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Showing posts with label filming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label filming. Show all posts

Thursday, March 19, 2020

TAKE #10 THE HISTORY OF SILENT FILM CINEMATOGRAPHY

Silent Film Cinematography

Because we (Christian Filmmakers, Movie Makers and Christian Movie lovers) are all currently taking a 'Pause' because of the Coronavirus saga (it's March 2020), and many of us have more time in our hands than ever before :)   I have included here, a short Youtube Documentary Film about The History of Silent Film and It's Cinematography!  (you will find the link below this blog post).  

I really love this documentary and I know you will love it too (specially if you truly have a Passion for Motion Pictures, of course).  If possible, try watching it on a big screen TV through Cable TV (I have Comcast which gives me direct access to youtube, but if you don't have cable, you could connect your Laptop or Computer via HDMI cable (and if your laptop doesn't have HDMI OUT, you may need an adapter/converter to do so) just get it from Best Buy or some other similar Electronic store.   

This is a great time to learn everything there is to learn about FilmMaking and specially The History of Silent Films, because in everything we see, research and watch we always tend to learn something we didn't know before, even if it's just one thing, it will all be worth it!    In fact, this is the process of how we learn and how our mind stores and uses information... so that one day, when we least expect it, perhaps while we are filming our next Christian Movie and we are standing on a movie set, perhaps thinking on how we should light the set or shoot a certain scene...  and at that very moment... this one thing you learned years ago, will come to mind and give you that specific edge you need to make the scene work.    

My greatest film making ideas have come to me while in the middle of filming one of my Christian movies.   In that very moment, when I had no idea what to do or how to do something (sometimes because of the pressure of being live on the set), the... when I least expect it, that one filmmaking trick I learned years ago... pops into my head.    As if somebody was watching me from above (and some is watching over us... of course:)   At that very moment, is as if God knows exactly when to bring that one Idea that we learned years ago... again, at the very moment when we (behaps had totally forgotten about it), but suddenly God brings it to our mind as a simple thought, but it becomes clear as day.   And the thought, usually starts as a barely perceptible thought that if we are not paying attention and we are not seeking for it... we may miss it.  This is why Prayer, and seeking God before, during and after each filming is SUPER important.  

For me, being in touch with The Kingdom of God throughout the making of my God Films is the KEY to my success!, and to me, success is NOT making a Million Dollars with a movie, to me success is as simple as Starting and Finishing God's Kingdom Message in a movie format.   A movie that is ready to be shown online or on theaters anywhere and everywhere possible (whether it makes money or not) that's God's domain.   As a Christian Filmmaker my job is to help Plant the Seed in Good Soil, and then Water It, but it's GOD who makes it grow!    In other words, my job as a Christian filmmaker is to make the movie happen with God's help.   And I always make sure that God is with me in every movie I make.  In fact, I have often told God, the following;

 "Lord, if you are NOT with me on this film, I'm out!"  "I rather never make another film... unless, you show me You are ALL IN with me."  "And Lord, if this is NOT the film I should make, please, show me now!"

I don't know about you, but that's how I talk to God, He's my best friend and He knows it :) 

The truth is that I never stop learning, it doesn't matter that I have over 30 years of movie making experience, that means nothing today.  Filmmaking has changed a lot, as you will soon see on the documentary below!  But I love learning and I keep learning everything I can about movie making, cinematography and movie magic all the time, because you just never know when you get to use that one thing (trick) you read about on a film book, you saw in a movie or in a youtube video and then use such new or old technique in one of The Lord's movie.    Also, keep in mind, that what the world calls old or out of style, for God there is no such thing... because for God All Things are New and also everything is Eternal.

Again, the secret of becoming a Top Professional filmmaker is to be alway learning as much as possible about the art, the history; including learning about every new equipment that just came out in the market, just last week or the week before.  Staying on top of the latest Digital video production gear in the industry always keeps us ahead of the curve, and these knowledge will always help us become a better Movie Maker for The Kingdom of God.

I have personally selected this Silent Film Cinematography documentary for you to watch, as a Film Class to help you understand the true power of Motion Picture Film, as well as Today's Digital Cinematography! 

Enjoy the following Documentary film: 

The History of Silent Film Cinematography

We will be showing more Key Educational Documentary Films such as this one for the sake of Learning everything there is to know about Motion Pictures and It's History.

Friday, February 21, 2020

TAKE #9 MAKE MOVIES with your SMARTPHONE!


Today more than ever before...

Smartphone Videos are getting BETTER in Quality!  Not Perfect or Superv Quality for Theatrical Movie making... but phones like the iPhone 11 and others coming soon... are truly taking Cell Phone Video Quality to a whole new level.  Enough, to seriously start thinking about making movies with it.   So much so, that I've began to use them in some of my own productions.

Filming with an iPhone such as the iPhone 11 or newer models or brands will help you work faster, easier and the most important part of it all.... work without a crew!   This means, finally being able to produce even Lower-Budget movies.  And I love that! and will be teaching everything there is to know about how to shoot movies with your iPhone... as a One Man (or Lady) Band.  It can be done!

Thanks to today's Cell Phone quality we are able to create amazing Cinematography and good (acceptable) quality movies which will be GREAT for Churches and for the Web/Youtube (Social Media) revolution market with a really good online quality that most anyone will love and enjoy!

Besides, Never get stuck with "Quality", too many filmmakers get stuck with trying to have the Best Camera or The Best Quality... forget that!  Like I said, quality is only part of the picture, but it's not all of it.   How many GREAT QUALITY films have you looked at and they were really bad movies.  There are thousands of them, perhaps even millions of bad films out there, and a big chunk made by Hollywood.   The secret is knowing The Art of Cinematography, that's what most BAD MOVIES lack.   Cinematography (The art of lighting with Lights and Shadows and knowing how to perfectly frame any shot) is the Key to having a Great Interesting image on ANY HD or 4K camera.   Everything else is just hype!  

Camera companies make a living on hype and fake news!  Trust me, I've been shooting both Film and Video since the 1980's.  Back them, cameras would take 10 years to change model... Today, it's every 6 month, you know why?  Because it's how they make more money.    So again, The 'Video Image' is only one part of Cinematography, having a 'Great Story' is KEY!   But even then, having a Great story is NOT even enough, you also need... Great Actors in your movie.   In fact, it doesn't matter what camera you use, if you have a Great Story, Great Actors and Good descent sound... any movie will work amazingly well in most any market!... including the Theatrical market, specially if you make sure you maintain Great Cinematography throughout your entire movie.

I have been using my iPhone 11 to shoot behind the scenes footage and sometimes, shooting parts of a Video Spot as a 2nd camera...  so, little by little I'm already incorporating Cell Phone videos in my professional work and the Look and Feel is amazing.   And today, I'm also looking into making a short film using my iPhone 11, because when I do... I'm sure to stay shooting Feature Length movies with smart phones from then on.  

IN THE MEANTIME, CHECK OUT THIS COOL YOUTUBE VIDEO!

From: Learn Online Video | Youtube

Here is a quick 10 Fun and Cool Ways to shoot great amazing Images using a Smartphone and a Gimbal', keep in mind that using a 'Gimbal' with your Smartphone is a Must-Have so start looking into it.
  
In this (well produced) Youtube Video you will learn more on HOW and WHY You should start making short films and even a feature movies using a Smartphone and a Gimbal!   




 Watch this youtube link (Enjoy):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoXV6JexQeY




And we are here to help you.   If you have any questions on Christian Movie Making, please do not hesitate to contact me Norton Rodriguez through our website: www.TheGodofmoses.com or my facebook page!