25 Documentary Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter

25 Documentary Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter

Recently, we've compiled lists of 40 Female Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter and 100 Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter, but we felt it was time to highlight some of our favorite documentary filmmakers on Twitter. It's an eclectic and impressive group responsible for some of our favorite documentaries, including, most recently, "Stories We Tell," "The Armstrong Lie," "Valentine Road," "The Act of Killing" and "The Punk Singer."

Note that this isn't a comprehensive list, but that all of these filmmakers are active on Twitter -- and whether they're promoting their own projects or debating the merits of various documentary techniques, these cinematic rabble-rousers are consistently informative, entertaining and engaging.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/25-documentary-filmmakers-to-follow-on-twitter

"Amateur" Filmmakers making feature films

"Amateur" Filmmakers making feature films

The biggest reason was money. Two years ago I was laid off from a well-paying job where I was able to save a pretty decent chunk of money. I knew it would only dwindle over time if I didn't use it immediately, and since I had all this free time, it was the perfect opportunity to make a movie. I reasoned that I may never get this much money again so if I were to spend it all on a short film, the best that could happen is I have a portfolio piece that could MAYBE lead to me getting funding for a feature, but not likely.

http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?p=348922

Bolex goes digital with the D16 Cinema Camera

Bolex goes digital with the D16 Cinema Camera

There was a time, not all that long ago, when most independent film-makers shot their projects on relatively-inexpensive 16mm film – it wasn't as pricey as 35mm, but was definitely a step up from Super 8. The cameras shooting that film were quite often made by the venerable Swiss manufacturer, Bolex. Today, in the age of digital video, film-makers wanting to take a step up from consumer-grade camcorders are looking at some pretty expensive gear. LA-based entrepreneurs Joe Rubinstein and Elle Schneider are trying to change that, with the introduction of their Digital Bolex D16 Cinema Camera.

http://www.gizmag.com/digital-bolex-d16-cinema-camera/30239/

10 Film Distribution Essentials

10 Film Distribution Essentials

You have finished your short, feature or documentary and sent it to film festivals.

After a festival screening, a sales rep comes snapping at your heels, and tries to feel you out to see what kind of filmmaker you really are: a talented amateur or a true professional.

First thing they want to know, usually in my experience, BEFORE they talk about money, is whether or not you can stand up to the plate and deliver. By that I mean: a sales rep or distributor will want to know if you can deliver the 'deliverables.' Most so-called filmmakers can't.

Lets take a closer look:

http://www.raindance.org/10-film-distribution-essentials/

10 British Screenwriters Who Broke Into Hollywood

10 British Screenwriters Who Broke Into Hollywood

Brit Screenwriting talent is well known on these shores – Simon Beaufoy, Richard Curtis, David Hare, Abi Morgan, Tom Stoppard, Peter Morgan, William Nicholson… the list is impressive. But what about Brit talent working in Hollywood? Industrial Scripts looks at British Screenwriters who have made the leap across the pond to make a name for themselves in La-La Land…

http://www.industrialscripts.co.uk/10-british-screenwriters-in-hollywood/

16 Reasons Why Screenwriters and Film-makers Fail | Raindance Film Festival

16 Reasons Why Screenwriters and Film-makers Fail | Raindance Film Festival

On the back on the BIFA's 2013, we are reminded of the great talent the British Film industry has to offer; some of the nominees and winners were fresh new faces and others were regulars to our TV and cinema screens. Many film makers come and go through the film industry and, unfortunately, the industry is not always a kind one. However there are steps you can take to equip you with the knowledge needed to make it in the film industry, take heed of these wise words; they will be of use to you in future:

http://www.raindance.org/why-screenwriters-and-film-makers-fail/

Gear Up: The Tools Documentary Filmmakers Use Most (2013)

Gear Up: The Tools Documentary Filmmakers Use Most (2013)

As someone who is very gingerly dipping his toes into making the transition from stills to motion, I have found myself regularly overwhelmed by the sheer number of options there are when it comes to choosing the "right" gear. I love my Fuji X-Pro1, but it's really a stills camera. The video functionality is basic at best and feels more like a last minute addition to help round out a spec sheet. So, like many of you, I spend time reading reviews on various sites, hoping to glean some insight into what "kit" makes the most sense for what I want to do and how much I have to spend.

http://fadedandblurred.com/blog/gear-tools-documentary-filmmakers-use-2013/

4 Do-It-Yourself Digital Distribution Platforms

When you don't want to work with a traditional distributor -- or when they don't want to work with you -- digital self-distribution is an option for sharing your finished film with the world.

Expect each of the DIY services below to take a cut of your streaming or download revenue, but the math isn't always simple, so we asked each company direct questions about their business and why a documentary filmmaker would want to use their service over all the others.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/filmmakers/diy-digital-distribution-platforms.php#.Uq60KrsgHCQ

The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media

The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media

If you cant make it to one of Bruce Blocks legendary visual storytelling seminars, then you need his book! Now in full color for the first time, this best-seller offers a clear view of the relationship between the story/script structure and the visual structure of a film, video, animated piece, or video game. You will learn how to structure your visuals as carefully as a writer structures a story or a composer structures music.Understanding visual structure allows you to communicate moods and emotions, and most importantly, reveals the critical relationship between story structure and visual structure.

http://spookynet.org/ebooks/72832-the-visual-story-creating-the-visual-structure-of-film-tv-and-digital-media.html

A Huge Roundup of Free Tools For Film and Video Editors

A Huge Roundup of Free Tools For Film and Video Editors

Who doesn't love free stuff? Check out this round-up of free light leaks, templates, tools, presets, film grain and more to add some shine to your everyday editing tasks.

Free stuff is one of the great benefits of the Internet – loads of great contributors willing to share their expertise and generosity with anyone who wants it. As a way of maximizing that generosity and getting you some great free stuff, here's a quick roundup of some of the best free elements for video editors and motion designers!

http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/a-huge-roundup-of-free-tools-for-film-and-video-editors/

The Revolution Won’t Be Televised – 4 Reasons the Future of Filmmaking is Online

The Revolution Won't Be Televised – 4 Reasons the Future of Filmmaking is Online

The future is online.

In the years since the rise of big name web series like Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog following the 2007 writer's strike, when writers wanted to keep working on professional, quality productions while still supporting the unions, the medium has become legitimate platform for creators of original pieces to both showcase their talent and engage with their audience. It is this sense of community that sets the medium apart from the more traditional options.

http://www.raindance.org/the-revolution-wont-be-televised-4-reasons-the-future-of-filmmaking-is-online/

6 Filmmaking Tips from Roger Deakins

6 Filmmaking Tips from Roger Deakins

There's a moment about halfway through Denis Villeneuve's sprawling, occasionally brilliant yet sharply uneven film Prisoners that finds Jake Gyllenhaal's Detective Loki do something that we've seen so many detectives do in movies before: in a bout of frustration, he swipes his arms across his cubicle desk, violently sending his evidence and other materials into a labyrinthine clutter. But this fit of anger ends up leading to a serendipitous discovery – the chaotic new arrangement of papers on the floor reveals for the detective a clue that had been hiding under his nose in plain sight the whole time.

http://filmdirectingtips.com/archives/8604

Bryan Smith: Adrenaline Filmmaking

Bryan Smith: Adrenaline Filmmaking

Jaw-dropping footage in stunning locations doesn'​t come free. Find out why extreme adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith says that "​the suffering co-efficient is my key to success."​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KILquzkJLE

How Many Films Does The Average Low-Budget Filmmaker Make?

How Many Films Does The Average Low-Budget Filmmaker Make?

Independent filmmaking is the land of the never-ending benchmark. If you're not heaving a sigh after finally completing your film, you're praying it's accepted into a festival, that someone buys it, that it finds its audience, that you reap a modicum of returns, before daring to do it all over again. Or maybe, not.

With the assistance of BFI, British producer Stephen Follows managed to fashion a list of all UK films budgeted at under £500k since 2008, and over £500k since 2003, for a data comparison on the career trajectories of filmmakers behind 2,737 films. His findings, while vaguely depressing, are nonetheless intriguing. Only 15% of writers, directors, producers and actors continue to work on either side of the budget margin, while just 13% of producers who produced a low budget film go on to make another one. Shocking still, a mere 3% of directors who make their first film go on to make two more.

http://filmmakermagazine.com/82715-how-many-films-does-the-average-low-budget-filmmaker-make/

Filmmaker's Journey: A Conversation with Dimi Nakov

Filmmaker's Journey: A Conversation with Dimi Nakov

Filmmaking is a dream career and a difficult journey. I recently interviewed New Zealand's Dimi Nakov, a filmmaker, to find out about his journey in film, and where it has taken him this far.

1) Dimi, your love of film began when you first received a stills camera at a young age, do you feel that filmmakers today don't understand the value of film as much as they should? Thank you Ric. It would be impossible for me to put everyone in the same box and speak for everyone else's values when it come to this amazing craft.For me making movies is a way of life, not a job, It's who i am. I still remember it like it was yesterday how happy I was when my grandfather gave me a small manual stills camera. It was s Zenith, black and white, 24 frames of film. My grandfather was a teacher and as well as teaching mathematics, physics and chemistry he also ran photography workshops, which I attended. I remember how fascinating it was to develop photos on my own and see how the white paper transformed to the still I had taken a week earlier. It was like magic for me back then. This experience stayed with me and it's the core of my passion.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1064803/

Afghanistan: filmmaker's experience embedding with soldiers in 'living hell'

Afghanistan: filmmaker's experience embedding with soldiers in 'living hell'

Anthropologist and filmmaker Chris Terrill, the only civilian to have won a Royal Marines green beret, was on the front line in Afghanistan at the same time as the Marine A incident took place.

Not only that, he was embedded with the marines at the same place as it occurred – a remote patrol base deep in the Helmand valleys and set in what was described at the time as "the most dangerous square mile in the world".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/10483702/Afghanistan-filmmakers-experience-embedding-with-soldiers-in-living-hell.html