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What are some good resources (free or paid) for making web series/tv/fims?
Lemonizer
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
I don't want to draw this out but thanks to recent advances in myself as a person, money and business is going to be great for me. As I outsource/hire out tasks for my business websites, I find that I increasingly have more INT and WIS to pursue more meaningful activities for myself and increase my understanding about life and people (which is surprisingly fun).
I will be in Pax to ask Jerry and Mike about this but considering how genuinely nice people here at PA seem to be, I thought you guys could help me out.
I'm writing dialogue and core plot points for a web series (could be a quadrilogy full length feature too) and I find that I want to make sure that as many people as possible get some use out of it. I'd have no problem doing what it takes to make the story as great and helpful as possibly. So far when I did a search for "how to make a web series" on google I got Felicia Day's youtube and her article on her blog from 2009 http://feliciaday.com/blog/web-series-4-things-to-ask-yourself-before-starting.
So far it was pretty good but I want more technical and practical advice. Since I intend to fully fund this myself and hire it all out, I think money "shouldn't" be a problem.
So, can anyone recommend me good courses or books or videos that actually teach me this stuff? I found many filmmaking seminars but the problem is they're all so extreme left-wing that they want to make others feel bad and treat individuals with disrespect. I'm conservative so I am aware how doubly difficult it is for me to find the real truth in this matter since SAG and Hollywood are very very far left and hate all conservatives/right wingers.
I also understand that any successful web series, tv, or film requires either the use of hiring professional actors/actresses or a pre-existing audience that already knows you (think PATV series). It's this not-so mentioned fact that I want to find out more about how to make a successful story for all of you to enjoy.
THank you guys.
Also, when you give me advice, please say what your experience is. "I've seen x amount of web series" or "I've watch this many blah blah movies" or "I loved battlestar galactica, the office, and game of thrones so much because balh blah". This would be invaluable to me because it will help me understand what it is people REALLY want to see. It also can give me ideas from which to steal/borrow from (tee hee).
I will be in Pax to ask Jerry and Mike about this but considering how genuinely nice people here at PA seem to be, I thought you guys could help me out.
I'm writing dialogue and core plot points for a web series (could be a quadrilogy full length feature too) and I find that I want to make sure that as many people as possible get some use out of it. I'd have no problem doing what it takes to make the story as great and helpful as possibly. So far when I did a search for "how to make a web series" on google I got Felicia Day's youtube and her article on her blog from 2009 http://feliciaday.com/blog/web-series-4-things-to-ask-yourself-before-starting.
So far it was pretty good but I want more technical and practical advice. Since I intend to fully fund this myself and hire it all out, I think money "shouldn't" be a problem.
So, can anyone recommend me good courses or books or videos that actually teach me this stuff? I found many filmmaking seminars but the problem is they're all so extreme left-wing that they want to make others feel bad and treat individuals with disrespect. I'm conservative so I am aware how doubly difficult it is for me to find the real truth in this matter since SAG and Hollywood are very very far left and hate all conservatives/right wingers.
I also understand that any successful web series, tv, or film requires either the use of hiring professional actors/actresses or a pre-existing audience that already knows you (think PATV series). It's this not-so mentioned fact that I want to find out more about how to make a successful story for all of you to enjoy.
THank you guys.
Also, when you give me advice, please say what your experience is. "I've seen x amount of web series" or "I've watch this many blah blah movies" or "I loved battlestar galactica, the office, and game of thrones so much because balh blah". This would be invaluable to me because it will help me understand what it is people REALLY want to see. It also can give me ideas from which to steal/borrow from (tee hee).
Lemonizer on
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Are... you going to do a political film? I know the art world tends to be liberal heavy, but step one, especially if you need a cast and crew, is meeting people. I understand the hive-mind is occasionally frustrating (even as a liberal, I got sick of the back patting at art school after a while) but this really should not get in the way of you and your projects. Alot of people get started with a group of people they meet at school, and while money is an incentive, creating a creative atmosphere requires some getting along with people, some suck-it-up ability, and some compromises.
I'm more of an animation person, but I also listen to a ton of comedy and, in turn, watch a lot of their little web series. You might want to seek out some of mark maron podcasts and some nerdist podcasts, listening to Donald Glover and other people who got started on the web. Throwing money at a project isn't always what gets it started, you can do a lot with very little cash if you have a group of people who have the same goals and have a good relationship with you. Webseries dont always start out with famous people either (See: Epic Meal Time, Hey Ash Whatcha Playing) If you have a good idea, you just need manpower and personality, known or unknown.
What exactly will you be doing? Will you be doing any of the editing/effects/camera work, or are you going to throw money at other people for that? Because that stuff is the kind of stuff I can give you a ton of resources for.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
@Iruka
Yes and no. I'm trying to walk a very fine line between teaching and showing problems but not seem political, though ultimately every major story plot will be because of politics but I will do everything possible to make sure anybody watching it, regardless of their political affiliations, does not feel like I'm attacking their political beliefs. There's a time and place for that but not in a web series meant to mean something nice for people. Personally I don't like attacking people all that much in that way, I'd prefer to PVP in battlegrounds, or something.
Funny you mention the constant back patting back in school. Are you a woman? Because I actually address that issue in the web series (along with tons of other stuff).
If I told guys today that women hate men who constantly kiss up to them they would go "whhhhaaat?" So I will make a great subtle substory about this problem in a plausible deniable way for all people to enjoy. Hopefully I don't fuck it up.
@Reznik Primarily my job would be to ideally write the core/central plot episodes and figure out new ways to bring audiences in (meaning I gotta get to know more people). The editing, effects, and camera will defintiely need to be hired out. I actually have no idea what this costs but from what I can tell, it can either be stupid expensive or stupid cheap. I'm just in exploratory and learning phase now (I'm still expecting to work on my story/script for 2-3 years as a safe bet, faster or slower depending on what I learn and how doable this is).
Oh but yes Reznik, very much tell me the resources. I will research what is involved in doing all this stuff. I read on Felicia's blog how much crap she has to go through to get everything done. I can easily tell she does too much work on her own and I'm surprised she doesn't suffer from burnout. Plus she is an actress which is one of the most demanding and difficult professions(jobs) out there. For me if I burnout it's over. I lose all morale and motivation to do any work so I need to avoid that.
It brings me a smile to know that so far the very few people I've talked to about this in revealing what they don't like is actually very common social problems which I already address. So I'm definitely on the right track.
Secondly, just one piece of advice: don't EVER cut corners in pre-production. I had to work with a guy who shot first without planning his shots around the effects he wanted. It was not a fun time. The project is still unfinished. If you want to make friends with the people you're working with, make sure you have a clear, solid plan.
With that said...
First I'll link you to Film Riot: http://revision3.com/filmriot
They basically cover... everything. DIY steadicam, green screen, gore effects, fake rain, other practical effects for as cheap as possible, as well as post-production techniques, and they give advice on types of cameras and mics to use, and so on and so forth.
Video Copilot is my next favourite site: http://videocopilot.net/
This site is specific to Adobe After effects though. But AE is an amazing program. VC basically has a ton of tutorials on things from set extensions, green screening techniques, colour grading, digital gore, etc. Even if you don't have or plan to use After Effects, watching some of these tutorials may give you ideas for effects you want to try. Their forum also has boards for filmmaking, gear, etc so you might find some good advice there.
If you really want to cut costs, here's how to turn your tripod into a steadicam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW6AWmqa8ZM
Have you had a chance to read any thing by Syd Field? If not, check out Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. It's more for writing for movies, but that doesn't mean you can't adapt the lessons in it to a web series.
I think that's it for now. I'll see what else I can dig up. I lost a few links.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
thanks man, this stuff is going to keep me busy for weeks. I definitely can already see the conflict between writers and directors and the visuals because not everyone is on the same page about the original vision/intent of the writing.
I'll be checking Syd's work out (never heard of him until you mentioned him) but I'm shocked at how many different people wrote on the same topic.
I've done a lot of productions and I know a lot of people with a lot of experience. I already know who to ask about what, but you don't. That is a rough spot. You need your own experience and people with experience.
If you have an idea you are passionate about, don't, for the love of God don't, make it the first thing you do. Set that script aside, develop some other stuff, and produce them as training wheels.