Want to make shorts? Buy an SLR

Within the last year, the big camera makers have all implemented HD video capture as standard on the majority of their SLR ranges. The portability, the already excellent sensors on the cameras, it made sense to have the option to shoot video too. Canon have stood out from the crowd, filming full 1080p and becoming a firm favorite with many independent filmmakers. Questions were asked on the quality of the video but any fears were quashed when some outstanding shorts were produced on the 5d Mark II. Here are a couple shorts and even a trailer of a full movie, made on DSLR’s. You can make stuff like this for €2,499. And a little creative talent!

36stairs trailer from grzegorz jonkajtys on Vimeo.

Reverie from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Nocturne from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

The Bridge – Everything’s Fine from Marlon Torres on Vimeo.

I love you Sarah Jane

Another recommendation here for an excellent short film. I love you Sarah Jane is a beautifully shot short film selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Jimbo is 13. All he can think about is one girl, Sarah Jane. And no matter what stands in his way – bullies, violence, chaos, zombies – nothing is going to stop him from finding a way into her world.

Makingof.com

Just a quick post on a website I recently discovered which was co-created by Natalie Portman. Makingof.com is a great source for video interviews with some of the biggest names in the film industry today. As well as actors and directors, they also have an extensive catalogue of interviews with cameramen, cinematographers, DOP’s etc. Definitely a site worth checking out if you are interested in the ins and outs of the industry.

Makingof.com