Great Star Wars Article

Warning: Not for the jaded or cynical. Romantics only.

Digital Cinema 4k Origin Camera

Here's a taste of the new 4k DALSA Origin Camera.
Mmmm.

One Page Lighting Course

My friend Mike Conway's indy movie lighting course
is short, to the point, succinct, pithy, abrupt, and concise.
In a word, brief.

Old New Mexico News

Although it happened a while back, this program,
from Panavision and the New Mexico Tourism Department,
is worth a read. What a heart-stopper. These guys are serious!
New Mexico just looks better and better as a place to shoot movies.

RIP Eddie Albert

Oh, no. Eddie Albert died today,
at the age of 99.

"Green Acres" is still my favorite
sitcom of all time, as it's so far beyond tv.
It's surreal and insane!

If you watch it carefully, you'll eventually notice
most of the dialogue is shot before painted backdrops.
That show cost virtually nothing but a backdrop rental
and some actors every week. And some film. Love it.

I'm so sorry to hear of Eddie Albert's passing. He was a real
war hero, a good singer, and is in one of my most favorite movies.

Elaine May's "The Heartbreak Kid," starring her daughter Jeanne Berlin,
Charles Grodin, and Cybill Shepherd. Script by Neil Simon.
Eddie played Cybill's Dad, and was he tough! And funny.

Grodin, a shallow opportunistic newlywed, who's just abandoned
his bride because she has the worst sunburn ever filmed,
asks Eddie something like,
"Sir, would you be all right with me keeping company
with your daughter?"

Eddie, tough as nails, responds:
"Not if I were dragged forty miles by my tongue."

Rest in peace, Eddie.

Kodak Cinematography Workshop in Seattle!

Break out your light meter and your contrast glass, the
Kodak Cinematography Workshop is coming to Seattle!

Money For Your Movie - Hurry!

Only a few days left to get my ultimate filmmaking
money-raising guide, at a 28% discount on its price.
It ships 1 June 2005.

Completely updated the links, so it's even more relevant and useful.
Whole bunch of new info, for those who want to apply for grants
(free money you never have to repay) as well as my simple system
to find and qualify investors for your film and video projects.
Chock-full of these and other loan sources. You'll love it.

With all this information at your fingertips, if you can't raise all the money
you need, you're not trying. (Maybe you don't really want to be a filmmaker...)
Fully backed by my awesome 1 year money-back guarantee.

That 28% discount is for those who order in the
dwindling few days before 1 June. Sign up and save!
"Secrets Of Raising Money For Your Movie"

One Of The Greats - Howie Morris

I note with sadness that Howie Morris, of
"Your Show Of Shows" has passed away, at 85.
If you don't know who Howie Morris was,
well you just should, that's all.

IndieGathering in Cleveland!

Independent filmmakers from all over converge on Cleveland
Ohio USA 3-5 June 2005 to meet, schmooze, and make movies.
Learn more here.

Don't Take My Kodachrome Away!

You may be horrified to learn Kodak may discontinue making
Kodachrome. Sure, they'll make some fine-grain negative, but
that's not what we want. It's gotta be that deep saturation,
fine-grain dye-coupled reversal beauty you just don't find in life.
The look of Man and God. (Mannes and Godowsky, both named
Leopold, mixed up the first batch in a bathtub.) Let Kodak
know - seventy years is not enough! Kodachrome Petition.

Meet The Panasonic DVX100A Camera

If you're spending under $5k for a digital camera so you can make
a movie, this is the one to get. Here's your intro. Shake hands.

Leapfrog Over Your Competition!

Producing your own Independent Feature movie
can take years off your Hollywood Shuffle.

Learn all the tools, tricks, and strategems
to become an Independent Producer, and leapfrog
over your filmmaking competition!

Stop trying to make deals, and start making movies!
Everything you need to know, to make your own
Independent Feature, in only two days.

Hollywood Seminars "Independent Producing,"
25-26 June 2005, for info call 323-960-5550

You-know-what Opens Today!

Here's a radical claim, from the _NY Times_ review,
by AO Scott:

"This is by far the best film in the more recent trilogy, and
also the best of the four episodes Mr. Lucas has directed.
That's right: it's better than 'Star Wars.'

'Revenge of the Sith' ranks with 'The Empire Strikes Back'
(directed by Irvin Kershner in 1980) as the richest and most
challenging movie in the cycle. It comes closer than any of
the other episodes to realizing Mr. Lucas's frequently
reiterated dream of bringing the combination of vigorous
spectacle and mythic resonance he found in the films of Akira
Kurosawa into American commercial cinema."

Agree? Disagree?

Royalty-free country music

Need some really good royalty-free country music for
film or video use? Ballads, comic, old country, solos,
duets more. All new songs recorded in Nashville.
No charge, just credits. Free CD.

You'll help a WWII and Korea Vet fighter pilot who's
been a songwriter since age of 13, and has won awards
from Billboard magazine. If you need a release,
modify this one.

He's not online, you must write to him.
Les Warner Music, P.O. Box 34, Harvey, LA 70058
I'd include some stamps or a buck to cover postage,
just to be nice, and grease your karmic skids.

How To Get From Video To Film

Only the high points. All you need to know.
How to get your video movie into a 35mm projector.

MOVIE CAMERAS and PROJECTORS

Collecting or accumulating vintage movie cameras
and projectors is its own reward.
Here are manuals for those guys. Enjoy!

A-Minima For Your Cinema

Here's more on the smallest,
cheapest HD camera.

Film vs. Video By The Numbers

The smallest HD camera is still the Aaton A-Minima S16mm
film camera. Cheapest to shoot? Still the double-a.
The numbers tell the story.

Filmmaking and Cinematography Crash Course

Okay, it's film for you. Want to hit the high points
in only one page? Here ya go. You're welcome.
Kodak Filmmaking and Cinematography Basics

Introducing - Digital "Film" Cameras

What's it all about? Here's an introduction to digital
cameras, in a brief, concise, and yet short way.
Digital "Film" Cameras

Panavision Does It Right

If you squint, it looks like a menacing Tyrannosaurus Rex.
From its mammoth lens and film-mag-shaped recorder on
top, it's pure Panavision. Meet the Genesis. How big?
Big enough - it's got a Super 35mm sized image sensor.

Learn 35mm Filmmaking In France!

As they have for 19 years, Jacques Gurfinkiel and Arscipro's
Workshop once again provide a highly-recommended and just plain
dynamite hands-on 35mm Filmmaking workshop
in Paris, France. Could it be any better? Très bon!

If you can't get to Paris France, and you wouldn't mind learning
in Hollywood CA USA, surf over to Hollywood Seminars

3 Perf - And Why It Is Good

Does it ever bother you that there's at least 25% of valuable
35mm film "real estate" thrown away on even the most efficient
productions? So they invented 3-perf, just for you...

It's Better In French

Sometimes simple things are the best.
Thank you, beko. I really appreciate it.
Your hard work makes me smile.

Lucasfilm Without George?

Looks like George is really serious, he's moved all those old
"Star Wars" ILM workers off his ranch, and down to The Presidio.
Seems he's prepping Lucasfilm for life after "Star Wars,"
or even after George himself. What a guy.

The HD-eous Truth!

So, is HD really better-faster-cheaper?
I know you save a day, not waiting for dailies,
the cost of stock is ridiculously cheap, film
doesn't have as generous a run time, shooting HD is easy,
and you save money. But are these things true?