Setting up audio for film shoot, Binary Recording Studio in Bellingham Wa.

Wireless system with two actors in car. Binary Recording Studio

Animation Work at Binary Recording Studio

In building a animation we often provide a animatic for the client. A simple explanation of a animatic is a storyboard in motion with simple zooms and pans to simulate camera movement.  Animatics are animated video storyboards. This is the stage that we do the timing of the images with simple motion. 

 In a .60 sec. animation this helps to determine the length of the section and where the time should be spent on telling the story.  www.binaryrecordingstudio.com

Sometimes the sound effects or soundtrack are included to give the client a feel of the piece. This is a inexpensive way to test the animation before all the elements are added.

Below a example of a motion comic we produced from still image drawings.

Film Festival or Not?

You have your film done and your thinking about doing the film festival route, here a few things to think about.

The good thing about film festivals is that you get a change to have your film juried.  Meaning a group of people will decide if your film is the quality that they would want at their festival.
You and your friends may think that your film is the best, but when it's out there being judged with other films you will get a better idea on how well it communicates.  This is great to get a independent objective view of your film.

Film festivals are a good place to meet other film makers. Its a tough business and its good to make connections for future endeavors.

Film festival cost money to submit your film.  It cost money to put these things on so there is a reason  for the cost.  You can spend a lot of money submitting your film with no results, so be prepared.

There are a couple basic things your can do to increase your change of being accepted.
Submit to film festivals that are the right fit for your film.  This seems like a no brainer but submitting to Sundance with your first film might be a waist of time and money.  Start with the smaller festivals first to get some feedback.

Programming a film festival means getting as many films in as possible.  If your film is 1 hour and 8 min's it might be hard to fit it into the program.  The length of your film makes a difference in the festival programmers job of putting a festival together.

Put your film online, Vimeo, YouTube, and a host of others, that are free to see what type of feedback you get with your film.

Put on your own local film festival in house, get some other film makers in the area and do a house party.  We have done these in the past, its a great starting point.

Make more films!

Robert Rodriquez, thoughts on making a Film Cheap!

Robert Rodriquez in 10 mins. tell you how to make a film without a lot of money!

The Grants Behind This Year's Sundance Documentaries

There is a lot of support for documentary films. Here is a list of where the money came from for the docs in Sundance this year  LINK

825 Free Online Courses from Top Universities

There are some great courses that I think you would enjoy.  I have been going through the Film studies MIT. Check it out there is a little something for everyone.

Link: http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses

What equipment to use for making a Documentary Film?

At Binary we have been making documentary films for 25 years. We have seen the equipment change every year.  POV on PBS talked to some of the top doc. film makers and they came up with this list of equipment they are using now.  check it out: 
http://www.pbs.org/pov/filmmakers/2013-documentary-equipment-survey.php

Lean how to be a sound person for film.

I teach classes on sound for film and studio sound design. After working on 100's of films. I think this video will give you a idea on what the job is and how to improve the quality of your skill set for a production

Sound Design Tutorial For Filmmakers: Audio Tips from Lights Film School on Vimeo.

Storyboard Master Class for Film by J. Todd Anderson

Alfred Hitchcock’s films were known to be extensively storyboarded. He once commented that his films were often anticlimactic for him after they were edited, because he’d already experienced them in the storyboard. However, storyboarding helped Hitchcock plan out his films shot by shot, solidifying his vision.

What should you make Films about.

J.J. Abrams made a name for himself in television, but he’s become been one of the biggest film directors in Hollywood, movies like Mission: Impossible III and the Star Trek reboot. Recently he sat down with BAFTA Guru to talk about his career and his advice for aspiring filmmakers. 

Dolby Atmos, new level of sound design

With more people viewing films through streaming host companies ( Netflixs, Hulu, etc...) cinema theaters are pushing for a film experience to keep their seats filled.  Dolby Atmos is providing a sound experience in theaters that is amazing.  Being a sound designer I am excited about the possibilities and effect this technology is offering.   Take a look at the link provide below and a look at the video of the sound design team for the film "Oblivion"

http://www.dolby.com/us/en/professional/technology/cinema/dolby-atmos.html#Video

Audio Compression, "How To" Leveling the signal

Here is a simple "how to" use a audio compressor.  

Audio compression is a method of reducing the dynamic range of a signal or leveling the overall signal

• An audio source to be compressed (eg. microphone, musical instrument, output of sound desk, etc)..

1. Connect the source to the compressor's input, and the compressor's output to the destination device.
2. Adjust the compressor's input and output gains to appropriate levels.
3. Set the threshold level to the point at which you wish compression to take effect. Signals below this level will not be affected. Signal levels above the threshold will be reduced according to the compression ratio.
4. Set the compression ratio. Ratios of 5:1 or less will produce fairly smooth compression; ratios of 10:1 or more will produce more severe cutting off.
5. Set the attack time. This is the delay between detection of a signal above the threshold, and the commencement of compression (ie. the time it takes to "attack" the signal).
6. Set the decay time. This is the time taken to release the signal from compression.
7. Adjust any other settings on the compressor. If you don't know what they are, try to put them on automatic, or disable them.

LINK: MORE INFO ON COMPRESSORS 

ACX, Audiobook Creation Exchange

At Binary we have been in production for our clients creating  i-Books, Kindle books, and many audio book formats.  ACX is a Amazon platform that aside from offering audio book distribution,  they have created a network for authors, narrators, agents, publishers and audio studio's to connect.  

LINK : https://www.acx.com/help/how-it-works/200484210

Marketplace for Voice Over Talent

At Binary Recording Studio we do alot of voice over, audio books, etc.... and often need a selection of voice talent to accommodate the different needs of our clients.  I am a big supporter of using local talent but sometimes you may need that voice that is hard to find.  There is a resource called www.voices.com that you may want to take a look at to find the voice that works for your project.

It is real easy to use, you post a sample of your content and within the hour you will have voice samples back to listen to and a cost proposal.

www.voices.com    

Why make a short film instead of a feature film?

I enjoy making short films because it allows me to experiment and try thing that I often can't do with bigger budget films.  Now that Vimeo and Youtube seems to be the screening format for indie film makers, you can try out your idea's and get some pretty fast feedback. Here is a interview with some successful directors that talk about short films.

Remove ambiences and reverb from your audio

Often in working with audio for film, we come across the need to remove some of the ambience found in the track to match another etc....  Sometimes the dialog track is recorded in a big room with lots of reverb that you would like to reduce for some clarity.

I have been using this plug-in called SPL DeVerb, that I think can help, its worth trying it out.  Free to try if you like it buy it. It has two controls knobs, one for reduction and the other is output, what more do you need!

Sound Performance Lab a software audio plugin company out of Germany.

Screenwriting App, "Highland" free to try!

I am always interested in screenwriting software. If it can make the task more streamline and I can share the process of rewrites on line with producer etc.... I will give it a look.  Right now I am a big fan of Celtix but check out Highland it might work for you.

Highland Promo from Quote Unquote Apps on Vimeo.

New i-Book Release, Binary Studio Production

Just published a new i-Book for all you i-Pad folks called
" In Cecilia's Garden". A multi-touch book with images, audio and video. I really like the i-Book format with its interactive elements. 
 Binary Studio Production.



https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/in-cecilias-garden/id622233520?ls=1

Local Sightings Film Festival Seattle Screening "Ali and Paul"

We are pleased to be screening our new documentary "Ali and Paul" Oct 4th. 7pm. at the Nw Film Forum Local Sightings Film Festival. A very good selection of films that I am looking forward too.

Binary Recording Studio: Video and Audio Production House

Binary Recording Studio Films, Columbia Gorge International Film Festival

Binary Recording Studio is proud to be involved with the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival. We will be screening two of our new films, "Ali and Paul" Aug. 12th 1pm and "A Boy's Journey" Aug 13th 10:30 am. Check out their website for details, 300+ films!