nofilmschool » video

Will the Google-Supported WebM Open-Source V9 Video Codec Surpass H.265?

Micah Van Hove — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:41:02 +0000

Let the next-gen online video compression wars begin. H.265, the codec that was approved earlier this year as an ITU-T standard and claims to be 50% more efficient than its predecessor H.264, now looks to have some competition in the Google-partnered WebM open-source V9 format, a step up from the highly adopted V8. Read on to watch some side by side comparisons and find out what this codec might do for you. (more…)

NAB Video: Blackmagic 4K and Pocket Cameras

Micah Van Hove — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:46:24 +0000

As we all know by now, Blackmagic has shocked again with their announcement of not one, but two new cameras at this year’s NAB. Get more intimate details in this video from our coverage partners over at FreshDV: (more…)

5 Award-Winning Screenwriters Discuss How They Approach Their Craft

Christopher Boone — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:24:40 +0000

A few months ago, Justin posted a series of videos of 10 renowned directors offering their advice on filmmaking. While this list isn’t quite as extensive, today I present to you five award-winning screenwriters discussing their approach to the craft of screenwriting. You may want to get a snack or even a small meal because some of these videos are long, but all of them offer unique insights into how each of these writers (or writing teams) approach a story, and then break the story down into screenplay format. Hopefully, these videos will educate and inspire you as you work on your own screenwriting craft.
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How to Make a Video for Non-Profits: 34 Tips and Examples to Help You Create Better Films

Joe Marine — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:37:59 +0000

Many of you reading this site might want to work in feature films at some point, and even if you have, that doesn’t mean it’s the only creative game in town. There is plenty of work out there in the form of non-profit videos, many of which can be rewarding personally (of course, you may also only be interested working in the realm of non-fiction). While it might look like making a documentary on the surface, there are plenty of key differences between the two forms. Sebastian Lindstrom, from What Took You So Long?, sent over this video that takes you inside the non-profit video, and gives some pointers and examples to help you make the best film possible. (more…)

Polaroid, Technicolor, Kodak: With the Branded Beast Extinct, What Becomes of the Brand?

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:29:21 +0000

In the whirlwind of hyperactive change that is Moore’s Law, branding can be a prime anchor point. Brand identity fights the tendency toward ‘the new’ with powerful invocations of the past: nostalgia, reliability, simplicity, and the association of that brand name with the creation of very dear memories. Granted, nostalgia alone can’t save anyone from bankruptcy — but it’s a start. Polaroid, Technicolor, and Kodak are prime examples of this interplay, and each is adapting in its own ways — though there’s some overlap. Not one, but two of these traditionally film-based companies are even releasing digital cameras. In whatever the way, each of the three is working toward the preservation of its own historic brand name — which do you think will pull through? (more…)

Can't Afford a GoPro? You Already Own One. Just Add G-Form's G90 Indestructible iPhone Case

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:37:49 +0000

The iLeatherman* for filmmakers is very real. Case in point: let’s say you can’t afford the $400 GoPro HERO3 (or justify the purchase for whatever reason), but you still need a tiny HD rig that laughs in the face of danger, damage, and almost certain death — and you do own a smartphone. Meet G-Form’s waterproof/impact-resistant technology — your freefalling iPhone will survive a 100,000+ foot drop from space with it. The thing about that of course is, that same smartphone also has an HD video-capable camera built into it… you can see where this is going. Say ‘hello’ to G-Form’s G90 ‘Action Sports Camera’ cellphone cases — including variants for Android models. (more…)

Vimeo Respects the Specs: Better Audio Quality Encoding, Frame Rate Guidelines Update

Dave Kendricken — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:40:02 +0000

There’s no doubt that things can get a bit confusing regarding non-integer frame rates — a decimal-specific frames-per-second count isn’t exactly an intuitive aspect of video. Of course, beginners can’t learn such distinctions if they’re going unspecified — a fact Vimeo has recently (and finally) addressed in updating their compression guidelines. Even more importantly, Vimeo is slowly but surely raising the quality ceiling in its encoding of your media — albeit in audio-only, in this case. (more…)

Google Shaking Up Video Recording/Sharing on Apple's iOS with the New 'YouTube Capture' App

Dave Kendricken — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:09:14 +0000

I wasn’t really expecting to have to refer to the theoretical ‘Instagram of Video’ for another while — major choices for mobile users are already in place and ‘in the running’ for such a title, and it could be a while before everyone in the discussion unanimously declares one app the victor (if ever). The Verge (seemingly in a nod to comments) acknowledged YouTube as the elephant in the room for these apps, because even on iOS where the YouTube app is read-only (well, watch-only — no uploads), the service is the megalith for easily-socialized video. A complete YouTube experience is already native on Android (again, YouTube is Google is Android), perhaps to the chagrin of recent Android-joiner Viddy. A new development may totally shift the dynamics of this interplay, however: Google just yesterday released YouTube Capture for iOS. (more…)

'Video Instagram' Crusade Rages On: Viddy Goes Android, Lumify Asks 'Why do Mobile Videos Suck?'

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:34:14 +0000

Where is the supposed ‘Instagram of Video?’ Is it even possible for a motion-based media/social service to be as lightweight, sharable, and just plain easy as Instagram makes stills? The jury is still out, the verdict on which of the contenders will stick — if any at all — is still to be determined. We covered a bit on some of the startups stepping into the ring already, and since then, some other relevant material has surfaced. In one corner, heavyweight Viddy (one of the favorite bets) has just released an Android version of its service for many smartphones, while in the other, small independent startup Lumify wants to make “filmmaking for everyone” and attempts to answer “Why our mobile videos suck.” (more…)

Sam Mendes, Meet James Bond: The Making of 007's New Film 'Skyfall'

Joe Marine — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:30:12 +0000

You might have already seen the previous behind the scenes that we posted for the Roger Deakins-lensed and Sam Mendes-directed Skyfall, but now we’ve got a more traditional video blog/making of that goes beyond raw on-set footage, and actually gets into the entire process for the production of the film. While the videos are short, they’re a little under 30 minutes in total, so sit back, relax, and catch up on some Bond, James Bond. (more…)

On Set with James Bond: Behind the Scenes Footage from 'Skyfall'

Dave Kendricken — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 06:46:22 +0000

Have you you ever wondered what a twenty minute montage of making a James Bond film (and the first digital one at that) would look like? Fortunately, the web provides. I’m usually rather apathetic towards Bond movies before the fact — but this raw, unnarrated behind-the-scenes footage has got me pretty intrigued about the upcoming Skyfall. For one thing, there is some really exciting stunt-work going on in these clips, even with all the wires and safety cushions still un-rotoscoped away. And for another thing — actually, on second thought, we’ll get to that later — these videos have been going on and off-line, and being so clearly unstable, there’s really no time to waste. If you want to check them out, read on. (more…)

Celia Rowlson-Hall's 'The Audition' is a Beautiful, Ugly Look at the Performing Arts

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:02:32 +0000

Celia Rowlson-Hall is an actress, director, dancer, and choreographer whose work displays an innate predilection for the body. Her directing seems focused on a type of physicality that conveys what words may not be able to, or shouldn’t — and understandably so, given that this sort of thing seems to come very naturally to her. She has received favorable notice at festivals, choreographed a music video directed by Gaspar Noe (Enter the Void), and appeared as a lead character in a really, really cool Passion Pit music video. Her recent short, The Audition, addresses things that could apply to any of us working in the field of arts and entertainment, and does so in a brutally honest, intensely physical, and totally fascinating way. Read on to check it out (note: I wouldn’t confidently call it SFW). (more…)

Seafood Fights Back in Epic Short 'Monster Roll', Plus VFX and Behind the Scenes Videos

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:00:30 +0000

It’s becoming increasingly more practical for indie filmmakers to bring the impossible into the realm of possibility, even in terms of visual effects. This has allowed low-budget productions with small or skeleton crews to make high-concept films with great production value (see Monsters). A recent short called Monster Roll fits into this categorization, but puts a bit of a twist on the formula. It has the effects, it has the style, it has that fantastical element — except it’s about sushi chefs battling gigantic sea-monsters, and the creators made Monster Roll with the hope of demonstrating its potential for a feature. Click through to check out the movie (if it doesn’t put a smile of pure joy on your face, I don’t know what will). (more…)

Aliens, Spaceships, and Google Earth: a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the VFX of 'Prometheus'

Dave Kendricken — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:02:28 +0000

Even if you haven’t yet caught one of this past year’s most hyped science fiction films, you’re probably still somewhat familiar (thanks to nearly inescapable tv spots) with the stark visual presence found in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus (just released on Blu-ray). Scott’s no stranger to vividly-realized landscapes, and after a brief (ahem, 30 year) hiatus from the realm of sci-fi, he’s once again brought us that flavor of striking imagery — but not without the help of some seriously special effects teams. (more…)

Watch a Video Analysis of the Signature Shots of Kubrick, Tarantino, and Wes Anderson

Benjamin Dewhurst — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:30:21 +0000

It’s no secret that many directors have “signature shots,” or shots that they tend to use (or even overuse) in their films. Vimeo user kogonada has edited together three brilliant mashups of some of the signature shots of Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, and Wes Anderson. As a community of filmmakers, I think we can all agree there is something to be learned from how the greats make use of these shots. Hit the jump for the first video, which shows Kubrick’s use of the One-Point Perspective: (more…)

Get Out of the House and Listen: Screenwriter Paul Laverty on Writing Other People's Lives

Christopher Boone — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:30:42 +0000

Every writer has his or her own way of working, but for most, writing will inevitably involve sitting in front of a computer, a typewriter or a pad of paper in solitude. For some of us, this solitude becomes too much of a habit, and the voices inside our heads bounce around like an echo chamber, only slight variations of ourselves. To tackle a story about characters outside of our daily lives and comfort zones, we need to hear their voices, see their cultures, feel their stories. Screenwriter and Ken Loach collaborator Paul Laverty (My Name is Joe, The Wind That Shakes the Barley) has made a career of living among his characters from various countries and socioeconomic backgrounds, and he shares his experiences in a video interview as part of the BAFTA Screenwriter Lecture series. (more…)

Ted Griffin, Callie Khouri and Jim Uhls Reveal their Screenwriting Processes and Inspirations

Christopher Boone — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:21:42 +0000

Ted Griffin had no idea his script for Ocean’s Eleven was really about a guy using an elaborate heist just to show his ex-wife he still loved her until he reached page 100 in his writing process. Callie Khouri actually would have killed a dirty old man who shouted obscenities at her from a car if she only had a gun at that moment, so instead she used it as inspiration for Thelma and Louise. Jim Uhls breaks the first rule of Fight Club: he talks about Fight Club. To hear each of these writers talk about their writing process in their own words, check out their videos from The Dialogue Series below: (more…)

Last Video/DSLR/RED News Roundup of 2011

Ryan Koo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:53:32 +0000

A quick roundup of some of the latest video tools — last one before the new year. (more…)

A Roundup of New DSLR and Video Gear, Part 2

Ryan Koo — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:48:59 +0000

Catching up all the latest video software and hardware news (here’s part one): (more…)

Which Video Sharing Service is Best for You?

Ryan Koo — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:24:41 +0000

The NoFilmSchool newsletter includes a lot of exclusive content that doesn’t appear on this site; this post is a sample of one such email that used to go out. In it, we’ll look at why you should use a video sharing service, and which services might work best for you. I mistakenly removed this email from the list thinking it was causing folks to unsubscribe, but it turns out I was reading the analytics wrong (and I can’t reinstitute the email without sending it a second time). So here’s a sample of the newsletter — subscribe free for more exclusive content! (more…)