Video Contest! -- We Want Your Stories

The Short Filmmakers Project is all about you. Your stories, your experiences are the heart of this project. Do you have a great story of community activism to share? Not ready to pick up the camera? Just let us know and we will show you how. One way or another we will find a way for you to tell your story so that your experience of making a difference in your community will be shared to the world.

Video Contest Deadline for submissions are TBA. First Place Prize: CASH PRIZE TBA- plus other prizes. No experience necessary. Cash, prizes, glory... and Community Activism! Come on, you know you want to do it! Read More

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Session Five - Sharing it with the World

In this session you will learn how to take your produced video and share it with the world. There are a couple of ways to do this but we are going to look at using a free Youtube channel.

First, you must create your personal Youtube Channel
Video tutorial


Next, upload your video.
The video tutorial below with show you how to upload your video from Windows Live Movie Maker



or, you can Upload video from Windows Movie Maker. Watch video tutorial.



Now, share your video with the world from youtube

Watch this video tutorial (WARNING: this is a very silly video! but it shows you how to share.)


Here are some other considerations when it comes to sharing your videos:
About Video Description & adding "Tags" to make it easier for people to find your video

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Session Four - Post-production (Part Two)

In this session we will discuss how to capture your footage from your camera (Flip Camera, Smart Phone, etc.) to the computer (PC) and arrange & edit footage using free editing software on your computer (PC's Windows Live Movie Maker)

Watch the videos below to learn about the free Windows Live Movie Maker software and ask questions in the comments section below.

Getting Started Tutorial - Windows Live Movie Maker  5 min
Everything you need to know about working in the new Windows Live Movie Maker environment to get started.


Here are two more videos that explain little more in detail.
Part One


Part Two


For a link to a search I did that gives links to more tutorials about the Windows Live Movie Maker, Go HERE

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Session Three - Post-production (Part One) & Ethics

POST-PRODUCTION (part one)
Editing software: we will use Windows Live Movie Maker & Windows Maker Maker 2.0 (you can use Mac's i-Movie also but we will learn Movie Maker because the PC is much less expensive than MAC!)

Watch videos below

Video 1: Introduction and Walkthrough - Windows Live Movie Maker


Video 2: Splitting Video and Audio - Windows Live Movie Maker


Video 3: Adding Titles, Captions, and Credits - Windows Live Movie Maker


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FILMMAKING: ETHICS

Any filmmaker who sets out to make a documentary or a short film faces multiple challenges, not the least of which is a set of ethical issues inherent in the process.
Read article: http://www.documentary.org/magazine/question-ethics-relationship-between-filmmaker-and-subject

  1. How to portray the subjects of the film?
  2. What to shoot and what not to shoot?  
  3. How to edit so that the film is true to its topic and subjects, yet also works as a compelling story for the audiences?
  4. If a filmmaker is working outside of their community/town/state/country or even culture/or subculture, how do you represent people with dignity and sensitivity to that place, time and experience?
Most people not involved in filmmaking are not entirely aware of the power of the camera and editing to structure events in ways they would never expect.


At the heart of filmmaking is the relationship between filmmaker and subjects--not often an equal balance of power. And for the most part, it is the filmmaker who determines how that will be managed. 


As a filmmaker, be true to the story.

There are also legal considerations to filmmaking.

This filmmakers project is designed to be easy & fun! However, this does not negate the fact that we MUST be intelligent with our filmmaking.

We must still consider some basic legalities.
  1. Dafamation of characterthe act of defaming; false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another (see full definition HERE)
  2. Copyrights: set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. (see definition HERE)
  3. and fair use:  limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders (definition HERE)
You must also get written permission from anyone you intend to film. Here is a sample of a Waiver that you can use.

Link to more Legal Issues in filmmaking HERE