Instruction Manual for Filmmaking in Action Your Guide to the Skills and Craft 1st edition by Adam Leipzig, Barry Weiss, Michael Goldman ISBN 0312616996 978-0312616991

Chapter 1 The Big Picture

Why Make a Film?

Action Steps: Getting Started—What You Need to Make a Short Film Right Now

Three Filmmaking Principles

Collaboration

Emphasis on Story and Character

Problem Solving

Six Filmmaking Viewpoints

Producer

Writer

Director

Editor

Image and Sound Crew

The Audience

The Filmmaking Path

Producer Smarts: Congratulations, You Are a Movie Producer!

How Do I . . .: Get My First Movie Made?

Business Smarts: Taking Care of Business

Filmmaker’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 1 Essentials

Key Terms

Part 1 Concept and Preparation

Chapter 2 Start with the Script

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Original Ideas

Action Steps: Brainstorming Ideas

Source Material

Intellectual Property

Rights and Title

Fair Use

Theme, Story, and Character

“It’s about Someone Who…”

Structure

Action Steps: How to Avoid Writing a Bad Student Film

Writing and Screenplay Formats

Action Steps: How to Get Started Writing Your Script

Development

Developing Your Script

The Studio Development Cycle

How Do I . . .: Respond to Script Notes?

Business Smarts: A Writer’s Contract

Producer Smarts: How to Work with the Writer

Writer’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 2 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 3 Directing

The Director’s Role

Producer Smarts: Producer and Director, a Working Relationship

Seeing Your Project through a Director’s Eyes

Getting the Script and Working It

Action Steps: How to Mark Up Your Script

Casting Actors

Action Steps: The Audition Process

Selecting Department Heads

Business Smarts: Agents, Managers, and Lawyers

Planning and Visualizing the Shoot

Planning the Shoot

Visualizing the Shoot

On the Set

How Do I . . .: Set the Tone On-Set?

Different Styles of Aesthetics and Leadership

Working On-Set

Action Steps: How to Work with Actors

Supporting Positions

Working the Movie You Just Shot

Finishing the Movie

“Final” Cut

Director’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 3 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 4 Conceptualization and Design

The Principles of Design

Design Composition Elements

Mise-en-Scène

Tech Talk: Color Theory in Design

Action Steps: Choosing a Color Palette

How Do I . . .: Use Design to Tell a Story?

Design Plan

Action Steps: Design Analysis

Research and References

Locations

Producer Smarts: Dumpster Diving

Sets

Tech Talk: Common Set Structures

Previsualization

Sketches and Storyboards

Digital Previs

Tech Talk: Digital Storyboard Tools

Designer’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 4 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 5 Production Planning and Management

Management Overview

Business Smarts: Business, Insurance, and Legal Requirements

Scheduling

Script Breakdown

Shooting Schedule

Action Steps: Be Prepared

Budgeting

Budget Document

Be Resourceful

How Do I . . .: Manage My Production’s Details?

Producer Smarts: Finding Funding

Action Steps: Planning Crew Meals on a Tight Budget

UPM’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 5 Essentials

Key Terms

Part 2 Image and Sound

Chapter 6 Camera Skills

Your Screen Is Your Canvas

Aspect Ratios and Formats

Action Steps: Shooting for Multiple Formats

Special Formats: 3D Stereoscopic and Giant Screen

Producer Smarts: Creative Discussion about the Look of the Film

Image Capture Media and Machines

Tech Talk: What Are You Seeing?

Digital Cameras

How Digital Cameras Work

Types of Digital Cameras

How Do I . . .: Prepare the Camera?

Action Steps: Using Your Digital Camera

Film

Film Formats and Film Stock

How Film and Film Cameras Work

Action Steps: Using a Film Camera

Lenses

Action Steps: Taking Care of Your Camera and Lenses

Tech Talk: Go Negative!

Focal Length

Focus

Key Factors: Aperture and Shutter Angle

Depth of Field

Action Steps: Rack Focus and Depth of Field

Supporting and Moving the Camera

Business Smarts: The “Camera Package”

Camera Pro’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 6 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 7 Telling the Story with the Camera

Basic Shots

Long Shots

Medium Shots

Close Shots

Camera Angles: How You View the Scene

Action Steps: Low-Budget Dutch Angle Trick

Action Steps: Dirty vs. Clean

Composition

What Is Good Composition?

Producer Smarts: Composition Outside the Frame

Action Steps: Shooting People and Objects

Composition in the Moving Frame

Composition and Lenses

Action Steps: Low-Budget Hacks to Make Your Student Film Look High Budget

Creating Images for Continuity

How to Shoot a Scene

Don’t Cross the Line!

Eyelines, Visual Effects, and Animation

How Do I . . .: Motivate the Camera?

Business Marts: How Many Shots Do You Need?

Cinematographer’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 7 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 8 Lighting Skills

Qualities of Light

Shadows and Contrast

Directional and Diffused Lighting

Measuring Lighting

Exposure

Approaches to Exposure

Elements of Exposure

Exposure in Action

Action Steps: Solving Exposure Problems

Color

Color Temperature

White Balance

Lighting Gear

Action Steps: Lighting Safety First!

Lighting Instruments

Exterior Lights

Interior Lights

Tech Talk: Don’t Blow That Circuit!

How Do I . . .: Light with Minimal Tools?

Business Smarts: Renting Lights

Mounting Equipment

Producer Smarts: How Much Is Enough?

Diffusers, Gels, Filters, and Cookies

Lighting Pro’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 8 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 9 Telling the Story through Lighting

Style, Planning, and Preparation

Action Steps: Planning the Lighting

How Do I . . .: Light for Mood?

Three-Point Lighting

Action Steps: How to Set Up Three-Point Lighting

The Lighting Ratio

Continuity and Your Lighting Triangle

How Much Light?

Adjusting the Lights

Producer Smarts: How Long Will Setups Take?

Outdoor Lighting

Adjusting for Weather and Time of Day

Practical Outdoor Setups

Indoor Lighting

Lighting Diagrams

Practical Indoor Setups

Special Lighting Situations

Low Light and Mixed Light

Skin-Tone Variations

Lighting for Movement

Lighting for VFX and Animation

Lighting Pro’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 9 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 10 Sound

Principles of Sound Design

Producer Smarts: The Sonic Business

Planning Sound Design

Dialogue and Sound Effects

Action Steps: Annotate Your Script for Sound Opportunities

The Music Plan

Business Smarts: Licensing Music

Sound Recording

Recording Best Practices

Tech Talk: Acoustics

Action Steps: Using the Boom

How Do I . . .: Fulfill Sound Requirements?

Production Recording: Dialogue

Recording Sound Effects

Recording Levels

Microphones

Recording Equipment

Postproduction Sound

Tech Talk: Mixing Consoles

Action Steps: Prepping for Editing and Mixing

Dialogue Editing

ADR

Sound Effects Editing

Foley

Music Editing

Art of the Mix

Sound Pro’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 10 Essentials

Key Terms

Part 3 Production Glue

Chapter 11 Editing Skills

Getting Started

NLE Hardware

Computer

Monitor

Cards and Devices

NLE Software

Organize a Workflow

Logging

Ingest

Backup/Storage

Resolution

Producer Smarts: Stretching Resources

Organize the Assembly

Files and Bins

Timelines

Technical Assembly Techniques

Action Steps: Art of the Trim

Finishing

How Do I . . .: Keep Track of Footage?

Tech Talk: Native Editing

Action Steps: Adding Titles and Graphics

Offline/Online Workflow

Color Correction

Outputting a Master File

Editor’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 11 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 12 Telling the Story through Editing

The Phases of Editing

Producer Smarts: Watch Yourself

Find the Rhythm

Analyze the Material

Transition In and Out

Action Steps: Cutting a Conversation

Editing Basics

The Styles

Action Steps: Art of the Montage

The Rules

Breaking the Rules

How Do I . . .: Show Point of View through Editing?

Transitions and Cuts

Types of Transitions

Types of Cuts

Editor’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 12 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 13 Visual Effects and Animation

VFX Overview

Planning Visual Effects

Storyboards and Previsualization

Producer Smarts: Affording Visual Effects

Typical Visual Effects

Action Steps: Wire Removal

Special Effects

How Do I . . .: Embrace Simplicity in Visual Effects?

Computer-Generated Imagery

Modeling

Rigging

Layout

Animation

Surfacing

Lighting

Effects

Tracking

Compositing

Rendering

Action Steps: Plate Photography

Character Animation

Key Techniques

Motion Capture

Managing Data

Visual Effects and Animation Emergency Kit

Chapter 13 Essentials

Key Terms

Part 4 Filmmaking and Beyond

Chapter 14 Marketing and Distribution

Defining the Audience

Learning from Your Audience While You Work Your Movie

Action Steps: Preview Screening

Kinds of Audiences

Reaching Your Audience

Publicity and Promotion

Action Steps: Messaging Your Movie

Action Steps: Making Your Trailer

How Do I . . .: Market My Movie Like a Pro?

Producer Smarts: The Producer’s Role in Marketing

Paid Marketing

Distributing Your Film

Distribution Basics

DIY Distribution

Festivals

Business Smarts: Distribution Rights

Action Steps: Entering a Film Festival

Studio (Theatrical) Distribution

Distribution Patterns

Exhibition Venues

The Right Date

Business Smarts: Piracy

Windows

Marketing and Distribution Pro’s Emergency Kit

Chapter 14 Essentials

Key Terms

Chapter 15 Careers in Filmmaking

Analyzing the Credit Roll

How Do I . . .: Decide on a Career Path?

Navigating the Industry

Networking

Internships

Helping Yourself

Demo Reel

Action Steps: Creating a Demo Reel

Website

Social Media

Business Smarts: Build Your Online Platform

Emergency Kit

Chapter 15 Essentials

Key Terms

Notes

Glossary

Index