2017-03-30 06:32
One of my videos that seems to get watched quite regularly is my $56 7" HDMI car monitor that I made work as a field monitor. It still works, and is one of my better finds. That same m… Read More
Blog Directory > Arts & Entertainment Blogs > TV & Film Blogs > The Frugal Filmmaker tv-and-film Blog >
The Frugal Filmmaker Blog
filmflap.blogspot.com
All kinds of cool ways to get your movie made without breaking the bank...
2017-03-29 07:23
It's been a long time since I last posted anything, and it feels even longer. It's only been six months, but in that time I've been able to step back from almost everything Frugal Filmmaker… Read More
2016-09-16 07:48
I'm always on the lookout for weird, cheap stuff that can be used in interesting, filmmaking ways. My latest find was a $5 endoscopic USB camera on eBay. This small camera lives at the end… Read More
2016-08-18 05:54
It's been over a month since I created a new video or posted on this blog. I've had a really hard time getting in front of my camera to create new content, and I can't really explain why. I… Read More
2016-07-09 18:18
In the fifth part of my series on Making a Frugal Short Film, we take the script we wrote last month and break it down. It ain't rocket science, but this is an important part of chopping yo… Read More
2016-06-30 05:01
When you have to crank out videos on a regular basis (or non-regular, as has been the case lately), you want to get it done as fast as possible, with as few errors as possible. I do have a… Read More
2016-06-18 01:20
Ever had a shoot, but no boom operator to record sound? I had this issue recently, which would normally be solved by using a boom mic stand, but alas, mine is long gone. Since I had no time… Read More
2016-06-07 06:52
The Frugal Cage is an inexpensive camera cage made of flash brackets that can adjust to small or large interchangeable lens cameras. I really liked using it on my older camera (the Sony NEX… Read More
2016-05-27 00:03
The quality of your screenplay can really make or break your film. Not only does this apply to the final product, but also in attracting people to work on the project in the first place. On… Read More
2016-05-19 22:05
Today I answer questions about Sony Vegas Pro, memory card backups, reviewing shavers, a dynamic mic on the end of a boom pole, and a summer chromakey shot.Video4YouTubeSony A7II mirrorless… Read More
2016-05-15 03:36
If you do any tabletop shooting, an external monitor is a must. No matter how well you mark your recording surface, your hands and other objects will wander unappealingly out of frame. After… Read More
2016-05-11 23:09
Today we talk about pulling focus, camcorder zooming, my "new" editing computer, where my speakers went, and where I picked up my 7" monitor.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESony A7ii mirrorle… Read More
2016-05-11 23:09
Today we talk about pulling focus, camcorder zooming, my "new" editing computer, where my speakers went, and where I picked up my 7" monitor.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESony A7ii mirrorle… Read More
2016-05-05 23:03
Recently I both tweeted and and mentioned in the Q&A show, that I had found something quite spectacular in the dumpster just outside my apartment. Not one to typically dumpster dive, thi… Read More
2016-05-02 22:25
A common filmmaking item you'll often find in a thrift store is the second-hand tripod. These may be in good shape and complete, or they may be a total wreck. A common issue seems to be that… Read More
2016-04-27 23:19
I'm a big fan of game elements used to tell a story. At the most basic level, all games tell some kind of story already, but I really like it when gaming and storytelling go full throttle. R… Read More
2016-04-21 02:02
Today we talk about camera rigs, a DVD release, casting your film, the A-team intro, and my "new" dumpster PC.FEATURED STUFF IN THIS EPISODE"Directing Actors" by Judith WestonStar Wars / Mac… Read More
2016-04-21 02:02
Today we talk about camera rigs, a DVD release, casting your film, the A-team intro, and my "new" dumpster PC.FEATURED STUFF IN THIS EPISODE"Directing Actors" by Judith WestonStar Wars / Mac… Read More
2016-04-18 19:20
Last month, we talked about checking out our resources to help set parameters about what kind of film we could possibly make. This month, we literally lay out all of those resources and have… Read More
2016-04-08 22:14
I'm not sure when the 1/4-20" tripod mount became a standard, but there is no shortage of filmmaking accessories that use it. Whether you actually mount the thing (whatever it is) on a tripo… Read More
2016-04-08 22:14
I'm not sure when the 1/4-20" tripod mount became a standard, but there is no shortage of filmmaking accessories that use it. Whether you actually mount the thing (whatever it is) on a tripo… Read More
2016-04-06 02:28
Today we discuss the promo reel, simple masking FX, removing audio buzz, cutting down on room reverb, and why are those googly eyes over your speaker?It's also Trivia Tuesday, so check the v… Read More
2016-04-06 02:28
Today we discuss the promo reel, simple masking FX, removing audio buzz, cutting down on room reverb, and why are those googly eyes over your speaker?It's also Trivia Tuesday, so check the v… Read More
2016-04-02 01:00
If you have several cameras, you probably have several infrared (IR) camera remotes to go with with them. These remotes can be very useful, but a pain to replace if you lose them. In the abo… Read More
2016-03-31 07:02
Today I answer questions about motorized gimbals, pulling focus on Steadicam shots, long unbalanced mic cables, my tiny studio lighting, and simple ways to flesh out characters.STUFF MENTION… Read More
2016-03-31 06:59
Today I answer questions about motorized gimbals, pulling focus on Steadicam shots, long unbalanced mic cables, my tiny studio lighting, and simple ways to flesh out characters.STUFF MENTION… Read More
2016-03-25 05:56
I have a love/hate relationship with gimballed camera stabilizers. You can get some really nice smooth shots, but boy are they touchy and require lots of practice to operate properly. Just b… Read More
2016-03-15 08:37
Last month I talked about what the definition of "Frugal Short Film" actually was, and this month we take a first step into formulating short film ideas. There are many ways you can do this… Read More
2016-03-10 04:52
Today we talk about "silent" shorts, using the Zoom H1 with your camera, the Frugal Crane 2.0, a panoramic shot outside my window, and what the future holds for The Frugal Filmmaker and Alas… Read More
2016-03-10 04:52
Today we talk about "silent" shorts, using the Zoom H1 with your camera, the Frugal Crane 2.0, a panoramic shot outside my window, and what the future holds for The Frugal Filmmaker and Alas… Read More
2016-03-04 21:49
While I am an ardent user of my Leatherman Wingman as multi-tool of choice (whether I'm on a film set or not), there are always times when I can't use it and which I had something smaller. T… Read More
2016-03-02 23:44
Today we're talkin' handheld mic stabilization, filmmaking red tape, free soundrack help, jump cuts, and strong roles for women. And there's a trivia question!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE… Read More
2016-03-02 23:44
Today we're talkin' handheld mic stabilization, filmmaking red tape, free soundrack help, jump cuts, and strong roles for women. And there's a trivia question!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE… Read More
2016-03-01 01:55
Macro shooting is cool stuff. It allows you to get ridiculously close to an object, yet retain focus. The camera ends up being so close, and the depth of field so shallow, the focus ring on… Read More
2016-02-24 04:12
Today we're talkin' dialogue, the film look, syncing audio, time-lapse tilting, and the c-stand.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEReview: Saramonic SR-AX101 audio adapter/mixerC-stand basics wi… Read More
2016-02-24 04:12
Today we're talkin' dialogue, the film look, syncing audio, time-lapse tilting, and the c-stand.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEReview: Saramonic SR-AX101 audio adapter/mixerC-stand basics wi… Read More
2016-02-21 01:19
The XLR audio standard is a great one for noise cancellation. Unfortunately, the microphones and cables for this standard are more expensive and may keep you out of the XLR loop. If you do g… Read More
2016-02-17 07:23
Today we talk Zoom H1 audio quality, foley, controlling a camera at the end of a pole, frugal storage solutions, and the normal speed to slow motion effect.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEMak… Read More
2016-02-17 07:23
Today we talk Zoom H1 audio quality, foley, controlling a camera at the end of a pole, frugal storage solutions, and the normal speed to slow motion effect.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEMak… Read More
2016-02-15 22:23
Last month I began a short series about making a short, frugal film. That episode dealt with audience creation, but today we're defining what I feel the term "frugal short" really means. Thi… Read More
2016-02-10 06:07
Today I attempt to answer questions about LED lights, walking and filming, hoverboards, green screens, and silicon bands!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODETip: Better Camera Slider BalanceCheap… Read More
2016-02-10 06:07
Today I attempt to answer questions about LED lights, walking and filming, hoverboards, green screens, and silicon bands!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODETip: Better Camera Slider BalanceCheap… Read More
2016-02-07 22:35
It seems that one problem with a lot of camera devices is that there is only one point of contact to attach your camera. This is fine in most cases, but what if you have a front-heavy camera… Read More
2016-02-03 22:03
Hard drives fail. It's a fact of life.Everyone has either had (or will have) a horror story about losing valuable data. In this digital age, tangible media is going out the window and is bei… Read More
2016-02-03 08:32
Today we're talkin' new intros, the Eventpod, underwater rigs, duplicating a long and fake single take, and lighting a dark lounge. Oh, and there's a trivia question!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS… Read More
2016-02-03 08:32
Today we're talkin' new intros, the Eventpod, underwater rigs, duplicating a long and fake single take, and lighting a dark lounge. Oh, and there's a trivia question!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS… Read More
2016-01-30 09:51
If you've got big gorilla hands like me, you have probably become frustrated with modern super-small digital cameras. Sure, they produce great images, but they are like a toy in your hands… Read More
2016-01-27 06:37
Today we talk about a frugal blooper reel, my next short film, a pvc camera rig flashback, PVC shame, and whether or not I was hit by the Alaskan earthquake.My Director's ReelOriginal PVC ca… Read More
2016-01-24 01:48
A few weeks ago I had a question on the Q&A show asking about how to create a better reel to show off your work. Sometimes called a "sizzle reel", this trailer-esque presentation puts al… Read More
2016-01-21 00:33
Today our topics cover consistent posting, self-promoting YouTube comments, that thing behind my left shoulder, and advertising on your blog.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEMaking a Frugal Fi… Read More
2016-01-16 20:21
Every artist (with very rare exceptions) wants to show their work to the world. We filmmakers dream of having a large audience with our movies splashed across global screens. While getting t… Read More
2016-01-13 00:23
Today our questions cover DIY instructional how-tos, help finding a crew outside of film school, demo reel creation, vintages lenses, and cheap car chases.STUFF FEATURED IN THIS EPISODETip:… Read More
2016-01-10 02:05
One of my favorite things to do is take something meant for one purpose and twist it all around to suit my filmmaking needs. Such is the case this week's tip video, where I take ordinary dri… Read More
2016-01-06 09:21
Today we talk CGI, car audio, wide angle lenses, talent releases, and if there's a vertical 180 degree rule.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEDIY: Remote controlled "recording" lightSample tale… Read More
2016-01-03 04:30
If you're like me, you don't live alone. When I first started making these videos, it was almost exclusively at night when everyone was asleep. I never had to worry about anyone making noise… Read More
2015-12-28 18:49
I'm always on the lookout for the perfect piece of DIY kit to help me in my quest to build the perfect camera rig. A large part of this is a quick release system which allows the fast remova… Read More
2015-12-22 23:25
Today we look at rehearsing, green screens, foley, TV show setups, and why I slouch on camera.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE6x9' muslin green screenWhat is foley?The 180 degree rule Read More
2015-12-15 17:46
Today our questions cover render settings, what films to watch, creating sound fx, car mounts, and the real reason that gold reflector is in my window.STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEA Better… Read More
2015-12-14 07:31
Making a scrolling credit list can be a laborious process. While I like the simple credit roll format made available inside of Sony Vegas Pro, it still has a form that is not fun to fill out… Read More
2015-12-08 22:49
Today we talk my first cold weather shooting experience, lighting low light, finding outdoor locations, vintage lenses, crowdfunding and Frugal Filmmaker Trivia!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISO… Read More
2015-12-04 23:28
It's the holiday season and if you're looking for a gift for any frugal filmmaker (such as yourself), here's a short list of choices you may find beneficial. These are all items that I have… Read More
2015-11-30 21:39
Today we talk teleprompters, camera lenses, rig part storage, continuity and crash pads!STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEFive Frugal Turkeys: learning from bad videosFrugal Cage TeleprompterCa… Read More
2015-11-28 21:55
When you are trying to post a new video every week, there may be times when some bad ones slip through. Every thing you publish isn't going to be great and some may be downright awful. The g… Read More
2015-11-27 23:37
And this what happens when you post a video on YouTube, a holiday hits, and you forget the accompanying post on your blog! Sorry about the delay for those who read the blog and don't subscri… Read More
2015-11-22 09:59
While it may seem super basic to describe the camera pan and tilt, it's still an important shot that every filmmaker should know how to pull off. If you have never heard of this camera move… Read More
2015-11-17 15:41
Today we cover spring clamps, filmmaker frugality, a snow shoot, generic audio monitors, my ten minute time limit, and poop! STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECreating a Small Studio, Part 3 … Read More
2015-11-15 07:29
If you're like me and you do any kind of videos about the making of anything, you've probably shot on a table, counter top, or desktop. There's been an evolution over the years concerning ho… Read More
2015-11-12 20:59
If you visit this blog regularly (what? you don't?), you probably noticed the new box in the upper right hand corner, which features the Amazon logo and a swirly super nova, black hole thing… Read More
2015-11-10 06:31
Today I tackle questions on keeping mics dry, adapting vintage lenses, my current camera, YouTube mail, and what exactly is in that spray bottle on my window sill?Congratulations to Will Fas… Read More
2015-11-10 06:30
If you have a YouTube channel, an important element of marketing is your channel trailer. This a video you can select to autoplay every time a unsubscribed visitor shows up to check out your… Read More
2015-11-02 13:30
Today I discuss light sockets, carry cases, drones, matte boxes, and the Frugal Filmmaker lecture circuit! It's also Trivia Monday, so check the video for the question, be the first to an… Read More
2015-10-31 23:38
Every time I sit down to record a YouTube video, I use a lav mic. This is a small microphone that clips to your clothing, near your mouth, that allows you to easily capture sound from the pe… Read More
2015-10-26 17:42
STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECreating a Small Studio, Part 2 - Lights!Knoptop talks scissor clamps22" 5-in-1 reflector (eBay : Amazon) The Importance of Hair and Makeup Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
On this day we were going to shoot in two locations, a motel lobby and a motel room. We had a lobby location (a converted theatre lobby), but the second location had not been obtained as of… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
Obviously, you need light to capture an image. While there are a variety of cheap options, one that may set you back a few bucks, but is extremely useful is an LED light. These are banks of… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
There's been an interesting development in the past year or so that bears commenting on, especially if you are into building your own camera rigs. In the recent past, the material of choice… Read More
2006-06-07 11:16
"I'm on the penny, you know!" Read More
Subscribe to The Frugal Filmmaker
Get updates delivered right to your inbox!