Crowd funding for your project, which platform?

Film makers and musician are using crowdfunding as a way to get their project funded.  There are a couple main crowdfunding platforms used.

Kickstarter says it was founded in 2009, and IndieGoGo says it was founded in 2008. Both have basically the same concept, so how did Kickstarter manage to gain more traction and brand awareness? Usually it's always the first to market with a new idea that succeeds, but in this case it was not. 

Kickstarter IP is owned by Amazon, and it looks like Indigogo might be owned by Craigslist.

Kickstarter takes 5 percent if the goal is reached and no money released if the goal is not reached.

Indigogo takes a 9 percent cut and you get the money whether or not you reach your goal.  If the goal is reach they only take 4 percent cut.

Here is a article about the co founder of Indiegogo.

Read more: 

Binary Recording Studio a Video / Audio Production Company in Bellingham WA

More then a scriptwriting tool, Celtx

In the studio we have been using Celtx.  The thing I really like about this program is being able to sync the storyboard and script on multiple devices sharing the edits and allowing others to edit if they choose.  This has really improved our work flow.

I found that I was stuck working in a way I have been doing for years. It took me a while to take this method on, now I really can't see any other way of working with as much interactive communication with all involved. Give it a try, it might work for you!

Check them out:  https://www.celtx.com/index.html

Should I use temp music in my film for the composer?

Temp music, (which is some temporary music that represent your musical idea's used to communicate to composer) can be a wonderful tool in creating a roadmap that will allow you to communicate your musical vision with your composer.  This roadmap can easily convey the emotion and direction of a scene as well as the overall feel of your film. 

Where filmmakers often get into trouble is that they develop a case of loving their temp track.  Sometimes its hard to let go of a piece of music you’ve lived with for a long time.  As you create your temp score, be mindful of the fact that at some point you will need to let go of it.

Some composer's do not like having the temp track as a sample. They would rather get description, adjective's to explain what you hear in each section of the film ( fast moving to slow dark movement etc ....)

Trust your composer and let them do what they do best, you hired them for their creativity. Allow room for something new and fresh to be created. This is how the scores are born that we ultimately enjoy. Allow your score to become as unique and let the composer bring in some new idea’s.

This a group that offer music for independent films. http://www.konsonant.com/

Binary Recording Studio is a Audio / Video Production Company in Bellingham Wa.

Lavalier Mic's picking up clothing movement noise.

Using a lavaliere microphone when shooting an interview or group of actors can be a tricky job.

Often you need to hide the microphone under the clothing.  When the actor moves a certain way you get a scratchy sound from the clothing material rubbing against the capsule or mic cable.

On some projects where you are on set for a film shoot you might be lucky enough to have a wardrobe person who can fix the mic into the fabric of the clothing minimizing the noise when the actor is moving around.

If this is not the case and you can use a simple thing to help this issue out, its called “Blue Tape”  or painters tape.  It will not damage or leave sticky stuff on the clothing.

Do this by forming one or two complete loops of the cable just below the mic capsule. The loops should be around one inch in diameter.

Tie the loops in place with a piece of thread or dental floss, or even a thin strip of blue tape sticky side out. The loop should be secured loose enough to open and close freely when the cable is tugged.

This becomes your strain relief. Secure the mic capsule within two small triangles of sticky tape.
I make these triangles from a 1" wide by 2" long piece of blue tape, folded corner to corner several times like a flag, sticky side always out.

The mic is centered within the two triangles. Be careful not to tape over the grill or holes of the mic.
These few thing will make a difference in the quality of your audio.

Good luck !

The iPhone Film Festival, IFF

With all the hype with camera’s etc... we all know its the story that counts.

I am entertained with the idea of using the low cost tools to bring a story to life.

I saw this short film that won the IFF award ( iPhone Film Festival) last year, “The Fixer”.

It owes alot of its success to the post production work, but still maintains the shot on an iPhone look.

If your inspired get out there with you phone and make a film!

Binary Recording Studio is a Video / Audio Production Company in Bellingham Wa.

DJI Phantom Aerial Quadcopter and the GoPro 3

Looking forward to using one for a up coming shoot. The day of a big budget to get arial footage for your film may be a thing of the past. With some stabilization software to smooth out the footage, I have seen some pretty amazing things done with radio controlled planes and copters.    Check out the web site.

https://dslrpros.com/Products/tabid/94/ProductID/68/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Binary Recording Studio a Video / Audio Production Company in Bellingham Wa.

My new children's interactive iBook on iTunes

"A Boy's Journey" one of our award winning short film is now in book form. I decided to offer it as a iBook because of the interactive aspects of the story. Using iBooks as the platform offers a multi touch format with text, images, and audio which bring this book alive. A Boy's Journey.
I see a real potential in providing educational books in this format.