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.