How-To Archives - Bobby Marko

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Production Minds Beta Preview

December 21, 2012 — Leave a comment

For the last month I’ve been beta testing some new software that for those who are in production, especially pre-production, I think will fall in love. It’s called Production Minds Platform and it’s designed to create, organize and unleash your production project. I’m working on a low budget short film with writer/director David Wilkinson so I thought it was a perfect project to test out the software.

After having the chance to get my feet wet with the software I asked the guys at PM if I could do a little preview video. I knew others would be just as excited as I am about the release of this software. They agreed.

I haven’t been able to utilize all of the features as we’re still in the middle of creating the short film. But as you will see, the software is a tool that you have with you from idea all the way to the first shoot day. The further along you get in creating the production, the more features you will use.

Ok, I’ll stop typing and let you get to watching. Couple of things first: I am sick so I don’t sound my best – I’m on medication so I’m a little flighty with my thought process, sorry if I ramble – and last… follow these guys on Twitter and Facebook and stay up to date, I know you will want this software the day it releases! Ok, now click play! :)

In Gear, How-To, Pre-Production

Develop Your Relationships

November 29, 2012 — 2 Comments

No one goes at it alone, especially in filmmaking and video production. It is vital to have strong relationships in different parts of the industry to help you further your craft and career. So this post will cover some key “must do’s” that I’ve found to help me and I know will help you develop your relationships in an industry where going solo is a sure way to end up just that, solo!

Keys to develop your relationships

Communicate WITH, not AT!

Email communication is such the norm these days, it’s become the replacement of valuable connection. However, in many situations, it has devalued the purpose of personal contact. Too easy is it to shoot off an email with a sentence or two with the intentions of it serving the purpose of it nurturing a relationship. The classic phone call still is and will be the best method to communicate with someone you intend to develop a relationship. When you choose to call, even leave a message and wait for a return call, all in an effort to just catch up, I promise, goes much further in the minds of those you are trying to reach than an easy effort of typing out a few words with a canned signature and pressing “send.”
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In How-To, Leadership, Production call, communicate, develop, email, filmmaking, phone, production, professionals, relationships, vendors, Video

Wrap-Up: November 26, 2012

November 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

This was a busy week, I saw many items of interest so this weeks wrap-up may be a little long!

How Rejection Breeds Creativity

99U had a great post about how being rejected as an artist can breed creativity. It’s only in our failures do we see doing things a new way.

“Rejection happens, and when it does, how we respond to it matters!”

It’s a great read and highly recommend it for any creative because you, like I, will face rejection!

Read the full article

John Williams Scoring E.T.

When I was going to school for music (ions ago!) my goal was to score music for films. I still love and have a passion for music in film so seeing videos like this brings that passion to the forefront!

Wrap-Up: November 19, 2012

November 19, 2012 — 1 Comment

I’ve mentioned on past blogs that I get much of my info on the industry by subscribing to some industry blogs and news services, as well as other blogs and online magazines that hold my interest. Many times as I’m checking my feeds I don’t have time to read through every single article. So I add them to Pocket, a service that saves any URL in one place to catch back up with later. I love it! However I often don’t get to share what I read because I think it’s old news. But then I would see the same articles pop up several days later on other feeds. So maybe the news I get IS still relevant.

With that in mind I thought I’d create one blog post, a wrap-up you could say, that summarizes the news and articles I read from the previous week. They may not be breaking news but I’m sure there may be some things you yourself didn’t catch from the previous week. Maybe you, like myself, often have busy weeks and do not get a chance to get caught up on all the happenings around the industry. Well, I hope these wrap-up posts will give you a glimpse of what you missed and get you caught up.

Just FYI, this isn’t a comprehensive list so please don’t feel like you have to fill me on on the other happenings I don’t mention. These are just some things that I found interesting and may not be the most talked about around the web. Enjoy!
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Get Started in Filmmaking

November 5, 2012 — 2 Comments

I’ve been asked several times: “How does one get started in filmmaking?” That’s a great question for a blog post I thought so here we go!

Get Started in Filmmaking

1. Find a 48 Hour Film Team to join

I can’t thank the 48 Hour Film community enough because it was this group that allowed me to get involved in filmmaking. The first year I participated I was asked to camera op for a team and I had only been shooting on a consistent basis for about 2 years. The results from the short were horrible! However, the experience I got from doing it taught me that I not only wanted to do it again, but I wanted to do it better. In fact, for 5 years I participated in the local Nashville 48 Hour Film contest, even helping my own team win the city’s best film one year. So I highly encourage looking into getting on one of these teams to learn and grow your skill. You can get all the info for your local city at http://48hourfilm.com

2. Intern at a rental house

I have a great relation ship with a local rental house here in Nashville called AC Inc. I’ve mentioned them a few times in my blog posts. And one thing I know, having spent many hours there, is that there is much to learn and many people you can meet by being there. So if you’re just starting out and there is a local production rental house in your area, call them up. Ask the owner if you can come and spend a few hours helping out at the shop as an intern. Learn the ropes about gear and begin developing relationships.
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In How-To 48 Hour, classes, community, conferences, courses, educate, filmmaking, industry, intern, Nashville, networking, workshops

Back to Basics for Film and Video Production

Back to Basics in Film and Video Production

October 8, 2012 — 1 Comment

It’s the fall! Football season is in play, leaves are changing color (for those of us that live in areas where leaves change… sorry Florida) and school is back in session. So I thought I’d use this opportunity to open up the classroom doors, allow you to take a seat and let class begin. It’s time to get back to basics in film and video production.

I’ve found a few videos that explain some (not all) of the basics we need to remember in motion picture production. Whether you are a grip, gaffer, camera op or audio engineer, there’s something in these videos for all of you. So grab some pen and paper (or iPad or tablet device, I forget the era we’re in with school technology sometimes!) and prepare to take notes. Here we go!

C-Stand Basics

Rule of Thirds

Rule of thirds from Jayne Whitelock on Vimeo.

Basic Interview Lighting

SMAPP Tutorial – Basic Interview Lighting from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Basics in Audio

Basic Best Practices For Capturing Quality Audio from Olivia Speranza on Vimeo.

In Cinematography, How-To, Lighting, Production audio, basics, c-stands, camera, composition, gaffer, grip, hardware, lighting, production

Location Scouting: Some Tips and Tools

September 27, 2012 — 2 Comments

Location scouts have a profession of their own. And by no means do I intend this post to simplify or belittle their occupation. Feature film location scouts deserve the large salaries that I assume they receive. I’m in awe the many times I see a film with beautiful locations from start to finish. I find myself asking “how in the world did they find those places?” This type of large scale location scouting is not what this post is meant to address. The audience I am addressing are those of you directors, ADs, and cinematographers who take on multiple roles which include location scouting.

I know you don’t have the resources, the time, or the money to jet set all around the world looking for that one spectacular mountain top just to grab your 20 seconds of screen time with your two actors kissing. With that said, here are few things I do to help find that great location for my productions:
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