I really know very little about acting. My only time in front of a camera was to drive a truck up to a curb so a small dog could jump into it. But I did direct our six Modern Parables films and we regularly get complimented on the good acting. To set the record straight, I am not responsible for the good acting: the actors are. Yet the process of directing six unique films back-t0-back with over 60+ different actors gave me some helpful insight for directing actors in front of a camera. We’re about to shoot a short film on marriage roles in a few weeks, and the casting and rehearsal process has gotten me thinking about how to get good performances on film, so I thought I’d give my two cents on it. If you’re an experienced director, this will be elementary and not worth reading; but if you’re not, perhaps you might find something useful in it. [click to continue…]
At least once a month, we get a call from someone wanting to develop a new video-based curriculum or project. Normally, people are in the initial stages asking questions such as: How much does it cost to make a video? How do you get products into retail stores and online? and Where did you get your actors? (Believe it or not, this last question is asked by almost everyone we talk to, regardless of what they’re wanting to do.) Those questions aside, I honestly think the biggest challenge in putting together a good curriculum is knowing what to do on the front end so that when you’re finished, all the dots line up. It’s not hard creating some of the elements – the hard part is making them all work together harmoniously to become an effective teaching tool in a small group or classroom setting. [click to continue…]
My first disclaimer is that this is a subjective chart. Having spent a number of years trying to create video for use in Christian educational settings, this graph is an attempt to visualize some of my conclusions and opinions. It will likely be of little interest to most people, but for those few who are intrigued with trying to use video to teach Biblical ideas and principles, perhaps it will be of some use. [click to continue…]
Each of us at Compass Cinema is extremely detailed in his own particular way. As a result, we like to work systematically. We try to plan out creative processes as much as possible beforehand; as Orson Welles said – and I quote him loosely – if you don’t have a plan, you don’t have anything to deviate from. Although we don’t believe God is in the details, we do believe He cares about them – and so do we. [click to continue…]
