I’m excited to offer my recommendations on resources and equipment that can help make you a better actor, filmmaker, or enthusiast. Online classes, equipment ‘kit’ recommendations, and suggested books are a few of the resources I own or have researched to help you create your best media experience. I want you to be educated and as experienced as you can be before you get to set for the first time, or even if you’re on your second or third project. I know I’m still learning even after being a filmmaker for over three decades!
Being educated and more efficient makes for a better project. You’ll also find yourself more relaxed and confident when you know what to expect. I hope all of this helps! Let me know of any other resources you’d like for me to review or feature.
ONLINE FILMMAKING COURSES – HOME SCHOOL/CHARTER SCHOOL CREDITS
Many experience filmmaking for the first time as a teen. It offers a great outlet for creativity and focus. Damon Evans, creator of Film School for Teens, is a longtime friend. I highly recommend his course for teens, especially homeschoolers who are looking for classes and credits to graduate. They also have a program for Charter schools. Check out the individual classes below through the promo video and/or by clicking on the course title. There are free previews to some of the courses. Note: Commissions may be earned from the links below.
Everyone wants to be a YouTuber these days. But what does it really take? Can you really make a living on YouTube? Is this a safe place for students to be posting and/or browsing? Get all the answers in our new course “YouTube 4 Teens” where we teach practical steps to starting and growing a YouTube Channel with a special emphasis on safety and giving good value. See how other individuals and families have developed successful YouTube channels in this 12 week interactive course.
If you have a high schooler, we have the perfect class. We teach how MOVIES are MADE, how this ARTFORM has evolved and how to be a SAVVY, DISCERNING consumer of movies and other media. This fun, energetic series of videos will engage students and get your child thinking about the power of media to impact and shape culture. This curriculum is perfect for both the budding filmmaker to develop essential skills, but also the student who simply loves movies and needs an elective credit. Sign up NOW!
INTRO TO FILMMAKING (CHARTER SCHOOLS)
If you have a high schooler, we have the perfect class. We teach how MOVIES are MADE, how this ARTFORM has evolved and how to be a SAVVY, DISCERNING consumer of movies and other media. This fun, energetic series of videos will engage students and get your child thinking about the power of media to impact and shape culture. This curriculum is perfect for both the budding filmmaker to develop essential skills, but also the student who simply loves movies and needs an elective credit.
In this class, students will each create a short film of their own under 15 minutes. Throughout this process, students will meet online with me as a mentor/teacher helping you develop your ideas and your plans and push through to the next phase of production. We will provide feedback at select points in the process to make sure you are on a successful path.
After seeing several hundred students take our courses we’ve identified a real need for young filmmakers to have support from a community of like minded friends. FS4T “CREW” is a film club that meets online once a week in an online video conference. We will be hosting interviews with film pros along with tech reviews and tutorials. Plus students have the opportunity to get feedback on projects they are working on. CREW is just $20 per month which includes a t-shirt and online profile. Come join the club!
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
There are quite a few other resources I’d highly recommend checking out; from Adobe Creative Suite (the one we use), to other classes for filmmakers, writers and actors. If you’re interested in creating your own website for your film or production company we also use and recommend BlueHost (see link below) with WordPress templates from ThemeForest (see link below). Note: Commissions may be earned from these links.
FILMMAKER ACTION PACK/FILMMAKING STUFF
Beyond the basic filmmaking training courses The Filmmaker Action Pack from Filmmaking Stuff give you some great tools for planning through distribution. Their website includes filmmaking articles on how to take a story idea from script to screen, scriptwriting, producing, film finance, shooting, editing, directing, marketing, distribution and how to build an audience. Their motto is “Make, Market and Sell Your Movie Without The Middle-Man.” The future of filmmaking is not Hollywood. It is the thousands of independent filmmakers empowered by the digital revolution. Click on the logo to check it out.
One of the most widely accepted post-production set of tools out there for movie and video projects you get to pick and choose what tools you need. These include Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and many other awesome tools! This is a MONTHY subscription based service. The advantage is that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars up front and you are are notified up software updates regularly. Student discounts are available. Click on the logo to find out more.
This is one of the most amazing sites to get freelance services at a fraction of what it would normally cost since these are quality artists looking to expand their portfolios. Animation, web design, voice overs, composers, etc. etc. The list is endless. Do a search for what you need and you’ll be surprised at what you find. We highly recommend this service. Check them out at the link to the right.
We have been using BlueHost for years for our film websites, including Justice Pictures. Blue Host has great support and a LOT of plans to choose from. Very cost effective too. Check them out at the link to the right.
EVANTO/THEME FOREST – WORDPRESS TEMPLATES
I have purchased all of the themes for my sites from Evanto/Theme Forest. A great resource! You can click on the logo to the right to get there, but I’ve also listed six templates for filmmakers, actors, etc. Check them out and take them for a spin through their ‘demo’ mode.
OUR ‘KITS’
Utilizing the ‘kits’ plug in I’ve organized many of the products I either own or recommend. The includes camera packages to editing gear. Note: Commissions may be earned from the links below. On those that are Amazon links, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
