. Sure enough the XL1 is are all over the place. It makes me cringe when I see that dude hit the pavement and the camera disentigrate!! Well worth the rental price for that. Frame....by.....frame....

I think there is even a GL1 whose Mini DV chamber the cop somehow manages to hide a gun in at the end. I'd like to know how...

Lightning
 

Hi all,

I've posted some of the pictures and (hopefully once i get my ftp to work properly) some video clips of the the thunderstorm i filmed a week or so ago.

Let me know what you think. I'll be posting some more as time goes by.

Regards

Nick


http://www.nglenister.fsnet.co.uk

New Discovery Channel program shot with PD-150
 

The Discovery Channel is heavily promoting a new fall program called "Surprise By Design". This is a home improvement type program. I spoke with one of the shooters and he told me that it is becoming very common that principle shots are done with Betacam and B-roll is done with DV, at least on these types of programs. From what I could see, there is a LOT of DV! Every know and then you can catch a reflection here and there.

A good scene to do might be the full version of the cabride from "Pulp Fiction" (which can be seen on the VHS or DVD). It plays like a short film in and of itself and the script is really easy to find.

-Shawn

not a bad idea, but if I'm going to attempt my version of something that has already been shot, I'd prefer to do something a bit less mainstream, otherwise everyone who watches mine will compare it to the feature film version

I also want to do something more original. I write experimental breakbeat, and alot of my music gets pretty damn weird while still being a pleaseant experience. I'd like to do a film that works in similar ways, possibly disorienting and confusing the audience before returning them to a solid story.

I don't really know what I'm talking about - I've never studied film or anything - I'm about to start my second year of a degree media course so have a bit of experience working with cameras but nothing this open-ended and creative. I've read a few feature scripts since I first posted but nothing has jumped out of the screen at me yet...

Twilight Zone / Outer Limits scripts
 

Some great self-contained short format scripts are the ones written for the original Twilight Zone and Outer Limits series. Not only were these great stories with real kickers of endings (usually), they were written for a television medium that roughly corresponds to the state of DV now. That is: constrained by low budget but with no shortage of technique or talent. A good many of those stories take place on a single sound stage or in readily available outside locations.