Digital Cinema Filmmaker's Training Course
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darwinandpaine
Well-known member
I think there's a lot of great stuff in Rush's course (particularly the stuff on lighting), and I would definitely recommend it for newbies, but I cannot endorse it whole-heartedly. The problem for me is that the "sample movie" (the 37-minute short) is so awful that it nearly destroys the credibility of everything else on the DVDs.
Technically, the movie is fine --- well lit, nice camera work (though some of it is entirely unmotivated). But creatively, it's a complete failure IMO. The dialog is completely flat (what little there is aside from the ever-present, meandering voice-over --- "Type. Type. Sleep. Sleep"), the story goes nowhere, is filled with cliches, and is completely repetitious (how many times can the character get inspired, and then fall flat on his face?), and the acting is not very good (in all fairness, the actors were given nothing to work with). On top of that, the main character is the most whiney, self-pitying character I've ever seen --- I kept wanting to smack him and felt absolutely no sympathy for him.
The movie also suffers tremendously from a complete lack of music, and quite frankly, some bad audio. There is a scene with the lead character on the phone outside a bar where he's talking to his girlfriend and she sounds like she's standing just off camera. Her audio should have been well-recorded and then run through a filter to make it sound like she was on the phone.
Finally, the course itself also suffers from a great deal of repetition. Perhaps this was intentional as it IS a teaching/training course. But if I never see anyone white balance off a warm card, or run through the various gammas and matrixes again, it will be too soon.
I appreciate the effort, but feel that this was just too ambitious for one man to take on by himself.
P.S.: I hope Rush doesn't take any of this personally. This is just my honest critique. Rush is obviously an extremely valuable member of this community (much moreso than myself), but I felt that people need to know what they'll be getting. Besides, I'm just some schmuck with an opinion --- everyone's got one.
Technically, the movie is fine --- well lit, nice camera work (though some of it is entirely unmotivated). But creatively, it's a complete failure IMO. The dialog is completely flat (what little there is aside from the ever-present, meandering voice-over --- "Type. Type. Sleep. Sleep"), the story goes nowhere, is filled with cliches, and is completely repetitious (how many times can the character get inspired, and then fall flat on his face?), and the acting is not very good (in all fairness, the actors were given nothing to work with). On top of that, the main character is the most whiney, self-pitying character I've ever seen --- I kept wanting to smack him and felt absolutely no sympathy for him.
The movie also suffers tremendously from a complete lack of music, and quite frankly, some bad audio. There is a scene with the lead character on the phone outside a bar where he's talking to his girlfriend and she sounds like she's standing just off camera. Her audio should have been well-recorded and then run through a filter to make it sound like she was on the phone.
Finally, the course itself also suffers from a great deal of repetition. Perhaps this was intentional as it IS a teaching/training course. But if I never see anyone white balance off a warm card, or run through the various gammas and matrixes again, it will be too soon.
I appreciate the effort, but feel that this was just too ambitious for one man to take on by himself.
P.S.: I hope Rush doesn't take any of this personally. This is just my honest critique. Rush is obviously an extremely valuable member of this community (much moreso than myself), but I felt that people need to know what they'll be getting. Besides, I'm just some schmuck with an opinion --- everyone's got one.
Rush
DVXuser Sponsor
The movie is there to instruct in writing, not to entertain. Anyone who is not a struggling or new writer can skip the 80 minute DVD 1 and go straight to the technical DVDs 2 – 6, as stated in the Release Notes emailed to all customers. The repetition is there to hammer in principles, much like basic training for soldiers teaches the same principles in different combat situations. Same gamma/WB settings + different lighting/setting = Different look.
Also, anyone who felt cheated by the course in any way can return the DVD series and get a full refund, no questions asked. I stand by my product.
Also, anyone who felt cheated by the course in any way can return the DVD series and get a full refund, no questions asked. I stand by my product.
ESTEBEVERDE
Veteran
Rush said:The movie is there to instruct in writing, not to entertain. Anyone who is not a struggling or new writer can skip the 80 minute DVD 1 and go straight to the technical DVDs 2 – 6, as stated in the Release Notes emailed to all customers. The repetition is there to hammer in principles, much like basic training for soldiers teaches the same principles in different combat situations. Same gamma/WB settings + different lighting/setting = Different look.
Also, anyone who felt cheated by the course in any way can return the DVD series and get a full refund, no questions asked. I stand by my product.
And that my friends is as good as it possibly gets!!!!
Awesome!
A++++++++++
darwinandpaine
Well-known member
Rush said:The movie is there to instruct in writing, not to entertain. Anyone who is not a struggling or new writer can skip the 80 minute DVD 1 and go straight to the technical DVDs 2 – 6, as stated in the Release Notes emailed to all customers. The repetition is there to hammer in principles, much like basic training for soldiers teaches the same principles in different combat situations. Same gamma/WB settings + different lighting/setting = Different look.
Also, anyone who felt cheated by the course in any way can return the DVD series and get a full refund, no questions asked. I stand by my product.
As stated, there is much to recommend, and I take all your points. I certainly didn't feel cheated. I just felt that the movie would have had much greater instructional value and given the course greater credibility had the creative aspects been on a par with the technical aspects. To me, this is very instructional, as it shows how much easier it is to make something technically proficient when compared to the creative/artistic side of filmmaking.
Cheesesailor77
Veteran
anyone who has Rush's dvd also seen Dov Simon's 2 day film school dvds? I was just about to jump for those.
Hi Rush, I am sure you have made a great product and by the sounds of it are satisfying the masses once more. However from my perspective the idea of all the DVD's does not interest me. MY library is kind of FULL 
That said though anything on lighting I have is about large budget stuff.... usually out of my reach. So thus based on the numerous recommendations here was wondering if there is any way to get my hands on just the lighting DVD?
PLEEEAAAASEEEEEE!!!!!
That said though anything on lighting I have is about large budget stuff.... usually out of my reach. So thus based on the numerous recommendations here was wondering if there is any way to get my hands on just the lighting DVD?
PLEEEAAAASEEEEEE!!!!!
Rush
DVXuser Sponsor
Hi ncje, you are welcome to purchase just the Basic Production DVD, which is at least 2 hours of lighting instruction (1 subject, then 2 subjects), but that is studio instruction.
Here is an example:
1) 10-point lighting for one person with all positions explained and jargon.
a) Practical lights as motivation and fill
b) Key light.
c) Fill from camera side
d) Backlight
e) Kicker from back ¾ direction opposite Key
f) Background light(s)
g) Filler Light below camera
h) 2nd Kicker from Key side
i) 2nd Fill
j) Additional background lights to add more points of interest
The real beef of the series is in the DVD 2- 6, where we go through many different real-life locations and scenes, and discuss lighting then composition and other aspects. So I don't have just one lighting DVD isolated. Also, getting just the Basic Production DVD would be a loss of the manual (with the lighting diagrams) and the DVXuser gift, which is another 2 hours of lighting in special situations. I will have downloadable movie files on the site by the end of the weekend, that way you can preview the information. Also, if you are concerned about storage space, the whole series with the Prep CD fits into one elegant 7-DVD Alphapak case, takes up as much room as a fat book.
Here is an example of the chapters, and these are spread out over 2 DVD's:
Movie Production DVD 1 (~150 minutes)
1) Easel (KinoFlo INT Night)
i) Lighting
ii) Set décor
iii) Adding movement to short dolly move
iv) Acting
v) Audio Samples
4) Characters (HMI INT Day)
i) Lighting
ii) Actors rehearsing
iii) Warm Cards
iv) Wireless receiver routing and audio tips
v) Composition, triangles, lines
vi) Moving camera for proper CU composition
vii) Framing, headroom
5) Sunset (HMI + Tungsten INT Night for Day)
i) Lighting
ii) White balance cycle
iii) Using battery-operated light as 2nd fill
iv) Short dolly move for drama or production value
v) Composition, triangles, color harmony
vi) Audio samples
Movie Production DVD 2 (~174 minutes)
1) Fall Asleep (HMI INT Day)
i) WB cycle
ii) Modifiers
iii) Natural sources motivating lighting
iv) Composition, subject size in frame
v) Matching HMI intensity to outdoor light
vi) Composition, triangles
vii) Line of actor movement matching WS to CU
viii) ECU and lighting with battery-operated lights
ix) Making focus marks
x) Light gags and matching actor behavior to them
xi) Camera height influencing character
xii) Modifiers, net
2) Zones (Tungsten INT Night for Night/Sunrise)
i) Acting
ii) Under-crank camera
iii) Reflector mimicking sunlight
iv) Moonlight and sunrise
v) Dimmers and wattage management
vi) WB cycle
vii) Gamma cycle
viii) Effect lighting for illogical background patterns
ix) Set décor
x) Composition, color harmony, mass in frame, color separation
Here is an example:
1) 10-point lighting for one person with all positions explained and jargon.
a) Practical lights as motivation and fill
b) Key light.
c) Fill from camera side
d) Backlight
e) Kicker from back ¾ direction opposite Key
f) Background light(s)
g) Filler Light below camera
h) 2nd Kicker from Key side
i) 2nd Fill
j) Additional background lights to add more points of interest
The real beef of the series is in the DVD 2- 6, where we go through many different real-life locations and scenes, and discuss lighting then composition and other aspects. So I don't have just one lighting DVD isolated. Also, getting just the Basic Production DVD would be a loss of the manual (with the lighting diagrams) and the DVXuser gift, which is another 2 hours of lighting in special situations. I will have downloadable movie files on the site by the end of the weekend, that way you can preview the information. Also, if you are concerned about storage space, the whole series with the Prep CD fits into one elegant 7-DVD Alphapak case, takes up as much room as a fat book.
Here is an example of the chapters, and these are spread out over 2 DVD's:
Movie Production DVD 1 (~150 minutes)
1) Easel (KinoFlo INT Night)
i) Lighting
ii) Set décor
iii) Adding movement to short dolly move
iv) Acting
v) Audio Samples
4) Characters (HMI INT Day)
i) Lighting
ii) Actors rehearsing
iii) Warm Cards
iv) Wireless receiver routing and audio tips
v) Composition, triangles, lines
vi) Moving camera for proper CU composition
vii) Framing, headroom
5) Sunset (HMI + Tungsten INT Night for Day)
i) Lighting
ii) White balance cycle
iii) Using battery-operated light as 2nd fill
iv) Short dolly move for drama or production value
v) Composition, triangles, color harmony
vi) Audio samples
Movie Production DVD 2 (~174 minutes)
1) Fall Asleep (HMI INT Day)
i) WB cycle
ii) Modifiers
iii) Natural sources motivating lighting
iv) Composition, subject size in frame
v) Matching HMI intensity to outdoor light
vi) Composition, triangles
vii) Line of actor movement matching WS to CU
viii) ECU and lighting with battery-operated lights
ix) Making focus marks
x) Light gags and matching actor behavior to them
xi) Camera height influencing character
xii) Modifiers, net
2) Zones (Tungsten INT Night for Night/Sunrise)
i) Acting
ii) Under-crank camera
iii) Reflector mimicking sunlight
iv) Moonlight and sunrise
v) Dimmers and wattage management
vi) WB cycle
vii) Gamma cycle
viii) Effect lighting for illogical background patterns
ix) Set décor
x) Composition, color harmony, mass in frame, color separation
I'd like to chime in here for a few points.
1) I totally didn't even expect a short sample film to be presented in the first place. I'd bet that Dov Simon's didn't make a SAMPLE short-film in order to illustrate any of his teachings. The fact that Rush made this short film for the sake of a teaching video is, again, above-and-beyond. I wasn't watching the short film for entertainment value, but I've paid money to see movies that were far worse at Blockbuster. Heck, if nothing else, it was worth it just to watch the HVX footage. (I don't own the camera yet, so the footage was exciting to see.) Actually, the character in the movie did seem a bit dim-witted at times -- but I could relate to feeling like the only guy willing to try something as crazy as making a movie.
...and one more thought on the sample film -- it is only 45 minutes. Maybe 5% of the entire dvd set?
2) Regarding repitition -- I am glad for it. For me anyway, it was so much information that I found myself losing my place in the video from overload... I'd be afraid that I'd have to skip back to watch it again to catch what was said, but then I was bailed out by a repitition that explained what I had missed. Mind you, the repitition is not accidental. Most good teachers do repeat themselves in different ways to make sure you get the point. Rush is no exception here.
3) Regarding the lighting dvd... I was actually concerned watching the first disc on lighting that he was talking about equipment that was out of my league. It takes place in a studio -- and there must be 15 lights going to light this scene. I was actually considering writing an email to Rush to tell him he needs something to help us low-budget lighters, and then he moves into on-location-type lighting set-ups with maybe 1-3 lights (in house, etc.). So, I think the big studio set-up was to give us the big picture of how it should look -- and the small set-up was just another way it could be achieved.
4) I've never watched Dov Simon's video set... and I bet it is useful from what I've heard... but I picked up his book version and it appears to me that (the book at least) is a different breed of instruction than Rush's set. Dov's looks like it may be a general how-to, as well as a good book/video for resources, but not a technical how-to like Rush has created. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a future version of Dov's book includes a referral to Rush's videos as another reference!
1) I totally didn't even expect a short sample film to be presented in the first place. I'd bet that Dov Simon's didn't make a SAMPLE short-film in order to illustrate any of his teachings. The fact that Rush made this short film for the sake of a teaching video is, again, above-and-beyond. I wasn't watching the short film for entertainment value, but I've paid money to see movies that were far worse at Blockbuster. Heck, if nothing else, it was worth it just to watch the HVX footage. (I don't own the camera yet, so the footage was exciting to see.) Actually, the character in the movie did seem a bit dim-witted at times -- but I could relate to feeling like the only guy willing to try something as crazy as making a movie.
...and one more thought on the sample film -- it is only 45 minutes. Maybe 5% of the entire dvd set?
2) Regarding repitition -- I am glad for it. For me anyway, it was so much information that I found myself losing my place in the video from overload... I'd be afraid that I'd have to skip back to watch it again to catch what was said, but then I was bailed out by a repitition that explained what I had missed. Mind you, the repitition is not accidental. Most good teachers do repeat themselves in different ways to make sure you get the point. Rush is no exception here.
3) Regarding the lighting dvd... I was actually concerned watching the first disc on lighting that he was talking about equipment that was out of my league. It takes place in a studio -- and there must be 15 lights going to light this scene. I was actually considering writing an email to Rush to tell him he needs something to help us low-budget lighters, and then he moves into on-location-type lighting set-ups with maybe 1-3 lights (in house, etc.). So, I think the big studio set-up was to give us the big picture of how it should look -- and the small set-up was just another way it could be achieved.
4) I've never watched Dov Simon's video set... and I bet it is useful from what I've heard... but I picked up his book version and it appears to me that (the book at least) is a different breed of instruction than Rush's set. Dov's looks like it may be a general how-to, as well as a good book/video for resources, but not a technical how-to like Rush has created. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a future version of Dov's book includes a referral to Rush's videos as another reference!
BigMike
Well-known member
Personally, I didn't buy the DVD set for the short. After wathcing it, I find that it fits thematically with his digital cinema class which, in my opinion, is perfect. He gives us a model and dissects the sequences for us so we can see how he set the scene. Great job, Rush!
The short is perfect for beginners but I think more advanced filmmakers might watch a few minutes and move on to the class itself. Right?
Dov's class is a completely different subject. His stuff deals with the business of independent filmmaking. How to shake off the shackles of what you learn in film school and produce a film yourself, then strategies for marketing and getting financial backers.
He doesn't go into the technical minutia of lighting and blocking. He teaches you where to buy 35mm film at the best price and how much to pay your cast and crew, which union personnel to hire and not to hire and goes through, step by step, a production budget. I think the two DVD sets would compliment each other very well.
RUSH: Dov has one of the biggest filmmaking bookstores in the world. I think you ought to approach him about selling your DVDs there. If he finds them valuable, he will plug them in his class and you will have 50 potential customers every time he teaches...
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darwinandpaine
Well-known member
BigMike said:
Sarcasm aside, I don't think my point requires a degree in rocket science to understand (and this will be my final word on the matter)...
If you got home from work, found your "Digital Cinema Course" in your mailbox, took out the first DVD, popped it in, and found some kick-ass little fifteen minute short with a terrific little story (i.e.: not boring), great dialog, great visuals, etc..., would it, or would it not, give everything that comes after it greater credibility? If you say, "no," then we simply don't live on the same planet. For heaven's sake, the first section after the "sample movie" is the "screenwriting" section!!! The only thing the "sample movie" illustrate in terms of screenwriting is, "don't do this."
And here's the perfect illustration of my point. When I first watched the "sample movie," I did so with my 15-year-old daughter, who has helped me make two movies and has become quite the little focus-puller/AC in her own right. Twenty minutes into the "sample movie" she turned to me and said, "And you're supposed to learn filmmaking from this guy?" Out of the mouths of babes.
Rush
DVXuser Sponsor
BigMike said:
Yes products are so radically different. He teaches budgeting, line producing, financing, finding investors, like you said, the Producing/Business side of filmmaking; Whereas I spend 15 hours teaching the technical and emotional aspects of lighting, composition, angles, shot types, etc. I have heard that he is a master at teaching you how to simply not run out of money and financially plan and finish your film.
Adding:
telebay said:
Yessss!!
That is correct. I taught it just like I learned it: First get the studio lighting out of the way, the move on to the real world, where you don't need a backlight on every set. If you have good separation from the background, and the fill is in correct proportion to the key, you are fine, as in this photo, which was lit with only two lights and a reflector at night.Adding:
One more screen grab at laptop computer, Tungsten 150W + 150W + 300W + litepanel.
Attachments
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unfiltered
Well-known member
"Today" you say, BigMike?BigMike said:
<Corey walks out to his mailbox>
unfiltered
Well-known member
MY mail hasn't even come yet. (It was much earlier than I thought.)BigMike said:
I'm only in Valencia. The set went out MOnday and I got it Tuesday, so it mayv ery well be in the mail today.
EDIT: Nope. Nothing yet. Color me saddened.
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Well, I've been following this site off/on for a little bit now, mostly keeping to myself.
I've been reading a lot (on these forums and books); Though, I feel I still need more.
So, I ordered the set. I was trying to fight off the tempation, since this is coming from my equipment budget, but now I can't wait to get it!
Also, I added "DVXuser" to my comments on the payment. I hope that two-disc lighting set is still being thrown in. That was a key selling point for me.
Man, I love this site.
Thanks.
I've been reading a lot (on these forums and books); Though, I feel I still need more.
So, I ordered the set. I was trying to fight off the tempation, since this is coming from my equipment budget, but now I can't wait to get it!
Also, I added "DVXuser" to my comments on the payment. I hope that two-disc lighting set is still being thrown in. That was a key selling point for me.
Man, I love this site.
Thanks.
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unfiltered
Well-known member
C'mon, man.darwinandpaine said:
unfiltered
Well-known member
I have my course. I've had it since Tuesday.darwinandpaine said:
I was saying "c'mon man" because I thought you were being sarcastic. After your earlier criticism of a portion of the course, I thought you were continuing the criticism. That's all. It's hard to read if someone is being serious or not just by the word.
And yes, the pen is nice.
(For real.)