Brett Bailey

You could use something as small (scale) as a couple of Stripbank soft boxes or as large as a Fisher light. Or, depending on the aesthetic, you could also back light it through vellum. A vellum example/aesthetic (simply grabbed off the internet): http://cdn.photigy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Glass-shot-white-lectureby-alex-koloskov22.jpg

Interesting read. David pretty much summed up my opinion with his, "Two ships," comment. The technology is here via the Arri Alexa and the Dragon. The current debate reminds me of the Vinyl vs. CD debate in the late '80s. Digital prevailed. But, you can still find vinyl nowadays. It's a niche market. I believe film will find its own niche market. Paramount has recently made "the big move" to stop distributing film prints. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-paramount-end-to-film-20140118,0,806855.story#axzz2qmWm9lBE

Mark, The C300's post workflow is simple. You can use the Canon XF utility to import footage... http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/professional_cameras/cinema_eos_cameras/eos_c300#DriversAndSoftware But, every NLE recognizes the native MXF format.

Due to BMPCC's crop factor your wide angle options are limited (At least when I used it when it first came out). There have also been gripes/complaints about third party adapters affecting infinity focus.

I've never had a problem with the 5D wither I was shooting RAW or h.264. I have experienced Moire and Orb issues with the BMPCC. As discussed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRDbINYkMyw It didn't "seal the deal" for me. I would likely try it again in the future. To each his/her own, I suppose. In the end, it's not going to be the camera that separates you from the competition. It's going to be the person behind it. That and telling a story that's worthwhile.

Is there any particular reason why didn't even consider the Canon 5D with Magic Lantern? I can rent a 5D with Magic Lantern for about $160 compared to the Canon C300 for $450. Just something to mull over:

Back to the OP -- Yes, I would, based on further interviews. David sums it. “It's mainly a time management issue.” It's the same with still photographers having a flip book portfolio or website. I'm a big NFL football fan. It's akin to athletes creating highlight "reels" and sending them to colleges for potential scholarships (jobs). The athlete's reel will in theory generate buzz. He might have loose hips, fluid footwork, undercuts routes brilliantly, and display great ball hawking skills on tape. The highlight reel might be the greatest thing ever, but you can't pick up on the “intangibles” of an athlete from clips. The school will then interview the athlete. The school might find that the athlete has “off the field issues” or they simply might find his personality to be “difficult” and would likely not jive with the rest of the team. Reels do matter until you're in that upper echelon of DPs -- Dante Spinnoti, Darius Khondji, Roger Deakins, Robert Richardson, Vitorrio Storaro, etc. Reputation matters. And, networking matters.

Many films today bog down the story and script with minutia. I enjoy simplicity. Star Wars was a great adventure film with a simple story that created an entirely new mythology. "Alien" was a great movie because it was succinct and it established a compelling universe. "Alien" also asked big questions and left the audience to answer them. The same can be said about "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." One of the best write-ups about "Alien": http://www.gavinrothery.com/my-blog/2012/6/12/why-is-the-alien-script-so-good.html

There's not more that I can say that Richard hasn't already stated. Yes, grades matter. Nothing is easy in life. It will require blood, sweat, and tears. This industry is ultimately a business, so yes, math matters. Understanding the mechanics of a free market and capitalism matters. If you're wanting to know how to "light," science (some physics) matters. So, you should take every subject seriously. There are a myriad of stories of individuals within this industry who have had various disabilities, but ovecame them. Film school does two things ( A ) Allows you a place to network. And, ( B ) Teaches the "very basics." I would recommend someone starting out in this industry, if they were attending a university, to major in business and minor in film. It helps knowing the daedal intricacies of marketing, management, and finance. Plus, if film doesn't work out, you can fall back on your business degree. There are many paths within this industry. That's just my two cents.

Still, imho, one of the best, if not the best, super hero films ever made. It had such an "epic" feel to the movie. The score by John Williams was fantastic. The direction by Donner, top notch. And Unsworth... just spot on.

I, too, thought it was a reel about color grading. Always remember the rule of thirds. Christopher Doyle always has some really interesting compositions in his films with WKW. Particularly, "In the Mood for Love." If you haven't seen them, check them out.

Haskell Wexler, A.S.C. is categorized as red-green blind.

There are trade-offs camera to camera. The body of a BMCC with an EF mount is roughly $1995. A lens (let's say 70-200mm) will run you roughly $2,499.00. The 5D is just as pricey. You're in high school, just starting out, and are learning so I'm not sure I would bite the bullet on something like that. Unless, you're a good hustler (I'm saying this in a positive way) and are going to hit the local band scene and charge for videos -- then maybe invest. This might help you out. http://www.eoshd.com/content/9413/eoshds-top-5-cameras-of-2012 I started out with a Bolex H16 REX shooting on Kodak 7266.

I've heard the expression, "Never spend your own money." But, let me be candid. It's bull****. A seasoned producer will simply reply, "Why should I invest into your project when you won't?" You can try and "minimize" risk, but this industry is a huge risk by its very own nature. You're going to have some "skin in the game."

As others have stated, I was impressed at your job of pulling together the set pieces... especially on a budget. There are a lot of people that can't do it. About the only other project that I can think of is a ~ 50 min film called "God and Country" that was shot on a ~ $5,000 budget. http://www.godandcountrymovie.com/trailer.html Ingenuity is key. This is a visual medium... you have to use your mind's eye with shots and composition. When I work on a script, I see the shots as if I'm viewing the movie within my head, and make annotations.