Ahhh Alberta Filmmaking Grants… what polarizing, frustrating, wonderful beasts. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em (or both), you can’t deny that a grant can make the difference between a screenplay and a finished film.
Full Swing has had modest success with our grant applications over the years, and as we find ourselves in the middle of the early-year grant application season, we wanted to share a few grant-writing tips we’ve learned along the way.
Posted by: Scott Westby
Confession: I’m not a stylish dude. I often rely on my better half to “consult” on what I’m wearing, and when we film narrative content, I always try to collaborate with a Wardrobe Stylist to make the cast look their best.
But when we shoot a corporate video or an interview, having a Stylist on set is rarely practical. As such, we often get asked “What should I wear on camera?”. It’s an excellent question, as the wrong wardrobe can distract the audience from the subject matter, and can even end up ruining a great video!
If you’re appearing on camera any time soon, check out the handy guide below. And don’t worry, this comes from experience, not my fashion-sense.
Last week, Matt and I got the opportunity to be Guest Lecturers for SAIT’s Film & Video Production program’s 1st year students. It turned into a 2-hour Q&A, and we were surprised to find it didn’t stray far from “how to get started in Calgary’s film industry” (specifically what to do after graduation).
Luckily for SAIT students, they have a bit of direction ahead of them. However we know many people in Calgary are interested in making movies, but have no idea where to start — this industry can seem extremely inaccessible. The good news is, while it will take some work, it’s actually not that hard to get started!
Have you got what it takes to go from nothing to a finished short film in 48 hours?
For the past 8 years, the Calgary Underground Film Festival has organized one of the best filmmaking exercises in the city: The 48-hour Movie Making Challenge. Teams are given a random genre, prop and line of dialogue on Friday at 7pm, and they have to turn in a 2-5 minute short film using those elements 48 hours later.
The Challenge is a fantastic experience. It forces you to be creative under pressure (how all great ideas are born), puts you in unique and unforgettable situations, and provides countless opportunities to learn new things…like how your heart feels after 7 energy drinks.