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Making Films & Videos/Questions Answered by Expert Troy Smith
| Subject | Date Asked |
| question on live switcher for prosumer cameras | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: Smith I have 3 cameras and would like to do live switching to cut down on post-production work. ... A: Do you mean the Sony SEG-2000A? Is it a special effects generator? My suggestion is to test it ... | |
| Scrooge 1951 | 12/19/2011 |
| Q: I've just watched the colourized version of the 1951 film "Scrooge". It was originally made in black ... A: The coloring was done by hand -- a very long and tedious process. They would make a clean print of ... | |
| Scrooge 1951 | 12/18/2011 |
| Q: I've just watched the colourized version of the 1951 film "Scrooge". It was originally made in black ... A: Fun question! You do not see the "real" colors because black and white film only captures the ... | |
| Modern Films | 12/9/2011 |
| Q: Good day, sir. I am a high school student from Asia and we just tackled on films in the modern era ... A: Film making has only been around since the mid 1800's so it is primarily an art form that has ... | |
| Modern Films | 12/8/2011 |
| Q: Good day, sir. I am a high school student from Asia and we just tackled on films in the modern era ... A: This is a very broad question to answer. What is considered the "modern era"? There are several ... | |
| Re: | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: To who is may concern, I thank you for your time, you have spent on this site and I am sure it ... A: I want to recommend to you a website where you can read famous movie scripts to see how they look ... | |
| Form | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: Finished shooting a feature and have actors who are asking for footage before the movie is released. ... A: Sorry for the late response, I was gone for a number of days. If it is a small clip for a demo ... | |
| lights and lightening samurai electric shock | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I've come to realise, how important lightening is in film and its basic principles. are you able ... A: Sorry for the delay, I haven't been around for over a week. Sounds like you're having fun with ... | |
| Size difference | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: How does one make things look larger in a film a nose a hand anything?Is it lens magic?Wide angle ... A: A wide angle lens makes things that are closer to it look much larger than it would to your eye. So ... | |
| Film Look (More technical) | 7/20/2011 |
| Q: In a previous answer you started to explain the differences between movies (film) and video ... A: Film and video are very different mediums that produce similar results. Blurring is an option that ... | |
| my story | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: I have recently wrote a book which I have also had published called Never trust anyone it's a true ... A: This is very great question with many possible answers. What you are looking to do (it sounds like) ... | |
| film stock | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: do you know where to go to find out what film stock was used in a particular movie? A: The only place that I know of that is readily available is American Cinematographer magazine. If ... | |
| Sound | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I notice in some videos if no boom mike is around poeple are using things such as a sony bloggie ... A: There are some good quality digital audio recorders out there that aren't too expensive ( I use ... | |
| Right Editing Tool | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I'm an university level English Second Language teacher preparing to edit a long public domain movie ... A: You are correct, Adobe Premiere is your best choice. There are others out there that might be a ... | |
| Natural lighting | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: for some kind of scenes natural lighting seems to be best like for glamour type shooting(even though ... A: My apologies for the late response - I have been working long hours on our feature film and have not ... | |
| Are film reviewers accountable? | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: I have been thinking hard about this issue. Is there ever a mechanism/system to monitor and control ... A: That is a very interesting question. Honestly, there is no accountability for these reviews because ... | |
| Shooting ratio | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: What do they exactly mean by shooting ratio? Like when I see 5:1 does that mean five minutes of ... A: Great questions! Shooting ratio is like you said, it is how many minutes (or in film, how many feet ... | |
| Lighting | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Smith: I asked you a couple questions about a year ago when I first began learning about film ... A: My first question is - do you turn off the lights when you are not shooting? Because that will keep ... | |
| video file size | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: A film festival suggests I send a high quality video file of 1280x720. However, I've already ... A: Depending on what kind of editing program you have, you can import your movie back into the editing ... | |
| Screenwriting.... | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could answer this question. I was sitting in the living room wondering ... A: They would definitely get story credits, but if more than 50% of the script is changed, they might ... | |
| Screenwriting.... | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could answer this question. I was sitting in the living room wondering ... A: This is an interesting question and it varies per production and per contract with the screenwriter. ... | |
| Advice for Beginner | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I'm an international student who is interested in filmmaking but have no experience. I thought of ... A: The Maine Media Workshops (www.theworkshops.com) are a great place to learn and you can pick and ... | |
| Flip video cam | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: Which flip video cam would you recommend as a extra camera?Is it the slide or the mini?You mentioned ... A: My apologies for the late response, I have been out of town for a few days and I had no idea what ... | |
| second camera | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: whats a good smaller camera than the canon xl1 i have for practice shooting like while traveling and ... A: I am not very familiar with smaller cameras because there are so many of them, but you can go to ... | |
| mov. files... | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: We just came back from a vacation and used the Kodak PlaySport to take pics and videos. We ... A: SOrry you are having problems - I know exactly what you are talking about and have suffered through ... | |
| body mount camera rig | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: I'm doing research on the bodymount camera rig, so far I have only found that Requiem For Dream had ... A: It was used in "Mean Streets" and I believe also in "Get Him to the Greek" - both to symbolize ... | |
| skin tone | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: for movies that may show nudity what is the best way to obtain good skin tone?I heard softboxes are ... A: A silk is a special thin white cloth that lets light pass through it but softens the light, so you ... | |
| skin tone | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: for movies that may show nudity what is the best way to obtain good skin tone?I heard softboxes are ... A: I do not know about make-up, but you definitely want to use soft light like softboxes or bright ... | |
| 5D markII video and FCP | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: i just shot a film with a 5D mark II(30 fps) and i am now starting to edit it, i am having problems ... A: There could be several things going on. It appears that you shot it on an NTSC setting because ... | |
| Pitching ideas to Companies. | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: i am an upcoming tv/film maker, i have finished college on a film making course and would like some ... A: There are some credible writing contests out there that can get you exposure as well as critique ... | |
| 35mm vs 16mm | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: What is the difference in effect of 35mm, 16mm, Super 16, and Super 8 film? How does it effect the ... A: It is all the size of the film stock in millimeters that the image is captured on (super 8 is 8mm, ... | |
| Simple Film Editing for Language Teaching | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm an English Second Language (ESL) teacher who has a free English Through Song series on my ... A: I appreciate your idea (I am a high school teacher). If you have a PC, you can use Windows Movie ... | |
| Creating a Professional DVD for Resale | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I am an Etiquette Expert and I am thinking of putting together a quality Dining Etiquette ... A: Sounds like an interesting project. I couldn't give you any ideas of cost without more specifics, ... | |
| Movie production | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: My name is Trinidad J Maturino and I'am doing a school project about movie production and i just ... A: Very good question. The director should really "see" how the movie will look in his head before ... | |
| Movie production | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: My name is Trinidad J Maturino and I'am doing a school project about movie production and i just ... A: This is a little tough because there are so many different paces to "start." You could start by ... | |
| Film Pre-production | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: I need to know what is the sequence of the Pre-production steps below and which of them can take ... A: You seem to have a good idea of what is suppose to happen. Not all of these things need to happen ... | |
| first short film | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I'm Jamie and i go to college, doing a creative media course. as a part of my course. I am to ... A: Sounds interesting. I don't believe that you need to do a short on something funny unless that is ... | |
| Film Rights | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I am new to filmmaking and I want to make a short film using an "essay"(short story) by James A. ... A: If you can build a case that you are going to make a product that will be commercially viable, then ... | |
| Videography Business | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: First off, thanks for taking the time to answer my question. Since 2007, I have been recording and ... A: My deepest apologies for this late response. I was judging, assembling, and showing a film festival ... | |
| They want to make my novel into a film | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I am internationally known in the area of self-defense training and self-improvement through my ... A: we are a small production company shooting our 3rd low budget feature this summer. We rent Canon ... | |
| They want to make my novel into a film | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I am internationally known in the area of self-defense training and self-improvement through my ... A: If you feel comfortable making the horror movie and feel that it will benefit you, then by all ... | |
| They want to make my novel into a film | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I am internationally known in the area of self-defense training and self-improvement through my ... A: Your question is very interesting and it seems like there are a lot of details that I don't know ... | |
| speed effects | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: im wanting to make a small sketch and i was wanting to know how to do a speed effect.. i want to ... A: Like I wrote earlier, if you want to do it in one shot without special effects, you'll have to do it ... | |
| speed effects | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: im wanting to make a small sketch and i was wanting to know how to do a speed effect.. i want to ... A: If you have After Effects, you can shoot 2 separate shots and composite them together. If you ... | |
| White Balancing | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Smith, I asked a previous question earlier this month about lighting and you were very helpful. ... A: Yes, your camera must also have the auto exposure setting turned on and you are shooting in low ... | |
| multi-camera d-t-e to one computer | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: football games are filmed usu. with 3 cam's. We can extend 1394 from press box to all 3 cams ... A: So really you are looking to gather raw footage and not create an edited program, right? To record ... | |
| multi-camera d-t-e to one computer | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: football games are filmed usu. with 3 cam's. We can extend 1394 from press box to all 3 cams ... A: Your question was a bit unclear to me and so was what it is you want to do. I'll tell you what I ... | |
| diff bet 35mm n 16mm | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: could plzz tell me difference bettween 16 mm and 35 mm plzz also could you pleace tell me the best ... A: 16mm/35mm refers to the width of the actual film in millimeters. 16mm is half the width of 35mm ... | |
| Lighting | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Smith Thanks for taking time out of your day for this! I will be making educational videos at ... A: Good question! Let me give you a bit of info first. There are 2 standard light color temps used by ... | |
| making books into films | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: My question is a little odd, but I'm planning to make a book into a film and have gained the ... A: If you have officially obtained the rights to the story, the author really doesn't have any other ... | |
| School | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I am 17 years old and very interested in becoming a director, i have a huge imagination and so many ... A: Sounds great! the University of Colorado at Boulder has a good film program. ... | |
| classic film colors | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I am not a film student but am a amateur photographer. My question lead me to this page since I ... A: Interesting question! I'll tell you what I know. There are a vast variety of film stocks. WHen ... | |
| Final Cut Pro export | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I just finished a film in Flash, ( 24 frame speed) brought it into After Effects to change to ... A: It is my understanding that it is. I admit that I am not a compression guru, but this is what I ... | |
| Final Cut Pro export | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I just finished a film in Flash, ( 24 frame speed) brought it into After Effects to change to ... A: The best compression is the standard one: H.264 You can go to FILE > EXPORT > FINAL CUT PRO MOVIE. ... | |
| lighting/camera for a particular look | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: firstly i thank you for answering all my previous questions, it's been fantastic, almost unreal. i ... A: This is a tricky problem to solve since he shoots on film and you have video. Using lighting to ... | |
| Capturing dialogue in long shots | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: Though having a shallow background in film training, I am intending to be a movie director, and am ... A: For long shots, you would use a boom pole and a shotgun mic to get the audio without getting in the ... | |
| aspect ratio | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I would just like to know: What do aspect ratios such as 1:85:1 and 2:35:1 actually mean? Does it ... A: Sorry for the delay, Kaylee. That is a good question! You are right, aspect ratios are the ... | |
| Image Quality | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: Why do some movies simply "look" better than others. I know the lighting has a great deal to do w/ ... A: I apologize for the late reply and hope that this can still give you some help. Lighting is a major ... | |
| One scene from differrent angles | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I am ver new to movie making and using sony 520V camcorder to shoot a short film. My question is how ... A: You don't need multiple cameras, you just need to film each actor from their own angle (or an angle ... | |
| Video Camera Choice | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering filming my own short (with the help of a lot of other people of course) and I want ... A: I have been partial to the Panasonic AG HVX200 Camcorder. They are very nice. Sony and Canon also ... | |
| Amateur music video making | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I am making a music video using video clips and putting a song playing at the same time. I was ... A: Adobe Premiere is very good and professional, and I believe that you can buy different versions of ... | |
| Amateur music video making | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I am making a music video using video clips and putting a song playing at the same time. I was ... A: I don't use free programs, so there may be more out there, but Windows Movie Maker for PC or Apple ... | |
| cinematography | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I am an amatuer filmmaker who will be studying in college (just got in, woooo!) and I was just ... A: Interesting question! I believe that handheld is a style that has it's place and works well with ... | |
| how to | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: If using a lot of quotes in a movie do you know if there's a rule that each quote has to be backed ... A: The speaker stands in front of a green (or blue) screen. This is called chroma key. The colors are ... | |
| movie making software | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: There is a software program out there that I've had before, unfortunately I cant remember what it ... A: I do not know of any software that would make those decisions for you, but most any video editing ... | |
| ...competence? | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Me again! I started second-unit shooting my film yesterday and I got four shots done in an hour, ... A: It all depends on how complicated the shots are, really. The more you do it and the better you plan ... | |
| lighting | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I am starting production on a film and some of it takes place outdoors. So, would a yellow light or ... A: That sounds right - direct lighting for the more intense stuff for those hard shadows and severe ... | |
| lighting | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I am starting production on a film and some of it takes place outdoors. So, would a yellow light or ... A: I love this question and I can give you a cool answer if you are shooting on video (I will assume ... | |
| studios & actors | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I read somewhere that studios 'own' actors via contracts. So if the studio gets the name of the ... A: Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood (20's-60's), studios had contracts with actors, directors, ... | |
| quotes | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: If using a lot of quotes in a movie do you know if there's a rule that each quote has to be backed ... A: Very nice. As long as you can cite a source for the quote in case anyone protests it, you are good ... | |
| quotes | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: If using a lot of quotes in a movie do you know if there's a rule that each quote has to be backed ... A: Is it a documentary? If you use a quote, it would be wise to document where you got the quote from. ... | |
| lighting and crew | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: Just two quick questions: 1.) Are torches and bounce boards the only way to light a scene in the ... A: If you don't have to go far into the woods, you could use car headlights - just shoot everything ... | |
| Hi again | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: Good day! Thankyou for your informative reply! I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, my ... A: Sounds like he has worked hard at not only increasing his knowledge but getting experience as well. ... | |
| Screenplay | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: Good day! I have just found out that my fifteen-year-old son has been writing screenplays recently. ... A: Congratulations! It sounds very fun. I HIGHLY recommend that your son (and you) read "Save the ... | |
| audio | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: when i use to produce industrial videos we'd use beta sp cam packages and if we had to shoot a ... A: Lavs are great for personal interviews in industrial videos and it is acceptable to see on them in ... | |
| Deferred Pay | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: 3 Main questions: 1. What presently would be realistic formats to shoot a movie on which I seek ... A: This is a fantastic question, Joe, but I am not an expert in it. I will give you the answers that I ... | |
| lighting | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: As you might know by now, me and some friends are making a short film and I would like to know: what ... A: Interesting question! Although I have never shot in a rain forest (but in other forests) it has ... | |
| Film making | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: 1. I want to start filmmaking from zero. What should I be equipped with? 2. What are the books that ... A: You need a digital video camera and a computer with video editing software. These are the minimum. ... | |
| shooting television and computer screens | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: when i use to produce industrial videos we'd use beta sp cam packages and if we had to shoot a ... A: Sorry for the delay. The way that I have always done it (and the TV station that I worked for) is ... | |
| lightening | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: i work as a camera man but want to improve myself in becoming a dop in the future...i been told that ... A: Do you meaning "lighting"? There are a few DVD's out there, and the ones that I know of can be ... | |
| I need help and advise on getting started | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I struggled for years trying to get started on a career as a writer,director and producer. After ... A: I am a little confused with your question. Have you already started working on the low budget ... | |
| Clapperboard | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I am pretty much ready to shoot my first production- a ten minute short film with some friends. I ... A: The number of the scene in your shooting script. The actual shots are not the scenes. The way I do ... | |
| working around furniture display lighting | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I am shooting several scenes in a furniture store that has excellent display lighting to show case ... A: Interesting question. Are the lights in the shots or not? If not, you can buy opaque filters and ... | |
| No Tripod | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: My mate and i do outdoor ed videos and we are in locations where we cannot take a tripod is there ... A: Sorry, I wrote an answer to this question the other day, but I received a notice that said it still ... | |
| clapperboards | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I am 16 years old and myself and a couple of friends are making a movie, me at the helm. I am a ... A: Sorry, didn't mean to be confusing. Most people don't call marker, they just say "LOTR scene 8 take ... | |
| clapperboards | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I am 16 years old and myself and a couple of friends are making a movie, me at the helm. I am a ... A: The clapper is actually called the "slate" the "marker" or the "clacker" usually. 1) On big sets, ... | |
| Making a movie | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: "I have an idea for a TV show how do I start the process to make it happen? A: First you need to write it all down in a professional manner. Then you need to contact ... | |
| Filming and effects. | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I need some advice as far as filming. I plan to start a series for youtube and hope to try for ... A: I'll take a crack at this one... Shooting with one camera is easy, and it's how most independent ... | |
| formats | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: 3 Main questions: 1. What presently would be realistic formats to shoot a movie on which I seek ... A: 1. if a program is shot on HD can non-HD televisions view it properly? Cause i know when I've shot ... | |
| formats & music | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: 3 Main questions: 1. What presently would be realistic formats to shoot a movie on which I seek ... A: Sorry for the delay. To get the cool film look from the composition mode do this: Take the clip ... | |
| Non-anamorphic High Definition | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: expertise. I'm completing a documentary shot with the Sony Z1 HDV camera. I'd like to include ... A: I would definitely crop your standard def down to 16:9 letterbox size (I believe that is what you ... | |
| formats & music | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: 3 Main questions: 1. What presently would be realistic formats to shoot a movie on which I seek ... A: Wow! That's actually 7 questions ;) You need to shoot on on either 16mm or 35mm film or HD video. ... | |
| VIDEO | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: Is live dissolve of 2 shots possible( not freez dissolve) in any video camera ? A: No. For that to work, the camera would have to combine 2 different INCOMING signals, and they can't ... | |
| Difference shooting in HD and SD | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: just wanna inquire whether there's any difference in the final quality of a video if I shoot using a ... A: The details that an HD camera will pick up will be more than an SD camera, and that detail will come ... | |
| audio | 6/26/2009 |
| Q: I sent you that 'audio and creepiness' question and I'm just a little confused, you said in your ... A: Wow! Sorry about that! I must have been dozing off! YES - the recorder is completely separate ... | |
| audio and creepiness | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I have two questions to ask... Me and two friends want to make a short film (well I do, I dragged ... A: I know what you mean about the audio! Here's what you can do. You can use an external mic and a ... | |
| post post production | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a question that's really bugging me. Every film begins with two things, the studio and the ... A: The studio logos are there because they put in the most money to create and distribute the film. ... | |
| Making a YouTube show | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: Smith, I am seeking to be advised on behalf of a friend of mine who is a struggling actress in ... A: This is an issue of copyright. Trademark is traditionally for images, like the Nike swoosh or the ... | |
| editing | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: i've been making(directing) documentaries and videos for the past few months now and i am still ... A: There is probably some info on Wikipedia, but I can give you some info. NTSC is the standard ... | |
| equipment | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: If I wanted to start a video production company what equipment would I need. I know it is a broad ... A: To just get started, you'll need a nice HD camera that is within your budget (between $1500-7000), a ... | |
| schoool project | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a career project and i chose a Film Editor as my topic. I would really appreciate the ... A: Well, it just so happens that I am a high school media arts teacher as well as a professional ... | |
| schoool project | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a career project and i chose a Film Editor as my topic. I would really appreciate the ... A: I don't know if my answers will help you but I will give them to you all the same. I am a ... | |
| Title Design In The Age Of Digital Intermediates | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: It is clear watching many films' titles sequences (mainly opening titles, as end titles are still ... A: On big budget movies, the "digital" effects are actually laser printed onto the film. So even ... | |
| LIMITS THAT I CAN ASK OF ACTOR/ACTRESS | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I ASKED EARLIER ABOUT THE RATINGS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ANSWER. IN MY STORY THERE IS A RAPE AND ... A: Remember, movies are about illusion - making things that are fake appear real. You need to plan out ... | |
| I want to turn my work of fiction into a movie. What am I to do? | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I apologize if this question has been asked before. I have been working on a fictional story for ... A: Congratulations on your story. The word "rights" is referring to copyright, or the protected right ... | |
| Timeline Playback | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: My question is about a curious inconsistency when I take clips from my edit bin in Final Cut Pro ... A: Wow... huh. Are any of your clips ".avi" files instead of quicktime files? Do you have to render? ... | |
| Film making | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a strong desire to make a series of films on developing hope and faith in others through ... A: Your question is a good one but extremely broad, so I will give you some options. Get "Save the ... | |
| Timeline Playback | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: My question is about a curious inconsistency when I take clips from my edit bin in Final Cut Pro ... A: It could be your memory.. I can't say that I've ever heard of this. Are you working with multiple ... | |
| Timeline Playback | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: My question is about a curious inconsistency when I take clips from my edit bin in Final Cut Pro ... A: If it plays fine in the viewer but strobey in the canvas, I have a possible solution. If this ... | |
| Career Advice | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: Smith, I'm really confused and was wondering if you could give me a little direction. I'll first ... A: It sounds like you've found what you love. Congratulations! Most people never even get that far! ... | |
| indoor lighting for amateur video | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: Could you recommend any techniques or inexpensive lighting solutions that would make a person's skin ... A: Good question! If you want, you can try a Tiffen Black Pro Mist filter, Soft FX3 filter or other ... | |
| to be discovered | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: i started writing a live story about the situations i been through in life and i wanted to know ... A: This is the dream of millions of people, and there are many books written on accomplishing that ... | |
| video production classes | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: My son, a high school student, is looking for a 1-2 week seminar on video production offered in ... A: The Maine Media Workshops are on the complete opposite side of the country and they are AWESOME. ... | |
| RATINGS | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I'm thinking of making a movie from a story I wrote. I'm doing this manly for myself but if the ... A: Interestingly enough, the MPAA ratings are almost completely arbitrary and at the discretion of the ... | |
| documentary with mini dv | 1/29/2009 |
| Q: I am Prashant from India. I am an aspiring filmmaker. In a few days from now i am going to shoot a ... A: Sorry for the delay. I thought that I had answered this question, but AllExperts informed me that ... | |
| Getting started in film making | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: My name is Matt Scholz and I have been a news photographer for about 3 years now. Im 24 years old ... A: Any of the HD cams between $3k-6k are good. I haven't been in the market for cams in about a year, ... | |
| Getting started in film making | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: My name is Matt Scholz and I have been a news photographer for about 3 years now. Im 24 years old ... A: I used to do news, too... I know what you mean. Sounds like cinematography is your deal. There are ... | |
| format and lighting | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: i've always been asked what format i am shooting on. I've tried to research on how a miniDV,DV or a ... A: The trick is to answer this without being too boring ;) Video formats reflect the different quality ... | |
| Movie Editing | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: Once you have finished shooting your movie on a digital camcorder, how do I get my movie from the ... A: There are several different ways to do this and I'll be general because I don't know your budget or ... | |
| lighting | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I am an aspiring filmmaker. I am making a short film in this month and i have no clue about ... A: Let me give you a cool tip on the green tint and how to do it while shooting. Light the scene the ... | |
| 50's Style Video Filter (Final Cut Express) | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I am looking for a filter that will allow me to transform video to look like an old 50's ... A: Wow - this is an interesting question! I have not found that filter in FCP, but iMovie has it (I ... | |
| Cameras and editing for short films | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: i my name is Leon. I have just completed my degree in film studies and now want to direct my first ... A: Congratulations on all your hard work. Final Cut Pro Express is good if you have a Mac. The other ... | |
| Green Screen | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: How does a green screen work? Can you film the actors and their lines on green screen and then film ... A: Green screen (or chroma key green) is 100% green and 0% red or blue. They are used because Final ... | |
| Sound | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I am getting ready to shoot my first feature. Using Pan.DVX100B with 35mm lens. All the low ... A: 2000 is a bit limiting, but if you shop well, you'll do just fine. I prefer to shop at BH ... | |
| "Movie Look" | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: Using FCP how can I get that "movie look"? I have tried, and tried, and now I'm asking for help. A: Great question! I'll tell you what I do and I love the look! First, edit your project completely, ... | |
| papers | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: Quick,me and my friends have been making amateurporn,but if we wanted to start putting it out,would ... A: Yes. You need to have a contract between all of you determining who has what rights and, most ... | |
| INQUIRY | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I had found a song talking about my city & how does it is pretty , so I thought that to make a ... A: The song project that you are mentioning would really be classified as a music video since it ... | |
| GREEN SCREEN!! | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: Hey Troy, Currently i'm not sure how to go about my situation at the moment. I'm 16 year old ... A: Sounds like a fun project. The green you want is called "Chroma Key" green. The reason that this is ... | |
| Great Camera angles | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I've seen a few videos, and I've wanted to try and film like this. I've been messing around with my ... A: They use the "matched action" technique. It's all shot with one camera, but the same move is shot ... | |
| Headphones | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I am part of an amateur film production company, and we are currently looking to purchase some new ... A: You can get a decent pair of headphone in that price range, but I would talk to a 3rd party vendor ... | |
| Starting my own videography business | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have read your answer to Nick McMillins question about how to get your own videography business ... A: Sounds like you are on a good path! The only other basic equipment need you MIGHT have is a simple ... | |
| how to make my story into a movie | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: DO you remember me from previous question? I'm confused you said that in order to protect the rights ... A: Unless you are a celebrity, you are HIGHLY advised not to do a"true story" because it involves to ... | |
| story into a movie | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: 1.)Someone who writes a story and turn it into a movie what is that person call? 2.)And how would ... A: This question is a bit more complicated than it seems. A screenwriter writes the script (the story ... | |
| how to turn my story into a movie | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: In your response you mentioned that you were assuming i had the rights to my story.Can you clarify ... A: Yes, you do automatically have rights to your own story, BUT you would need to change details about ... | |
| how to turn my story into a movie | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I have an amazing story to tell that i am interested in turning into a film,However i have no ... A: Sounds great that you have an amazing story! I would write down all the details of it and then read ... | |
| Looking for a Video Camera | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I'm an aspiring filmmaker, who is feeling out my equiptment optoins. I'm upgrading my camera. I've ... A: Sorry for the delay- I have been out of state and away from the internet for over a week!! For ... | |
| cameras | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have been searching for an HD/24p camera in the 5 - 6,000k price range. I would like to shoot a ... A: I think the HVX200 is a great way to go. The SOny is really nice as well, but the Panasonic can do ... | |
| best camera for short film making | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: i m a short film maker from india. i want to know which mini dv, camcorder or any other camera can ... A: I have answered this question in detail before, so for more specifics, look up some of the older ... | |
| USC summer program, and more...! | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you had heard anything about the quality of the summer programs that USC offers ... A: Sorry I don't know anything about those programs, but I'm sure they are great considering the names ... | |
| something for an .avi movie... | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: ..! Look, I have created an .avi video with a screen recorder and I wanna upload it on YouTube, but ... A: Sorry, unless you're a famous filmmaker, there is no getting around this with youtube. You have ... | |
| Short Film Financing | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I just wanted to ask what does most of the money go into when making a short film? Assuming that ... A: The cool thing is that, if you have a camera, editing software on your computer and available ... | |
| reasonable & customary in licensing video clips | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a very similar situation to the question you had regarding the licensing fee for the outdoor ... A: I do have an answer for you, but it's not what you are looking for. Essentially, it is "market ... | |
| advise for son | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: My son is moving to LA in August and wants to get involved in the film industry.Could you give me ... A: Sorry about the delayed answer, some major stuff went on here... Anyway, my book is called "The New ... | |
| Digital cinematography | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: What Digital camera has the best resolution? The clearest and most realistic image? And how does it ... A: They have just come out with the Red "Epic" camera (that looks like one of those Sentinel robots in ... | |
| advise for son | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: My son is moving to LA in August and wants to get involved in the film industry.Could you give me ... A: I would definitely recommend that he get with (or create) a group of people and make some of his own ... | |
| 16mm2Vid | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: Sr. Coriano: I recently found a short I made a while back in college and I'd like to work on it ... A: There are many film labs that will convert your film to a digital tape. You could also project the ... | |
| Which camcorder ? | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: My son is a student (22 years old) here in the UK, and as a way of earning money to pay for his ... A: I am very partial to the HVX200 - it is an amazing camera. The Canon is very good but you often pay ... | |
| Production | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: I understand the fact the a production company can ask several companies to distribute their film. ... A: Production companies work together sometimes for several reasons. Sometimes they join forces to ... | |
| what's reasonable & customary in licensing video clips | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm an amateur wildlife videographer. I have excellent footage of gila monsters in the wild -- an ... A: I saw your footage and I really liked it! Nice work! Unfortunately, I don't have experience ... | |
| print to video | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: When making a DV copy of a project and using the 'print to video' in Final Cut Pro...how do you set ... A: When using any tapes, you ALWAYS want to record in SP (Standard Play) mode and not LP (Long Play ... | |
| DVD creation | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I have no idea where to find the answer to my question, so I apologize for simply tossing it in your ... A: I must admit that I'm not sure about what types of movies have special features with old footage and ... | |
| Starting my own business | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: Starting my own Cinematography business has been the most difficult thing I've ever wanted to do. ... A: Let's stick with the short-term then. If you have a very busy schedule, you may just want to get ... | |
| Starting my own business | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: Starting my own Cinematography business has been the most difficult thing I've ever wanted to do. ... A: Ahh, Nick! Sounds like you have the passion and the drive! That's the best place to start! I have ... | |
| poducers | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: ...13yrs old and really interested in film making...i just have a few questions on the film making ... A: An Executive Producer usually has very little to do with making the movie except providing money for ... | |
| Movie "look" | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: What is it that gives a movie that "movie look"? If you film something with a video camera it has ... A: Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about. You see it when you watch the extras on a DVD. The ... | |
Making Films & Videos
Answers by Expert:
Troy Smith
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am a professional filmmaker (since 1995) and a professional film instructor (since 2000). I am the co-owner of Imminent Entertainment LLC. I have worked on several low-budget feature films as well as hundreds of other projects including TV commercials, concert videos, live sports for TV, sports highlights, broadcast news, faith productions, large multi-media multi-camera productions, weddings, educational, corporate, promotional, short films, documentaries and more. I have written a book called "The New Filmmaker's Adventure" that will be more widely distributed in the near future. My expertise is in writing, shooting and editing. I can answer questions on Final Cut Pro, lighting, sound recording, scriptwriting, storytelling, directing, producing, editing, multi-camera productions, shooting sports, picture to video, using DTE hard drives, using video cameras. I am NOT an expert on how to sell scripts or movies, how to finance them, how to distribute them or how to get an agent. See my WEB PAGES: troyalexsmith.webs.com and www.youtube.com/troysmithpro
Experience
I have been a professional filmmaker since 1995 and a film teacher since 2000. I am publishing a textbook for beginning filmmakers called "the New Filmmaker's Adventure". I have experience in the area of low-budget feature filmmaking, I am the co-owner of the production company called Imminent Entertainment, I have worked on hundreds of videos, TV shows, multi-camera events and low budget, professional productions, corporate and consumer videos, Final Cut Pro, scriptwriting, directing, videography and cinematography, sound, lighting, editing, and some producing.
Organizations
Independent Feature Project
Publications
I wrote "The New Filmmaker's Adventure" book that I use in my classes and will be publishing it abroad soon
Education/Credentials
Western Michigan University - Magna cum Laude BS in film/video/TV
Maine Media Workshops ('02-'07)- Film Editor Master, Directing Actors for the Camera, Independent Filmmaking, Acting for the Camera, Camera in Motion, The Directors Craft
Awards and Honors
Audience Choice Runner-Up award for Best Picture at the Muskegon Film Festival in 2009 for Producer/editor on "Coffee Shop Kings." Excellence in Education Teaching award. Winner of 12 grants.
Past/Present Clients
Kellogg, Covance, Cytec, WWMT, Ralston, many, many more
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