What do film producers do, exactly?

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MUSIC-SUPERVISOR-FILM-PRODUCER-ROYALTYFREEMUSICWhat do film producers do, exactly?

Ask any movie fan what position they’d like most in the film industry, and the chances are that
they’d choose to be a director or actor. The fact is that a film can’t be made without the producer.
The film producer is the catalyst that makes it possible for a project coming together, get through
production and release. Sounds impressive doesn’t it? So, have you ever wondered what film producers do, exactly? Well, it’s quite a lot. . . read on.

Film producers are responsible for managing every aspect of the creation and production, including
the conception and crafting of the story, acquiring funding and the artwork intended for retail
release. Even though there are a lot of other industry related professionals who help film producers,
like editors, directors and cinematographers, the film producer is the one that needs to make sure
that all of the production aspects are functioning in concert, through every stage of the filmmaking
process.

Budgeting
The budget determines how much work can be contracted out by the film producer. A tight budget could
mean that the producer will be handling everything from raising funding to organizing meals. A hefty
budget on the other hand will make it possible for the film producer to free up time that could be
better spent focusing on the bigger picture. One of these important “bigger picture” tasks would be
marketing the script to studios and/or investors in order to raise more funds for the film.

The Development Phase
Once the right to develop the source material has been acquired, the producer works with the writer
to “produce” the screenplay. As the script develops, a director is typically brought on board who
will in most cases offer input into the future development of the screenplay. The development phase
can take years without any guarantee of the project ever hitting the theatres.

On Completion of the Film
Once the film has been completed, the film producer takes control again. If they had negotiated and
come up with the funding, it is in most cases their product to promote now. An excellent producer
works with a marketing team to establish a strategy to create an audience and buzz, in addition to
submitting it for festivals and if possible a tour. Once the film is marketed, excitement has been
generated, and its earning potential has been exhibited for distributors, the film producer will
negotiate its percentage points, distribution rights and a release plan. Then, the producer will work
together with the original investors, actors and/or the director, basically anyone who has stakes in
the project, together choosing the most effective path for the film with the end results being a
healthy return on investment.

There are many things in life that aren’t certain and making a memorable film is definitely one of
them. That said, even the chance of producing a film that makes the film producer, his creative team
and investors proud makes it worth all the effort. So, what do film producers do, exactly? They
dream, they multi-task, they push through even the most uncertain times and in many cases, they
produce a fantastic film worthy of the “buzz”.

Finding your film’s sountrack: What Do Music Supervisors Do?

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drx stock images

What Do Music Supervisors Do?

A movie without a fantastic soundtrack will never win awards. Let’s face it – it’s the music that makes a movie shine. That said, have you ever wondered how the music winds up on a film in the first place? That comes down to music supervision. So, what do music supervisors do?

A music supervisor job is a coveted position for those who are passionate about music and have a talent for placing it perfectly into media that includes television programs, movies, commercials and video games. These sought after individuals also need to be able to handle less exciting parts of the job, including the administrative aspects, including nurturing vital relationships.

A successful music supervisor communicates well, excels at negotiations and understands the need for sensitivity when it comes to the egos of the rights holders, artists and directors involved. Even more important, they make it a point to realize the message the director is trying to get across in his film. They arrange and negotiate the appropriate licensing for the songs that will be used in films

Experience Required
Like the majority of music professions, there’s no clear path when it comes to being a music supervisor. Some who have chosen to go after a career as a music
supervisor take music business classes to learn all the ins and outs of music licensing rules which can definitely help. In addition, most look for music industry internships, which provide the perfect opportunity to learn the ropes, make important connections and eventually obtain paid work. Those who are new to the career
field are often willing to start out by accepting low or “no pay” positions in orderto add to their portfolios. For example, a lot of new music supervisors do freelance work in order to present their experiences to potential clients.

Another important asset for any music supervisor is to be well-versed in a wide variety of musical genres. To succeed in this field, it’s important that you stay current, so you will want to go out to the clubs, comb the trades every day and listen to current music genres online. Taking a few music history courses would be invaluable as well.

The Licensing Process
When the producers have specific tracks in mind or only have a basic idea of the style of music they want or think they want, they call on their music supervisor.
Then, the supervisor sets out to find the appropriate music and starts the licensing process. In some cases, a number of licenses are required per song, and the final approval can’t occur until filming has been completed. In addition, music supervisors will only have a small window of time to acquire licensing before a movie’s
release date.

Salary
Music supervisors characteristically get paid flat fees for their services and the amount of money they make is based on the project’s budget. For example, the majority of television music supervisors earn a few thousand dollars per episode, while on the other hand the most popular music supervisors earn around $200,000 for their services when they take part in major film productions. In some cases, music supervisors negotiate soundtrack royalties and are given bonuses if the productions they’re working on exceed pre-determined earning thresholds.

So, What Do Music Supervisors Do?
If they’re good at what they do and are lucky enough to lead a handful of high-profile projects to successful conclusions, they’ll enjoy financially rewarding careers. They have a key role acting as mediators between Production  and composers, music publishers, labels or record companies. They research and obtain all legal rights to source music for films. 

The music supervisor is the number one person responsible for all the musical aspects from creative to legal copyrights. They provide a unique service to the director to find the perfect music that are right for the film.

Their have the Legal knowledge of music copyrights and licensing agreements necessary to succeed and exist in the music industry.

We’ve compiled a list of the best music composed recently …
pretty much the highest aspiration any composer can want out of their new tracks.

Enjoy 🙂

Preparing for battle

Season of change

Epic motivation

Alive

The universe

We will win

I’m Happy

Eternal justice

Colors of the world

Second chance

8th wonder

Footsteps from here

Inner beauty

Something creative

We are strong

Moment to shine

Royalty free music at no cost for Colleges, Universities, Film Schools and Film Festivals.

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We offer Royalty free music at no cost for Colleges, Universities, Film Schools and Film Festivals.

Our program is for accredited state schools, colleges and notorious film schools only. Individual students do not qualify.

In order to help students, faculty and staff prepare for success, we’re providing Free Royalty free music to you free of charge.

You may qualify
• If you belong to an accredited state school (elementary, High school, college or university ).
• If your school website ends with .edu (example: http://www.umd.edu/)
• If you are a nationally known film/video school ( examples: American Film Institute, USC, New York University Tisch School of the Arts…)
All we ask in exchange for free music is a link pointing to http://filmtv-tracks.com// on your school’s site.
Put the link on your media home page or resource page, this information should be easily found.

You can use the following example
Premium royalty free music from Filmtv-tracks

Send us an email with full details of your project and tell us how our music will be used.

To get your Royalty Free Music follow these simple steps:

• Name
• Contact
• Email
• Address
• Telephone
• film school or college/university,
• Website URL(the home page to your school)
• Linking URL(the page in which you have placed our link on your schools site)

This program, offered as educational program, is available to all Film and Television students/teachers fully registered in universities and colleges.

Thank you for following these guidelines

The team

Composer Ennio Moricone of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ” gets his Star in Hollywood

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Italian Film composer Ennio Moricone gets his star on the Hollywood walk of Fame.

 

The ceremony was held feb 26 to honor his prestigious carreer that has included writing original motion picture sountracks  for more than 500 films including that legendary western spaghetti “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”

Harvey Weinstein and Quentin Tarantino were among the Guests.

Tarantino said. “To bring this bit of ‘Italia’ to Hollywood Boulevard is a really wonderful thing.”

 “The Hateful Eight” received the best original score, a film produced by Moricone.

Moricone composed the scores for legendary movies “A Fistful of Dollars,” “For a Few Dollars More,” “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” “Once Upon a Time in The West” to name a few. He has worked with Sergio Leone on numerous movies. He had a deep esteem for John williams, composer of Starwars and The Schindler’s list.

Moricone has been nominated at least  five times before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He wrote his first concert at the age of 22, then started to work as a composer for the Italian national TV RAI.

The 5 Most Anticipated Movies of 2016

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2016 has already started off to be a great year for movie fans, celebrating everything from directors, writers, actors, songs, costumes to special effects. There are plenty of “must see” comedies, dramas, kid friendly movies, action packed thrillers and more to look forward to. This year has already seen several movies that were great, whether they won an award or not, like Deadpool, Zoolander 2, Straight Out of Compton and the Hateful Eight. Following are the 5 most anticipate movies for 2016 that we still have to look forward to.

1. Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice
Director: Zack Snyder
March 25
Batman, fearing the actions of Superman if left unchecked, takes the superhero on in Dawn of Justice, as the planet tries to figure out exactly what kind of a champion it really needs. Because of the battle between the two icons, a new threat is born – Doomsday, created by nemesis Lex Luthor. Now it’s up to Batman and Superman to settle their differences and stop Doomsday, along with help from Wonder Woman, before they destroy Metropolis. What’s not to love about a superhero movie like this?

2. The Jungle Book
Director: Jon Favreau
April 15
This Disney, star studded new version of the Rudyard Kipling tale is sure to be a hit, thanks to a live-action Mowgli in a jungle packed with incredible CGI creatures voiced by mega stars that include Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o among others.

3. The Huntsman: Winter’s War
Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan
April 22
Chris Hemsworth returns to fight evil Queen Ravenna, played by Charlize Theron, who was resurrected by her Ice Queen sibling, played by Emily Blunt. The brave hero also falls into a forbidden romantic relationship with Sara, played by Jessica Chastain, a fellow huntsman.

4. The BFG
Director: Steven Spielberg
July 1
Legendary director Steven Spielberg is bringing us a new fantasy adventure July 1st, the adaptation of the BFG, a popular novel by Roald Dahl. The story is about a young Londoner named Sophie (newcomer Ruby Barnhill) and a mysterious giant (Mark Rylance) that introduces her to the perils and amazing wonders of “Giant Country”. Bill Hader, Michael David Adamthwaite, Jemaine Clement, Chris Gibbs, Daniel Bacon and more also star in what should be a fun movie, appealing to kids of all ages.

5. Bourne 5: Jason Bourne
Director: Paul Greengrass
July 29
The suspenseful film series that delivered plenty of chills and thrills will be returning with “Jason Bourne” and Matt Damon, its fifth installment and sequel to the Bourne Ultimatum released in 2007. In this film, the CIA’s most deadly former operative is drawn out of the shadows. Additional actors include Julia Stiles, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander and more.

There’s an abundance of buzz going around this year for every kind of movie fan. If you love movies as much as we do, you should definitely plan on seeing the film listed here. So, whip open your calendars and pencil in the dates listed here because you’re definitely going to want to see them all.

5 Common Filmmaking Mistakes You Should Avoid

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As your career in filmmaking begins to develop, it’s important that your actions don’t end up derailing it during the beginning stages. Following are 5 common filmmaking mistakes you should avoid, giving you a much better chance of succeeding.

  1. Not Knowing Why You Want To Make Movies
    Filmmakers make movies for several different reasons, be it passion about a subject, the potential of $$$ to be made, and/or a deep love for the craft. Before you jump into an attempted filmmaking career, it’s important to determine what it is that drives you. Realizing the real reason (s) you want to make movies will help you predetermine which the road you want to take and increase your chances of success.
  2. What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
    The majority of filmmakers begin their careers because they’re really great at a specific thing. Some have a flair for motivating actors, others excel at directing action and others, the lucky ones, are great multi-taskers (there aren’t many of these because filmmaking is so time consuming). What a lot of filmmakers fail to recognize is that it’s a business that involves a wide variety of unique skill sets. They overlook the fact that the craft also requires business management skills, from sourcing new clients and hiring actors to publicity and marketing, to managing cash flow. It’s not likely that you’ll have the expertise, or the time, to do it all yourself so don’t try. Successful filmmakers recognize their own skill sets and fill the gaps appropriately.
  3. Working with the Wrong People
    Filmmaking is a passionate, tiring and in many cases, spur of the moment business. Under these circumstances, it’s really tempting to hire people without thoroughly interviewing them and checking their references. Besides the interview process, its important to ask yourself if their experience and skills complimentary to yours and most important of all – will you feel comfortable working with them? Of course, make sure to have detailed written contracts in place, covering any and all creative collaboration.
  4. Been There, Done That
    If you’re going to the effort, including all the blood, sweat and tears, in order to create a short film, try to come up with something new and original. Whether it’s a new story, style, effect, plot, or techniques used, create something that makes people take notice and distinguishes your film from the countless others out there. While this is easier said than done, with a great creative team, it can be achieved.
  5. Emotional Triggers
    Instead of attempting to tackle a massive theme, especially if you’re new to the industry, concentrate on something smaller scale that both you and your audience have a personal connection with. Choose a dilemma or trending issued that most of us has experienced or felt, or an idea that most of us has had, and focus on that idea in your film, like no one has before. Taking this approach will help you come up with a film that’s genuine and sets off the right emotional triggers.

Putting music in your film has its importance; it can serve the emotional side of the movie and enhance the storytelling. It is essential for any film producer to keep the music in mind when shooting the movie.

Filmtv-tracks is a great source for premium Royalty Free Music where you can find the perfect music for your film at a very affordable price.

Needless to say, there are short films that have made some of these mistakes yet somehow turned out to be outstanding. That said, unless you’re already at the point in your career that you’re considered a world-class filmmaker, with the practical experience required to understand when, where and why to break the rules, you’ll want to avoid making the 5 common mistakes listed here.

Learn from Video production professionals

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Follow Video production professionals

Video editing and post-production is a vast area and there are several things that have to be taken care of when you are dealing with videos. It is a continuously evolving industry and hence, there is constant learning involved. If you are looking for a particular technique in video editing, you can always search for it online and learn. However, it is a great idea to follow some professionals rather than randomly searching for learning something new. We bring to you a list of video professionals that are highly skilled and will give you the best tips!

  • Andrew Kramer

Founder of a popular online motion design and VFX company, Video Copilot, Andrew has also made a couple of videos about After Effects and his experience on After Effects made Video Copilot come up with plugins for After Effects like Element 3D and Optical Flares, which have now grown to become one of the most standard tools used in the industry.

He works closely with J.J.Abrams and has been a part of several popular films. Also, he was a keynote speaker for the Adobe AE World conference held recently.

You can follow his tutorials on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

 

  • Philip Bloom

One of the most widely followed video professional on social media; Philip Bloom is in constant touch with movie directors for all their video editing needs. He deals with the camera gear and the techniques to be used, which is an area that can be classified as pre-production. You can visit his website to know more about the camera and its techniques, or if you want to learn more about DSLR movie making. You can follow Philip Bloom across popular social networking sites.

  • Larry Jordan

A television producer, director and editor, Larry Jordan is also a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America and is also certified by Apple in the field of digital media. Every week, he comes up with a newsletter and a podcast that is available on iTunes. He has done significant contribution to the field of video editing in the Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro fronts. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook and his own website, larryjordan.com.

 

  • Dave Dugdale

Dave Dugdale has come up with one of the best tutorials ever. He started his website ever since he started using a DSLR, so that you can also be a path of his journey and learn along. Now, his website features free tutorials, reviews about cameras and camera gears and there are also in-depth courses that will allow you to explore video editing and editing to its fullest. His site is called Learning Video, as he thinks that it can be a common forum where everybody who is interested to learn can learn.

You can follow Dave Dugdale on social networking sites or can navigate to his website called learningvideo.com.

 

So why wait? Start your professional video journey now by following these experts!

The benefits of Shooting On Super 16mm

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Arri 416 - super 16 mm only   Photo credit: rokkie.tv    

The trend: Super 16mm film 

An artist has their favourite painting style.  A writer has their favourite genre, a musician has their favourite beat, etc.  When you devote your life to the artistic form, you find what works for you and what doesn’t.  Since art is all about interpreting what you see, feel and hear and then making it your own, each person’s style is as unique as a fingerprint.  Those behind the camera have their own favourite styles too, from different lenses, to focuses to poses that make each of their photos and videos unique.  One of the ways the filmmakers leave their touch on the world is through what camera they choose to use.  Each choice creates a different mood and atmosphere, whether the viewer is aware of it or not.  A hot and impressive style right now is actually a blast to the past: the Super 16mm film.

Some photographers say that you can never get the feeling that old film cameras can give you, especially if you’re looking for the grainy and slightly blurred features when shooting people-themed video.  Those who have worked with film all their lives find that switching to digital can never give you that same feeling.  We could spend all day debating whether that point is true or not, but the point of this is to focus on the Super 16mm film camera.  This is a film camera that is able to give the same feeling and ambiance that you’re looking for, making it perfect for those film makers that are looking for a pure experience.

Most movies are shot digitally so that the content can be edited, cut, switched, modified, etc.  It’s a modern world that is all about using the first several takes to make sure that the perfect one is created from them.  With shooting with a digital camera, the final product comes from manipulation.  When shooting with film cameras, however, such as the Super 16mm, there’s more authenticity to it.  You can’t simply splice and dice the film the same way you can with the digital format.  You have to get it right the first time so that the editing is minimal.

With a digital camera, the focus is on the crisp picture, the perfect edits, and getting the right combination of takes to make sure that you can get the perfect cone after patching them all together perfectly.  With a film camera, the focus is on getting the right take from start to finish.  The audience notices the brilliant acting and the realistic focus that is a bit grainy to give an honest touch to the acting.  The focus remains on the story being told, not the special effects of digital filming.

When you’re looking at genres, the fast paced and action filled thrillers tend to go for the high end digital cameras.  They need the crystal clear picture to go along with the special effects that make those movies so popular.  Fo those slower paced dramas that centre around human evolution and character depth, the Super 16mm is the best way to go.  It allows the audience to see through the camera’s eye in a literal sense: you are focusing on the characters and the stories instead of seeing the production behind it.  The camera is transparent so that you can enjoy the struggles and triumphs of the characters, only when the final credits roll do you remember that you were watching a movie, and not part of the story itself.

Using the Super 16mm film camera allows for a more fulfilling human experience at the movies so that everyone gets a chance to experience an alternate reality, one where they feel changed when the story ends and you have to exit the theatre.  Digital cameras can be as high tech as they want, but they’ll never take the place of the soulful filming that traditional film cameras have.  We are in the best part of the world where we get to experience both kinds and enjoy each genre to its fullest extent.

 

Academy Award nominated cinematographer Ed Lachman, his work on Todd Haynes’ new film “Carol,” starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

Interested in Becoming a Director of Photography? Here’s what you need to know.

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Like any positions in the film industry, most students figure out the hard way that just because you earn a film related degree doesn’t mean you’re going to become a professional director of photography overnight. That said, it’s a rewarding career path that, if you’re passionate about cinematography, will be well worth working for. The following information provides things to consider that will help you get the most out of your journey.Photo credit: blog.fnac.ch

What is a Director of Photography (DP)?
A director of photography is responsible for determining the best camera, lens as well as the necessary lighting equipment for the project, the overall look of the video, and hiring the lighting and camera crews. They also create the lighting for every shot and advise and oversee the crew regarding where to place the camera equipment and lights, along with the camera movements. The DP also collaborates with the director to develop lighting strategies and camera actions that will help tell the story. Coming up with a great video production is much more than simply recording a scene, and a professional DP will be able to take the film production far beyond an average production.

Education
While most DP’s have obtained an undergraduate/graduate degrees in photography or cinematography, some pursue degrees in media studies, art, acting or film production.

Hand On Experience
The important thing to remember is that the earlier you get “hands on” experience, the better when it comes to finding employment and moving up the ranks. For example, if your college or university has a TV station, try to work there part time to learn the fundamentals of film production.

Pursue an Internship
Go after at least one internship before graduating and look for other opportunities, including working on commercial products and/or Interested in Becoming a Director of Photography? Here’s what you need to know.. Even if you’re generally focused on motion pictures, any kind of professional experience will help you build credibility.

Practice Makes Perfect
Never stop practicing your craft. Even if you get a job related to the industry, consider making your own films in your spare time, using the contacts you have in the industry to network with the people who might recognize your talents. Someone who has made the journey before you has the best perspective for you to learn from.

Regardless of the path you choose or the relationships that you cultivate, having a strong work ethic, great attitude and artistic aspirations is essential if you want to work your way up to DP.

This information for becoming a director of photography will help guide you and the included links will take you to other practical resources for more in-depth coverage.

Useful Links:
Camera Crew Breakdown
Grip & Electric Departments
8 Cinematographers Behind Famous Directors
Roger Deakins’ Forum
Evan Richards’ Cinematographer Index
Shane Hurlbut’s Inner Circle

The 5 microphone pickup patterns every video producer should know

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microphone-filmingThe 5 microphone pickup patterns every video producer should know

Let’s face it – a film is only as good as its audio. Although it may be easy to be captivated by the visual aspect of a film, quality audio needs to be high on the creators’ priority list. Substandard audio will quickly distract and turn off an audience, so it’s extremely important to choose the right mic for the job at hand. Let’s take a look at 5 microphone pickup patterns every video producer should know about.

1. Omnidirectional
This pickup pattern makes it possible to “pickup” sounds from every direction. With omni microphones, regardless of how you rotate or twist them, it’ll all still sound the same. While, omnidirectional microphones can also in theory deliver a more natural sound, they do pick up everything, necessary and not, their use is typically limited to specific scenarios

2. Bidirectional
The bidirectional pickup pattern has a transparent natural sound, comparable to that of the omnidirectional pickup pattern, however, it’s only sensitive to the sounds that come from the front and rear ends of the mic. The sounds from the sides are rejected. Another primary difference from others is that the bidirectional pickup pattern offers the strongest proximity effect. Almost all the ribbon microphones use this pattern, which is also prevalent with high end condensers as well.

3. Unidirectional
The majority of shotgun microphones are highly directional and only records audio in the direction its barrel is pointed in. They’re usually attached to extended boom poles, then held above the head of the individual, outside of the visible area of the frame. The narrow, long, pickup pattern of the unidirectional makes them the microphone of choice for producers making shows and films that are built around actors giving dialogue. Unis offer excellent range and rejects unwanted ambient audio too.

4. Cardioid
Cardioid microphones have a pickup pattern that’s heart shaped and they pick up the majority of the audio from the front side, within a degree range. Cardioid mics are typically utilized for studio recordings and provide good sound quality. They also benefit from the noise cancellation, making them an invaluable recording device.

5. Lobar/Super Cardioid
The lobar pattern provides the narrowest picking angle. With this angle, the pattern can be twisted further, picking up a small amount of sounds emanating from the sides. The majority of shotgun microphones have the lobar pickup pattern, especially longer shotguns, however the pattern can still vary significantly. From a technical perspective, lobar pickup patterns can also be labeled as other varieties, including hyper-cardioid and super-cardioid, but in the end, what matters most is the microphones unique polar diagram.

If you take the time to understand the varying attributes of the 5 microphone pickup patterns mentioned here, you won’t have any trouble choosing the right model for your specific needs.

The boom mic, or shotgun mic is the most popular with filmmaking. It captures an excellent sound quality  avoiding the annoying background noise. It is your best option for really professional sound.