Top 2 Consumer Camcorders (under $2000) for Indie Filmmakers

The Canon was chosen for its range of functions and amazing image quality for the price. The big plus for me is having an audio jack for an external mic, which most camcorders of this price range don't have.

The Flip is a camera you carry with you at all times for that spontaneous shot. The image quality is pretty good. Camcorders of this size are close to useless in low-light, but this one stands out.

Canon HV40 (~$1500-1700)
http://www.canon.com.au/en-au/For-You/Digital-Video-Cameras/LEGRIA-Video-Cameras/HV40

• Exceptionally good quality image for the price
• True HD 1080 24P
• ND Filter - useful when shooting outside
  
• Wheel for manual focus
• Adjust exposure manually
• Audio jack for external mic (big plus!)
• Auto focus can be slow
• Uses MiniDV tapes
  

Flip UltraHD (~$250)
http://www.theflip.com

• For the filmmaker on the fly, a spontaneous interview or recce a location
• Fits in your pocket!
• Not full HD (1280x720), but good image quality for a camera this size
• Shoot up to 120min of footage onto 8Gb internal memory
  
• Great in low-light

Short Film Distributors List

Raindance has found a useful up-to-date list of film buyers and broadcasters.

http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/short-film-distributor-list

Raindance: 7 Things To Do When You Submit Your Film

Very good sound advice. Actually made me rethink how I submit films to festivals....

http://www.raindance.org/site/7-things-to-do-when-you-submit-your-film

Raindance How To Tips: The 7 Essentials Filmmakers Need To Make It

Raindance has done it again. Great tips and advice.

Read it @ http://www.raindance.org/site/7-essentials-filmmakers-need-to-make-it

CVFF Top 3 Prosumer (mid range) Camcorders for Indie Filmmakers

The Canon XL2 (~$4,499 online) is an amazing camera for any indie filmmaker, professional or beginner.

• Easy access to all key controls on the body
• Interchangeable lenses
• Broadcast quality image
• No Hi-Def

The Sony HVR-A1 (~$3,478 online) is small, but big on image quality.

• Great for documentary makers, small and unintrusive
• Key controls accessed through menu system, so can be fiddly
• Broadcast quality image, although not great in low light
• Hi-Def

The Sony HvR-Z1 (~$5,219 online), is the most popular prosumer camera on the market.

• An all-rounder
• Some key controls accessed through menu system, so can be fiddly
• Broadcast quality image
• Hi-Def

Next month: Top 3 Consumer Camcorders (under $2000) for Indie Filmmakers.

Out Of Sudan - Photo Exhibition

Rob George: For the past year or so I've been working on a documentary about a Sudanese couple, Angelo and Mary Tat, who are friends of ours. Last year, Angelo went back to Sudan to help his family after his brother had been murdered in intertribal conflicts. I gave him a small camera and asked him to take as many photos as he could. I was hoping for half a dozen or so that could be used in the documentary. Angelo returned with over a thousand stills and many hours of low resolution video. And despite having almost no experience with a camera many of his photos are stunning.

As a result, I've organised an exhibition of Angelo's photos to be held in Werribee from March 25 to April 3. The launch will be at 7.00 on the 25th at the Wyndham Cultural Centre, 177 Watton Street, Werribee. A flyer for the event is attached. Profits from the sale of photos will go towards building a schoolroom in the village which has no schools or medical facilities and where the people are starving as a result of the tribal wars.

Also attached is a link to a youtube video promoting the event that includes a number of Angelo's photos together with an extraordinary video clip taken through the window of the truck he was in after it arrived at his home village.

Please feel free to forward the flyer and the link to anyone who you think might be interested.

I look forward to seeing you at the launch and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

All the best,

Rob George.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3uBsgbTq8I

Programme Launch is just around the corner!

The Clare Valley Film Festival judging process draws close to completion and the Programme Launch is just around the corner

142 short films were submitted to the festival. The international category is represented by 20 countries: Sweden, Turkey, Finland, Hungary, UK, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, Israel, The Netherlands, Croatia, USA, Greece, Chile, Costa Rica, Tunisia and the Australian films from SA, NT, Vic, NSW and ACT.

The CVFF Judging Panel is busy assessing the films, which will create the final selection for the programme. The standard is very high, which makes the selection process challenging. Here are a few quotes from the judges:

• "There is an incredible diversity of entries from all over the world - short comedies from Germany, experimental films from the UK, and social justice shorts from the US. It's been a pleasure to watch these mini masterpieces."
  Fiona Gunn, National Film and Sound Archive, ACT
  
  
• “The fabulous entries in the Clare Valley Film Festival not only take us from coastal England through urban Turkey to inner city Australia they also present us with a full spectrum of views of human nature: comic, poignant, tragic and absurd using the formats of drama, documentary and mime. The film makers are all talented and committed revealing an extraordinary wealth of ideas.”
  Rob George, Prospect Productions, Vic
  
  
• "I was really impressed with all these entries."
  Paul Greenaway OAM, Greenaway Art Gallery, SA
  
  
• "It is very very hard to go through this selection process. Each of these films is somebody's baby, not always perfect but always loved. I salute you all for putting your work out there."
  Seeta Indrani, MashMosh Films, UK

Carolyn Choa whose credits include The Talented Mr Ripley (1999), The English Patient (1996) and Hero (2002) is coordinating the festival programme. Her extensive experience and creative eye will be a valuable asset in forming the themes and programme groupings for the festival.

Clare Valley Film Festival celebrates independent film - films which are made with determination, talent and love. The festival’s motivation is to support and educate young people from South Australia’s regional areas in the art of filmmaking through a Master Class and Question & Answer Seminar with film industry professionals.

The final selection of films will be in the running for Audience Choice Award, Best World Short Film and Best Australian Short Film.

The programme launch is for early December 2009, so sign up at www.clarevalleyfilmfestival.com to be first to see the line-up.