| Subject | Date Asked |
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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? ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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! ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| "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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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