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The aim of this site at the moment is to provide links of exquisite usefulness to budding amateur film makers who want tips on how to produce films that aren't your run of the mill lame home videos most people produce.

This site is predominantly concerned with amatuer VIDEO not film, but the non technical stuff on this site applies to both, and there are a few film links.

The site is compiled by me while I was looking for things of exactly this nature, as I was looking for aid for a new video a group of friends and I are writing. When the script to my film is in a readable state, I will post it on here, and as I progress down the film making road I will post any tips and solutions to problems that I find.
Anyone in a similar situation is more than welcome to volunteer ideas and contributions to the site, by just emailing me at the address at the top of the page.

I've finally updated this site after almost a year of inactivity! There's new stuff if you're interested, and if you're not, then why are you reading this? Sorry to all the people I lost contact with, but I moved to a new house without the internet, then they invented Napster, so I forgot all about all the other internet stuff. But I've updated this site now, and I also have a video capture card, so I've edited the short film I shot around the time this site first appeared. If anyone wants to see an AVI version of it, just mail me!






PLACES TO CONTACT OTHER AMATUER MOVIEMAKERS
==============================================

CINESHARE
A comprehensive directory for the Austin, TX filmmaking community, but has lots of content applicable to other regions as well – template and software downloads, film news, discussion forums, and more.
WANT TO BE FILM PRODUCER?
Good advice.
MINUTE MOVIES
Site to give short filmmakers of all levels a free forum to show their work. They encode, stream, and run the films for free. They also will run trailers for larger/feature films.
REWIND
Regular video magazine about amatuer video making, with contributions by amatuers video makers from all over. The magazine is distributed on video, with clips and interviews and all that kind of exciting stuff!
AMATEUR MOVIE DISCUSSION FORUM
A messageboard for Amateur Horror and other genre Films. A good place to go to make contacts who have produced amateur films.
LOW BUDGET FX DISCUSSION FORUM
A great place to swap ideas for low budget FX. This site is EXTREMELY useful.
VIDEO & FILM ARTISTS EXCHANGE
Join this mailing list to hear from other low to no budget video makers.
INDIE CLUB
Network of independant filmmakers.
DESKTOP VIDEO DISCUSSION FORUM

NEW & USED EQUIPMENT BUY/SELL FORUM

EXPOSURE's FILMAKER'S FORUM




SITES ON HOW TO MAKE AMATUER MOVIES IN GENERAL
=================================================

When I get round to it, I will break down these sites into categories, and search through the sites to find only the useful pages. Part of the frustration of searching the web is having to filter through all the crappy, graphics laden menus on people's sites to get to the information you want to see.

DV MOVIE MAKING
Beginner's Guide To DV Production.
FILMSMITH
Plain simple terms website by a film enthusiast who wants to provide resources for budding film makers on the net. Film only, not video. This guy loves Super 8.
HOW TO MAKE A SHORT FILM
Teach yourself filmmaking in half in an hour. Really good site for absolute beginners.
VIDEO UNIVERSITY
Really useful tips on this page for people trying to make money out of video and also stuff for amateurs as well.
INTERNET FILMMAKERS FAQ
Very very comprehensive FAQ regarding to almost every detail of filmmaking and being a filmmaker.
FILMMAKING LEGAL ISSUES
Everything you need to know about copywrite, slander and shit like that.
FILM EDITING HOME PAGE
A site about how to edit films properly.
D.U.M.P.S.
How NOT to make a film, unless you want it to be cheesy and pretentious.
CYBER FILM SCHOOL
An online Film School moviemaking site. Quite useful.
FILMMAKER.COM
Alright for links and stuff, but not too informative.
EXPOSURE
An absolute beginners guide to filmmaking - aimed at 'Young People' whatever that means.
SOFIA
A good site about film thoery (under construction, but what I've seen looks good).
FILM TERMS
Glossary of terms commonly used in film making.
GETTING GOOD SHOTS
Page about dos and don'ts of film photography.
FILMHELP.COM
An ever-growing compendium of low-budget video and filmmaking advice, pointers, and articles from award-winning director Greg Pak.
LIGHTING TECHNIQUES
Page about do's and don'ts of lighting for film photography. (under construction).



SITES ON HOW TO WRITE MOVIES
===============================

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING
Page about main theorys of screenwriting. By Charles Deemer - look out for this guy, he's good at explaining this stuff. There will be more screenwriting links when I can find the URLs again. I found some damn good sites, but I didn't make a note of the bloody URLs.
SCREENWRITERS HOMEPAGE
Absolutely every last single possible detail about screenwriting, site by Charles Deemer.
:::This link updated as of 12:50pm 17th November. It mistakenly linked to the 'beginners guide to screenwriting' page above. Whoops!
FILMSMITH TIPS ON SCRIPTWRITING
No bullshit laymans terms page giving the lowdown on writing a good script.
US COPYRIGHT OFFICE

COPYRIGHTING SCRIPTS IN AMERICA

COPYRIGHT INFO

DRAMATICA
Site devoted to screenwriting.
GET YOUR SCRIPT READ
Get it read by professionals who can get you noticed.
BASICS OF SCREENWRITING
Good starting point.
AMERICAN ZOETROPE SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION
Let people read you script and give you feedback.
REGISTERING YOU SCRIPT

REPRESENTATION

IDEAS AND RESOURCES




SITES ON PUBLICITY AND DISTRIBUTION
====================================

MediaPod
Here's their blurb:
If you’re a video distributor or producer then there is a web site you need to check out. www.mediapod.com offers digital content owners the expertise and tools they need to get their media products online and for sale quickly.
REELUNIVERSE
Sell your film over the internet. It's the future you know.....
FREE PUBLICITY FOR YOUR FILM
Get lots of free publibity for your new film, by distributing a scene's worth of raw footage on a CD for others to practice editing on? Sounds crazy? It does to me too, but check it out anyway.
HOW TO MAKE A FILM WITH NO MONEY
Site on tricks to making a film without any third party investment.



SITES ON HOW TO MAKE AMATUER MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS PROFESSIONAL
=============================================================

FILM SOUND THEORY PAGE
A very, very good site about film sound theory - A MUST SEE.
DRAMATIC USE OF SOUND IN FILMS
Site a creating tension or other emotions in a subtle way, using 'Psycho' as an example.
2D/3D AESTHETIC SOUND THEORY
Techniques for use of background sounds.
SOUND EXTENSION
Using the 2D/3D Aesthetic sound theory to induce emotions.
THE SYNC TANK
Very good site about how to record your sound and how to edit it afterwards.



SITES ON AMATEUR SPECIAL EFFECTS
==================================

BODY HITS
How to shoot you friends with guns and make their blood splatter everywhere. (Not for real obviously).
SPECIAL FX WEBRING

MAKE UP ARTIST'S WEBRING

TOM SAVINI
The guy that did gross FX for George Romero in the Living Dead Trilogy. He was also in Dawn Of The Dead. He was the lead Hell's Angel, the one with the big moustache. He does stunts as well. What a guy ;)
MAKE UP HOME PAGE

MONSTER MAKERS ONLINE

S.C.R.E.A.M.
Student Club of Realistic Effects, Animatronics and Make-up

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