Sunday 13 November 2011

First Film Fundamentals



This week we continue the topic of filmmaking with a feature editorial by Paul Horsfield. Paul is an experienced actor, who's seen the process of making films in and out, and many times over. In this feature he points out what he sees as the top ten issues to consider when shooting your first film. So without further ado, here are the ten First Film Fundamentals.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

First Film Fundamentals by Paul Horsfield

10 fundamentals of filmmaking? Or was it 10 Commandments?

This coming Sunday Effluxio will feature a special editorial from actor Paul Horsfield. Paul will guide us through what he argues are the ten fundamental principles of filmmaking. The primary goal is to provide a formula for filmmaking to those who have never made a film before, but the article should also give a structure for those filmmakers who have already been through their first steps. Stay tuned!

PHOTO: from The Sky in Bloom, Hydra films © 2011.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Languedoc-Roussillon: Mainstay of Peace (FILM)

A truly magical experience

Languedoc-Roussillion is a truly magical place. So when Bouwbegeliding Sud France, a Dutch contracting firm operating in South of France, asked me to create a video that would allow their customers to experience the captivating beauty of the region I didn’t hesitate for a second. The goal was to capture the richness of the experiences that the region offers without compromising its charming tranquility. To realise this goal I invited photographer Andy Shannon to work on this project together. After three days of filming it was fascinating to see how the scale of ancient monuments such as the Pont du Gard aqueduct and the Arènes de Nîmes amphitheater magnified the seductive ambience and flavours of everyday life in the region’s cities of Nîmes and Uzès. The resulting film reveals this serenity of the fairytale-like French countryside and the alluring way of life of its natives. 

Wednesday 2 November 2011

5 tips for aspiring filmmakers

Making films may look easy...

Shooting films is a lot of fun. No matter if you are acting, directing, operating the camera or supervising the sound, working on a film set can make you feel as if you were part of something big. Not to mention the awesome experience of seeing the finalised product of your labour for the first time. But working on an independent production is not the same as working on a blockbuster flick from one of the major Hollywood studios, and getting the desired results will often be preceded by a stream of serious sweat and tears. Especially if you are new to the craft and haven’t got that much experience (like me a few weeks ago). To assist those of you who are just starting out, here are five simple tips that should help you get a bigger bang for your buck when it comes to filmmaking.