DIY-Filmmaking is a place for do it yourself filmmakers to talk about the thing they know most (and in some cases least) about: amateur filmmaking. DIY-Filmmaking gives tips and advice to every level of filmmaker… whether you’re a first time filmmaker looking for help turning on your camera or uploading videos to the Internet, or a seasoned veteran looking to boost your production value with tips on how to do your own make-up or on how to color treat footage.
We have enlisted the help of directors, writers, actors, music technicians, editors, producers, make-up artists and other film crew members with years of experience in amateur filmmaking to create a one stop shop for do-it-yourself filmmaking advice. Our articles chronicle both the triumphs and bitter failures of DIY filmmaking in an attempt to help you learn from both our success and our mistakes.
We encourage you to look through our Blogs and articles and hope that you can find some useful do-it-yourself filmmaking information. However, we encourage you even more to prove us wrong! If you read through our content and feel that we are absolutely clueless and have no knowledge of filmmaking, please feel free to sign up for an account and submit your own do-it-yourself filmmaking advice.
#1 by Shaun on May 25, 2010 - 12:46 am
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Hey Guys,
Just wanted to say thanks for the podcast shout-out! I gotta say that was totally unexpected, but very much appreciated. I definitely have a bad habit of making these videos and then quietly releasing them into the youtube ether without ever bothering to tell people they’re there. So it’s pretty encouraging to get such positive feedback from fellow filmmakers like yourselves.
Hey, maybe that’s a future podcast episode topic: The Art of Self Promotion for the Insecure Filmmaker! I like it.
Anyhoo, thanks again guys and keep that content flowing. I’ll be sure to spread the good word to my fellow filmmaking friends up here in Canada.
Cheers,
Shaun
#2 by DiY Filmmaking on May 26, 2010 - 12:36 am
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Shaun,
No problem! You might be interested to know that 1 out of 3 of our podcast crew is Canadian (but living in the US) – me. The other two wish they were Canadian.
We’ll definitely do a podcast on self promotion for the insecure filmmaker. We are the same way – self-promotion is not an easy thing for the humble.
Adam
#3 by Shaun on May 28, 2010 - 3:36 am
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Who ever new DIY was serving up 33% Canadian content! But, the way things are going up here, politically, it’s probably for the best that you’re hanging out down there.
#4 by Sam on July 8, 2010 - 12:53 pm
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ADAM: back in May you promised to post a video tutorial on the SONY HVR A1U “soon”. When is “soon”? When you do make this much needed tutorial please keep in mind that your audience includes many people using the PAL version of this excellent camera — and include tips on capturing PAL video/HDV video, especially into FINAL CUT PRO 7. Thanks, SAM / Cologne ps. pls send me a note about when the tutorial will be available, thx.
#5 by DiY Filmmaking on July 8, 2010 - 1:33 pm
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Sam – you got us! We’re actually filming this this weekend. I’ll email you when it’s up!
#6 by Shaun on July 19, 2010 - 11:01 pm
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Hey Guys,
I’m desperately trying to get to the bottom of an FCP issue and I’ve been having NO luck, despite all my toiling on the world-wide-webs. The problem no doubt stems from my own ignorance, so I thought it best to consult DIY crew. So, here goes:
I recently purchased a sony z7u and have captured some of my hdv 24p shot footage (on tape) into my fcp (5.1.4) using the “easy setup” settings for HDV 108024p. Because i’m new to this format, after having captured some footage I decided to do a test export of a few clips on the timeline, just to insure everything was cool and the gang, before getting in too deep – a smart move on my part, apparently.
Because, every time I try to export using quicktime conversion, I have the same issue: It export fine, but when I play the quicktime clip the audio is slightly out of synch (about a couple seconds ahead)?? The other noticeable issue is, in the very beginning of the quicktime video, you can see color bars, for a fraction of a second?? Otherwise, the video appears to play fine on the timeline…
Not sure what is going on here — Is it my capturing settings, export/compression settings? I’m really quite green when it comes to 24p, so any knowledge you might have to offer would be GREATLY appreciated!
I’m in the middle of shooting a couple training videos and just switched to the z7u for the second video. Part of me new better then to use a new camera mid project, but I couldn’t help myself!
My apologies for this Dostoyevskian-length comment.
Shaun
ps- I’ll give you a “Technical Consultant” credit on the video, if you can help! Just think: your name on a training video viewed by hundreds upon hundreds, across the nation in Canada? Your life will never be the same.
#7 by Shaun on July 20, 2010 - 4:30 am
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Me again. Looks like I may have actually figured it out all by myself (*pat on back*): Sequence settings–>Quicktime video settings–>Compressor–> switched to HDV 1080i60 (from 108024p).
#8 by DiY Filmmaking on July 22, 2010 - 2:53 pm
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Hey Shaun! Sorry we missed your comment! We’ve been out this week – glad you got it figured out! If you have a problem again, try the Facebook discussion page on our Facebook page – we’d like to build something there where people can post problems or other things and have us and other readers respond.
#9 by Seth Hymes on August 15, 2010 - 10:44 pm
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Hey Adam,
Wondering how to post some free info on your site? I run a site called “Film School Secrets”. I’m posting a ton of free information for anyone who is curious what people are getting at NYU, USC, NYFA, and all those other schools that cost $30K a year. Fact is, you guys are doing this the smart way. The main thing is to have a good script no matter what you’re shooting. Then it doesn’t matter if you use an iPhone. But self education is the way of champions.
Best regards,
Seth Hymes
http://www.filmschoolsecrets.com
#10 by Tom Antos on November 3, 2010 - 2:07 am
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Hello,
I am writing to bring to your attention a series of free cinematography tutorials that I made available on YouTube. I have been receiving a great feedback (I have over 5,000 subscribers) and so I thought they might be of interest to your website visitors too. If you agree, you are welcome to use them as you sit fit.
The tutorials can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3AF9B2B010B69D0C
Thank you,
Tom Antos
Director and Cinematographer
info@tlapro.com
http://www.antos.ca
#11 by tom on November 11, 2010 - 12:40 pm
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maybe this could be of interest to your readers….
Doc Next : talkshow about the impact of a new generation European DIY film talents
Doc Next is a special program of IDFA (International Documentary festival Amsterdam), featuring short documentaries by a new generation of young film talents from Europe using accessible media technologies to zoom in on their environments. For the first time, their documentaries are being shown on the big festival screen.
At the Doc Next talk show, young documentary makers take centre stage. We seize their films and stories to discuss the challenges and possibilities of user-generated media content with festival organisers, media broadcasters and documentary experts. How can do-it-yourself documentaries inspire different media domains and contribute to inclusive public opinion sharing in Europe? How can this new generation of storytellers help mainstream media to attract new audiences?
More information :
http://www.eurocult.org/youth-and-media
http://idfa.nl/industry/tags.aspx?tag=doc%20next
#12 by Katie L'Herpiniere on February 2, 2011 - 6:37 pm
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Hi Shaun, couldn’t find an email address for you. I wandered if you could send it to me please, as i would like to send you through an invite to view the BETA site for our new platform itzon.tv, as i thought it may be of interest to you.
Thanks
Katie
#13 by Katie L'Herpiniere on February 2, 2011 - 6:40 pm
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Hi again guy’s, just realized i addressed that email to Shaun, when i meant to address it to the DIY Filmmaking team…that will teach me for scanning not reading! apologies.
#14 by Alyssa on May 22, 2011 - 1:41 am
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Do you guys have a contact email? I had a question about the site (no spam, I swear!). Thanks!
#15 by Allie Taylor on July 24, 2011 - 8:03 am
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Heelllo – neat feed, Are there cheaper SMS message marketing services 4 shops/stores @ California than 12stores.com? I know they only cost nine dollars per four weeks, however 1ve 2 provide a couple more alternatives for my friends. Plz reply :d
#16 by Tenlegs on October 3, 2011 - 2:11 am
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Hi-
I am the marketing officer from Tenlegs, a new start-up, which is building a community for artists who work in digital formats, including film, music, images, and writing.
We thought you and your site’s readers might be interested in a new contest we are launch tomorrow for filmmakers, writers, artists, and musicians. The Butterfly Contest is a free contest, for creators of all mediums, to win $5,000.
If you would be willing to share the contest with your readers, we would greatly appreciate it. Here are the details:
Tenlegs invites creators of video, imagery, writing and music to submit work between October 3 – October 16, 2011 for an opportunity to win $5,000 toward your next creative project and exposure with an accomplished artist panel & PR in arts circles.
Participate at http://www.tenlegs.com/contests by submitting an entry or by voting & supporting the artist community!
Butterfly effect theme: Any act / art can inspire, have a huge impact, affect the world around us… and we believe in the power of Art and expression here at Tenlegs
Participation is absolutely free. Simply upload any digital-format creative work you have, be it film, music, poetry, fiction, personal essay, photography, illustration, and whatever else you can think of that in some way represents the theme of the Butterfly Effect – literally, figuratively, use your imagination – there is nothing stopping you but the limits of your inspiration.
Get your content ready this week so you are ready to submit on Oct. 3rd, and get your friends to come out and vote next week. We hope you come, join, and participate in the festivities.