Inspire: Film and video recommended reading and viewing
At the start of each month we curate a short list of diverse reading and viewing for the current creative theme. Each item on the list must provoke, inspire and/or be a resource we’ve returned to time and time again. We hope you find them creatively enriching 🙂
‘Why is video editing important’?
Just for fun, we prompted ChatGPT with this question. As at 25 February 2023, here’s the response:
‘Video editing is an integral part of the filmmaking process, allowing filmmakers to shape and refine their footage into a cohesive and engaging narrative. Through video editing, filmmakers are also able to add extra layers of meaning and emotion to their work, creating truly powerful and memorable films’.
Website: Redsharknews
If you’re technically minded you’ll love this mix of articles that take a deep dive into the specifications list. Redshark also relist posts from years ago that are just as relevant today when you’re just starting out!
Website: Nofilmschool
One of our favourite sites to visit every few days. Enjoy a diverse menu of posts including links to filmic resources, news, competitions and industry talking points.
Website: Runway.ml
AI (Artificial Intelligence) continues to make in-roads into everyday film-making processes. Runway’s browser-based app already includes automated features for green-screen and motion tracking and the list of features is growing by the month! . Last month they introduced Gen-1, which promises to generate stylised video sequences using little more than text prompts! This is definitely one to watch…
MOVIE: La Jetee
Can you make an entire movie using only a sequence of still photos? Of course you can! This essential viewing is on the watch list for many film studies / digital media courses. Watch the full version below on YouTube (May not be available globally):
ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY: In Saturn’s Rings
Take over 7.5 million NASA still images and, using Adobe After Effects as a core platform, animate then to make an IMAX-ready documentary. This wouldn’t have been possible using home-user applications just ten years ago. It’s a story of passion, storytelling and technology – Just our thing 🙂 Enjoy the trailer below…
WEBSITE: Short of the week
Whether you’re producing an explainer, documentary or your first movie, you can do a lot worse than flood your creative brain with carefully curated short films. This site does what it says on the tin!
WEBSITE: FilmShortage
Another excellent collection of short films for your perusal!
WEBSITE: Intofilm
Co-produced with the British film institute, this portal site has plenty of recommendations and film-related resources to use with your students if you’re an educator.
READER: ‘Bresson: Notes on cinematography’
French director Robert Bresson is highly regarded in the history of film-making. You’ll read of him being ‘the most important film-maker ever’ and his unique, hyper-minimalist style makes him a favourite of those studying the art. One of his most famous books can be found below – His ‘Notes on cinematography’ is readable as a diary or stream of consciousness about his thoughts on the subject:
https://15orient.com/files/bresson-notes-on-cinematography.pdf
In case of problems with the above link, here’s a local link just for you:
Here’s a reader to assist you with how to approach his work, and his ‘must sees’ if you’re a new film-maker.
We hope you find something here to inspire you as we start video editing month! See you at the Oscars…
