This is my second time putting together my favorite film production and industry articles + videos from around the internet. There is an awful lot of junk to sort through every month, so here is the best stuff according to me! Film Production News - Videos This Month This is an amazing breakdown from Freddie W. over at RocketJump about the ongoing CGI vs practical effects debate. I know that I've fallen into the trap of arguing the CG is terrible, and if you feel that way, you need to check this video out. As Freddie eloquently explains, bad CGI is easy to pick out, but we rarely talk about good CGI. If you didn't know, Louis C.K. edits all of the episodes for his show. I'm sure you're thinking, "that's insane!" I definitely did when I first heard about it. This quick video walks through why he feels it's best for the artistic integrity of the show to always do his own editing. Here's a another great video from Simon Cade over at DSLR Guide explaining why he won't invest in … [Read more...]

Unfortunately I graduated college in 2010 at the height of the great recession. Jobs were scarce and I was scared. I had just spent four years working toward a degree in a bad economy with no leads. I had spent so much time focused on getting through college and living the college lifestyle I hadn’t put much focus on what would happen after graduation let alone how to get production assistant jobs.  I knew I needed to make something happen quickly so I came up with a process that got me results -- this is the same tactic I used when reaching out to the filmmakers in this post. If you're in interested in what production assistants do on a day to day basis, check out this video: WHAT YOU WILL LEARN How to get a production assistant job How to be a production assistant How to get connections in the industry with the right people Where to look for the right connections What tools I use to automate this process How to make the best impression What's the difference between … [Read more...]

Throughout the last month I've saved my favorite film industry and production articles + videos from around the internet and I thought it would be fun to share in one post. If you enjoy let me know in the comments and I can make this into a monthly series! Videos This Month If you aren't familiar with the YouTube channel Every Frame A Painting you are really missing out on some of fantastic filmmaking insights. The creator and host Tony Zhou has a knack for breaking down scenes and shots, but this month he took a different approach by studying the evolution of an artist -- Chuck Jones. If you're interested in what makes a great artist I highly recommend checking this out. Next is from Bloop Animation about the story behind Pixar and how it came to be the juggernaut it is today. It's an incredibly insightful look at what it takes to create a successful business in a creative field. If you're considering creating a production company at some point in your career this is a great … [Read more...]

You need a professional website. Period. That’s it. I can hear the objections flying around in your head: “But I already I have a Facebook fan page. Won’t that—” No “But what if I just refer people to my twitt—” No “My YouTube page is killi—” No “Ok, I’ll get a Wix, but only the free—” Oh God, no. STOP. For a long time, we worked hard to avoid building ourselves a website because we were scared. We thought it would be too hard. But here’s the thing: it’s not, and it’s necessary. Lots of artists think there’s no need for them to understand the online world or websites because traditionally someone else did that for them. But, in today’s filmmaking landscape, you’re in charge of your own career. A website is the best place to start. Don’t be afraid: in this post, I’m going to take all the mystery out of building a great site, and get you up and running in less than a half hour! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Why it’s essential to have a website Why you can’t rely … [Read more...]

When I started trying to find movie industry jobs I was terrified. The BEST decision I ever made was to take film professionals to coffee and pick their brains. So, I thought I'd replicate that experience by seeking insights from some of the best minds out there. I decided to reach out and ask one question of filmmakers, producers, and storytellers to get their take on starting at the bottom. I asked these folks: If you started from scratch today, what's one thing you would do to start your career in the film industry? I want to thank everyone involved in this post, and everyone that has helped spread the word! Enjoy and be sure to take this advice to heart. Adam Lisagor, filmmaker @lonelysandwich sandwichvideo.com    The one thing I would do to start my career: get a job. You’ll learn more in one day on a set than you will in a year in film school. Step 2: pay attention to everything, be nice to everyone, be so amazing that people notice and want to keep you … [Read more...]

LinkedIn might not be the most interesting topic to an aspiring filmmaker, but early in your career it can be incredibly effective, if used correctly. LinkedIn is underutilized by most people. It’s easily one of the best ways to get in touch with high profile professionals. The median income on LinkedIn was $75,000 per year, in 2014. On Facebook, the median income was $35k per year. The stats speak for themselves. LinkedIn is the best place to professionally connect, quickly and effectively. If you attend a local industry meet-and-greet with 1000 attendees, and have conversations no longer than 10 minutes each, you’ll connect with 18 people in three hours. Add some time afterward for sending each new connection a “nice to meet you,” email. If you follow the process laid out in this guide, you’ll increase your chance of showing up at that same event and having 18 local professionals already know who you are. I saw a huge jump in job offers after setting up my profile … [Read more...]