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Filmmaking Career Advice from Commercial Director William McGregor: 'Get Out of Your Comfort Zone'

09.4.12 @ 9:30AM Tags : documentary, interviewlighting, short, watch

It’s typical to see Q&As or ‘In Conversation’ style pieces with major directors in which they discuss their influences or share insights into their filmmaking processes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as hungry as anyone for these glimpses into their creative black boxes, but I’m not sure just how applicable their production methods are to the work of the vast majority of filmmakers. There’s a reason books such as Robert Rodriguez’s Rebel Without a Crew (which featured in our Film School on a Bookshelf) is a much loved tome amongst new directors, and that’s because it applies to those fledgling days of filmmaking, where resources are cobbled together and directorial voices are still being discovered. All this is why I believe that interviews such as Fidgit Box’s recent piece with The Mill Commercials Director William McGregor should be considered mandatory viewing for all filmmakers still in the salad days of their careers. More »

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Two Interview Lighting Tutorials That'll Kick Your Footage Up a Notch

05.11.12 @ 6:35PM Tags : cinematography, evehazelton, interviewlighting, lighting, realmpictures, smapp, stillmotion, tutorials

So you’re getting ready to interview that expert for your short documentary, and you want to review your interview lighting technique.  Or maybe you’re just looking for an introduction to lighting in general — where do you look?  Check out these two interview lighting tutorials — not only are they a great review of the basics, but they each do a great job of illustrating just how every light can help shape the subject and tone of  your footage: More »