Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Feb. Meeting: Visualizing Your Film

Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 27, 7:00 pm, in Apple's De Anza 3 auditorium. In addition to our usual Demo Reels and the ever-popular Fabulous Pizza Break, our major topic for February is:

Visualizing Your Film

Presented by MacFilmmakers' own Kevin Johnson, this full-length presentation will cover:

• The "Grammar" of Shot Composition
  basic blocking
  types of shots
  framing and composition
  what an actor MUST know

• The Line of Action
   finding the line of action
   the eyeline
   the 180 degree rule/crossing the line (and why you shouldn't)

• Camera Movement
   types of movement
   zoom vs. dolly, etc.
   using the eyeline to motivate camera placement
   POV and camera
   establishing a new action line in moving shots

• Previz: Barebones Storyboarding Technique
   yes, even you can draw simple stick figures
   software packages

• Resources
   including a nifty handout for all attendees

As always, our meeting is free and open to the public. Parking is plentiful and free as well. Note that the De Anza Three auditorium is at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino but is located across Mariani Ave. from our usual Town Hall location. If you are uncertain, simply go to maps.google.com and search for:

10500 N de Anza Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014

The green arrow indicates the building where we will be; DA3 auditorium (and parking) is on the backside of that building.

Remember, for Demo Reels, we ask that you please limit your reel to a maximum of 5 minutes. Thanks, and we hope to see you at our February meeting!

Looking Ahead to March...

Believe it or not, we already have our March program booked and ready to go!!! For Wednesday, March 26, we will be presenting "Everest: A Climb for Peace". Produced by Lance Trumbull (whom many of you will remember meeting at MacFilmmakers many moons ago) and narrated by Orlando Bloom (who, sadly, has not yet appeared at one of our meetings, but there's always hope), this brand-new one-hour documentary is being featured at film festivals around the globe. We are fortunate to be able to show it at MacFilmmakers in its entirety, followed by a very special "Actor's Studio" style interview and discussion with Lance. As always, more details will be posted later.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Next Meeting is Wed. Feb. 27, 7PM, De Anza 3 Auditorium

Just an ultra quick post to say that our next meeting is Wednesday, February 27, 7:00 pm, in De Anza Three auditorium. Note that we were originally scheduled for Town Hall, but Apple needed to move us over to DA3.

Speaker/topic TBA.