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Beyond the games, the readers and the internet access the iPad offers, this mighty piece of technology can have valuable apps for the filmmaker, video producer, director, scriptwriter, production assistant, production manager, location scout and well, the student filmmaker or producer.

Here are some apps that appear to be helpful if you’re planning on attending or are considering video production or film school. All are priced under $10 and if used intelligently, they are the best things since sliced bread.

Celtx Images

1. Celtx ($4.99) http://celtx.com/mobile.html

Get that story that’s running around your head and put it onto this quick and fun app. If you use the desktop version of the software (which is a free download at www.celtx.com) then the iPad version is just as intuitive. Sync from your desktop to the iPad and write and edit your film script, storyboard, two – column script (Audio Visual script) or comic book (yes, comic book). Add notes if you need them and print or send from the iPad. You can also block cameras, lighting set ups, actors, and set pieces. Buy it once and use it on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

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Easy Release Images

2. Easy Release ($9.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easy-release-model-release/id360835268?mt=8\

You’re shooting a multitude of people and just cranking through interview after interview and need to have people sign off on a release form. This app is developed specifically for the photographer or videographer. With a couple of release form options and some customizable forms, you can use the forms for on -camera subjects or location clearance. Have it signed and send a copy off as a PDF or jpeg to the legal department in a blink. You can also add a logo, business name and address and in comes in 12 different languages just in case you find yourself in Canada.

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Field Note Images

3. Field Notes LT (Free) http://fieldnotes.mobi/

You’re in the middle of Iowa and you see a perfect cornfield that you think you could use for a baseball film. Right next door is a beautiful Victorian house with a sweeping porch. Pull out the iPad, describe the scene and the surrounding area. Take a few photos. Note the GPS coordinates. Ah yes, Dyersville, Iowa, just might work. Keep those notes and ideas organized in different folders and then send it off to someone in Hollywood. Of course, you may need wifi to get it there or the 4G plan. If you want to upgrade to FieldNotes Pro, it’s (9.99). Take a look a the promotional video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjsBsqoTO4Q

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DSLR Slate Images

4. DSLR slate ($9.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dslr-slate/id374241045?mt=8

This colorful resource is one of the better slate apps on the iPad. The slate is not customizable which is unfortunate but you learn to work with it fairly quickly as long as you know what you need and what you have. It allows you to log shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and the type of lens you are using. And it looks cool as it flips through the various screens right before the beep. ACTION!

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Tcoder Images

5. Tcoder ($3.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tcoder-professional-logs/id371157360?mt=8

You have a wonderful interview with a wonderful interviewee but you need to keep notes on the conversation. Sync up your camera timecode or clock with Tcoder and you can write all those notes down so you can review and add to them later. You can also add details like where you are, the name of the project, and the name of the interviewee. And maybe you need to write down some follow -up questions but you know darn well you’ll forget them if the conversation keeps taking twists and turns. For 3.99, this app is invaluable because you can fire off the notes in an email to someone in the room or off site because maybe, they have questions too.

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Proprompter Images

6. ProPrompter ($9.99) https://apps.bodelin.com/

You have to do the longest stand up in the world. Your talent keeps forgetting his or her lines. You need a quick intro or outro. You have a list of questions that absolutely need answered. Enter ProPrompter. Add an iPod touch to control the scroll and you have a nice little set up that usually costs hundreds of dollars to rent or buy.

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Logic Pro Images

7. Logic’s Music for Video ($9.99) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/logics-music-for-video-toolbox/id438593850?mt=12

Looking for more cowbell? Logic is presenting a powerful app with a learning curve to score your film and videos. It takes a little getting used to, but play around with the buttons, tabs and parameters and soon enough, you’ll soon find your way around. There are tutorials and wealth of ideas on how to get that cowbell base line just right. It’s a big app at 368 megabytes so leave room on your iPad if you can.

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Pocket Call Sheet Images

It’s 5:00 AM. Where’s your crew? This app makes it easy to let everyone know what is going to happen that day. You can create the call sheet. Distribute it. And track a massive amount of information that you normally need to make a shoot come off without a hitch. If you have a keyboard attached to your iPad you can type it up fairly quickly. If not, then it can get a little cumbersome, but the app allows you to pull in people directly from your iPad address book even if they have multiple phone numbers or email addresses. Everything is added to the call sheet so it’s guaranteed they’re going to get it. See you on location in an hour.

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Reel Director Images

9. ReelDirector ($1.99) http://www.nexvio.com/

So here we are, it’s an editing app. It’s too obvious for a digital film student but this app makes it easier to edit and share your movie clips. Add transitions, music, drag and drop clips, and ta-da, you’re Spielberg.

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Netflix Images

10. Netflix ($7.99 a month) www.netflix.com

Set up a streaming account with Netflix, and enjoy an abundance of indie films. I know, I know. The fee is monthly but try it out. Download the free app and watch movies full screen. Go ahead, steal some ideas. Play your favorite scene over and over and over. Believe me, it’s worth the price.

Of course, if you can’t pay the monthly fee for Netflix streaming then download the free Vimeo app. There’s even more material from extremely talented professionals and a huge amount of tutorials. Just don’t expect badly shot cute cat videos.

There you have it. Total price tag for start -up student filmmaking: less than $66.00. Wow, what a bargain for some incredibly powerful apps and a way to keep your productions organized.

But wait there’s more…here’s one more that could prove very handy.

icam images

iCam ($4.99) http://skjm.com/icam/

This app promotes itself as a spy cam but if you need a quick interview with someone, this is incredibly practical. The software must be set up at both ends with a web cam but let the interview begin (and save the traveling costs). The interaction and control is between the webcam and the iPad. You can also record and share the stream if needed. Save it and edit it later.

Now go out there and start shooting!!

Posted in Blog, Video & Motion Graphics | Media Institute

What’s next? The petabyte. And I don’t want to go there because backing up that much data would be a nightmare and searching for data would be even worse. But it’s coming. I know it’s coming. In the meantime, organizing the triabetes documentary and creating files, sequences, subsequences, subfiles, and subclips has been a REAL challenge.

Camera people with a lot of years and like many people in the media business, especially the ones who have been around the world , are fairly cynical. They’ve seen a lot and they’ve heard a lot. It’s the “been there, done that” mentality. However, I was surprised at how quickly the camera people and their assistants became involved with the triabetes athletes the day of the race. While reviewing the footage before editing, I could hear one cameraman as he looked through the viewfinder of his camera say as he composed a wide shot of the beginning of the swim, “This is so f***** cool!” In all honesty, that never happens.

Another camera person who had done some marathons would give encouragement as the athletes passed. “You look good.” Or if they were struggling, he’d say, “Stay strong.” Cameramen usually don’t get too involved with the action, and I don’t know if it really made a difference to the athletes, but it seemed to make a difference for the camera man. He contacted me a couple days after the race to see if all the athletes were doing okay. Again, in all honesty, that never happens.

Thankfully, the conditions were perfect: no rain, mid-70s, nice day. Nonetheless, it was grueling, demanding, and exhausting day for the crew. From start to finish, it was 19 hours with a camera running and gunning. As I watched the race finishes with the athletes and the camera crews, the announcer blared over the loudspeaker the name of the athlete and where they are from ending with the phrase “You ARE an Ironman.” For example “Anne Findlay, from San Francisco, you ARE an Ironman.” (Ironman is not gender specific.) It was an incredible moment for anyone standing near the finish line. The camera crews captured every moment until the last athlete crosses the finish line.

For that day, there is virtually no difference between the camera people and the athletes. The emotion and concentration take the same path. The camera crews had to remain focused while running with the athletes, carrying a camera and keeping it in focus, with a correct iris, and maintaining good composition. If you shoot any kind of sports, you know what it’s like. This is tough stuff.
So to Ray, Carl, Dave, Tim, Shawn, Josh, Aaron, I say, “You ARE an Ironman.” Thanks for the great footage and understanding the story.

I have attended many conferences where documentary producers talk about the process of trying to find funding. Some ideas are silly like creating a salsa dress line for department stores for a salsa documentary. Some are smart like conducting an online contest with an entry fee to name a documentary. Some were interesting like pre-selling the documentary program and giving credit to the buyers as contributors. It’s always an ongoing process.

Most documentary producers have a love of the subject with very little interest in how the money is raised. Many work without funding because finding funds is competitive, and grants have virtually disappeared. In contrast, support for marketing a documentary online has exceeded expectations. There are so many avenues to explore. It’s interesting that it has become so diversified. But I digress.

Thank you, Charles Renfro from LifeScan. Thank you for giving this project a chance to tell some wonderful stories. We’re happy you came along for the ride so lives will change (and many have) and give people with Type 1 diabetes a chance at a decent life. I am doing this for my daughter who was diagnosed four years ago when she was five years old. She is a natural athlete and I want her to grow up with no boundaries. So thank you for showing her and the hundreds of children what this idea can do. There is still great power in an idea. Again, thanks. We wouldn’t be anywhere without you.

Moments. That’s what I look for as the first roll of video runs past my eyes. It’s the realities of life caught .. . in a moment. Perhaps it’s a wink at the camera, or an off-hand remark, or a tearful hug and smile captured in time. And I know it when I see it.

It must reflect life
It must feel universal
It must have emotion

There are hours of footage to review from the Triabetes athletes who participated in the Ironman Wisconsin race and I comb through footage twice. These moments may become part of a montage or sprinkled throughout the program for a visual release, or slowed down for maximum impact. And I am anticipating many moments.

They will portray the essence of the story and the anchor of the theme. Cynicism aside, I want moments.

And it’s because that’s what life boils down to when you reflect and remember .. . it’s always the moments.

There is a long journey ahead as I pull this program together. It will define me and it will shape me in ways that I cannot explain because everything is defined in . . .. moments.
Stay with me as I find the moments that define this experience.