Compare Life Insurance Quotes: a Plan before Buying One

 Do you have any description about how your future will be? Do you have such a plan to help you live your rest of life easily? Well, it is a great idea if you can arrange your life very well in order to achieve a bright future. In this case, you do not only planning something related to you yourself. The plan must be related to the one that you love so much as well. Buying life insurance must be the one that you can do as the plan especially if you do not want to make your beloved get problem financially as you leave them forever.
         What you have to remember before you buy life insurance is that you have to make a kind of plan. It is the thing that you have to do before you decide what life insurance quote you choose. The thing is comparing life insurance quotes available for you. It is very important because you have to make sure that you buy the one that is appropriate based on your context. Besides, by comparing the life insurance quotes, you can find the best life insurance with the best price. You can do it now by following the links available.

Easy and Simple Requirements for Payday Loans

         Life can be so hard when you find some difficulties and you have no idea about how to solve find the way out. You may feel that your life is no longer normal so that you have to make a kind of effort to make it normal again. When the difficulties or the problems come as financial problems, what you can do to bring your life back to normal is buy applying for the loan. In this case, you are recommended to apply for the payday loans if you need the money very quickly.

        When you apply for payday loan, you have to remember that you must be qualified to apply for the loan. Basically, the payday loan must be given only to the applicant who is legal based on the law. One of the qualifications is the age. You have to be old enough to apply for the loan. Another thing is that you have a job of which you get the regular salary from the job. If you thing that you are qualified for those simple requirements, you can directly apply for the online payday loans available. I have already given links for you to connect to the best one. Check this out.

Car Insurance for Unexpected Moment

It is well understood that owning car brings some consequences that you cannot avoid. The first thing you have to remember is that you have to maintain your car carefully in order to make sure that your car will perform very well just like what you expect and like. Another thing you may is sometimes you have to spend some money to pay the cost of service both the regular one and the unexpected one when your car gets a problem. If the unexpected expense does not require you big money, you are not in a trouble. But if this one forces you to spend a lot, you have to think about buying auto insurance.

         It is very reasonable that your car may get some damages either when you drive it or when you park the car. Buying car insurance is a brilliant idea for you to avoid getting financial problems when you experience the bad thing. In this case, you can find and buy the car insurance by comparing car insurance quotes as well as the different companies that provide you the products. You have to remember that different types of car insurance may gives you different coverage. Find the best one now!

How Filmmaking And Short Documentary Making?

Do you have the interest to shoot a short movie? Now it is very easy to make a short film, for you can buy editing and production tools from retail or online stores. Sure, you can also rent professional cameras to shoot the short film, and there are many rent stores online too. If you have no idea of shooting a short film, you can also find plenty of articles and videos about how to create a short film. Here you can learn ways to shoot a short documentary. You'll need a digital video camera and audio recorder; moreover, you also need to install video editing software in your computer.
As you are going to shoot a short documentary, you need to choose a topic that can quickly arouse people's attention and interest. Search for your favored subjects from internet, books, magazines, news papers or people around you. Whether you choose unusual events or ordinary people's everyday life, you should have to be interested in the subject. If the movie director does not like his movie, the audience will not want to watch the movie either.
After you have decided on a subject, you have to do researches and collect as more materials as possible. For example, if you are going to shoot a documentary about a living person, you can ask for photos and take talks with people around him or her. Make sure that your subject, such as a living person or the family agrees to be a part of your short documentary. Before you are going to interview the subject or other relevant people, you should create comfortable atmosphere to make your subjects comfortable.
Though you can get much footage by interviewing different people, you also need to write a narrative story to tell the audience informative and necessary background information. Ask your actors to read the narration, and you should ask him or her read the material with the tone and pace that fit with the short video. Of course, you can also read the narration by yourself, and that be very interesting to do this work and hear your voice in your video.
Do port-production work to finish the short documentary. You can either edit and assemble all of your footage on your own or hire a professional editor to edit a video as you desire. Actually, you can use the footage to produce different types of video. Try your best to make a short documentary and the audience will see your sincerity from your work.

How Learning the Basics of the Video Production Process?

Let's go back to the basics. The innovation of video production has changed all throughout the years. From magnetic film tapes, we now have high definition videos stored in micro SD memory cards. From massive cameras, we can now get a hold of the handiest video recorders. The hardware has changed immensely in order to adapt with the modern way of living. But still, we can't deny the fact that the elements of video production have remained the same.
In order to make the best videos, there are certain factors to consider. The use of high-tech, top of the line video production gadgets plays only one part in the whole picture. Without the others, a video production is plain ordinary. And that's never a good sign for any production company.
To produce a high-class, well thought of, great quality video, remember (or etch them on a stone) these basic video elements:

1. Lighting - Lighting is everything in a video. Without it, there will be no output as your lens will not register any image in it. Your camera and your lights must be the best of friends. It must be able to capture the images on its best representation. To achieve the best images, learn how to play with your lights and know the different kinds of brightness, contrast and hues.


2. Angles - Another challenge in creating an awesome video is how you let the people view your perception through the eyes of your camera's lens. Point and shoot or shooting on just a single angle is monotonous and boring. There are many ways of representing your ideas through the correct forms of angling.


3. Composition - composition is what sets a video apart from the others. No matter how many class A gadgets you use, without a great composition, your video is useless and dull. It all begins with an idea. Now to make this idea tangible, you'd need to incorporate it with the proper lighting, scoring and video techniques. Most of all, you'd need to have that certain uniqueness in you that will set you apart from the others.

There might be no magic tricks in making an attractive and interesting videos. All great videos require basic skills from the videomaker including equipment knowledge, video production techniques, and the whole video production process. One must know how to handle each equipment and accompanying control mechanisms. A good videomaker must know how to harmonize the visual and sound effects of a video. Most of all, it must convey the right information by using video as a medium to insert ideas persuasively.

Film Editors As Gate Keepers for False Incriminating Video Prosecutions Considered

Most people will tell you not to worry that Big Brother is busy doing surveillance on all us citizens. Those that are in favor of crushing freedoms to catch the occasional evildoers, terrorists, drug cartels, and what have you will tell you that; "if you're not doing anything wrong, you shouldn't worry about it." However, I completely disagree. How hard would it be for someone to manipulate a video, rewrite a blog post you made, or modify an e-mail that you sent out? That would be a piece of cake, any government that has access to all of your information, could easily do that.

Even a foreign government, hackers, or anyone else that thought you might be against their cause could hack into your system or the system of some social network that you are posting to, and change or modify things. And if you say; "I'm not on any social networks, so I don't have anything to worry about."

Who is to say they would not set up an account in your name, then write things, or post things that could get you in trouble? Oh you think it can't happen to you to you? It happens every day from angry ex-spouses, bullies, or revengeful enemies. So, don't be naïve, anyone who's ever been slandered online on Internet forums, blogs, or on social networks knows that often people will use their names to get back at them.

But here's the concept. Many of the film editors and those that do digital photography artwork also are very good at forensics and looking at the code behind the pictures and videos, this is how they catch content thieves and copyright violators. They can tell when something has been doctored, modified, changed, stolen, or manipulated.

Perhaps they should be our gatekeepers to prevent false incrimination of things posted online in your name. It used to be that the police, or court system needed witnesses to prove that someone had broken the law. There have obviously been cases where false witnesses have come forward, and were bribed to help put away an innocent person.

These days, that doesn't happen very much in the United States, but as we find ourselves more and more living in a police-like-state situation with constant surveillance, it would be very simple to get rid of the dissenters, quell free-speech, and put away those who are ruffling feathers. It happens in other countries all the time, even with some of our largest trading partners. We need a failsafe stopgap and some way to protect ourselves from these things.

Basic Camera Accessories for Aspiring Film-Makers

When you have pretty much refined your photographic skills and you further want to equip your artistic arsenal, you should think about exploring your camera's filming capability. When you do, you will realise how those two are quite different from one another.
Now, when you plan to explore the said field, enrol for filming courses as well as invest in the appropriate accessories like DSLR rigs-add-ons that can help you make quality video outputs.
Speaking of which, here are some essentials that you should invest in on your way to become a professional film-maker:
Batteries
When you are filming, the last thing you would want to see is your device shutting down because it is out of juice. So, it makes perfect sense to bring along an extra battery considering that filming eats up more power compared to shooting photos. Once you begin looking for such a component, remember that a single battery can get you as much as an hour and a half worth of power.
Lenses
To get the best possible videos from your photographic equipment, it certainly pays to invest in these camera accessories. In most cases, using special kind of lenses allow you to shoot clearer and cleaner videos. Aside from allowing you to capture crisp outputs, there are other specialised lenses that are designed to let you play around with your framing
Audio devices
Although most branded cameras come with their own built-in microphones, these are not going to be of much help once you start filming in open spaces where sound can freely come and go. For this reason, you have to think about investing in an external audio recorder along with other essential recording spare parts to capture cleaner sounds during filming. In addition, buy software packages that allow you to simplify the process of syncing your recorded video and sound
Stabilising tools
A steady hand for taking pictures may help you get a clear video (at first) but it is no guarantee that you will not end up with any unnecessary shudders and shakes in the final video output. Hence, instead of eating too much space in your memory cards by filling it with ottput that looks like they were done by amateurs, make your final product look more presentable by using tripods and other kits.

Advantages of Using a DSLR Camera in Video Production

With the introduction of DSLR, it specifically changed the game of film production. DSLR (digital single lens reflex) has become an essential part of many videographers' camera kits these days. Using a DSLR camera enables you to create a professional-looking video at a cheaper cost than the average professional-level camcorder. DSLR camera has the combination of size and the ability to manage a film camera-like depth of field. Even with a low budget, using DSLR camera in video production allows you to reach the entire world with your unique message. Here are some of the advantages of using a DSLR in video production:
Bigger Image Sensor
DSLR cameras are able to take amazing video because of their massive image sensor as compared to a regular video camera. This produces clearer images with less distortion and noise. Sensors, like films in the old model cameras, are sensitive to light. Once you pressed the shutter, it records an image digitally.
There are also a variety of image sensor sizes in DSLR cameras. The larger the sensors, it yield higher quality images but at a greater expense. Today, sensors are available in two types: the CCD (Charged-Couple Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). CCD, which is used in almost all point and shoot cameras and in some digital SLR cameras can produce high quality images. However, they tend to be more costly and consume more power than other types.
Meanwhile, a CMOS sensor is larger than a CCD sensor. Thus, they are more sensitive and able to produce images higher in quality as compared to CCD sensors. CMOS are also less costly to manufacture and use less power than CCDs. However, with their increased size, they tend to be bulkier.
Interchangeable Lenses
With the advent of the DSLR, you can have a large format sensor with interchangeable lenses. For instance, if you are shooting APS sized sensors, you can achieve a cinematic look with a low-cost camera and lens combination. With this, you can now set up an entire full frame system with multiple lenses, steadycams and auxiliary mics.
On the other hand, you can also benefit from the range of focus of a full frame DSLR. Take note that most prosumer level camcorders have a fairly limited range. Usually, they have a fixed focus lens in the region of 28-300mm equivalent. With DSLR, you can mount a super-wide 14mm or an ultra telephoto 600mm. This enables you to achieve results that a few years ago the biggest studios can only afford.
Convenient and Portable
Obviously, DSLRs are more comfortable to use than any other professional-level video equipment because of their size and portability. This feature is great for shooting documentaries or scenes on the streets or other crowded locations.
Today, DSLR cameras have been widely used in video production. Either you have a message to deliver or a product to launch, it can be a great tool to create a professional-looking video. However, if you want assistance from skilled individuals in the field of video production, you can look for the best video production company in your area. They have the skills and the right equipment to come up with an appealing video. With their technology and know-how in video production, you can have a professional video that will give you a great chance of achieving the required result.

Tips to Begin Creating an Effective Video

As you browse on the internet, you will notice that video advertising is out there everywhere. Video production is considered as a very effective way to advertise these days. Take note that people tend to spend more time on sites that have pictures and videos than those with just a bunch of words. That's why video production is gaining a lot of interests among businesses these days. But when making a video, it is said that you have only ten seconds to grab your viewer's attention. With this, it is imperative that the video you will create must have an engaging content. But for those who are new into the field of video production, they might ask where to start and what to do first? Here are some tips to begin creating an effective video.
Begin with Your Basic Idea
Just like any other project, your video production must also begin with the basic idea that you want to get to your intended viewers. Before the actual video production begins, take note that this is the start of the pre-production process.
Have a Program Objective
Your program objective is the single, overall defining idea, concept, or information that you really want your video to get across or say to your audience. This is what you want your audience to get from your created video. Have a simple program objective with a good sharp focus for the general audience to be able to understand it. Meanwhile, a very broad program objective is generally hard for the audience to understand. It should be avoided unless the video is just strictly for entertainment.
Consider the 'Angle' or 'Treatment' of Your Video
The angle of a video is a specific approach, viewpoint or slant on the subject, story or concept that you are trying to deliver to your audience. When making a video, your treatment of the subject should be real, relevant and fresh to the audience. Use an angle that will get the audience involved with the video. Although this may require a bit of time and hard thinking on your part, remember, that a good angle is one of the most important factors to a successful video. Moreover, a good angle can also transform a not-so-very interesting story into a one that can attract a wide audience.
Make a Good Script
A good video has a good written script. This is one of the factors that you should pay attention to in order to come up with a great video. To do this, you have to understand your company's products and services, as well as its unique selling points. Also take a look at your target audience and their concerns, before you even begin the script writing process.
If all of those above-mentioned points are already addressed, you can now proceed to the production stage. Remember that having an idea and channeling it through to a completed video can be demanding. But if you have clarity on what you want to make, you will have a great chances of producing an outstanding video. While the world of video production can be daunting for those who are not familiar with it, one should realize that it is a powerful medium to convey a message.

Advantages of Joining a Film School

The film industry perhaps has the stiffest competitions that any industry can provide. You can have talent, contacts and the resources to get into the inner circles of the industry and still not make it. None of this work well alone and they don't even work well together if the most important thing is missing - discipline. If you think you have enough talent to sail through, think again. There are numerous facets to the industry that you may remain ignorant about till you join a film school.

Leading film schools offer multi-disciplinary courses which would give you a wide range of options to choose from. From acting, editing, cinematography to directing you have the whole wide world of entertainment to specialize in. Some schools offer select courses and focus on either one or a few disciplines. While others have an umbrella approach where they start from basics like film history and film theory and go to advanced courses where you can specialize in a particular branch like production or acting.

Advantages of Joining a Film School

Courses - Film courses range from acting, directing to even writing. In a film school you will get a disciplined approach to each field and graduate from the basics to the advanced courses giving you an in-depth knowledge for future.

Network - The entertainment industry is very closely interlinked. Everyone knows everyone here. Most schools create opportunities for their students to meet eminent personalities and the key people behind them. This will be your first stepping stone to creating your own contacts.

Internships - At the end of the courses, the schools put you onto paying internships in the film or TV industry where you learn the ropes from rung one. Your creativity can then find fruition in multiple areas and help you get into various careers with animation studios, film studios and production companies, television channels as well as advertising agencies.

Career Options

Film making - Film school training will help to get easy entry into a career of film making. You will learn all aspects of making a movie from shooting and development, physical production to post-production. It will also include training in financing, distribution and film marketing.

Acting - A focused course in acting is aimed at bringing out the natural talent and blends it with discipline, professionalism and creativity. Many seasoned actors have found their first footing into the industry after their film school training. Many television production houses directly recruit from films schools to get fresh faces for their shows.

Television technology - With the onslaught of television channels there is no dearth of programs to create and manage. You can get training in all aspects of broadcasting technologies, television production and marketing.

Animation and gaming - Animation and game design are the newest big things in cinema and entertainment. With a film school training you can learn the latest digital techniques to create animated films or games in 3D or 4D. These courses usually start with cel animation and then go on to digital courses giving you all-round training.

Future of Global Movie Industry

Creating a non-superficial global cinema will require

finally figuring out truly universal values of a planetary culture. These values derive from human biology.

Capturing and holding audiences from all the continents isn't easy. Many have tried.

Modern mass entertainment often serves as a deeper and more important global language than English. That is because present day Hollywood industry inadvertently created a process that increasingly touches upon basic physiological human needs and aspirations. Profit driven use of visuals, characters, and themes (that were scientifically researched to be as marketable and appealing to widest possible multi-ethnic audience) is steadily pushing towards a universal formula. Although we're still at a point where the appealing "supranational" characteristics of mainstream Hollywood involve the usual (explosions, special effects, sex appeal, mental escape through hyperindividualistic protagonists, etc), we will begin to see deeper basic cinematic themes emerge that cut across all cultures in the near future. The basic reasons will be:

1) Same corporate profit motive that gave us the rise of neuromarketing will push for figuring out physiological substrata that makes simultaneous global release movies more emotionally appealing. Digital piracy will make physical movie spaces ever more important for revenue generation. Conversion of movie theaters into expensive 3D/concert/theater type spectacles will need research to be successful. You WILL be satisfied with the global release whether you're in Nigeria, Japan, Ecuador, Texas, etc.

2) Emerging Internet culture finding its way to the mainstream as globe trotting generation Y takes charge of the industry.

3) Dawning realization by Western elites that globalization has stalled. Their scramble to rethink and proactively improve globalization and its integrative forces. Goal of preventing a major and rapid slide into mercantilist (potentially even hostile!) continental economic blocks will see elite efforts to create stronger intercontinental "glue". Efforts towards discovery of media/art/Internet driven truly global culture should be part of the effort. Most states currently subsidize their movie industries behind the scenes as national propaganda PR moves. This practice can be turned on its head if applied towards supranational themes and purposes.

The spread of this Hollywood lingua franca is a microcosm of globalization itself. When analyzing integrative processes of globalization, special attention should be given to the film industry in particular.

Until relatively recently, Hollywood released its mega movies domestically first and abroad only months later. Then, to combat immediate digital piracy from places like China it became a more common practice to have simultaneous global openings for very big budget titles. The preparation and logistical coordination of this represented stage three in the emergence of a truly globalized film industry.

Lets briefly go through the stages:

1) 1950s-1980s: Mass cultural exports of the post-war period. Influx of Hollywood products into occupied territories and satellite states. Increasing cooperation between West European studios/agencies and Hollywood resulting in an international entertainment business sphere. Some partial work done on "universal" values within the ideological framing context of the cold war. Both Western and Soviet intelligence have a heavy role in informational shaping of entertainment to influence perceptions of the present world and prime expectations of how the world's future will develop (the dystopian-utopian spectrum of how the 21st century was popularly portrayed in movies is an interesting example of this). Genuine attempt at discovering universal values is hidden and distorted by individual private and corporate interests behind the militaries of the NATO pact.

2) 1980s-1990s: Hollywood studios rapidly expand beyond NATO's sphere of influence and become truly global as most markets are now accessible. Majority of key studio revenue now comes from abroad. Consolidation in number of transnational media corporations that own the studios. Streamlining of their operations along lines of fellow tangible good producing transnational companies. Rapid horizontal creation of international links to reduce costs and create an immediate global reservoir of cheaper talent, locations, and equipment. Actors and actresses become supranational super celebrities recognized anywhere. Global businesses are increasingly synchronized in space and time.

3) 2000- present: Merging of dozens of national and regional markets into one planetary market that allows rapid global penetration and hype generation (via local auxiliaries). Simultaneous global cinema and disc openings. "Epic" large cash infusion Hollywood movie making style is rapidly emulated by other players like Beijing and Moscow. Besides profit, this is partially done to increase their soft power and control domestically. For non-Western (particularly BRIC) powers to be successful with their mass media projects, they need to absorb/buy Hollywood's cutting edge technical, CGI, and art talent. That is already happening and is currently causing peripheral cooperation/merging between movie studios of all key regional political powers on earth.

Film Making Believability Is Often Wiser Than Accuracy and Unfortunately

Sometimes I am blown away by the political correctness of the socialist elite in Hollywood. They tell us that we shouldn't stereotype, that we should live and let live, and that everyone is equal, and not to pick on any group or segment of our population. For that, I do concur, however I am upset because I see so much hypocrisy going on in Hollywood. Specifically, in the filmmaking industry, so let me explain, because this is not only a critique of the folks in Hollywood, but more so our entire population, as so many are unable to see through the fog of society's entertainment.
It seems that all too often to make a film believable, these movies have token stereotypes which fit the general overall perception of our public. One might ask if we are not perpetuating the stereotypes in doing so, and then condemning people for adopting those stereotypes into their belief systems. I was discussing this not long ago with a gentleman who was getting his degree in filmmaking, and we got into a lively debate, although we were pretty much on the same wavelength. He told me it was funny, because while you need artistic creativity, you also have to appeal to the audience's beliefs.
If you don't, they won't like the movie, and they won't tell their friends to go see it, and therefore it will be a bomb or a bust. I explained to him that accuracy is quite important as well, and while he agreed, he also explained that if the movie doesn't make money, those screenplay writers, directors, and movie producers won't be able to produce anything else in the future. He explained that the movie industry is quite harsh in many regards.
He explained to me that the trick was to put in the various stereotypes, but have a storyline which went behind the scenes, and told of the differences behind the stereotype, in other words on the surface the stereotype was there true enough, but behind the scenes was a real person, albeit a character in the film, which wasn't like the stereotype that all. He said that was hard to do, but he had those sorts of scenarios in each and every film that he had ever produced while working with his friends on projects at the film school. In fact, they have one which should be ready for the next Palm Springs Film Festival coming up.
You see, it's hard to change people's minds and belief systems, and you have to make your film believable, which is actually more important to its success than accuracy. Therein lies the rub, and the challenge for all good filmmakers. It was so great to talk to him and get his perspective, because now I understand what they are dealing with, and how much impact the art of filmmaking has on our population. Please consider all this and think on it.

Should Film Makers Take More Responsibility for Their Effect On Society?

There's been quite a bit of talk about the violence in video games, comic books, Hollywood movies, and even on children's cartoons. Sometimes it is quite alarming, and although it is disguised as entertainment, it sure puts a lot of negative thoughts into people's head, and it is quite disconcerting when we see violence in our society mimicking the art we see on TV or on the silver screen. Should Hollywood moviemakers and script writers of screenplays take more responsibility for their effect on society?
Well, we can't force them to do this because that would be limiting free speech, and the last thing we wish to do is quell the creative and innovative minds of those who produce these movies and TV shows, even the video games. Yet at the same time, we realize how we are challenged by all this. Personal responsibility is the key, and people shouldn't go around shooting things up, just as they saw in an action drama, or a comic book storyline made into a movie.
A case study might be the tragic Colorado shooting at the premier opening-night of a Batman film, where just over 70 people were shot, and 12 of them died that night, and it was the worst shooting by a single shooter in US history. Yes, the weapons that are available are getting better, and in this case someone with high intellect came up with an insidious plan to do the most carnage. He was a PhD neurology candidate at the local university there. He was smart, cunning, devious, and evil all in the same breath, and he even dyed his hair red and called himself; "the Joker" to go along with the movie theme that night of the shooting.
Anytime something tragic happens like this, everyone looks for blame, or to try to make sense of it. The anti-gun rights activists are out in full force wishing to bring that into the national discussion. Surely, there will be people who will bring up the violence on TV, video games, comic books, and at the movies, as I have here today. Some long-standing movies, many of them very violent have almost a cult following, sometimes that can be a good thing for branding, and big money at the box office, other times it can turn into a real negative, and in this case a tragedy.
Although by the time it is over hundreds of millions of people will see that movie, as hundreds of millions of people have seen Batman movies and cartoons, or paged through comic books before. Unfortunately, on that day, one person turned an obsession of that branding experience into a terrible tragedy for all. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Prehistoric Mammoths in Films

Prehistoric Mammoths in the Cinema
No prehistoric movie or television series which is set in the Stone Age seems complete without at least one Woolly Mammoth being included. Normally it is the dinosaurs that dominates the movies, but if you are going to write a script about the Ice Age or about early mankind then a Woolly Mammoth seems a prerequisite for film makers. Now that CGI has come to the fore, depicting these large elephants with their long shaggy fur coats is not too much of a problem. Although we have been told by technicians and CGI operators that getting the fur to look realistic on screen is quite a challenge, at least with dinosaurs (feathered ones excepted), the computer experts are not encumbered with these skin features and dinosaurs are to some extent a little easier to re-create for the big screen.
Making Prehistoric Animals Look Realistic
From studies of the exceptionally well-preserved, fossilised Mammoths from Siberia, scientists have a fairly good understanding of how the hair on these creatures looked. The coat consisted of two basic layers, a coarse outer layer of guard hairs and an undercoat that helped insulate these animals from the cold. This is a typical adaptation to cold, harsh environments seen in many mammal species, both extinct and extant (around today).
The degree of hairiness varied with the Mammoth species, Columbian types (Mammuthus columbi) were less hairy than the Woolly types (M. primigenius), perhaps an adaptation to a slightly less harsh climate. It is likely that Mammoths had a spring moult to produce a lighter summer coat.
Their heavy coats were not their only source of insulation, many Mammoth fossils have revealed a fat layer up to 10 cm thick just below the skin surface. This would have provided exceptional insulation, an example of adaptation to colder climates and a food store inside the animal to help it overcome leaner times.
Long Shaggy Coats
The outer guard hairs were up to six times thicker than human hair and in large specimens some of these hairs grew to over a metre in length. This outer coat provided effective water-proofing. The inner coat was made up of thinner, softer and far shorter hairs this coat helped provide insulation and keep out the cold. The coat colour in Mammoths varies with some dark brown whilst others appear almost reddish/orange in colour. We have the frozen carcases of Siberian Mammoths to largely thank for providing us with a Mammoth colour chart. Such information about coat colour is used by film makers and animators to give their models or animated creations a degree of extra realism.
Many of the models of prehistoric animals supplied these days are hand-painted. Each model has tiny variations which is very appropriate given that the structure and format of every Mammoth's coat would have been slightly different - just as the hair on our heads is different from person to person.
Depicting A Herd on Camera
Unfortunately, for film makers, when trying to show a herd of these prehistoric elephants in a scene (these animals just like modern elephants lived in herds), there are a number of obstacles to overcome. Firstly, there is the obvious difficulty of depicting different sized animals in the group. This is further complicated by needing to ensure that the computerised animations used; add subtle variations in colour and hair length to each animal's coat. Without these refinements the Woolly Mammoth scene would not look realistic.

Basic Steps of Movie Making

In order to provide you with less than three hours of entertainment, movie makers toil for years and spend millions. Once completed, a movie could provide enjoyment to millions and it also has the potential to earn millions for its producer. It is interesting to look at how a movie is being made as it is a long process.

Production of a movie is done in a few stages. The first stage is the preparation for the production. The most important two figures in a movie production are the producer and the director. While the producer does the investment the director does the rest of it.

In the first place, a story has to be selected and the screen play has to be written. Once the screen play is ready, the director chooses the actors and actresses who will play the different roles of characters in the film.

Once the actors and actresses are selected, the locations are found. Finally, the sets are made and the shooting could start. While some of the shooting could be done inside a studio, the rest is shot in other locations. Every film has parts filmed in such locations.

There are various people involved in providing different kinds of facilities when the shooting is in progress. The cameramen, providers of lighting, makeup artists, and providers of transport and a host of others are involved when the shooting of the film starts.

Depending on the length of the film and various other factors, the shooting could go on for a period of a few months to a few years. Once the shooting is over, the director is ready with the basic movie on celluloid film.

Editing is the next step. Editing a film is an expert's job to be undertaken by and experienced editor because he has to examine each frame of the film. Once the editing is over, the visual side of the movie is ready. However, the sounds need to be added at a later stage.

Sound recorded in a special studio is added into the film in order to complete the job. Once the final touches are made, the director has to satisfy himself that the movie offers exactly what he wanted.

How Become A Boring Filmmaker In 10 Easy Steps?

How terribly and drippingly cool to work in the creative industries. You get to wear the coolest clothes, sport the strangest hair dye and give yourself the most glamorous sounding job description imaginable - and get away without proving any real talent or ability.

Another defining aspect of the creative industries is there is no code of conduct which means anyone can say pretty much anything about themselves without having any proof to back themselves up.

This creates a situation where filmmakers in particular have become boring.

Here, tongue firmly in cheek, are 10 ways to become a boring filmmaker:

1. Use complicated film industry slang words
Why speak clearly and sensibly when you can, in fact, roll the simplest concept into a series of complicated scenarios. Brush up on film industry definitions. Sprinkle these terms liberally through each sentence that you speak or write. The more obscure the term the better.

2. Sound really important
When asked any question, respond by lowering your voice, clearing your throat slowly and meticulously - and then begin to speak. Speak in phrases that sound meaningful (but aren't). Stab the air repeatedly for emphasis.

If you are writing, remind the reader repeatedly how fortunate they are to be able to access the high pinnacles of your ability.

Whatever you do, don't poke fun at yourself. After all, no-one dares to approach the altar of your ego without bowing down. And that's not ever going to be funny.

3. Ramble on and on and on
Why answer with succinct and precise answers when a simple concept can be expressed with paragraph after paragraph? If you really want to know how to be really boring, take tip number 3 and practise it day in and day out until your are very confident, that no matter how simple and short the answer could be, you are able to extend it into a response many lines long. After all, you have such an intellect that a mere mortal may be unable to understand the logic behind your short and brilliant response. Therefore, by taking a short answer and expanding it with great detail and spiced with repetition you are merely reducing the chances of being misunderstood.

While you are at it, remember that a subset of this rule is to go on and on about anything way too long.

And that includes writing blocky and chunky paragraphs on websites and in letters.

4. The tyranny of the vanity business card and job title
What ever you do, get two business cards. Get one that lists your name and occupation - say, film journalist, or photographer. Then go to a film organisation and get them to give you another business card and a vanity job title, like "Consultant", or "Creative Director" or "Executive Contributor".

Film organisations fall for this all the time. They dish out vanity cards with swishy job titles to try and impress other boring people at other film festivals.

By the way, it doesn't stop with the actual business card itself. Once you have duped someone into giving you a swishy title, you can start to fabricate imaginary CVs and career accomplishments and plaster them on your website. Behavior like this it, well, boring.

5. Ignore the audience
Resist the urge to speak or write naturally. A quick way to be boring is to completly ignore your audience and speak as if you are addressing an audience of one - yourself. If anyone challenges you and accuses you of being boring, remember that you don't care. Rise above such petty criticism. Becauue you are too beautiful.

6. Get some pictures
How many times has a friend come back from holiday, sat you down for a Friday night "catch up drink" and started the conversation with: "I have got to show you some photographs!"

This is a time-tried and tested technique to make you boring.

Get lots of pictures of you with famous people - even if you have to photoshop yourself into them. Get other pictures of you swanning around at film festivals (holding your vanity business cards of course). For added boring bonus points, make sure that these photographs are sited in as many exotic places as possible.

7. Branded sunglasses
Make sure you constantly flip on sunglasses with a large major design log on the shaft. Make sure everyone sees the logo. If necessary, nonchalantly gesture to it, or tilt your head 45 degrees to make sure they see it. Carry the glass case in your hand for everyone to see. Don't put it in your bag. Why hide your lights under a bushel?

If possible, don formal wear whenever possible. Girls: a slinky party dress mid-morning makes you boring almost instantly. And guys - haul out the shirt and tie. It's been true for generations: a suit, especially with a tie knotted a bit too large and a suit cut a little bit too wrong will make you the dullest gent on the street.

8. Name dropping
This tip is as old as the hills and barely merits mentioning. Dropping names of important people into your conversation is a sure fire way to become the biggest stiff on the street. For added marks, never use the surname. For example "when Quentin and I... " or, "Marty said to me... "

9. Let others fill in the blanks
Why substantiate your statements when you can make a statement, and close off with "well, you know... " and let the listener or reader decide what it was you are referring too.

Naturally you are by this point hoping that everyone you meet will be so awed by your intelligence that they won't have the balls to challenge you. And that, my friend, is really boring, you know... ?

10. Bad mouth others
If you want to get the "best bore around" label, start badmouthing everyone you can think of to as many people as possible all the time. You will quickly get known as the most boring person there is.

Filmmaking of Short Videos

If you want to release your short film, you'd better make some exquisite press packets to promote the short movie. This is a good as well as effective way to promote small-budget film. Sure, if you buy used video equipment or rent xdcam to shoot the film, you can take use of press packets to get the short movie known by more people. As you are not a famous movie director, your press packets should be attractive, so others would like to know more about your movie.
You can put several things in the press kits, such as newspaper clippings, press releases about your short film. Send these press kits to journalists, executives in the film industry and film critics. After these recipients read press releases regarding to your short move, your short movie may attract press and buzz in public. And more and more people would like to watch your work.
Put newspaper clippings, press releases and other printed materials in portfolio folders, which have plastic sheets. You'd better put each piece of printed material in a single portfolio folder. Otherwise, you can print all your materials into paper and bound these materials professionally. Each piece of material should have a cover sheet with the name of the film festival and dates.
Don't forget to write a statement for your short film, and the statement can tell the audience about the synopsis of your movie that is going to be shown on screen. If it is the debut of your short movie in a film festival, you need to write an attractive summary to catch people's hearts and allure their desire to watch your short movie. As there are many movie goers and critics on the festival, you can also write a summary for your video in a professional way.
Write biographies of yourself and key staff involved in your short movie. It is a team work to shoot a short movie, so you need to let your staff known by the audience. And journalists can also know some background information of your short video. And the press packets can also tell others about the short video's theme or basic tone or history. As you have printed many materials into paper, others can get some information about the short movie before the premier. Of course, you can make a special video to record the process to shoot your short video. That will be very interesting, too. Take pictures of your video producers and cast members, and these pictures are precious memories during the shooting project.

Why Is Hollywood Famous?

Hollywood is the place where the United States' motion pictures and television industries have most of their studios and offices. It is situated in the north-west of Los Angeles, California. It has many attractions for the film industry. It has an ideal climate, sunny and mild with varied terrain.

In 1908, one of its first feature films 'The Count of Monte Cristo' was completed. It shot in Chicago. In addition, by the end of 1911, more than 15 film-producing companies had sprung up in the area. Among the famous people in the Hollywood before the World War I have been Charlie Chaplin, Samuel Goldwyn, Douglas Fairbanks and Cecil B. de Mille. The 20th Century - Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Columbia, Warner Brothers etc. were along its greatest film companies.

However, with the advent of talkie many famous stars of the silent era virtually forced to retire. However, the greatest threat to Hollywood came with the introduction of television in the late 1940s. Many film companies had to pull down their shutters. Moreover, this brought a great change in Hollywood. By the early 60 s Hollywood had been supplying about 80% of the programs to the U.S. television network.

Today Hollywood is not only the centre of motion picture industries but also of the television film and recording industries of America.

Hollywood is the largest film industry in the factor of total revenue and second largest in total ticket collection, total film release. The films releasing worldwide with the High screens, no matter, today's Hollywood includes high technology to their Studios.

The picture shown is from D.W. Griffith's epic film 'Intolerance'. It has made in about 1916 and generally accepted by film critics and the public as one of the greatest classics of all times.

One adobe hut stood in Nopalera, called for the Mexican Nopal cactus indigenous to the area in 1853. By 1870, an agricultural community bloomed in the area with thriving crops of many usual and alien varieties. These occupants knew the area as the Cahuenga Valley, after the pass in the Santa Monica Mountains instantly to the north. Soon thenceforth, land conjecture led to subdivision of the large plots and an inflow of householders.

Film Making With Immortal Virtual Images of Historical Actors

Due to the incredible new software available it is now possible to make a movie without the actual actor. The software can look at the actor in various scenes, and those working in the editing room can control the actor on a digital basis. Once that is completed a hologram can be made, and it can interact with the actual actors who were on the scene, or put into a scene with various objects. Okay so let's talk about this shall we?
We have the capability to take Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, and any other past actor and put them into a scene as if they were real today. We can make a brand-new movie with these actors wearing clothes of this present period, and it will look as real as if they were there. We are talking about filmmaking with immortal virtual images of historical actors. Yes, there are issues with this having to do with the "likeness" and copyrights. Still, many of the families of these former actors would be happy to release their likenesses considering the amount of money involved.
It also means that very famous actors such as Tom Cruise can produce several movies at the same time. They could actually be filming in one movie, and their likeness is being used in four others at the same time through digital editing. Perhaps he might get $30 million for doing one movie, and only 4 or 5 million for the movie which has licensed the copyrights to his likeness, with final editing cut privileges either from himself, or his agent. Can you see how that might work out?
A few months ago, I was in Beverly Hills at a Starbucks there near Rodeo Drive. I was talking to a young USC film school grad student about all this. I told him I wonder who will pick up the Academy Award the first time one of these films using an immortal virtual image wins an award for best actor. Will they have a hologram come up to the podium to make the speech? A hologram cannot pick up the Academy Award above their head and thank the crowd. The hologram could mimic what could be construed as an authentic speech, but holograms can't lift objects, at least not yet.
Indeed this is such an intriguing topic for the future of filmmaking, not to mention all the legal issues having to do with intellectual property, likenesses, copyright, future patented technologies, and so on that perhaps we need to talk about this more as time progresses forward because these technologies are nearly upon us. Please consider all this and think on it.

How Choose Interesting Topics To Shoot Short Movies?

Filmmaking is a big project, but you can still make homemade film with fabulous film ideas and rent video camera. When you have finished the movie, you can enjoy the short film with your family or friends together. You can also make an interesting or creative short movie with your children, and they must like to make a movie on themselves. Before you start to shoot the film, you'd better prepare a short movie script or just a good movie idea. Here are some good short movie ideas, and you can pick one if you do not have any better movie topics.
Shoot a short science fiction movie. Parents can write a short and easy science fiction movie script, and the children can act out in the movie. For instance, you can shoot the video about aliens. Dress the children up as astronauts, so children can have interesting talks and other communications with aliens. You can make props with stuff you don't use and create the movie setting in the courtyard. If you don't like aliens, you can also find other science fiction topics or scripts on the internet.
Besides science fiction movies, you can also shoot a short movie about sports. The parents and children can play the tennis, basketball, baseball or football. Shoot these scenes and clip the exciting moments and make a good sports film. Otherwise, you can ask children to re-enact exciting moments from past sports games. If you are going to shoot the football playing scenes, you should ask more children to play the football. Choose exciting background music to emphasize the exciting motion scenes in the short movie.
Addition to these movie topics, you can also shoot your daily family life. Though you can watch many similar scenes from TV series, your own family life is the most unique one to all your family. Take out a camera and shoot everyone's daily life. And you can use the footage to edit a warm short movie, which can be precious memories to all of you.
What is more, you can shoot children's role play games. Dress them up as cartoon characters, such as Disney's Cinderella, Little Mermaid or Snow White. You can rent these costumes from physical stores or online sites. Record the children when they are playing different characters. If you want to have good quality of the film footage, you can also rent a professional camera, which is also available in some video camera site.

Key to Getting Auditions As a Child Actor

There are countless numbers of young people today aspiring to become actors or models. Thus, it is important to know how to get and pass auditions for young actors. There are many tips on how to apply but the most important is to have a good resume.

This gives you an opportunity to present yourself to complete strangers who know nothing about you and your acting or modeling talent. It is of utmost significance for your resume to be neat and short preferably one page. Most importantly, display your contact information conspicuously on top of the page. It should also follow a correct format.

Hire a modeling agency

Many children today want to be either actors or models. Auditions for child actors are often complicated and tough to get. It is the same case with modeling auditions. To land many jobs as a model, you need to be signed under a credible modeling agency. These agencies play a major part in exposing and marketing the model under their management.

Due to the huge numbers of kids who want to be models, many con artists have posed as modeling agents and preyed on unsuspecting victims. To avoid being a part of this statistics, you need to buy the Ross Reports where you will find a genuine listing of all child-modeling agencies in your area. Identify several agencies of interest and do some research online about them before making contact.

Start your own agency

Perhaps you do not have the required talent for a model or an actor. This should not be the end of your dreams of working in the entertainment industry. Another way you can stay in the game is by starting your own modeling agency or becoming a talent manager.

Nevertheless, before you even think of starting your own modeling agency, you should work under one. This will give you a chance to know what goes on in this line of business as well as built a client base. Becoming an agent is a rewarding business that you should pursue.

How To Produce A Documentary Film For Free?

Over the years the equipment necessary to produce a high quality film has gradually decreased in price, yet much of it is still too expensive to be of service to the average person. While an independent filmmaker may not be able to afford the best stuff on the market, there are some techniques for getting a professional result from as little as no money at all.

The basic elements to a documentary production are concept, talent, and equipment. By concept we mean the idea for the fill, which you will want to plan out in general and probably even come up with some sort of expected script or outline. This step is the easiest to do for free. All you need is your mind and maybe some paper to write things down.

With that settled, what about the issue of talent? For a documentary, this would mean the people filming and the people being filmed. First let's talk about the people doing the filming.

Documentaries can be filmed solo, and in this case you obviously wouldn't have to be paying anyone. But if you need some help there is a good chance of getting it free of cost as well. Many people just starting out in the film industry are willing to work in exchange for the experience, credit, and relationships. All of this you can provide your workers for free.

In this case you will want to make sure that you treat the people working with you as professionals. Take your project seriously and work to produce a good film and the people you work with will feel like their time is being well spent, and you will give yourself a good chance at developing relationships that could benefit you in the future.

With that settled, let's talk about the subject, or subjects, that you will actually be filming. For a low budget film, there is really no reason to pay anyone appearing on screen. Being in a film can provide valuable exposure for people, so find a way to sell that to them. For example, if you want to document an interesting restaurant, point out that it will basically be a commercial for them.

And if you are documenting a protestor or activist, point out that the exposure will help legitimize and spread their cause. You are not ripping them off or manipulating them. You are providing value in exchange for their time.

So far we have a crew and a subject and have not spent any money, but here is the hard part. Getting the equipment to actually make your documentary could cost you a lot, but if you are willing to get creative, you can pull it off for free.

The first big issue is of course cameras. One of the best ways to get a nice camera for free is to borrow one from a friend or someone working with you. If this is not possible, try borrowing someone's point and shoot camera. These common devices owned by nearly everyone have improved so much recently that you can get some great results on them if you limit what types of shots you want to include. Find out what the camera can do well and just stick to that.

The same principle applies to any other type of equipment needed. Look to borrow or use the equipment of people you bring on to work with you. You are the director and producer. You have provided the concept, inspiration, and organization, so it's not like you are freeloading by using other people's technology.

All that remains is post-production. Fortunately this is another easy step to do for free. Once again, look to borrow someone else's computer if they have editing software and all of that already set up. If not, as long as you have a computer there are plenty of open source video editing programs you can use. Most new laptops will come with some type of free editing software, so this should be no problem.

Even professional music for your film can be had at no cost. Many composers just starting out will score your film for the experience and credit, but if you don't have time for that, there are sites online that offer free production music of various types. You might even know some musicians that would be willing to donate their music to your project in return for the exposure. It's all about coming up with ways your film can benefit other people.

What You Need to Know About Before Auditioning for Movies?

If you are an actor who is relatively young in the film industry and wish to audition as an actor, then you need a talent manager. This professional will manage you as an actor, and has to act as an intermediary between you and casting directors. A good manager has connections in the theater, television and film industry. Your manager should have a license and should be franchised. The state licenses and regulates genuine talent managers and as a rule, they only get 10% of what the actors will make. The recommended source for a good talent agent is going through the Call Sheet listing.
Meeting and choosing an agent
After you have contacted a suitable agent or manager, the next step is to meet him or her and decide whether the two of you can work together. The association between you and your agent is as serious as a marriage; therefore both of you will need to prove whether you are compatible with each other.
Do not assume the agent knows you already just because he or she has seen you showcase. The agent needs to know you on a personal level. Think of your first meeting as your first date, and be polite and respectful once you sit down to talk with the agent.
Tips on how to get auditions for movies
It is not easy getting movie auditions and casting calls since the competition is very stiff. Thus to get into the auditions, you need to take acting classes in addition to hiring a talent agent. There are new actors who are interested in this kind of a prospect and the chances may not be as many as the people who would like the positions.
Therefore, you need endless persistence and the highest effort to get and succeed in the auditions. Your best chance of getting into the auditions would be through your agent, who may have access to auditions limited to the public.
Nevertheless, you can still have a chance of getting into the auditions even without an agent. This is especially the case if you have been on the scene for a while. To get the auditions, visit the casting site to submit yourself for consideration.
This involves submitting a headshot and resume. Your photos should be professional and of high quality. The resume should include information about experiences if any and the most significant contact information. If they like what they see, they will definitely give you a call.

The Horrors of Editing a Low-Budget Feature Film and How One Tool Saved the Day

If you shoot with DSLR, do multi-camera shoots, or shoot with dual-system sound, you should read this article. Last year, I was hired as the editor for a low-budget feature. I wanted to take a minute to tell you about my experience.

On the day the files arrived on a hard drive, I was anxious to get started. I had just started using Final Cut Pro X. In fact, the software was only about 3 months old, with no feature updates. So, I knew I was going into some unexplored territory. I had done three 30 second spots and a short film, in the new Final Cut Pro X, so although it was new, I knew the incredible speed advantages and ease of use, it offered. So, I knew the software was up for the challenge of editing a feature. It's actually one of the first, if not the first feature film edited in FCPX.

So, I started the first day importing and logging footage, which for me, involves watching the beginning of each clip to see the Scene/Shot/Take/ and other Notes on the slate, in order to organize all the clips into nicely-labeled scene/shot folders. In addition, when using a Dual-System sound, (which is where sound is recorded on a separate recording device from the video), there is the additional requirement to log (and associate) the sound files with the Video files. On larger budget films, there is usually a very detailed list that tells the editor what clip belongs to which SCENE/SHOT/TAKE. But, on lower budget films you generally have to rely on matching the slate information with the audio slate information. For example, at the beginning of the audio clip, you should hear: "Scene 23A, Take 2″. So, then you would label that audio clip and put it in the associated clip Folder (inside your editor). Under ideal circumstances, during production, you would have someone to log which video clip file is associated with which audio file. So, in this case I was heavily reliant on slate marker on the video and on the audio.

To my HORROR, I had over 1000 audio clips and Video clips with NO SLATE!!

To my HORROR, I had over 1000 audio clips and Video clips with NO SLATE!! OK, there actually was a few, but at least 85% had no way to identify the video clips OR a way to associate them with the corresponding audio clips.

OK, so here is where my adventure begins. So, after running through the house screaming in frustration, (kidding), I started the long process of trying to match the script to the clip to log the scene...

So, over the next few weeks, I started asking people and searching for a better (quicker) way to match audio clips to the video clips and to synchronize them. I finally ran into a video that talked about this insanity, and they recommended this new software, called Plural Eyes and it's companion product, Dual Eyes.

Plural Eyes works as a plugin inside your Editing system. (Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Vegas, Avid, etc)

And Dual Eyes works as a stand alone product, on your desktop. But, essentially here is what I did.

I purchased and downloaded Dual Eyes. I imported ALL 1000 audio clips and ALL 1000 video clips.

I pushed a button and... I kid you not, in a matter of a few minutes, Dual Eyes had done, what I had spent weeks trying to do. It matched up nearly every audio clip with a video clip!

Seriously, for me it was like a light came down from heaven and completed this seemingly impossible task, in a few minutes. So, since then, I have used the product in nearly every project I've worked on. I can tell you this. I will never be without Dual Eyes on my desktop again. It has saved me so much time and frustration.