Film School Boot Camp now an official sponsor of the Short 10 Cinema Competition

I am excited to announce that The Online Film School Boot Camp is now an official sponsor of the Short 10 Cinema Competition.
I enjoy film festivals but even more so I enjoy film competitions. On one hand, I believe film competitions challenge filmmakers to think outside their initial realm of creativity. But on the other hand, many competitions place restrictions on time, genre, and other rules that inhibit the overall creativity of filmmakers. These constraints ultimately produce films of lower story, character, and visual quality. This is why I was pleased to see a film competition that prides themselves on allowing filmmakers to utilize their maximum potential without tight constraints.

Short10Cinema is drastically changing this equation, by creating a series of challenges that produce genre specific short films that stand alone as art and entertainment, opening screening opportunities far beyond the ultimate film competition.
To accomplish this, Short10Cinema has first lengthened the challenge duration from as little as 24 hours to universally 100 hours, while not lengthening the maximum film length. This allows filmmakers to concentrate more on the quality, and less on speed. Rather than assign film genres randomly, Short 10 Cinema has multiple challenges throughout the year that each concentrate on a specific genre. This focuses each challenge to the film creators that are specifically skilled in these film types, and capitalizes on an audience that is uniquely interested in each challenge.

Short 10 Cinema has 5 genre's available in 2013, including:
Horror, Drama, SciFi/Fantasy, Comedy/Dark Comedy, and Music Video

Short 10 Cinema will also be handing our rewards in the following categories:

• Best Director
• Best Cinematography
• Best Actor/Actress
• Best Supporting Actor/Actress
• Best Costume/Makeup
• Best Screenplay

So, if you're up for a competition that allows you to stretch your wings of filmmaking creativity, check out the Short 10 Cinema Competition!
For more information, visit http://www.short10cinema.com/

Begining Filmmakers Frequently Asked Questions

What camera should I start filming with?
Any camera you can get your hands on. Beg, borrow, but don’t steal. The most important thing is that you’re practicing what the world looks like through the eye of a lens. Even an old camcorder may not look pretty, but it will help you develop the skillsyou need to succeed.

Where do I film?
Anywhere and everywhere. Start by filming around your house. Create a movie script or scene that takes place inside a house or in a yard. Then, once you find other locations available to you, write movie scenes involving those locations. Usually small businesses are open to helping student filmmakers, but don’t pay any money for a location at this point in the game. No matter where you film, always remember to respect each location.

Where do I find Actors and Crewmembers?
Family and friends are a good place to start. There are also plenty of students in acting, drama, debate, & TV production classes at school that have similar interests. If you’re a good organizer and you can help them achieve their goals by having them help you, everyone’s a winner. Again, no money should be involved here.

How much money does it take to start making movies?
The real answer here is ZERO. If you can borrow a camcorder, have your friends or family help you, don’t buy any props or outfits, and schedule your time accordingly, you shouldn’t have to pay a dime. The first thing you should ever consider spending money on is food for your cast and crew. Why? Because they’re working hard for you and a good leader always takes care of the people around them. Once you’ve made a few movies or scenes, you can consider spending money on props, wardrobe, special effects, or food for the cast and crew. At this stage in the game, I would not advise paying for actors, crewmembers, or locations.

Where do I show my movie when I’m finished?
The best place to put your first movie is on YouTube. This will give you the opportunity to instantly share your movie with all of your friends and the world. Search for local film festivals and contact them regarding submission standards. Usually film festivals are more lenient for local filmmakers because they know you and your family are guaranteed to attend and purchase a ticket.

I finished my first movie, now what?
Repeat the process and build upon what you’ve already learned. Repetition and knowledge are the keys to becoming a great filmmaker.

Know before you go and check out the Online Film School Boot Camp today.
http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

4 ways to increase your chances of getting accepted into film school

Many aspiring film students are finding it harder to get accepted to film schools because of the high attendance rate and competition among fellow entrants. So, what are some ways to make your application stand out among the rest?
1. Get serious. This means you must stand out from the crowd. What is the crowd you ask? The crowd is a giant group of kids who just want to be famous. They see Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, or Michael Bay make some box office hit and all of a sudden they think that they can do better. This crowd of kids also thinks that because they go to film school, they will automatically be catapulted to Hollywood stardom. Another widespread misconception. So, it's time to get serious by researching and studying what you'll be learning in film school. There are many websites and apps available with good information. Immerse yourself in the world you are about to enter.
2. Make a movie. Or make several movies. If you want to be a filmmaker, you're going to have to eventually pick up a camera and edit something. So, why not start now? Once you've done a little research and feel comfortable with the basic filmmaking rules and concepts, begin your film. Start by filming something short and simple, 1-2minutes. It can be a simple dialogue scene or a quick action scene. Give yourself something to edit together, so you can practice your editing skills. Do several of these so you can see your progress over time. Film Schools love to see progress.
3. Save your Money. Film school isn't cheap. Save your money for tuition or for expenses after film school. You can never over plan enough when it comes to your future.
4. Choose Wisely. A lot of film schools will try and sell you with their flashy equipment and large facilities. This is all good, but if you follow tips 1 and 2, you'll have a better idea of what a film school really has to offer. Film school tuition rates can range from less than $10,000 to over $100,000. So, is paying an extra $90,000 really gonna get you to where you want to be after you graduate?
Ultimately, this is why I created my Online Film School Boot Camp. My Camp teaches the 6 fundamentals of filmmaking that are taught at film schools around the world. This helps you achieve a greater base of filmmaking knowledge which helps you become better prepared for film school, increases your chances of getting accepted, and will help you graduate higher in your class.
Know before you go and check out the Online Film School Boot Camp today.
http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

Consumer vs Prosumer Camcorders filmmaking tips for beginning filmmakers

Choosing a camera is an important decision to make when beginning to make movies. As an ultra low budget indie filmmaker you're faced with a decision to find a quality affordable camcorder. The most common types of low priced camcorders available are consumer camcorders and prosumer camcorders.
This video from the Online Film School Boot Camp's Cinematography tutorial gives a brief description of the differences between consumer and prosumer camcorders.

http://youtu.be/bgqUOaRDeaM

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Respectfully,
Trent Duncan
http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

180 Degree rule for Filmmaking and Filmmakers

Cinematography is an important part of the filmmaking process. More so, camera positions are crucial because they dictate how filmmakers will tell a story to the audience. Arguably the most important filmmaking rule in cinematography is the 180 degree rule. This rule ensures the audience does not get distracted or disoriented by mismanaged camera positions.
Here's a quick video clip from the Online Film School Boot Camp that explains the 180 degree rule.
http://youtu.be/RQfvHDDOASA

I recently sat down with Walter Pacheco of the Orlando Sentinel in an interview regarding my Online Film School Boot Camp.
I enjoyed talking with Walter and sharing a cup of coffee over the topic of filmmaking.
Below is a link to the original article and a copy of the article.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-talking-with-trent-duncan-20120903,0,1668410.story

 Original Article:

Filmmaker offers online 'boot camp' to help kids learn the business

Trent Duncan, 31, is an independent Winter Springs filmmaker who launched the Online Film School Boot Camp in May. The Navy veteran hopes his video tutorials can inspire youths to understand the basics of casting, screenwriting and other important aspects of filmmaking. His goal: Help them build a portfolio of films before enrolling in a traditional film school. He spoke recently with staff writer Walter Pacheco.

CFB: How does the Online Film School Boot Camp work?
The program is $50 and is mainly for kids between the ages of 12 to 18. Members register online and have access to the video tutorials that teach the fundamentals of filmmaking: pre-production and production, screenwriting, directing, lighting, cinematography and sound, and post-production. There's a full curriculum with production documents and links to filmmaking websites and apps. Everything I teach in my school is exactly how I run my movie set. I have six students right now.

CFB: Students supply their own cameras and equipment?
Yes. The prices on video cameras have gone down and you can start filming short flicks with some of the consumer [or advanced] cameras in the market. Most computers are equipped with some type of video editing tool. I see a lot of starting filmmakers use those tools and then post their short films on YouTube.
CFB: Are YouTube video tutorials a model for your online school?
They're one of the reasons I jumped into this. I use video tutorials all the time. They're the best way to grab the information you need in the shortest amount of time. This is something that's easier to learn when you have someone showing you instead of reading about it.
CFB: What sparked your filmmaking bug?
When I was around 10, my dad had a giant VHS camera, and I would film stuff with it. One of my first films was Terminator Jr. I taped aluminum foil to my chest to make it look like liquid metal. It was cheesy, but we were kids. I did all the edits right in the camera. Not having professional editing tools, money for special effects or the latest video cameras helped me be more creative. That's what I see now in young filmmakers who have no budget, but much better equipment because technology has helped make better and cheaper cameras and computers have decent video editing tools. Some of these kids are pulling off explosions and green-screen effects they're making in their own back yards.
CFB: What kind of films have you worked on since the Terminator Jr. days?
After leaving the Navy in 2009, I went to California for about a year and a half to start a little production company. I did some grunt work there, but I really wanted to return to Orlando and be close to family. I started Trent Duncan Productions, and I've shot some promo business videos, depositions and even a few fan films.
CFB: Fan films?
Yeah. I did two: Jason vs. Leatherface and Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash (lead character from the cult classic Evil Dead films). A buddy of mine had a Jason costume from Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, and we decided to have fun. People love horror films. All you need is some blood, kill some people on film, and you're good. Horror fans will watch it, despite the quality, and let you know how they feel about it. That's always good.
CFB: Any upcoming films?
I have an idea for a longer fan film featuring Michael Myers (villain from Halloween movies) and Ghostface (killer in the Scream movie franchise).
CFB: How will your online film school help aspiring filmmakers in Orlando?

When I went to Valencia College for film production technology, I saw many students who had no idea what they were doing. If a kid makes a couple of short films now, he'll be ahead of the crowd when he enrolls in one of the many good film schools we have in Orlando. I'm sure their edits will be rough, and their sound off, but the courses can help them organize their creativity and hopefully execute better films.

Indie Filmmaking, Why Canon is my favorite Camera

Every Indie filmmaker has their own personal camcorder preference. For me, it's Canon.
It all began after purchasing a Sony EX3. Great camera. I would highly suggest them for any low/no budget feature. Provided you have a lens adapter. But for the typical on-the-go, low-budget indie filmmaker, the Sony EX3 is just too big. It's an overkill. The camcorder has an array of tantalizing and blissful menu features that excite any camera operator. But once again, overkill.
After deciding to sell my Sony EX3, I was developing my film The Aftermath: A 2012 Story. I needed some sort of camcorder to film my next project, but knew I didn't have any money for a crew and and several days of production. (Even a crew working for free needs to be fed). I decided to shoot The Aftermath: A 2012 Story in a documentary style of filmmaking. This would reduce the amount of "traditional" crew members needed on set. A camcorder needed for such a task must be simple to operate and maneuver, much like a consumer camcorder, yet still have features to give me a little filmmaking flexibility. (Not like the ginormous camcorder used in filming Paranormal Activity- That's just unrealistic and lame). This is when I decided to look into prosumer camcorders.
Being a previous Sony owner, I toyed with several prosumer Sony camcorders at the local Best Buy. As nice as they were, I just couldn't fully grasp their menu system. Ease of access via the menu system is a pet-peeve of mine and Sony just didn't deliver. After a few frustrating moments, I decided to play with the Canon Vixia. I instantly understood the workflow and layout of the menu system and felt right at home. Thus, Canon had me from their menu layout.
I still use the Canon Vixia HF S100. It is a great prosumer HD camcorder with "comparable" HD quality video and depth of field that stands solid against other high end camcorders. Earlier this year Canon released a new version of their Vixia, the HF G10, which is a step closer to professional camcorders and still retains the prosumer camcorder features. The Canon XA10 is another superb camcorder that offers 2 XLR sound inputs. Bringing their prosumer camcorder even closer to professional grade.
So, that is how I became a Canon fan. They had me at the menu.
Thanks and good filming!
Trent Duncan
www.OnlineFilmSchoolBootCamp.com

Choosing a Film School for filmmaking

For those of you who are thinking about getting into filmmaking or movie making, there are a basically three options available.
If you're thinking of going the film school route, there are many fancy tech schools that offer Bachelors and even Masters degrees in film. None of which you actually need to be a filmmaker or work in the film industry. These tech school often charge $20,000 a semester, footing the graduate with a hefty $60k - $100k student loan payment when it's all said and done.
After that, there are smaller technical schools, usually taught at the community college level. These school offer a large amount of information, sometimes just as much as a large technical school, with a smaller financial commitment. They do not carry the swagger of big name high price schools, but the education you receive is equivalent. Not to mention they don't carry with them the crippling financial burden of enormous student loans.
Finally, there is the good-ole do-it-yourself education. It Internet provides an array of information, most of which is free, on all aspects and topics pertaining to making a movie. Basically everything that is taught at a high price technical school is available on the internet. You just don't get all the fancy cameras, lighting, and grip equipment to play with. The downfall with the Internet is the credibility factor. Anyone can create a website and post information. How do you know what works and what's hogwash?
This is why I created the Online Film School Boot Camp. A place for young aspiring filmmakers to learn the fundamentals of filmmaking such as Screenwriting, Directing, Pre-Production, Cinematography, Lighting/Grip, and Post-Production. All the curriculum was created by me and taken mainly from my many years of filmmaking experiences. As far as the credibility factor, I have plenty of movies available to watch on youtube that speak directly to my skill set. Everything I teach comes directly from my own filmmaking skills and real life experiences.
The Online Film School Boot Camp is a good stepping stone to begin a journey in filmmaking with immediate gratification and no strapping financial burden. Come check us out today.
http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

Trent Duncan's Online Film School Boot Camp Examiner Article by Ashlie Lawson

Recently, Examiner writer Ashlie Lawson wrote an article about my Online Film School Boot Camp. I was extremely excited and enjoyed talking with Ashlie. Below is a copy of the article as well as a link to the original piece.
http://www.examiner.com/article/film-school-boot-camp-are-you-brave-enough

Original Article:

Have you ever had the desire to grab a camera and start filming people? Maybe you are the one, out of all your friends who brings a camera to all the vacations and road trips. Did you ever think about going to film school but were discouraged because of the length and cost of school?
Well, have no fear Director Trent Duncan has the supreme opportunity for those who wish to fulfill those movie-making desires. Recently Duncan had the opportunity to develop an Online Film School Boot camp to help others reach the same passion he has for filming but without the long, drawn out weeks or even months of schooling.
The inspiration came about when Duncan was a young boy filming with his cousins in the backyard. Throughout his years he never lost his passion to be behind the camera, after meeting other filmmakers and directing several videos of his own, he finally decided to create an opportunity for those individuals who want to learn the basic essentials to independent filming.
Duncan states, “This is what enthusiastic and pragmatic people want, learning by doing and not spending too much time getting bogged down in heavy theory.”

What makes the Film School standout amongst the rest?

• Solid foundation of filmmaking skills
• Gain confidence in filmmaking
• Less than 90 minutes

A bit about the film school, it is comprehensive, informative, and friendly, aiming at young and aspiring filmmaking enthusiasts. However, the course is not limited to the young and aspiring; adults can also enjoy this great opportunity. Duncan’s teaching combines the traditional style of filmmaking with documentary style filmmaking, enabling each student to make a movie in less time with fewer resources. The school comes complete with downloadable curriculum, production documents, cast and crew agreements, location contracts, casting templates, and links to helpful apps and websites.

“Professional, precise, and quick too!” - Ashlie Lawson

“I’ve worked with Trent several times and his videos teach exactly how he runs a movie set” - Cheyenne Hess, Orlando actor and producer

Register here for the next course at Director Trent Duncan's Online Film School Boot Camp!!
Feel free to follow Trent Duncan on Twitter
Visit Trent Duncan's website

What is depth of field in Movie Making

Depth of field refers to the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a frame. Depth of field is useful in creating a cinematic look and feel to your movie. Since the natural eye focuses on one object at a time (nearest or farthest), the other object must be slightly out of focus. The further the distance between the two objects, the more blurred the other object will appear.
Many camera lenses, when zoomed out, will keep all objects in focus. This is not necessarily a bad thing because in a wide shot, you most likely want the audience to see everything in the entire frame. When pushing in on a subject in a close up shot, it is beneficial to create a certain amount of depth of field behind the subject. This helps keep the audiences attention on the subject in focus. Successfully creating depth of field on a subject will help you as a filmmaker control and manipulate the audiences attention on screen.
Proper use of depth of field will  give you a professional looking movie and separate your film from beginners.
Check out helpful filmmaking videos at our youtube page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/OnlineFilmSchoolBC

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me.
As always, check out the Online Film School Boot Camp to complete your filmmaking skill set.

http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com

Reviewing your film school options

For those of you who are thinking about getting into filmmaking or movie making, there are a basically three options available.
If you're thinking of going the film school route, there are many fancy tech schools that offer Bachelors and even Masters degrees in film. None of which you actually need to be a filmmaker or work in the film industry. These tech school often charge $20,000 a semester, footing the graduate with a hefty $60k - $100k student loan payment when it's all said and done.
After that, there are smaller technical schools, usually taught at the community college level. These school offer a large amount of information, sometimes just as much as a large technical school, with a smaller financial commitment. They do not carry the swagger of big name high price schools, but the education you receive is equivalent. Not to mention they don't carry with them the crippling financial burden of enormous student loans.
Finally, there is the good-ole do-it-yourself education. It Internet provides an array of information, most of which is free, on all aspects and topics pertaining to making a movie. Basically everything that is taught at a high price technical school is available on the internet. You just don't get all the fancy cameras, lighting, and grip equipment to play with. The downfall with the Internet is the credibility factor. Anyone can create a website and post information. How do you know what works and what's hogwash?
This is why I created the Online Film School Boot Camp. A place for young aspiring filmmakers to learn the fundamentals of filmmaking such as Screenwriting, Directing, Pre-Production, Cinematography, Lighting/Grip, and Post-Production. All the curriculum was created by me and taken mainly from my many years of filmmaking experiences. As far as the credibility factor, I have plenty of movies available to watch on youtube that speak directly to my skill set. Everything I teach comes directly from my own filmmaking skills and real life experiences.
The Online Film School Boot Camp is a good stepping stone to begin a journey in filmmaking with immediate gratification and no strapping financial burden.

Come check us out today.
http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

Hidden Movie Agendas for filmmaking and filmmakers

Every filmmaker has their own unique perspective on life... You wouldn't be a filmmaker if you didn't. In some way or another  that perspective aligns with some greater meaning/agenda/political viewpoint. Good filmmakers find a way to sneak their own views into their movies as some underline meaning, most of which is unseen by the average viewer.
Which raised the question, "What's in your movie?"
Cracked.com recently released 5 Light-Hearted Movies with Dark Moral Implications.
By: Bill Summerson,  Brendan Bourque-Sheil,  Chris Hyde June 05, 2012

http://www.cracked.com/article_19853_5-light-hearted-movies-with-dark-moral-implications.html

Learn to make movies with the Online Film School Boot Camp http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

The aspects of Film School Boot Camp

Getting into the mind of a good writer is a difficult thing to do, but this course will set you up to do so. You need to know how to format and outline your script so that is meets the standards of the filmmaking community. As if  you get into the habit of writing in the industry accepted standard then you will be set up for bigger and more professional jobs in the future.

The production modules include the skills you need to directing, planning and set up, cinematography and sound skills and operating lighting and grips. These are all very important skills to know about which must be used in conjunction to create a professional quality film. Learning them all will give you the expertise to not only work on your own film projects but get jobs on other film productions. Knowing all the aspects of how to make a film really empowers you. It is one of the most sought after skill sets in the media, there will always be film production and it is not something that can be entered into easily. So educating yourself and investing in a film school course puts you ahead of the game.

However as well as having pre-production and production skills it can be useful to have the skills you need for post production filmmaking. This is the editing and putting together of the final film product. Which is something that a lot of filmmakers struggle with, learning this will really give you a rounded knowledge of how to make a film and graduate film school with flying colors!

Check out the writing courses available at the Online Film School Boot Camp.

http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

What is the Online Film School Boot Camp

The online film school boot camp is a complete A-Z course on how to learn the basics of independent filmmaking without hefty financial obligations. It is comprehensive, informative and friendly aiming itself at young and aspiring filmmaking enthusiasts; however the course can be taken by anyone of any age. A lot of courses online are lengthy and take up weeks of your time. The online film school boot camp is different, you will learn the basics and be able to get up and start filming after 80 minutes. That is what enthusiastic and pragmatic people want, learning by doing and not spending too much time getting bogged down in heavy theory.

Visit the Online Film School Boot Camp at http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/ for more information.

I created the Online Film School Boot Camp for young aspiring filmmakers

I created the Online Film School Boot Camp to reach out to young aspiring filmmakers and provide them with a solid foundation of filmmaking skills to build upon.
The Online Film School Boot Camp is an innovative online educational program offering aspiring filmmakers the fundamentals needed to organize and operate their own independent film set.
The Goal of the Online Film School Boot Camp is to providing a low-cost educational program to aspiring filmmakers to achieve a solid foundation of skills for independent filmmaking.
The Mission Statement of the Online Film School Boot Camp is to help aspiring filmmakers develop the skills necessary to successfully organize and run an independent film set to produce their own motion picture productions.
For more information, check us out at http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

Trent Duncan

About the Online Film School Boot Camp

Military Veteran and Filmmaker Trent Duncan breaks down the basic

6 fundamentals essential to becoming a complete independent filmmaker.

Trent's Online Film School Boot Camp combines the best techniques of documentary style and traditional style filmmaking in 6 videos covering screenwriting, production, directing, cinematography, lighting, and post production.

This process maximizes the efficiency of each individual, enabling them to

make a movie in less time, with less money, and with fewer resources.

Now you can Become a Complete Filmmaker by learning

the 6 fundamentals Online or in a DVD Box Set.

Each option includes easy to follow Tutorial Videos, Filmmaker

Handbook Guide, Production Documents, and a Military Style Dog Tag.

 

http://www.onlinefilmschoolbootcamp.com/

 

Trent Duncan