Other filmmaking communities/blogs?

D

DoubleIt

Well-known member
Are there any good blogs or other forums about directing? There are some great screenwriting blogs but I dont know of any good ones about directing? What about forums besides here? Where else do you guys go?
 
Reason I ask is becaue I've been getting into digital photography and the resources and communities online are absoultly amazing. I cant believe there is nothing for directing.
 
Largely because directing is much more subjective than photography or other technical film elements imho. Same for writing (most of screenwriting questions concern formatting).

I've haven't come across another site that's nearly as good as DVXuser. There's a lot of sites on cameras, lighting, sound, and editing software though...
 
Does anyone know any blogs without the community aspect? Just any good blogs of directors writing about their process? Especially anyone in the popular spectrum.
 
All I know of are good blogs for writers, like johnaugust.com. I highly recommend Sidney Lumet's book Making Movies. He doesn't sit down and say 'this is they way to do it'. He says 'this is the way I do it'. Then he goes on and on and on about all aspects of production, using his many films as examples. I like the book a great deal more than purely technical directing books, and it helps that, while I am not obsessed with his films, I like many of them.

Mr. Lumet also puts forward a very, er, for lack of a better word, 'clear' perspective on the job. He talks a lot about one of the most difficult aspects of directing - working with others - and does so in a way that isn't bitter and doesn't have a negative worldview. He was very clear on what he wanted and what he was and was not willing to deal with to get it. That's powerful stuff.

Michael Bay has a blog somewhere. I don't know about any other directors actively posting online.
 
Gohanto said:
Largely because directing is much more subjective than photography or other technical film elements imho. Same for writing (most of screenwriting questions concern formatting).

I've haven't come across another site that's nearly as good as DVXuser. There's a lot of sites on cameras, lighting, sound, and editing software though...
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Actually there are some great screenwriting forums where you post up your page and people critique.

Doesnt the WGA and or DGA have a forum for members only? I bet that's knda cool
 
Andrew Lee said:
All I know of are good blogs for writers, like johnaugust.com. I highly recommend Sidney Lumet's book Making Movies. He doesn't sit down and say 'this is they way to do it'. He says 'this is the way I do it'. Then he goes on and on and on about all aspects of production, using his many films as examples. I like the book a great deal more than purely technical directing books, and it helps that, while I am not obsessed with his films, I like many of them.

Mr. Lumet also puts forward a very, er, for lack of a better word, 'clear' perspective on the job. He talks a lot about one of the most difficult aspects of directing - working with others - and does so in a way that isn't bitter and doesn't have a negative worldview. He was very clear on what he wanted and what he was and was not willing to deal with to get it. That's powerful stuff.

Michael Bay has a blog somewhere. I don't know about any other directors actively posting online.
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John's blog is a perfect example. I love his site. There MUST be a similar site only from a directors POV.

Lumet's book sounds great, I'll pick that up.
 
Maybe you can ask the questions you have in regards to directing and we can all pipe in. From my POV a director is the leader...the manager who everyone will look to for answers to any and all questions relating to the film and everything else. Therefore I use leadership as the defining factor in directing. Praise in public...ridicule in private. Alwyas give credit to others when things go right and take the blame when things go wrong. If you have to discipline someone then do it in private so you aren't flogging someone in public. Never yell at anyone even if they are yelling at you, because you are the top of the ladder...you are the one in charge so you have to act the most professional of anyone on that set. Everyone present on set is your responsibility. Even if you have crew members that are not doing their job ultimately you are responsible since you hired the people that hired them...therefore you are to blame when things go wrong even if they are out of your control.

Your job is to create an environment where the actors can act...the crew can do their job...etc....everyone can give their input without being afraid to give their input. Fear is an ugly thing on a set. But in the end it is your choice that is the final choice. Collaboration is a must, but you have the final say.

Egos can run wild if you let them...set an example by not letting your ego rule the set with fear, anger or resentmet.

Pre-production is so valuable to get everyone's input...actors, crew, etc. so that many of these questions are answered and taken into consideration up front. Then you can deal with the immediate on-set problems which always show up.
 
seunosewa said:
Why are they scarce? It's simple. Cinematographers and writers are geeks. Directors are not!
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Hah. I don't think that's really true though. There are PLENTY of geek directors. I guess the next coming up generation of directors will be blogging more.
 
http://nighthighpictures.com
This site is dedicated to writing (including screenplays, novels, poetry) and also has a hefty section in the forums dedicated to acting, directing, etc. The site recently went down so not all the other content is up, but you could register on the forums and see what's there.
 
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