The Tools I Use

Below is a breakdown of all the tools, sites, and apps I recommend and use personally — covering every area of running a film and video production business. Some links are affiliate links. I only list things I have actually used and found genuinely helpful.

Looking for job resources specifically? See our film and video job resources guide.

Filmmaking Education

• Philip Bloom — one of the best cinematography blogs online.
• No Film School — news, tutorials, and community for independent filmmakers.
• CreativeLive — live and on-demand courses from leading creatives.
• Lights Film School — structured online film courses.

Planning & Note Taking

• Milanote — visual planning boards ideal for pre-production.
• Evernote — capture and organise ideas, scripts, and research.
• Scrivener — long-form writing and document organisation.

Scriptwriting

• Final Draft — industry-standard script formatting software.

Time Management

• Pomodoro Technique — 25-minute focused work blocks; simple but highly effective.
• Remember The Milk — task management app.

Time Tracking

• Toggl — simple time tracking for freelancers.
• Harvest — time tracking with invoicing integration.

Outsourcing Work

• Fiverr — quick tasks and specialist freelance work.
• Freelancer — larger project outsourcing.

Setting Up an LLC / Business

• LegalZoom — cost-effective business formation and legal documents.
• Rocket Lawyer — online legal services and contract templates.

Invoicing & Finance

• FreshBooks — invoicing, expenses, and accounting for freelancers and small businesses.
• QuickBooks — bookkeeping and accounting software.
• PayPal — client payment collection.

File Sync & Sharing

• Dropbox — reliable file sync and client delivery.
• Mozy — automatic cloud backup.

Project Management

• Basecamp — team collaboration and project tracking.
• PBWorks — online team wiki.

Website Domains & Hosting

• GoDaddy — domain registration.
• Namecheap — affordable domain registration.
• SiteGround — managed hosting.

Website Creation

• WordPress.org — self-hosted CMS.
• ThemeForest — premium WordPress themes.

Branding & Design

• Vistaprint — affordable business cards and print.
• Moo — premium business cards and stationery.
• 99Designs — logo and brand design.
• Crowdspring — design competitions for branding.

Stock Video & Audio

• VideoHive — stock footage and motion graphics.
• AudioJungle — royalty-free music and sound effects.
• Videvo — free stock footage.

Photos & Images

• iStockPhoto — premium stock images.
• GraphicRiver — graphic design assets.
• Unsplash — free high-quality photography.
• Flickr Creative Commons — licensed photography for reuse.

Screen Capture & Presentations

• Camtasia — screen recording and video editing.
• ScreenFlow — Mac screen recording and editing.
• Prezi — dynamic presentations.

Surveys & Online Forms

• SurveyMonkey — audience surveys.
• Wufoo — customisable online forms.

Video Conferencing

• Skype — free client and team calls.
• GoToMeeting — professional video conferencing.

Health & Wellbeing

• Mark's Daily Apple — primal health and fitness.
• Ripped Body — no-fluff training and nutrition advice.

See also: Resources overview for a condensed version, and Start Here for guided learning paths.