The DV Rebel's Guide


Book Description

Written by Stu Maschwitz, co-founder of the Orphanage (the legendary guerrilla visual effects studio responsible for amazing and award-winning effects in such movies as Sin City, The Day After Tomorrow, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), this book is a must-have for all those budding filmmakers and students who want to produce action movies with visual effects but don't have Hollywood budgets. The Orphanage was created by three twenty-something visual effects veterans who wanted to make their own feature films and discovered they could do this by utilizing home computers, off the shelf software, and approaching things artistically. This guide details exactly how to do this: from planning and selecting the necessary cameras, software, and equipment, to creating specific special effects (including gunfire, Kung Fu fighting, car chases, dismemberment, and more) to editing and mixing sound and music. Its mantra is that the best, low-budget action moviemakers must visualize the end product first in order to reverse-engineer the least expensive way to get there. Readers will learn how to integrate visual effects into every aspect of filmmaking--before filming, during filming and with "in camera" shots, and with computers in postproduction. Throughout the book, the author makes specific references to and uses popular action movies (both low and big-budget) as detailed examples--including El Mariachi, La Femme Nikita, Die Hard, and Terminator 2. Note from the Publisher: If you have the 3rd printing of The DV Rebel’s Guide, your disc may be missing the data files that accompany the book. If this is the case, please send an email to Peachpit in order to obtain the files at [email protected]




Rebels without Borders


Book Description

Rebellion, insurgency, civil war-conflict within a society is customarily treated as a matter of domestic politics and analysts generally focus their attention on local causes. Yet fighting between governments and opposition groups is rarely confined to the domestic arena. "Internal" wars often spill across national boundaries, rebel organizations frequently find sanctuaries in neighboring countries, and insurgencies give rise to disputes between states. In Rebels without Borders, which will appeal to students of international and civil war and those developing policies to contain the regional diffusion of conflict, Idean Salehyan examines transnational rebel organizations in civil conflicts, utilizing cross-national datasets as well as in-depth case studies. He shows how external Contra bases in Honduras and Costa Rica facilitated the Nicaraguan civil war and how the Rwandan civil war spilled over into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, fostering a regional war. He also looks at other cross-border insurgencies, such as those of the Kurdish PKK and Taliban fighters in Pakistan. Salehyan reveals that external sanctuaries feature in the political history of more than half of the world's armed insurgencies since 1945, and are also important in fostering state-to-state conflicts. Rebels who are unable to challenge the state on its own turf look for mobilization opportunities abroad. Neighboring states that are too weak to prevent rebel access, states that wish to foster instability in their rivals, and large refugee diasporas provide important opportunities for insurgent groups to establish external bases. Such sanctuaries complicate intelligence gathering, counterinsurgency operations, and efforts at peacemaking. States that host rebels intrude into negotiations between governments and opposition movements and can block progress toward peace when they pursue their own agendas.




Hand Held Hollywood's Filmmaking with the iPad & iPhone


Book Description

Filmmakers love gadgets. We flock to any new technology that demonstrates the slightest potential to help us conceptualize, visualize, and digitize our creative efforts. So why are we neglecting those touch-screen powerhouses hiding in our pockets and backpacks? It’s time to make a change! In Hand Held Hollywood’s Filmmaking with the iPad & iPhone, director Taz Goldstein exposes how these remarkable devices can aid in nearly every aspect of film and video production. Written to empower aspiring filmmakers and reenergize working professionals, this book will help transform your iOS devices into revolutionary filmmaking tools, perfect for brainstorming, screenwriting, pitching, scheduling, storyboarding, camera blocking, shooting, editing, color correcting, mixing, distributing, and more. Time-tested techniques and film theory are woven into an entertaining and informative exploration of nearly 200 mind-blowing apps and accessories. • Get up to speed quickly with clear, thorough, and friendly descriptions. • Discover apps and accessories that can lower budgets by replacing thousands of dollars worth of traditional filmmaking equipment and software. • Start shooting today with a wide range of video camera apps, including specialty tools for variable speed effects, filtering, stabilization, collaborative shooting, and more. • Whether you’re starting a new video or finishing an existing one, this book features the most helpful apps for your iPad and iPhone—including the iPhone 5. This unique and often humorous guide will benefit any mobile media maker who wants to get the most out of the technology they already own. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Taz Goldstein has been directing and producing for well over a decade. His award-winning films, television productions, and corporate projects have been enjoyed by millions of viewers worldwide. His popular website, HandHeldHollywood.com, has inspired and empowered a new generation of storytellers, and helped to launch the mobile filmmaking revolution.




Adobe After Effects CC Visual Effects and Compositing


Book Description

Covers the basics of Adobe After Effects, from color correction and keying to selection methods and motion tracking and provides tips and techniques to help readers become more productive with the program.







The Independent Filmmaker's Law and Business Guide


Book Description

Today's independent and digital filmmaking demands a clear guide to the business and legal aspects of the art. What fundraising options are available to a filmmaker? When should a filmmaker establish a corporation or limited liability company? How do screenwriters protect their work? What are a director's legal obligations to the producer, cast, and crew--and what are their obligations in return? This indispensable resource addresses the legal, financial, and organizational questions that an independent or guerrilla filmmaker must face, and the problems that will doom a project if left unanswered. It demystifies issues such as founding a film company, obtaining financing, preparing a budget, securing locations, shooting, granting screen credits, and distributing, exhibiting, and marketing a film. Newly updated and expanded, this third edition explores concepts such as integrating social media; crowd funding and nonprofit status funding; diversity, inclusion, and compensation equity; and distribution via streaming services. Appendixes provide sample contracts and riders, copyright circulars, Documentary Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use, and more.




Adobe After Effects CS6 Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques


Book Description

This is the only book to focus exclusively on the creation of visual effects for After Effects, and is a one-stop resource for anyone who wants in-depth explanations that demystify the realm of visual effects and how they were created, thanks to veteran author Mark Christiansen's friendly and accessible style. A thoroughly packed, informative read, this masterful guide focuses on explaining the essential concepts, features, and techniques that are key to creating seamless movie-quality visual effects. Users who are comfortable with After Effects will find a helpful review of the fundamentals—managing footage, viewing and editing layers, animating type, and more—so they can learn how to work smarter and more efficiently. Readers of all levels will learn core techniques for effects compositing including color matching, keying, rotoscoping, motion tracking, emulating the camera, and concluding with using expressions in After Effects, written by contributor and expert Dan Ebberts. The final section of the book delves into creative explorations, demonstrating professional effects that readers might want to re-create. ¿ Readers will also find comprehensive coverage of all that's new in CS6, including variable mask feathering, Rolling Shutter Repair, Camera Tracker, and the new ray-traced 3D rendering engine which allows users to quickly design in 3D space. ¿ Included with the book are files used for many of the techniques in the book: Sample clips and projects include HD footage from Pixel Corps and Artbeats, as well as demos of plug-ins that you can use to experiment with in your own effects. All of Peachpit's eBooks contain the same content as the print edition. You will find a link in the last few pages of your eBook that directs you to the media files. Helpful tips: If you are able to search the book, search for "Where are the lesson files?" Go to the very last page of the book and scroll backwards. You will need a web-enabled device or computer in order to access the media files that accompany this ebook. Entering the URL supplied into a computer with web access will allow you to get to the files. Depending on your device, it is possible that your display settings will cut off part of the URL. To make sure this is not the case, try reducing your font size and turning your device to a landscape view. This should cause the full URL to appear.




Citizen-Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways Every American Can Fight Terrorism


Book Description

"Citizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways for Every American to Fight Terrorism" is a How-To Guide for Americans to fight the greatest threat to Western Civilization - Radical Islam. Terrorists declared every man, woman and child to be a target. We have no choice but to become Citizen Soldiers. The Handbook's Five sections - Morale, Intelligence, Physical Training, Mental Training and Action - encourage Americans of all backgrounds, ages, and skills to do their part against Radical Islam. The Citizen Soldier Handbook is a Call to Arms in the spirit of Citizen Soldiers - at Lexington and Concord firing the 'Shot Heard Round the World' - brighten the glow of Freedom from the Torch of Liberty. --- ..". Citizen Soldier Handbook puts this power into the citizen's hands with knowledge about the threat of Radical Islam, how to empower yourself and how to use media to stop the threat of Radical Islam in the age of Information Warfare. This book will inspire you...." -John Ziegler Radio Show Host & Author "The Death of Free Speech" "We are engaged in a great war of Ideas - Freedom versus Tryanny, Democracy versus Islamic Totalitarianism. The weapon of ... is Information. As a writer, I understand the power of Ideas, Information and Humor. The Citizen-Soldier Handbook will help and inspire you, your friends, family, coworkers, fellow Americans to get the word out in dozens of ways." -Burt Prelutsky Former WGA President & Author "Conservatives Are from Mars, Liberals Are from San Francisco: 101 Reasons I'm Happy I Left the Left" "The Citizen-Soldier Handbook is an invaluable resource... at once an exhaustively researched compendium of strategies and a stirring reaffirmation of the meaning of citizenship, it is a clarion call to action in a time when too many have been lulled into a false sense of complacency." -Harry Stein - Author of "How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (and Found Inner Peace)' and is a Contributing Editor to "City Journal" ..".this is more than a handbook. It is a call to action. In this age of information and internet warfare, everyone can be a Citizen Soldier and everyone can join the fight. The Citizen Soldier Handbook will show you the way." -Brandon L. Millett Chairman and Co-Founder, "The GI Film Festival," Washington D.C. The Citizen Soldier Handbook's Five Sections has 101 Actions (even more if you include subheadings ) urging Americans to take action in their Lives, Communities and the World to fight Radical Islam. Morale - Believe in the Greatness of America and Fight For Her Intelligence - Learn about Radical Islam, its Roots, Adherents, Beliefs and Dangers Physical Training - As Physical Beings, We Must Be in Shape to Take Action Mental Training - Steel Yourself for the Mission Ahead. Take Action - Take Action With Suggestions, Ideas, Techniques, Methods and Resources, Organizations and More.... This Book is a Match to Light The Torch of Freedom that You - America's Citizen Soldier - Must Hold High to Stop the Encroaching Darkness. The Fight Is Yours."




Adobe After Effects CS4 Visual Effects and Compositing Studio Techniques


Book Description

This is the only book in the After Effects market to focus exclusively on the creation of visual effects, and is a one-stop resource for anyone who wants in-depth explanations that demystify the realm of visual effects and how they were created, thanks to veteran author Mark Christiansen's friendly and accessible style. A thoroughly packed, informative read, this masterful guide focuses on explaining the essential concepts, features, and techniques that are key to creating seamless movie-quality visual effects. Users who are comfortable with After Effects will find a helpful review of After Effects fundamentals—managing footage, viewing and editing layers, animating type, and more—so they can learn how to work smarter and more efficiently. Readers of all levels will learn core techniques for effects compositing including color matching, keying, rotoscoping, motion tracking, emulating the camera, and concluding with using expressions in After Effects, written by contributor and expert Dan Ebberts. The final section of the book delves into creative explorations, demonstrating professional effects that readers might want to re-create. Readers will also find comprehensive coverage of all that's new and makes this version of Adobe’s effects program such a boon to video pros of all stripes: searchable timelines and projects, Photoshop 3D layers import, the Cartoon effect, Imagineer Systems’ Mocha for Adobe After Effects, improved workflow for mobile devices, and more. All of Peachpit's eBooks contain the same content as the print edition. You will find a link in the last few pages of your eBook that directs you to the media files. Helpful tips: · If you are able to search the book, search for "Where are the lesson files?" · Go to the very last page of the book and scroll backwards. · You will need a web-enabled device or computer in order to access the media files that accompany this ebook. Entering the URL supplied into a computer with web access will allow you to get to the files. · Depending on your device, it is possible that your display settings will cut off part of the URL. To make sure this is not the case, try reducing your font size and turning your device to a landscape view. This should cause the full URL to appear. Throughout the book, beautiful full-color examples demonstrate what's possible, while the companion DVD offers demos of After Effects CS4, sample footage, and software plug-ins.




Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional Studio Techniques


Book Description

This is the only book in the After Effects market to focus exclusively on the creation of visual effects, and is a one-stop resource for anyone who wants in-depth explanations that demystify the realm of visual effects and how they were created, thanks to veteran author Mark Christiansen's friendly and accessible style. A thoroughly packed, informative read, this masterful guide focuses on explaining the essential concepts, features, and techniques that are key to creating seamless movie-quality visual effects. Readers will learn how to put After Effects to work to create the shots they need. Users who are comfortable with After Effects will find a helpful review of After Effects fundamentals--managing footage, viewing and editing layers, animating type, and more--so they can learn how to work smarter and more efficiently. Readers of all levels will learn core techniques for effects compositing: color matching, keying, rotoscoping, motion tracking, and emulating the camera. The final section of the book delves into creative explorations, demonstrating actual effects that readers might want to re-create. Readers will also find comprehensive coverage of all that's new in this upgrade. Throughout the book, beautiful full-color examples demonstrate what's possible, while the companion DVD offers plenty of sample footage and dozens of demos of the most useful After Effects plug-ins. .