Filmmaking

	$100 Movie
	Super 8 Links
	Film Schools

A Quick way to make a movie for $100 bucks

Have you ever wanted to make your own movie, animation, or video? Not sure if you want to go to film school and pay $40,000 to do so? Well, this page is going to show you an inexpensive, rasquache way to equip yourself to make your own 3-minute, short subject, Super 8 movie for less than $100. I'm not going to deliver a course on how to create a movie, but I have listed some other sites that will answer many of your questions.

Step 1: Make a shopping list

Camera (Super 8, with single frame option for animation)
Film editor (Super 8 film compatible)
Film (Super 8, color)
Portable movie screen (a white sheet works great, too)
Super 8 presstape (splicing tape)
Cable release, 12" (for animation)
Projector (Super 8 film compatible)

Step 2: Go shopping

I suggest starting at swap meets, flea markets, and yard sales. Remember we're going for inexpensive. Here you should be able to find an abundance of old movie equipment such as the camera, the screen, the projector, and the editor. I purchased a Bell and Howell Autoload Super 8 for $5 dollars at a flea market. The salesman had about seven of them. This is typical. I don't spend more than $15 dollars for a camera unless it has sound (those are harder to find and will run you a bit more).

The second part of your shopping will have to take place at a camera store. You will have to call around and find a place that sells Super 8 film (and is willing to send the film out to be processed). Most new camera stores don't even know what Super 8 film is. But don't worry, with a little digging, you'll be able to find at least one store that stocks what you need.

The only item that might take a while to find is the editor. I was lucky and found a camera and an editor for $20 at a yard sale. If you see cameras, but no editor, it doesn't hurt to ask if they have one somewhere that they are willing to sell.

Step 3: Plan out your film, start shooting, edit, and present.

Links to filmmaking and Super 8 vendor sites on the World Wide Web:

Filmmaker.com http://www.filmmaker.com/
"A resource for the budget filmmaker." Comprehensive and well-designed. Best beginner site I've seen yet.

Aardman Animations http://www.aardman.com/
These are the folks that make those claymation films.

Sight and Sound http://www.sightandsound.nb.ca/services.html
They transfer 8mm and Super 8 to video.

Cameras http://www.city-net.com/~fodder/s8mm/cameras.html
Find out about all of the different models. Remember, if you are going to stick to the $100 budget, think cheap.

Super8 Sound http://www.super8sound.com/
Remember, the inexpensive cameras do not have sound, but if you need it...

Small Format Movies http://www.hevanet.com/solis/index.html
Specailizes in video and Super 8 formats.

Mike Brantley's Super-8 Filmmaking Site http://www.super8filmmaking.com/
Brantley's page even has a page devoted to processing your own film, now that's rasquache!

United States Super 8 mm Film/Video Festival http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~nigrin/super8.html
Located at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The festival includes experimental and animation entries.

Ok, so maybe my filmmaking advice won't make you rich and famous. Film schools and workshops will give you the credentials and some valuable skills. Here's a list of sites that will help you decide.

Film School Confidential http://www.lather.com/fsc/
This page gives you a ton of tips before you take the plunge and start applying. Check out the list of U.S. film schools.

Library of Annotated Film Schools (LOAFS) http://www.filmmaker.com/loafs/
A list of colleges and student comments.

If you can't quit your day-job, here's some alternatives to full-time study:

USC Summer Production Workshop http://www-cntv.usc.edu/programs/spw/
Can you say Steven Spielberg? George Lucas? Need I say more?

UCLA Professional Programs http://www.filmtv.ucla.edu/tfthome.htm
UCLA is home to Dr. Chon Noriega, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Critical Studies, and author of several books on our list (see References). P.S. The Department of Film, Television and Digital Media has an on-line global film school that looks intriguing.

Avid Film Camp http://www.filmcamp.com/flash.html
If you're looking for something in the digital realm.

Film & TV Connection http://www.film-connection.com/
This is an entertainment industry school with 5,000 students worldwide who train on-site at major film studios, video production companies, radio and TV stations, recording studios, and record labels.

Don't forget to go to the references page for lists of films, filmmakers, distributors, and organizations.