On a more pure social collaboration level, Stage 32, a new site for filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, crew, agents, etc., is quite live and active, with over 10,000 members in more than 120 countries.  While getting funding is part of what the site enables with networking, it’s also about casting, getting crew, finding directors and classes, and just getting advice.  We love the registration via Facebook and how easily it’s integrated there.

The founders of Stage 32 are in the filmmaker’s corner.  The two are Richard “RB” Botto, a screenwriter/actor/producer and Curt Blakeney, president of Edge Public Relations.  They’ve made it a very personal experience, with your home page containing all the things you have added and want to add, suggestions of networking, wall communications.

We’ll be watching in the months ahead to see how it grows, but it’s certainly active, with multiple projects being added at all hours.  Any social network is only as strong as the socializing it attracts, but the tools are here on Stage 32 for filmmakers to connect in meaningful ways — not just in a contest.

We shot with the hvx200 with letus adapter package and nikon still lenses. edited myself in final cut pro and did all color correction with FCP and magic bullet.

Sound mixed at Todd AO West. Got a great sound mix and a bunch of other favors and that was key to getting good production value. Very DIY production. I cast, pre produced, did everything with just me and a very small crew of friends and a few crew hands. It is interesting to note that despite the big SLR craze, you can get perhaps an even more filmic look with the adaptor packages on an HD camera. the letus does a great job of adding in that organic film grain look. I really dug it.

Remember LonelyGirl15? YouTube’s 5th birthday was last week and I’ve finally gotten around to watching the “YouTube Stories” series they produced– 2 minute interviews with select creators about their successes with the medium. The stories, and this interview with the director, contain interesting little insights about creating for YouTube that are worth checking out–

What kinds of techniques do you use to make these videos look so good and feel emotional?
When we all make YouTube videos, we’re creating for a screen size of about 630 by 350 pixels, so go in close. Use eyes, use foreheads, look at the way people move their mouths when they talk…all that says a lot, beyond just the words. Use that emotional power of the face to amplify what they are saying. Shoot as close to the face as possible, because we’re trained by thousand of years of evolution to respond to those movements of the face. And don’t forget hands, which can speak in the opposite way…or in sync…and reveal much. In the end, we want viewers to feel they’ve had a chance to meet these subjects over a cheeseburger or a beer and really feel them viscerally.

What is something about YouTube users you didn’t know before you started this project?
What I didn’t fully understand was how much the content creators have given their lives over to communicating with others. They’ve found their mission. Sharing their talent or passion with the world. Despite realities of family obligations, old jobs, the need to learn a bit more about technology, the people who shine come through because of sheer passion and faith. They believe that what they are doing on YouTube will change the world, and the effort that belief inspires in them usually gets to a positive outcome.

– Inside the Making Of “My YouTube Story,” interview with documentary filmmaker Stephen Higgins

The story behind LonelyGirl15

Problem is, this innocent little film contains an inordinate amount of F-bombs, as well as an entire monologue centered around tits.

Being the classy, considerate person that I am, I decided I would need to bleep some fucking words out.

I immediately began to dread the prospect of bringing my audio into ProTools, finding the right sound effect to use, then tediously placing it over the waveform.

But then I found this awesome tutorial by Andy Coon on FCProducer.com, and all my worries were bleeped away.  In a nutshell: you just overwrite the desired section’s audio with bars and tone!  Simple.

mRelease is the dopest app I’ve seen yet, or most relevant to media creators that is:

Once you have entered basic information about your shoot, for each release you just add some quick details about your subject, an image from the built-in camera or photo library, and get a touch-screen signature – it is that easy! The app creates, stores, and emails you a pdf file of the signed release, including the embedded photo of your subject.

We’re currently looking into the legality of the releases and how they hold up, becasue this is a true game changer.

Link via Alison Davis, thanks.

And if you’re going to get anyone to watch it, you have to have some good online ideas to build buzz. Well, The Cosmonaut , an internationally crowdfunded, creative-commons-licensed film produced by Riot Cinema has no shortage of nerdy, new-media ideas to promote their film. I have to admit, their latest idea is pretty dope. Their holding a trailer remixing context, to source the best trailer for the film. The details are all here, as well as a bunch of clips, graphics and music you can use.

I threw the actual trailer and one of the remixes below.

Trailer:

Remix

He created the template for the now famous GOOD Magazine videos we have all come to know as the industry standard for infotainment in short web video.

Max recently attended Sundance to support a short film, “Let’s Harvest the Organs of Death Row Inmates” that he and Chris Weller directed.

Max is a friend of Urgensia and creative consigliere to Urgent Content.

Luckily a nice guy at B&H named David posted this super helpful guide to converting your footage–  “This article was written to help anyone that’s been there. I feel your pain.” He includes advice for both Final Cut’s Compressor and MPEG Streamclip, but recommends Compressor over all.

I have one bonus tip: have something awesome to do while you’re converting, because it can take a loooong time.

“You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?” she said.
“Err, uh, huh?”
“You’ve seen my video, and you’re laughing…”
“I’m sorry, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”  I really didn’t.
“Goto YouTube, type 3 words… ‘3 times platinum’”

I couldn’t wait to get back from my bike ride to see what awesomeness was in store for me.  God was I intrigued.  Only in this day and age can your mail lady be on her way to Internet famous.  I fucking love the internet…. and Sassy Kool.