Free Music Archive

Free Music Archive (FMA) offers free downloads under Creative Commons and other licenses.  While it’s nice to be able to download music for free, the question is: Can you use the music in a video project for free. In many cases, the answer is “Yes,” you can incorporate the music into your video project without…

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GripTight GorillaPod Stand for smartphone stability

You want three qualities in a video tripod: stability, stability, and stability. That’s the main point: to banish shaky camera work so that your videos look smooth and professional. If you’re like most of us, you’ll also insist on ease of use, which includes  portability. The tripod that is too bulky or that requires too…

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“Essentials of Screenwriting” by Richard Walter

Reviewed by Jeff Leisawitz It doesn’t matter if you’re shooting a hundred million dollar movie or busting out a skit with your friends— story matters. All movies start here. The conflict, the character, the arc. Learn how to do it well and your audience will be seduced by the drama. The “Essentials of Screenwriting” explains…

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“How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck” by Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman’s video-making guide doesn’t suck. To the contrary, it’s a really useful and funny book. The book delivers on the promise of its subtitle  “Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro. Written at a basic level, “How to Shoot Video That Doesn’t Suck” is probably most helpful to readers who are new to…

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SloPro: 1000 fps Slow Motion Video app

If life seems to be moving too fast, there’s a remedy: film it in slow motion. These days it’s easy and inexpensive. A popular app for the iPhone and iPad is SloPro (Sand Motion Studios, downloadable at iTunes), which offers 1000 frames per second images, useful if you’re studying hummingbirds. More leisurely rates, say four…

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