Filmmaking: No Budget, No Problem

One of the biggest misnomers about filmmaking is that you have to have a budget and expensive equipment, yet educators and filmmakers alike can spark creativity and innovation without spending a dime.

That means that the excuses of “I don’t have the equipment” or “I don’t have editing software” aren’t allowed anymore.

You Don’t Even Need a Camcorder

With the variety of footage now available from archives, remixing is becoming the new filming. From advertisements to film trailers, from short films to art installations, films made almost entirely from existing footage are now seen everywhere.

This trend began in the same way as audio remixes, with illegal mixes created by talented individuals on the edges of the law. However, today these innovators are now urged on by huge companies such as Viacom and General Motors to re-edit their advertisements. This technique was also chosen by New Line Cinema to remix the trailer of the recent Antonio Banderas film, Take the Lead, the first ever sanctioned audiovisual film remix by a Hollywood studio.

Cell Phone Cinema

Cell phones have also become a useful tool in the filmmaking process because they offer a cheap, easy alternative to camcorders. Mobile-as-movie cameras are breaking the motion picture mold, putting a touch of Hollywood into amateur filmmakers’ hands. How-to workshops have sprung up from Boston to Abu Dhabi to Rio de Janeiro, and Paris just held its fourth film festival devoted exclusively to movies shot with cell phones.

Even decorated director Spike Lee is jumping on the cell phone film bandwagon. He’s creating his own films with a Nokia N95 and the help of his son.

“He’s 10 years old, and he’s much more technologically advanced than I am,” Lee told Advertising Age. “The filmmakers who are going to take advantage of [mobile filmmaking] are the people who think ahead of everybody else, the visionaries. This stuff is really uncharted territory, so who knows where these devices and technology is going to take us in the future.”
Free Online Editing Tools

Once the visuals are compiled, editing must commence, but surely video editing is too resource-intensive to be done over the Web, right? Wrong! Many free online services allow you to do things like scene transitions, cuts, splices, loops and audio overlays. Most of them offer online editing and enable easy control of the video experience with the ability to send your creations to friends via e-mail and/or by embedding films online. Here are some tools to consider:

Cuts
Eyespot
Motionbox
One True Media
VoiceThread
PhotoStory

While none of these free services are going to put installed editors such as Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premier or Final Cut Pro out of business, they do offer a way for filmmakers to have fun manipulating their multimedia digital content.

In my classroom, with no budget for film equipment and software, a group of students created an award-winning short film using nothing but Paint, a stock Windows OS drawing program, and PowerPoint to complete their timing and editing. Expensive tools are not necessary – all you need is a little innovation.

Once you think of an idea for producing a film, investigate the options you already have available to you before you let a price tag hold you back. Free and accessible tools are available and user friendly. Hollywood is just starting to grasp the conce, and you can too.

Plan First, Film Later

With the availability of technology and equipment today, anyone can grab a camera, think of an idea, and step up to create some fantastic films … and some not so fantastic. However, even budding Spielbergs and Scorseses have to start somewhere. Whether you are a student or an educator, the following tips, hints and techniques will assist you in the disciplined planning process of filmmaking.

Most of us have been raised with video our entire lives, and we can tell the difference between homemade films and a major motion picture. But how can those of us just starting out give a professional style to our work? No matter how expensive the camera or how large the size of your filmmaking budget – a successful film is all a matter of planning!

Just like in anything we do, we need to have a plan. When filmmaking, even the professionals start on paper as they create a script and storyboard in a process known as pre-production.

Scripts for film, television and even commercials are crucial to the collaborative process, and all are very similar in style. But scriptwriting is an art form, and creating art is never easy. Decide on a simple story if you are just starting, and experiment with dialogue and characters. If you need help drumming up an idea, talk to your peers, watch your favorite films, and find something that inspires you. Or, you might already have the idea for your script and just need help with the formatting.

General script resources and templates are available on-line on sites such as PizzaByTheSlice.com and DependentFilms.net, both great for finding tools and utilities for first time filmmakers. A plethora of script examples exist online that you can view for inspiration.

Once a script is in place, it is time to storyboard, the process of creating a graphic organizer of illustrations or images in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing your film. Again, there are countless resources online, such as the extensive American Film Institute Education Process Handbook, which demonstrates best practices and a storyboard glossary of common film shots. This handbook is a great tool if you are thinking about teaching film in the classroom.

Your storyboard should read almost like a comic book as it displays the action and dialogue from your script. Remember, you don’t have to be able to draw to create a storyboard: some filmmakers create graphic novels, and some simply draw squares on paper and use stick figures to get their point across. As long as you deliver the concept, it doesn’t matter which medium you use. Be sure that you are paying attention to the types of shots you use to tell your story. This will help you organize your shots when you have the camera in hand and are ready to film. To help, look at some existing storyboards and notice how camera angles change and the images show motion without ever moving.

With a plan in hand, your vision is complete even before capturing it on film. Resist the urge to just grab a camera and go –– pre-production is the key to success. Disciplined, educated filmmakers will take the time to plan their vision and subsequently create a stronger film. To some new filmmakers, it may seem like an extra step, but it means the difference between amateur and budding star. You will see the difference in your film, and so will your audience.

Early Bird Registration Special for the Young Minds Digital Times Competition

The Young Minds Digital Times Student Film Competition Registration is underway and we are eager to get kids signed up so that we can anticipate how many judges we will be inviting to this years competition.

If you  register before December 31st, 2009, your name will be put in a drawing and the lucky winner will win a $100 Gift Certificate. Those whom have already registered with the competition will automatically have their name’s submitted into the drawing as well. You do not have to re-register.

When you register you are not committed to submitting a video to the contest, but you are claiming the right to vote on a winner. And don’t forget, the teacher with the most student entries, and the school with the most student entries in our Track One: “Young Filmmakers Doing Good”, will each win $1000! Details are found on the Prizes page.

For further information about the contest and its rules, check out the Young Minds Digital Times web site, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us via info@oneseventeenmedia.com.

The Benefits of Equipping Students with Cameras

Research from Videomaker magazine reveals that in today’s world, dominated by high-tech gizmos, viral videos, blogging and video games, some people may not realize the impact filmmaking can have on kids. The video camera is not just for adults anymore. It may be surprising to find out that shooting video can be an exciting — as well as educational — experience for teens and tweens.

Media Literacy
Kids, even at the youngest age, are tech savvy. With all that is available on the TV and Internet, fantasy can seem like reality. By using video cameras in play and in school, parents and educators can teach children the truth about what they really see on the screen.

Experimenting with video cameras can teach a child that what he or she sees isn’t always real. Dr. John Bisaga said that children four and five years old can’t sort out whether things they see in games or on screen are real or not. Yet, according to Bisaga, kids who create or star in their own video dramas can learn to sort out the difference between real life and make believe.

When children reach their teens, the use of video cameras can help them understand media. Dr. Craig Corp, a pediatrician, suggested that by allowing kids to make up commercials, parents and educators can point out how easy it is for advertisers to make products look better than they really are in reality. Student develop a keen eye when it comes to persuasion techniques.

Developing The Imagination
With a video camera, children can let their imaginations go and make their creations come to life. Kids around the ages of three to five have very active imaginations, and as a child’s imagination develops, so does his or her social skills, learning abilities and well being.

Increased Confidence
Teens love to see themselves on camera, whether it’s acting in a mini-play, singing, dancing or otherwise hamming it up. They gain more than just entertainment from watching themselves perform; they also gain self-confidence. According to Dr. Bisaga, “When a child discovers an area they do well in, they gain self-esteem.” Dr. Bisaga added that kids of all ages can become comfortable on camera or in front of others by seeing themselves on tape.

Improved Communication
Barbara Kemper is a teacher who uses camcorders in her classroom to teach students presentation skills. In one case, students focused on the subject of weather. The teacher asked each student to research the topic, then pretend to be a weathercaster on the news and present the weather on a video. Kemper then played the video in front of the class.

“The exercise made a lot of them realize how important it is to speak clearly,” she said. “They noticed some of the reports were easier to understand than others. They also learned the importance of voice level and speaking slowly and clearly when giving a speech.”

Responsibility
By showing kids how to operate the camcorder and teaching them how to care for it, you can help them develop confidence. Start with the basics, such as how to hold the camcorder, insert the tape, turn it on and off, and start recording. They may need to charge a battery, clean the lens, attach a light or microphone or secure the whole thing on a tripod.

By giving kids ground rules, you’ll teach them to enjoy caring for the equipment. It will become a privilege to use it. If the rules are broken, that privilege is revocable. In that case, kids can learn what they did wrong and how it was irresponsible.

“Children have the opportunity to try everything from playing sports to learning a musical instrument when they are growing up,” Dr. Bisaga said, who suggested that when thinking of an extracurricular activity in which to expose kids, consider letting them try video production. This can provide a way for them to explore their creative side. They may learn that they have a real eye for photography or a knack for public speaking. No matter what the case, kids can explore their talents through the lens.

“Different kids have different learning styles,” Bisaga said. “For visually oriented children, video could provide an opportunity to explore a visual channel of communication.”

Next time you break out your camcorder, you might consider letting the kids do the shooting. You never know how it might benefit them as they grow. Whatever the case, it will create memories through a child’s eye. Best of all, it will give the kids a new outlet for fun.

Jaclyn Bell
Director of Community Content for OneSeventeen Media, Inc.
Competition Director for Young Minds Digital Times

Student Filmmaking Starts with Free Tools

Today’s post is for beginners and it’s about scripting and storyboards. It will also provide links to a free scripting tool and free lesson plans. Want more than the basics? No worries. There will be plenty in the coming weeks for intermediate and advanced filmmaking! Even interviews with our professional judges! So come often and participate in the conversation.

I’ve got a nifty tool you can use to get started right away with a very fundamental part of filmmaking: the concept idea and scripting. Getting the idea/creative vision/inspiration for your film, video or one-shot wonder down on paper first is a good thing and this is much easier to do if you use a process called storyboarding. You have flexibility with a variety of ways you can get your ideas captured so do what works best for you. It’s more important to have a tight, all-inclusive and coherent roadmap for the process of completing your film that keeps you on track rather than worrying about which process to use.

For example, I frequently use Post-It Notes for my general outlining process so I can move them around on the wall easier as I hone my idea. I’ve used dry-erase boards, recycled paper, napkins, cardboard, anything I can draw on and tape to the wall — I’m kinda “old school” — that way, I can sketch little rough visual pictures of things like captions, props needed, camera angels, look and feel references, stuff like that. It almost looks like a crude comic strip. It’s not meant to be perfect at this initial stage — just capturing thoughts and ideas down.

I also jot down any little odd thing through this part of the concept brainstorming process. Items that may seem irrelevant or too detailed in the early stages still get their little notations and then go into a grouping we call the “parking lot” for later. You can do that too. This Post-It Note process also allows for my team members to add their thoughts and ideas as well. I prefer to collaborate with a team of diverse skill sets and thinking to get the best ideas flowing.

Then I grab my computer and take all of the little Post-It Notes info and dump them into a more polished electronic scripting formatting tool similar to Kids’ Vid Storyboarding Tool — it’s free and easy to use. It’s a fantastic way for beginners to jump right in. I know plenty of creative people who storyboard right on their computer. It doesn’t matter what you prefer so I’ll repeat this again — don’t let the process stop your creativity. Go with the flow that fits your comfort zone and then loop back around and put it into a process to keep you focused, on track, on time and on budget! Storyboarding tools are a great way to help with this process.

Additionally, on Kids’ Vid, you’ll see a variety of good fundamental information important to getting you started with a solid foundation if you’re a fledgling young filmmaker. For educators, this site is simple to understand and provides resources to incorporate video production into your classroom curriculum. Take a look at the classroom lesson plans Kids’ Vid provides as well.

OK, let us hear from you! Do you have a cool tool or thoughts and ideas to help get the creative process going? If so, leave a comment. Also, let us hear your No. 1 question about filmmaking and we’ll get the answer for you.

Sailing Alone Around The World

Post by Beth Carls, CEO, OneSeventeen Media & Co-Founder, KidThrive.org

Good Morning America reported Sunday morning on 16-year old Australian Jessica Watson’s quest to be the youngest person to sail solo, non stop, unassisted around the world. Jessica reports on her web site that her inspiration came from two pioneer sailors: Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world, and fellow Australian, Jesse Martin, the youngest person to do so.

While many of us might not set our sights on a goal like sailing around the world, we can take inspiration from the goal of this young woman. Even when it seemed her trip may not happen when, less than 24 hours before her departure, her yacht, Ella’s Pink Lady, was struck by a 63,000 tonne bulk carrier and sustained considerable damage, Jessica did not give up. What an inspiration she can be to us and our youth on the importance of goal setting! She shares her route and rules on her site and reported today the weather seems to be cooperating for her to depart Sydney, Australia toward Northern New Zealand around the middle of the coming week.

Jessica was born May 18, 1993 on the Gold Coast and currently lives in Buderim, Australia. Her mantra is: Always make the best of everything, Positive, ask questions, lots of questions. Her interests include: Anything outdoors and on the water, camping, the beach, reading, cooking, weather, fencing, dingy sailing, boat design and CHOCOLATE!

If you’d like to follow her 8-month journey, you can find her blog and other information on her web site.

Good luck, Jessica!

Film Competition Opens Today! Register NOW!

Registration is now open in the Young Minds Digital Times Film Competition (YMDT) 2009-2010!  “Studio Chief” Converge magazine has a fantastic article about the competition on their website – “Lights, Camera, Interaction.”  You can also check out the official YMDT Filmmaker Blog Buzz where you’ll find weekly tips, tricks, advice and news related to the competition.

There are new categories, prizes and sponsors in this year’s competition, and we hope you’ll choose to join YMDT as a student participant or by encouraging kids you know to sign up for this great opportunity.  They competition also makes an excellent class project!

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Countdown to Young Minds Digital Times ‘09-’10!

The second year of the Young Minds Digital Times Film Competition (YMDT) is just days away!  Starting September 28, students can register to participate in the ‘09-’10 Competition.  This year’s competition is co-sponsored by KidThrive.org and Converge magazine.  As always, there’s no fee to participate.  You’ll find all the details live on the YMDT website starting on the 28th.  Some exciting improvements to this year’s competition based on your feedback:

• Expanded time line — films due in February 2010
• Larger cash prizes for students
• $1000 cash prizes for the teacher and school with the most entries
• Two new categories to show off your work

Be sure to check back September 28 for all the details!  We can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to!

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SXSWi: Vote YES for Beth and Hybrid Enterprises

Post by Beth Carls, CEO, OneSeventeen Media & Co-Founder, KidThrive.org

I hope to share more about our exciting journey into a hybrid enterprise at the SXSW 2010 Interactive Festival in Austin, TX March 12-16. With your help as part of the judging process, I’ll  be a panelist at the upcoming festival.  Check out my session overview and vote with a Thumbs Up to say “YES!” to learning more: The Hybrid Enterprise: A Tool for Visionary Entrepreneurs. Voting ends Friday, September 4, 2009.  I look forward to seeing you there!

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Introducing KidThrive.org + OneSeventeen Media

Post by Beth Carls, CEO, OneSeventeen Media & Co-Founder, KidThrive.org

As committed social venture entrepreneurs, the founders of OneSeventeen Media, Inc. recently made a strategic decision to operate two entities; the existing for-profit business (OneSeventeen Media) and a new, openly funded nonprofit organization (KidThrive.org), each operating independently and pursuing their own unique mission. This type of collaboration today is called a hybrid enterprise.

The term “hybrid” may sound familiar. While Wikipedia describes hybrid as “the combination of two or more different things, aimed at achieving a particular objective or goal” the word has context in mythology and iconography, biology, etymology, transportation, music, culture, computers and electronics, finance, sports and even video games.

Most of us probably think of cars when hearing the word hybrid. However, in this context, none of the above apply. The hybrid I’m referring to has to do with a new business trend for socially responsible entrepreneurs to use as their operational structure.

I recently spoke with Priya Haji, co-founder of World of Good, Inc. and WorldofGood.org – IMHO, a model example of how hybrid enterprises work best. WorldofGood.org works for industry-wide changes for alleviating global poverty. World of Good, Inc. partially funds the work of the nonprofit through founder’s equity, a percentage of annual profits, and periodic company-sponsored fundraisers and events. Unlike other hybrid-enterprises, however, WorldofGood pursues independent funding for its work through private and corporate foundations and individual grants.

We are committed to and believe this new paradigm of a hybrid enterprise is one that supports a more dynamic, interactive and new economy era model. KidThrive.org + OneSeventeen Media will reinforce the overarching goal of large-scale research, development and implementation of responsible and measurable social media tools that help our youth survive and thrive their developmental and growing up years.

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