Extreme DV at Used-Car Prices : How to Write, Direct, Shoot, Edit, and Produce a Digital Video Feature for LessThan $3,000

by Schmidt, Rick (Author)

• ISBN13: 9780142004357
• ISBN10: 0142004359
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-27
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)

Summary

For years, award-winning independent filmmaker Rick Schmidt has been teaching aspiring writers, directors, and producers how to make no-budget” films, both in workshops and in his classic guide, Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices. Now Schmidt shows how it is easier—and cheaper—than ever to make an innovative, high quality work, thanks to digital video. Filled with the latest information on equipment and software, ideas for experimenting with new techniques, and advice based on Schmidt’s own experiences, Extreme DV at Used-Car Pricesoffers a step-by-step tour through the making of a feature- length movie using the newest and ever-changing DV technology. Instructive and inspiring, this one-of-a-kind book is essential for filmmakers with lots of ideas but little money.

Author Biography

Rick Schmidt has spent more than thirty years writing, directing, and producing critically acclaimed low-budget feature films, many of which have premiered at major film festivals around the world.

Table of Contents

A PREAMBLE	xi
FOREWORD: "THE PATH OF THE ARTIST" BY RAY CARNEY (www.Cassavetes.com)	xxix
PREFACE	xxxix
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	xlv
INTRODUCTION	li
1. NO CONCEPT/NO PREMISE MINI-DV MOVIEMAKING	1	(41)
THREE MINI-DV CASE STUDIES: SHOOTING THREE FEATURES IN THREE MONTHS	2	(1)
DV FEATURE 1: TWENTY-THREE COLLABORATORS CREATE A DV FEATURE IN NINETEEN DAYS	3	(22)
Day One: The UCSC Class Learns They Will Start Shooting in Four Hours	4	(1)
Twenty-three Collaborative Contracts	5	(1)
Teacher or Producer?	6	(1)
Determining the Amount of Footage to Shoot	7	(1)
Our First "Location Miracle"	8	(1)
Supplying at Least One "Known": Great Improv Actors	9	(1)
Going Dogme 95?	10	(1)
Structuring Twenty-two Students into Five Production Units	11	(1)
Selecting the First Group to Shoot	11	(1)
Adding Five Line Producers to the Mix	12	(1)
The Role-Playing Aspect of Production: Screening Footage as We Go	12	(1)
Scheduling the Screening of Cassettes to Build a Movie	13	(1)
Shooting in the Restaurant During Lunch-A Tight Schedule Dictates!	14	(1)
No Releases Equals No Shoot	15	(1)
Getting a Concept and Building on a Present Reality	15	(1)
Sizing Up the Main Location and Getting the Action Rolling	16	(1)
Building Characters Through Their Attitudes	16	(3)
Real-Life Stories for Editing Juxtaposition	19	(1)
Believing in the Flow	19	(1)
Pickup Shots to Cap Off a Story	20	(1)
Twenty-three Collaborators in One Small Editing Cubicle	21	(2)
Shooting a New Ending (with Night Vision)	23	(1)
The Important Final Screening	24	(1)
DV FEATURE 2: THE PORT TOWNSEND FEATURE WORKSHOP, AUGUST 2002	25	(9)
The Subconscious Mind as Scriptwriter	26	(2)
That All-Important First Scene: Starting the Moviemaking Flow	28	(1)
Moving to a Hotel Room in My Own Town	29	(2)
Ex-Wife Showdown: How Scenes Lead to Other Scenes	31	(1)
Can You See Your Head?	32	(1)
Wrap Party Luckout: Getting the "Big Song" for the Movie	33	(1)
DV FEATURE 3: FIGUEIRA DA FOZ INTERNATIONAL, PORTUGAL	34	(5)
Bring a Good Actor Along to Shoot a Movie	35	(1)
Most Minimal Mini-DV: Traveling Light	35	(1)
Connecting Concepts to Visualize Your Full Movie	36	(3)
BUDGET FOR THREE DV FEATURES: $215 OF MINI-DV STOCK	39	(3)
2. YOU SHOOT THE WORKS: TAKING YOUR DV PROJECT FROM SCRIPT TO PREPRODUCTION	42	(42)
SELECTING A VIABLE CONCEPT FOR YOUR DV FEATURE	43	(6)
Family Stories	44	(1)
Newspaper Articles or Internet Search	45	(2)
Literary Options	47	(2)
SCRIPTING (OR NOT...)	49	(1)
THE IMPROV SCRIPT	50	(2)
HOW TO WRITE SPECIFICALLY FOR DV	52	(2)
SCRIPTING SOFTWARE THAT HELPS	54	(5)
Final Draft	54	(1)
Scriptware	55	(1)
Movie Magic Screenwriter, Story View, and Dramatica Pro	56	(1)
ScriptWerx	57	(1)
Computerized Notebook Cards	58	(1)
Printout for Cast, Crew, and Investors	59	(1)
SHOPPING YOUR SCRIPT AND BUILDING A MOVIEMAKING TEAM	59	(1)
FUNDING BASED ON SCRIPT	60	(1)
DV SHOOTING SCRIPT	61	(5)
LOCKING IN: FINALIZING THE MOVIE SCRIPT AND CONCEPT	66	(2)
COMMITTING TO A SHOOTING SCHEDULE	68	(2)
PAPERWORK	70	(4)
Registering Your Movie Company Name	70	(1)
Incorporating to Control Expenditures and Write-Offs	71	(2)
Investor's Limited Partnerships	73	(1)
THE CONTRACT	74	(4)
Collaborative Contracts: Cowriter/Codirector Collaborations	74	(2)
Actor's Release	76	(1)
Location Release	76	(1)
Music Rights	77	(1)
PEOPLE WORK	78	(2)
Gathering Production Energy and Spreading the Word	79	(1)
PAID ADVERTISING TO MAKE IT REAL	80	(1)
INVESTOR PRESENTATIONS	81	(1)
MANAGING FAMILY AND FRIENDS	82	(2)
3. SELECTING YOUR DV CAMERA, SOUND GEAR, AND INCIDENTALS	84	(47)
BUDGETING DV EQUIPMENT FOR A $3,000 TOTAL	84	(2)
RENTING OR BUYING A DV CAMERA	86	(6)
1. Buy a Low-Level, 1-CCD Mini-DV/DVD Camera	87	(2)
2. Rent a Top-of-the-.Line Mini-DV/DVCAM/Pro-DVCAM	89	(1)
3. Collaborate with a DP (Sharing Gross Profit Points)	90	(1)
4. Reconsider the "Little" DV Camera	91	(1)
CAMERA EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW: GOING INTO DEBT FOR ART?	92	(1)
THE BEST DV CAMERA FOR YOU	92	(9)
Cost Factors	93	(1)
Portability	93	(1)
Broadcast Quality (or Not)	93	(2)
Physical Handling	95	(2)
Ease of Shooting with a Mini-DV Handicam	97	(2)
Mulling over Your Final DV Camera Choice	99	(1)
Shopping Online for a Mini-DV Camera	100	(1)
GOING PRO-DVCAM	101	(4)
Sony DSR-PD 150/PD 170	103	(1)
Sony PD 150 Camera Package	104	(1)
CAMERA INCIDENTALS	105	(5)
Tripods	106	(2)
Steadicams	108	(2)
SOUND GEAR: MATCHING INPUTS TO YOUR DV CAMERA	110	(4)
Shooting Without the Pro XLR Outlets	110	(4)
LIGHTING FOR DV	114	(3)
Minimal DV Lighting Package	115	(1)
Portable Lights for DV: The Arri 150/4 Light Kit	116	(1)
THE SHOOTING SCHEDULE	117	(14)
1. Contracts and Releases	119	(1)
2. Actors	120	(1)
3. Equipment: Camera, Sound, Lights	121	(1)
4. Stock: Mini-DV/DVCAM Cassettes or DVD-R/RW Disks	122	(1)
5. Locations	122	(1)
6. Props	123	(2)
7. Food, Provisions, and Accommodations	125	(2)
8. Transportation	127	(2)
9. Incidentals	129	(1)
10. Last-Minute Agenda: Credit Card Preparation, Disabling [-Mail, Putting Your Real Life on Hold	130	(1)
4. DIRECTING ACTORS	131	(16)
DIRECTING ACTORS WITH A HAND-HELD CAMERA	133	(1)
STANDARD DIRECTING TECHNIQUES	134	(3)
FULL-PARTNER ACTORS	137	(1)
SHOOTING FOR CUTS AND CONTINUITY	138	(1)
DIRECTING WITH THE FREEZE TECHNIQUE	139	(1)
REMEMBERING TO SHOOT CUTAWAYS	140	(1)
WORKING WITH A CREW	141	(1)
MAINTAINING THE PACE OF THE SHOOT AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE	141	(1)
CHANGING DIRECTIONS: LETTING THE MOVIE "MAKE YOU"!	142	(1)
DAY ONE ON THE SET OF A DV FEATURE	143	(4)
5. MAC OR PC COMPUTER EDITING PLATFORM?	147	(16)
MAC	149	(1)
PC	150	(3)
COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY	153	(2)
AFFORDABLE EDITING SOFTWARE	155	(5)
Final Cut Pro	155	(2)
Final Cut Express	157	(1)
Avid Xpress DV	158	(1)
Adobe Premiere Pro	159	(1)
MONITORS	160	(1)
NONLINEAR EDITING OVERVIEW	161	(2)
6. GOING DOGME 95	163	(26)
THE DOGME 95 VOW OF CHASTITY	164	(9)
Following Dogme 95 Rules During Preproduction	167	(2)
Finding Maya Berthoud	169	(2)
What I Had...and Didn't Have	171	(2)
ENACTING THE DOGME 95 RULES: SIGNING THE VOW OF CHASTITY	173	(16)
Rule 1: Shoot on Location	173	(2)
Rule 2: No Separate Sound	175	(3)
Rule 3: Only Hand-Held Cameras	178	(2)
Rule 4: Color Only and No Lights	180	(2)
Rule 5: No Optical Work or Filters	182	(1)
Rule 6: No Superficial Action	182	(1)
Rule 7: Here and Now Only	183	(1)
Rule 8: No Genres	184	(2)
Rule 9: Academy 35mm Only	186	(1)
Rule 10: No Director Credit	187	(2)
7. ELECTRONIC EDITING: FINAL CUT EXPRESS, FINAL CUT PRO, AND MORE	189	(68)
EDITING OVERVIEW	189	(9)
Editing A Man, a Woman, and a Killer	191	(6)
Basic Steps for a Computer Cut	197	(1)
FINAL CUT EXPRESS	198	(8)
Preinstallation Final Cut Express Overview	199	(1)
Loading Express	200	(2)
Importing iMovie into Final Cut Express	202	(1)
Configuring Final Cut Express and Getting Started	203	(1)
Capturing and Cutting with Final Cut Express	204	(2)
FINAL CUT PRO	206	(7)
Preinstallation Final Cut Pro Overview	207	(1)
Partitioning Your Hard Drive for Video
and Audio Storage on a Scratch Disk	207	(1)
Installing Final Cut Pro 4	208	(1)
Loading FCP 4 on the Monitor	209	(1)
Log and Capture: Importing Footage	209	(1)
Capturing Footage	210	(1)
Loading Timeline with DV Movie Footage	211	(1)
Viewing Rushes	212	(1)
Shortcut Keys for Viewing Final Cut Pro Footage	213	(1)
THE REAL FCP EDITING BEGINS...	213	(6)
Making a Straight Cut	214	(3)
Undo Your Edits: Ninety-nine Undos if Necessary...	217	(1)
Changing the Order of Assembly	218	(1)
DOWN AND DIRTY EDITING WITH FINAL CUT PRO 3: DERIVING A FEATURE FROM 200 MINUTES OF FOOTAGE	219	(15)
Log and Capture (FCP3) with the Capture Now Button	219	(3)
Timeline Editing with Capture Now Saved Footage: Moving the Assembly Around and Adding Effects	222	(1)
Cutting and Deleting: Tighten Cut with FCP3/FCP4 Tools	223	(1)
Making Precise Cuts: Using White Edge/Black Edge as a Guide	224	(1)
Using the Razor Tool with Separated Tracks	225	(2)
Overcoming a Panic Moment with FCE/FCP
When Something Goes Wrong	227	(1)
Importing Music from CD	227	(2)
Raising and Lowering Sound Levels: A Quick Mix	229	(1)
Loud Volume Changes	230	(1)
Professional Sound Mix for DV Features	231	(1)
Basic Titling with FCP	232	(2)
EIGHTEEN TIPS FOR FINAL CUT PRO FINISH EDITING	234	(14)
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO FOR PC	248	(3)
ADVANCED EFFECTS EDITING AND ANIMATION SOFTWARE AND TECHNIQUES	251	(3)
Commotion 4.0 Effects Software	251	(1)
After Effects and Magic Bullet	252	(2)
PERSONAL EDITING NEEDS	254	(3)
8. GUERILLA PROMOTION: A QUICKTIME MOVIE PLAYER AT EVERY WEB SITE	257	(15)
WWW.WITHOUTABOX.COM
FESTIVAL-ENTERING WEB SITE	259	(1)
SELECTING FESTIVALS
FOR A WORLD PREMIERE	260	(5)
U.S. Film Festivals/Web Sites and Deadlines	261	(1)
European Film Festivals and Deadlines	262	(2)
Other Viable Film Festivals	264	(1)
YOUR OWN INTERNET SIX-PLEX MOVIE THEATER	265	(1)
QUICKTIME MOVIES	265	(1)
PLAYING MOVIES ON A FREE SERVER	266	(4)
PROMOTION FINALE (TV SALES AND SO ON)	270	(2)
9. REALITY CHECK: MORE FROM RAY CARNEY'S "THE PATH OF THE ARTIST"	272	(3)
10. DV VAGABONDS: SHOOTING BY VAN	275	(14)
Mad Monks	277	(2)
Getting the Right Van	279	(1)
The 1972 Ford Van Restoration Estimate	280	(1)
Laws and Admonitions of the Road	281	(4)
Shopping for Vans Online (in England!)	285	(1)
Webcasting from the Road	286	(1)
Cell Phone Instead of Shortwave	287	(1)
Endnote: My Van Saga	288	(1)
11. www.vangoghsDV.com: MAKING ART WITH DV	289	(9)
TRAVELING ARTIST AND DOCUMENTARIAN	290	(2)
LIGHTWAVE 3D ANIMATIONS	292	(6)
12. SPACE-AGE DV	298	(3)
HOLOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY AND MORE	298	(1)
DV FILMMAKING AND DATA	298	(1)
HOLOGRAPHIC STORAGE	299	(2)
APPENDIX A: MULTIPERSON COLLABORATIVE CONTRACT	301	(4)
APPENDIX B: FEATURE WORKSHOPS AGREEMENT	305	(3)
APPENDIX C: LITERARY PURCHASE OPTION AGREEMENT	308	(9)
APPENDIX D: ACTOR'S RELEASE	317	(2)
APPENDIX E: LOCATION RELEASE	319	(2)
APPENDIX F: MUSIC RIGHTS AGREEMENT	321	(2)
INDEX	323