How to make a short film

Darren Rowse at ProBlogger is having another group writing project. I haven't decided what, if anything, to do for it yet, but I did find one piece that's already been submitted that deserves linking to-

How To Make A Short Film For Tropfest

With the exception of meeting the festival requirements, everything on that list applies to any short film project. We've done a bit of the first five parts, but are still in pre-production in other areas. The filming schedule has slipped back to starting in October as well, but that's just the way it goes.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, How To

Video Blogging- Microphone Tests

It seems logical that Presents should have a video blog, so here's the first one. It's actually a couple of weeks old, I had problems getting it uploaded. Microphone Testing, in case you wanted to know the sort of silly things I say when I'm put in front of a camera unscripted.

Technorati tag: Video, VideoBlog, Vlog, Spinneyhead

Revver 1.0

Revver, Spinneyhead Presents' video host of choice, has left beta and is now officially in version 1.0. This means a better looking interface for everyone and more comprehensive stats for uploaders. I finally managed to get the video blog I did w8ith footage from testing microphones (my own fault, hadn't compressed it enough) and it should become available soon.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, Revver

Going semi-pro

Part one of a series on producing low/no budget videos that look more professional than the outlay would suggest. As with so many articles of this type, the comments hold as much information as the post.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Anatomy of a shootout

A documentary on YouTube showing how the short film Semi Automatic was made. (Semi Automatic part 1, part 2)

Note I don't have headphones to hand, so I can't watch this with sound. I'm bookmarking it as much for my own reference as anything else.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Stunt cam

One of the ideas we've been knocking around for Spinneyhead Presents is the purchase of a few "stunt cams", cheap video cameras that could be strapped to bikes or cars or dropped off buildings because their survival isn't paramount, only the footage. They'll probably be found on Ebay or in a Cash Converters. Then we might make something like "I dropped my Super 8 off the Golden Gate", but with footage of the actual fall.

via BoingBoing

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Microphone Blimps

If you're aiming for any sort of quality sound on location recording, you need to cut down the wind noise. Can get very expensive, very quickly. So how about we make a blimp of our own? Better still, I want eyes on mine

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Call for submissions

I know we haven't even started shooting the first Presents presentation, but I want to hear people's ideas for future films. If there's the momentum from Memory I don't want to lose it waiting for scripts.

Send your thoughts to spinneyhead and become part of the adventure.

(PS Still looking for someone to take the role of Rob if you're interested.)

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Scar tissue

How to make realistic wounds with latex and pigments.

via boingboing

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, prosthetics

10 Ways to make yourself a YouTube star

The Register surveys the ways to viral stardom. Number 11 will soon be "Make a serial story in five minute bits".

2. Animals do the funniest things

If it's popular on cobbled-together Saturday Night clip shows, why shouldn't it work on YouTube as well? And, thankfully, you don't have to put up with a presenter mugging between vids. Cats seem to do particularly well on YouTube for some reason (that reason being they reliably fall off things or go mad when you point a camera at them). Obviously, the most common way is to nick footage from the TV, but that's just lazy.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Location, location, location

I'm working my way through writing all the scripts for the first six part serial. There's one key scene that takes place in a relatively high tech office. Does anyone have a workplace that might suit. I promise filming will only take a couple of hours and you'll get a mention for your help in the credits.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, Manchester, Location

Manifesto

It makes this sound a bit political, but I couldn't think of any better word for it. This rough statement of what Spinneyhead Presents is about is open for expansion and modification so comments are welcome.

Spinneyhead Presents exists to produce original videos for distribution on the internet and eventual release as collections on DVD. It has an initial budget of £0 and whatever the participants are willing to donate.

The Product

The rise of sites such as YouTube has given non-professionals the chance to get their videos viewed by a potentially huge audience without having to worry about bandwidth and other limiting factors. Spinneyhead Presents' host of choice is Revver.com, for reasons explained below. Onto this site we will release short (5-10 minutes) video serials which can later be collected and released in longer format.

These videos will primarily be dramas- the first mixes elements of science fiction and murder mystery- but other works will be considered. Over time we will build up a back catalogue and company of actors and crew.

The Business Plan

Spinneyhead Presents will host its videos through Revver for one reason. Revver puts adverts at the end of the clips it hosts and we get paid for clickthroughs. There are also adverts on the Presents weblog. When we have serials completed they can be burnt to DVDs and sold through the site and shops such as Magma.

Payment will be based upon input to a project. The proposed breakdown will be- 25% to Spinneyhead Presents, to fund future productions, 25% divided equally between participants and 50% divided based upon time dedicated to the project. I'm going to have to build a spreadsheet to cover this, but that's not a problem.

The Future

Some of the money earned by each Presents production will go back into the coffers to fund equipment and props for later videos. Hopefully we can also build up a company of actors and crew who will keep coming back for shoot after shoot.

I'm sure that everyone involved wants something different from this endeavour, from experience to exposure and, if we're lucky, some money. Maybe, amongst other things, we can launch some careers.

Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, Manifesto

First Draft

I've put the first draft of the script for Spinneyhead Presents' first project online. Constructive criticism, questions etc. are welcome.

Technorati tag: Script, Video, Spinneyhead

Manchester Passion

The big Easter event from the crowd's perspective.



Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Profile in Blue

A pastiche Seventies Police show title sequence. Music by fellow Spinneyheader Alan Ward.




Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Drivers

Another video for the 2 Wheels Good blog. Drivers are dangerous, they should be banned.




Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead

Ride Manchester

A little bit of documentary here. This video is about a visit to a workshop in Manchester where you could use the tools to fix your own bikes, sadly closed now. It was originally produced for cycling blog 2 Wheels Good.




Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, Cycle

Very Fast Tiger

A little play I had with time-lapse style filming. Photos were taken on my Canon A620 then stitched together in video editing software.



Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead, Time Lapse

Breathless

Welcome to Spinneyhead Presents, the home for Spinneyhead's videos, including the planned online serials. I'm going to start by putting up links to Spinneyhead's previous work. Firstly- Take My Breath Away.




Technorati tag: Video, Spinneyhead