This is the 16th instalment of this feature here on Filmmaking Lifestyle, where we chart the best-of-the-best from around the filmmaking and video production world. This article covers the best posts from January 2017.

Every month, I post a round-up article featuring the best things I’ve found around the web on filmmaking and video production. If you missed one, we have a complete archive here.

We’re talking articles, videos, infographics, all sorts. Anything that stands out to me and that I think is worth keeping in an archive, I’m going to include in these reports.

I post these articles at the end of each month, along with all the regular posts you get on Filmmaking Lifestyle.

The Best Posts Of January 2017

Another month and more busy times here at Filmmaking Lifestyle at the start of the year.

We’ve got lots of articles, videos and images from around the web to showcase this month, but first a little bit of admin stuff.

I hinted last month that I am doing something with Zacuto. If you don’t know Zacuto, they’re a fine purveyor of DSLR and filmmaking rigs. Probably most famous for their ground-breaking Z-Finder attachment. The Z-Finder clips onto your DSLR and acts like a viewfinder on steroids, able to magnify detail even under the brightest of sunlight.

I’m sure lots of you have had the pleasure of using Zacuto gear. I’ll be reviewing the Z-Finder, as well as some other gear next month right here on Filmmaking Lifestyle.

With the admin stuff done, let’s get to the links this month!

Filmmaking & Video Production

Here’s a Guide to DSLR Audio, the “achilles heel of amateur filmmakers.”

This was interesting. A guy on Reddit posted that he’d made a ‘fake corporate video wanted’ ad on Craigslist to check what his competition was like. Here’s his message on Reddit that explains a little about why he did it:

“Since I almost never hear back from Craigslist ads, I became curious what kind of competition I was up against. So I made a fake ad of my own and made notes on the responses.”

Not only did he get a lot of responses, but the results of the experiment were very interesting. Here’s a breakdown of his results via a spreadsheet screenshot he took:

On Filmmaking Lifestyle this month, we had an article on video production pricing, which will help those of you looking to work out production costs on projects. This complements a previous expert roundup that we had on pricing last year.

   

We also had a series of posts entitled Marketing Is Not Hard. The Marketing Is Not Hard series guides freelance filmmakers and video production company owners through a process that gets their marketing and advertising up to scratch. Too many people are great filmmakers, but don’t have a clue about marketing themselves and their work. This will help!

You can find the series here. Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Let’s finish this section this month by letting clients know that they can’t have it all. I’m sure you can all relate:


Software, Hardware & Visual Effects

Getting skin tones is tough. Matching skin tones is even tougher. Especially with multiple cameras / lenses. Here’s a secret weapon for getting great skin tones!

Here’s a funny image that shows you actually what you need to start out as a colorist:

Here’s a really good Lighting Workshop About Practicals and Ambient Light by Cinematography Database:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rAWjvfCK_Xc

Have you ever wondered what the difference between an F-Stop and a T-Stop is? This video answers that question:

There’s a new documentary out all about “the broken VFX industry.” It’s called Hollywood’s Greatest Trick and here’s the trailer:

Picture Of The Month

Here’s a photo of the rig required for Woody Harrelson’s “Lost in London” live film project next week:

Video Of The Month

This month’s Video of the Month is all about David Fincher’s awesome work.

Fincher describes his his directing process as “not what I do, but what I don’t do.” This video asnwers the question: What does David Fincher not do?

Find anything else out there that you feel is worth mentioning? Let us know in the comments below!

Until next month’s article, make sure you stay shooting! Cheers!