Top Film Editing Schools - Film Editing and Filmmaking Articles

Film Editing and Filmmaking Articles

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 04:42:17 -0500

Even before you start looking at film editing schools, you should start studying films, film editing, and filmmaking. The articles in this section cover a range of film topics.

Whether you're interested in independent film making or Hollywood films, you should study the films you love. What is it about the film editing that creates the experience? How is music used to create a feeling? How does the editing help the pace, set the feeling? What would you have done differently if you had edited the film, or if your were the filmmaker?

As a film editor, you will need both the technical knowledge of how to edit films and the artistic flair of creating the feeling and experience the director wants to bring to life in the film... or that YOU want to bring to life in the film, especially if you are doing independent film making.

Long Live Those Who Choose the Independent Path in Film Production

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:27:51 -0400

It seems like the only films being made these days by major studios are sequels to comic book hero movies, remakes of classic old movies and old television shows that have been turned into movies. Most of the projects of today’s film industry are chosen by Wall Street instead of by some cigar chomping studio executive sitting behind a desk on a studio lot in Hollywood. It can be disheartening at times when you are standing in front of an eighteen-plex movie theater location and you want to see a movie with a story. However, just when you think that creativity is dead in the movie business a talented filmmaker will come along and remind the big shots that they ultimately depend on them for their product.

Tips On Selecting A Film School

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:27:47 -0400

Filmmaking is not only an interesting, enjoyable and fulfilling career but very lucrative as well. Unfortunately, realizing the big Hollywood dream entails hard work, commitment and great amount of skill, right attitude, guts and some luck, too. While it is true that you’re not in full control of your fate, the initial steps toward being a successful filmmaker depend on you. Choosing the right or the best film school where you would hone your talents, develop more interest and learn more knowledge in filmmaking is your first step. Your decision to choose a particular film school is very crucial to your success as a filmmaker since that film school shall equip you with or shall help you gain more knowledge, skills, techniques and experiences, which are essential to a filmmaker. Those are his tools in filmmaking that cannot be bought but are earned and cultivated through time.

Film Financing - Can Film Graduates Take the Challenge?

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:15:36 -0400

Graduates from a Film Studies program have a new opportunity in film & video production. Of course, with every opportunity comes a challenge - and in this case, the challenge is to find financing for your, or your employer's, projects.

With the advent of digital equipment the scope of film & video production has widened. The usual Hollywood styled film production is no longer the only route to a career for film graduates. There are a multitude of opportunities in audio and visual applications throughout business, government and the entertainment industry. That means OPPORTUNITY for the keenest graduates to produce their own film & video projects, or to land the most interesting positions with leading film & video production companies.

Screenwriters & Filmmakers - Pitching the Cold Heart of the Banker

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 23:01:50 -0400

Can a creative pitch alone get your script produced? Pitching the script is an art that is much talked about, put into college curriculums and lauded by the Pop Culture. But, there's a big factor missing from creative pitches. It's fundamental; but broadly ignored by key creative people.

For over 20 years I've been hired by Film Financiers (Studio Exec's, Bonding Companies, etc.) to watch over their investment during the film's production. I've also had more than a few independent filmmakers ask me for help in getting their film off the ground. So, I've been rubbing elbows with the elusive Film Financier (of one stripe or another) for some time.

Creative screenwriters, directors and filmmakers, especially when they're new at the game of film production, conceive that the money for wonderful scripts should be found - like apples dropping from a tree. 'Fraid not. Filmmaking is as much about the money as it is about the creative.

Film Budgeting - Insider Tips For Film Students

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 22:46:41 -0400

This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over 40 film productions. Throughout that time I have never met a new film school graduate who has a clue about handling the most important aspect of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had always assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students just weren't interested in knowing about film budgets. However after a recent survey of film students at a reputable film college we learned that film students DO intuitively understand that knowing the language of film budgeting is crucial to their careers in film. Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic about learning more about film budgeting!

What Does A Film Editor Do?

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 01:28:08 -0400

By Janelle Ashley Nielson

How many times have you been in a movie theater and when the title "film editor" came up, you had no clue what that meant? In the old days, film editors were rarely given solo main title credit and most people thought they were more of a pair of hands that pieced the film together. As the decades have passed, the role of film editor has become increasingly more publicized and with the invention of computers and digital editing, more and more of the general public is aware of what it takes to edit a movie.

Film editors are the people who take the raw footage shot on a movie set, and select which shots, angles, performances and more to use, and then cut them together to form a cohesive and interesting story. The key to film editing is that there are a million choices of how to cut a scene, but a good editor will have a strong feel for pacing, rhythm, and storytelling. Editors also add music, visual effects, and sound effects to their cut sequences to add even more depth to a scene. Usually an editor will work closely with directors, writers, producers, and composers to finish a film to perfection.

What Do I Do After Film School?

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:56:21 -0500

by: Paul Kyriazi

I get this question a lot and have a serious opinion about it:

The most important thing is to always keep your shingle hanging out, saying "I am a freelance director." Never say, "Ah I gave that up." Even if you have other jobs, never tear up your business card.

Keep contact with all active filmmakers from college. Work on their films. It's a business of showing up. Show up to shoots, in any capacity. Show up enough and do a good job, and be an ambassador of good will, and you have a good chance on being invited to work on other films. And remember, be courteous and respectful to everyone. The extra or stunt man of today's shoot could be the producer of tomorrow's shoot. It happened to me. One of my swords women fighters from "Weapons of Death" hired me to do a travelogue in Phuket, Thailand. And actress Barbara Leigh just hired me to direct her new audio-book "The King, McQueen, and the Love Machine", and play the part of Elvis.

What Can You Learn By Attending Film School?

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 04:46:26 -0500

There are advantages and disadvantages to attending conventional university film school programs. Some students claim that traditional film school courses focus almost entirely on filmmaking theory whereas many of the more contemporary film schools pay more attention on actually practicing the various skills of filmmaking.

Creativity is King in the World of Independent Film Production

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 04:43:58 -0500

By: Michael Connelly

A creative mind is a low budget filmmaker’s most valuable tool. It all starts with an original thought; from there it is all about nurturing that thought until it grows to be a brilliant idea. After that it is a matter of getting that idea made into a movie using every ounce of energy and resources you can possibly muster up.