The No Film School Podcast

Charles, George, Jo, and Kath break down all things Blackmagic such as using the 6K Pro for a night walk and talk, clarifying misinformation about 12K, and also whether you should bother learning Fusion and Fairlight.   In this episode, we talk about… Night walk and talks and why they’re more complicated than you think.    Why shooting raw is important when different color temperatures exist Production budgets and when it makes the most sense to shoot raw. Different cameras that can and can’t shoot raw.   The pros and cons of Instagram casting.  Resolutions and what everyone should understand about 12K and delivery formats and capture formats. How filming has changed since the introduction of digital images. Why 4K might be the last broadcast delivery format.    Fusion and Fairlight and what tools freelancers should know.  Links to Resources:Blackmagic Week - learn more here!Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest David Stump has worked on some of the biggest visual effects movies as well as being at the forefront of the shift to the digital medium, helping to develop the tech being used by filmmakers today.In this episode, we talk about… How David Stump got his career started, what made him want to get into visual effects, and how he made his break into that arena. What the world of visual effects was like in Stump’s earlier career, which was completely different than how it’s done today. Examples of the completely analog methods of creating visual effects before CGI. How visual effects changed when digital imaging technology came onto the scene, when Stump first started working with them, and how Stump began incorporating the new technology. Why David first started using Blackmagic and what tools he likes to use now. What David sees as the next visual effects technological needs that he’d like to see on the market soon. Links to Resources:Blackmagic Week - learn more here!You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DP John Brawley drops wisdom from years in the trenches, plus insights into the development of Blackmagic Design.In this episode, we talk about… John Brawley’s career journey and how he was able to keep moving forward toward his goal of being a cinematographer, even while going through rough patches. The various jobs Brawley did in the film industry in his early days and how they served as a sort of film school for him. How film work is a lifestyle and often doesn’t leave much time for a personal life. Why having to edit your own shots is vital to becoming a good cinematographer. The formal education programs Brawley went through. Brawley’s experience with Blackmagic cameras and how he’s known the founder for a long time. What went into Blackmagic cameras’ designs. The factors that come into play for Brawley when choosing a camera for a shoot and other decisions a cinematographer must make that may be even more important than camera type. Unique challenges that come up when working on a TV series. Links to Resources:Blackmagic Week - learn more here!You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram!Ask us questions at editor@nofilmschool.com!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about… How the British government has begun demanding data from streaming services about how many people are watching their shows. How the movie industry’s data - like box office numbers - has always been public, but streaming services have been very secretive about their data. How Netflix wants control over which of their numbers come out and when. How Youtube has very public data which has resulted in lawsuits when the metrics changed. How this data could be used to help artists and creators - but also how data isn’t always useful, especially if not interpreted with sophistication. Whether actors should be allowed to lie about their height. How this all stemmed from a tweet about male actors exaggerating their heights, which caused some controversy on Twitter. When height can matter and when it shouldn’t. Tech news this week is pretty quiet - but tune back next week for a deep dive into Black Magic! A follow-up question from when Charles recently mentioned his job reading scripts, and specific reasons he found certain scripts subpar. How many times, the script reader won’t read the entire script, but rather some of the beginning and some of the end. Why you really need to write about what interests you. Links to Resources:You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many topics seem off-limits for jokes these days, there is always value to poking fun at all the awful sides of human nature. Guest on the show John Lee created 'Wonder Showzen' to push boundaries and make people uncomfortable in an intelligent and meaningful way. He believes being political is a necessary part of being a creator. In this episode, we talk about… John’s background and how he got into film as a career. John’s early career in New York City and what the industry was like at that time. How John and his creative partner Vernon got interested in topics like racism and misogyny and the importance of talking about those truths. As well as how kids understand injustice and don’t need things sugarcoated for them. Why all work should be political in some way. John’s new movie 'False Positive' and his inspirations for it - including a discussion of Peter Pan. Issues in our society with our health system, lack of support systems for people going through difficult times, and how it’s taboo to talk about health issues like miscarriages. The importance of approaching any new job or partnership by making sure you’ll see eye-to-eye and get along with who you are working for. That’s what the interview process is for! Why you should have a good understanding of other sides of film production, like sound and lighting. How collaboration is essential in any artistry and the surprising skills you need to be a good director. Why you need to know who you are as a creator and who your work is for, so you’re not wasting your time trying to sell your work to places that will never buy it. The art of pitching, which ideally should be short and mysterious enough to engage the producers and get them to ask you questions. How John pitches, which includes creative little hooks that make the producers want to call him up to find out more. Making the pitch process into an absurd art project keeps the spirit lighthearted. Links to Resources:Check out our Gear GuidesJohn Lee Projects:False Positive (2021)Wonder Showzen  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most dynamic filmmakers working in the industry, Edgar Wright, is making a documentary about the band Sparks. All three are joining today to discuss this film, The Sparks Brothers!In this episode, we talk about… How Edgar Wright and Ron and Russell Mael (of Sparks) met over Twitter and ultimately decided to make a documentary about the band. How the group approached making the documentary so that it would have Wright’s stamp on it, rather than being dry like many other documentaries. How Wright thought about using a Sparks song in Hot Fuzz, but didn’t because their songs demand so much attention. How Wright’s and Sparks’ artistic sensibilities align. How music operates as a part of Wright’s process. Artistic influences for Sparks on their music and creative process. Influences on Wright both for general filmmaking and on his approach in creating a music documentary. Links to Resources:Go see The Sparks Bros film in a theater near you, releasing this week on June 18th!You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Renny Harlin is one of the great action film directors who has had a huge influence on the genre and continues to have a lot of love and passion for his craft. He’s bringing that enthusiasm and lots of helpful insights to the conversation today. In this episode, we talk about… What made Renny Harlin decide he wanted to be a film director and his early influences growing up in Finland, which has a very small movie industry. How much Harlin loves what he does and how grateful he is to do what he does. Harlin’s early days making commercials and then getting noticed and transitioning to TV, and finally to feature films. How Harlin survived and stayed motivated when he first moved to the US and was living in complete poverty, trying to break into the industry. Making the jump from living paycheck to paycheck to being on the cusp of the action movie genre (with films like Die Hard 2) to being able to turn down work. Why you need to keep luck happen by working hard and being persistent. Lessons Harlin learned the hard way throughout his career. Why he’s walked away from certain opportunities that have come his way. How technology has changed throughout Harlin’s career and how that impacts his approach. The importance of ground rules and maintaining trust with the audience, no matter how much technology and CGI is available. How he learns to get better on set and how he has learned from audiences with test screenings. Links to Resources:Go see Harlin’s new film The Misfits (2021) in theaters now!You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in for some of the most exciting drone news in a while, plus discussions about a recent article exposing MoviePass and deep cuts by black filmmakers to honor Juneteenth.In this episode, we talk about… How MoviePass, for a while, was an amazing deal where you could see unlimited movies for one monthly fee. Venture Capital and how it factored into Movie Pass’s business model. What made Movie Pass a scam and how it fell apart. The drone market for the film industry as it currently stands. Sony getting into the drone game with their new Airpeak S1, how great it is for mirrorless cameras, and how amazing the autofocus is. Deep Cuts: discussions about underappreciated works by black filmmakers including De Rees’s Pariah, Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth, and Charles Burnett’s The Glass Shield. Links to Resources:Turns out MoviePass was even shadier than we thought Sony's Drone Was Built for Your Mirrorless Camera Pariah (2011) (which is on Netflix)Miss Juneteenth (2020) The Glass Shield (1994) Killer of Sheep (1978)Charles Haine: http://www.charleshaine.com/ Kath Tolentino: https://www.borderwoman.pictures/ You can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The group is chatting about hot topics in the industry (and world), like safety and consent for sex scenes.In this episode, we talk about… How Nathalie Emmanuel from Game of Thrones recently stated that just because she was nude in the show doesn’t mean she would do it for other shows, and how this is opening up conversations about nudity in film. Why nudity should always be a fresh negotiation for each new contract. The interesting fact that our culture allows more violence than nudity to appear in mainstream films. The double standard of male nudity versus female nudity on tv. When nudity and violence are necessary for a film and when they are excessive. How Intimacy Coordinators can keep workplaces that deal with sex scenes safe for actors. How Adobe Creative Cloud is quite expensive - but arguably priced right for business. How Resolve by Black Magic is a free, alternative option for editing that works well. Pixelmater Pro, which is fairly cheap and an awesome alternative to Photoshop for light edits. Tricks for working in white spaces which can be very tricky to light. The importance of lighting control - to shape where the light is going - when you must shoot against white walls. Links to Resources:Movies & TV HBO's Intimacy Coordinator Reveals Her 'Sex' Kit For Movies and TV More about BlackMagic’s DaVinci ResolveMore about PixelmaterYou can read about all this and more at https://nofilmschool.com/. You can also check out our Gear Guides and Entertainment News on the right hand side.Please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check us out on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is AMC taking over other chains good? Bad? And what does it mean for filmmakers and film lovers? In this episode, we talk about… AMC Entertainment recently sold $230 million in stock in order to go on a buying spree. How the stock market encourages huge corporations and doesn’t support smaller businesses, like independent movie theaters. Whether or not movie theaters are a dying model and why tech companies might not be willing to buy them. Best practices for maintaining a client base - including finding new clients. The art of sending cold emails and when to send them. How to use social media to keep in touch with contacts. Tips for asking for a raise and why it can feel very personal and emotional. Why sometimes, there just isn’t money in a budget for a raise. How, unfortunately, some entry-level jobs don’t and won’t pay a living wage. Why you need to be willing and able to walk away if you want to “win” the negotiating process. Knowing the value of your skills and remembering that companies make money off of you. The frustration of jobs that don’t post salary in the job listing. Deity has just launched the BP-TRX, which is both a transmitter and a receiver, with built-in local recording a time code, which allows you to do more with fewer devices. How Kyno isn’t dead! Links to Resources:Get the 5 Day Deal! It’s running June 3rd - June 8th on our website, our newsletter, and on our social media (linked below)! You don’t want to miss out.No Film School Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramKynoFor more about BP-TRXCharles Haine: Twitter | Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices