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Digital Film Making - Take 1
- By Sojean Peou
- Published 04/26/2008
How exciting it is for me to learn good friends are shooting high quality, film-looking features for less than $20K due to well-manufactured and thought-out digital cameras, editing softwares, and powerful computers with multiple screens.
I remember when I was in film school shooting a 30 second PSA (public service announcement) on 16mm film stock as an assignment to complete the class costed me $5000. If I were to shoot this same 30 second PSA today on a digital camera, avoiding film processing, striking work prints, renting a flatbed, etc., the cost of it would reduce significantly.
Right after finishing film school, I attempted to take over Hollywood by shooting my first feature on a $30K budget. A great friend of mine by the name of Pedro Castro acted as the DP (a cinematographer) gave me a fantastic looking 16mm film as a result, but the storyline didn't do the movie justice; I had to shelf it.
It was an intensive three-week shoot taking only Sunday off to rest. Pedro and crew were quick setting up each scene, and the cast was completely supportive and participated in the project without taking pays. Most of us working on the production were newbies, but we were creative in solving problems when they arose. By the end of the shoot, we became family (so cliche).
Even though our feature film didn't take us far, we did learn plenty and that was my intention all along. I put the project and team together and shot the film on a small budget to test myself if I am capable enough to complete a feature with limited fund and resources.
As a result of this experiment, we, those that were involved in
the project, became better film makers and wiser.
I went to Hollywood afterward, young and naive, trying to kick down every door to let the industry people know I had arrived only to learn people in Hollywood love to talk and make promises and hate to take on actions and complete tasks, projects were left undone. After about two years, I had enough of Hollywood and went back home and never looked back until now.
Now that there are digital cameras and software effects to enhance the look of digital images, I am looking forward to give Hollywood another try with a new plan, of course.
The plan is to generate cash by any mean necessary. Believe it or not, Hollywood starves cash. Without cash, it's extremely hard to get anything accomplished in Hollywood. One good thing about Hollywood is that it has the ability to find those who are loaded with talents and/or money, doesn't matter in what field of the industry, it'll find that person. I was always cognizant of this fact.
Knowing this fact, I don't try to break or make it into Hollywood anymore. All I want to do is to write an amazing script, come up with a small budget ($20K to $30K), assemble a cast and a crew and shoot the film digitally and repeat the process.
If each film I shoot showcases my talents, I strongly believe Hollywood will find me. If it can't find me, I believe I'll still be content with myself as long as I continue to write and make movies, digitally or not.
The bottom line is I am a film maker and my passion demands that I make movies. Making movies these days doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg anymore if it is made digitally.
As I see it, digital film making is the future for those of us who didn't born with a silver spoon in our mouth.
I remember when I was in film school shooting a 30 second PSA (public service announcement) on 16mm film stock as an assignment to complete the class costed me $5000. If I were to shoot this same 30 second PSA today on a digital camera, avoiding film processing, striking work prints, renting a flatbed, etc., the cost of it would reduce significantly.
Right after finishing film school, I attempted to take over Hollywood by shooting my first feature on a $30K budget. A great friend of mine by the name of Pedro Castro acted as the DP (a cinematographer) gave me a fantastic looking 16mm film as a result, but the storyline didn't do the movie justice; I had to shelf it.
It was an intensive three-week shoot taking only Sunday off to rest. Pedro and crew were quick setting up each scene, and the cast was completely supportive and participated in the project without taking pays. Most of us working on the production were newbies, but we were creative in solving problems when they arose. By the end of the shoot, we became family (so cliche).
Even though our feature film didn't take us far, we did learn plenty and that was my intention all along. I put the project and team together and shot the film on a small budget to test myself if I am capable enough to complete a feature with limited fund and resources.
As a result of this experiment, we, those that were involved in
I went to Hollywood afterward, young and naive, trying to kick down every door to let the industry people know I had arrived only to learn people in Hollywood love to talk and make promises and hate to take on actions and complete tasks, projects were left undone. After about two years, I had enough of Hollywood and went back home and never looked back until now.
Now that there are digital cameras and software effects to enhance the look of digital images, I am looking forward to give Hollywood another try with a new plan, of course.
The plan is to generate cash by any mean necessary. Believe it or not, Hollywood starves cash. Without cash, it's extremely hard to get anything accomplished in Hollywood. One good thing about Hollywood is that it has the ability to find those who are loaded with talents and/or money, doesn't matter in what field of the industry, it'll find that person. I was always cognizant of this fact.
Knowing this fact, I don't try to break or make it into Hollywood anymore. All I want to do is to write an amazing script, come up with a small budget ($20K to $30K), assemble a cast and a crew and shoot the film digitally and repeat the process.
If each film I shoot showcases my talents, I strongly believe Hollywood will find me. If it can't find me, I believe I'll still be content with myself as long as I continue to write and make movies, digitally or not.
The bottom line is I am a film maker and my passion demands that I make movies. Making movies these days doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg anymore if it is made digitally.
As I see it, digital film making is the future for those of us who didn't born with a silver spoon in our mouth.
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