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The easiest thing to do -- and by easy, I mean it will look the best. It actually is easy, but it takes a long time to do and do well -- is to use the mask tool to rotoscope around the actor and adjust your edge settings (feather) every two or three frames. Then, set your background under the...

Your best bet is to write the script and sell it to the studio, then lobby the studio to make you a director. The only problem with that is that you have just sold a property that does not belong to you, as the owner of the rights to the material has not given you explicit rights to option the...

I'm blunt but honest -- how does your script differ from so many other movies like this? Requiem for a Dream is the quintesential "drugs lead you down the wrong road" movie. Why does he get involved with the Oxy? Is the Oxy the big problem, or is it simply a symptom of a much bigger need...

It depends on if you want to be known for doing good production work, or for having a gimmick. I'm not judging whether one is better than the other, but it seems these days that trying to move from a gimmick into legitimate film and television work is the equivalent of a porn star trying to...

Why did the doctors conduct an EKG on an infant? It seems out of place to give a baby a brain scan only days out of the womb.

Celtx As Good As Final Draft Celtx As Good As Final Draft I have been using Final Draft for going on six years now. I was introduced to Celtx a few days ago and decided to check it out. The truth is, it's amazing what they are doing with open source these days. When I used Celtx, it was...

This is very true as well. If you are looking for critiques, fixes, major edits, story revisions and you have the money to do so, feel free to go after a well-established script doctor. These are professional writers who also do edit and polish work on the side. Now, their rates differ...

The book that I swear by? Secrets of Film Writing by Tom Lazarus. He explains a different technique for screenwriting, including humorous anecdotes about being a professional writer. He makes his book not only informative, but entertaining as well.

The closest thing to true DFX work you can do in Adobe PP is using a garbage matte from the effects menu. My advice would be to go into Adobe After Effects, set down a base plate for your background, shoot your action, and then use alter the action layer to merge with the background plate while...

It definitely sounds like an interesting story, and a part of history that has not been examined in Western film. I'm curious how you intend to make it different from your typical adventure/escape story. Definitely see a couple of movies in this genre and think of new ways to approach it. For...

A show-reel is exactly that: a reel of your past work that you show to producers and directors in hopes of getting work. If you are a newbie, then you probably don't have past work to put into a show reel. If you want to build your reel, then try and get with a professional editor or post...

Lots of angles with quick cuts will help to hide a less-than-par performance. But for a good example of what you're looking for, watch "The Godfather" when Sunny gets "whacked" on the causeway.

The consensus seems to be that this story has been done, and done recently, and done a lot. Question: How old are you? Have you ever been married? Have you ever lost a spouse and a child? If you are younger than, say, 45, I would not tackle this script. If you have never been married...

It just needs to be an event that affects all of your characters. Generally, this shows itself as an event where all the characters are present, even though they don't know each other. Historically, the event involves all the characters eventually knowing each other by the end of the script...

Take a serious look at Adobe Premiere. It was designed by the same people who designed Avid, and works with Vista.

You will have a smoother transition between the color and the b&w if you go into After Effects. Create an adjustment layer, and mask around the area that you want to color, and keyframe it to the shape that you want through the time that you want. Use the mask to create a b&w adjustment, and a...

The best way to get starteed is to be on set. But, there are ways better than others in learning. At your age (and you're not too late at all. You're actually the perfect age to start), look for professional video and film productions around. If you are going to film school, don't plan on...

It is true that there are criteria for meeting the Fair Use Standards and Practices Guidelines and they change depending on a project, but generally (working under the assumption that the film you are shooting is fictional narrative), a fictional work will only be applicable if it is covered...

The short answer to your question is NO! Don't fall for those traps. If you ever run across websites or "agents" who tell you that they will get your work into the hands of producers if you pay them a fee, forget it. A real agent -- like the ones you would find at CAA, William Morris, or any...

A chase scene. Then blow something up.