I ran into some videos about movie making on YouTube. I found the following three either inspiring or useful.

In this video the presenter talks about writing the script according to the resources that are available. This is relevant to us because no one can have everything s/he wants. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQzhyxdYWLA

 

Here is a video talking about the important role of one's energy (passion) plays in making a movie. Be a little patient, he will get to that part some minutes into it. Again, I think it is relevant to us - starting and finishing a movie is not easy.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiznR1nRc1o

 

Here is a video that provides a quick recap of filming techniques. It is a high school project but if one wants a quick overview of common techniques, it will do a good job.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1japIhKU9I

Cool. The guy in the second one was very practical and fun to listen to.

Here's the tutorials from Acceptable TV. They cover all the basics and are pretty funny.

All the tutorials will play in the one video on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OLO9XY/ref=atv_dp_season

Just choose the button "Get this episode with 1-Click FREE"

All of these tutorials can apply to iClone movie making. The video covers:
Story Structure
Writing
Sound
Lighting
Cinematography
Props/Effects
Editing
Rejection

- Keith

Hi
Looking at this list of tutorials you listed and other posts about why there is only a few good Iclone movies, it occurred to me that maybe we are being a Jack of all trades. Stepping outside of Iclone into traditional film making, if I were to set about making a 10 min short film the first thing I would do is pick my team.
Set Designer,
Lighting,
Scriptwriters,
Sound engineers,
Well you get the idea, most people are not strong in all departments, I think that’s the secret to making good films...
:)



I Make My Mates Do The CanCan For The Amusement Of Killer Robots:D

In my opinion, some of the "secrets" to making decent movies are :-

Know your limits; try and push the envelope a little with each project, but don't try and reinvent the wheel if you don't need to. 

By the same token, don't expect to make something as visually stunning as say Coming Home, or Expedition, or Strife if you only picked up the software a week ago and have 5 mins to study it before trying to make your movie; you'll end up sadly disappointed ;)

Do what you're good at, get help for the bits you aren't.  If you can do great voices but can't mod to save your life, ask for help.  If you can do great camera work but can't write, get a writer; vice versa if you're good behind the keyboard but can't line up a shot to save your life.

If you can't get what you need to make a movie work, scale it back or change it (unless that totally compromises your "artistic integrity", of course! :P)

Be realistic; if you want it to look and sound right, you're either going to have to a) spend a loooong time on it or b) be an audio/technical wizard or c) both!  You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, my dear old mum used to say, but you surely can do the other way round with very little trouble!

If you get help for anything, be specific about what you need and when by.  If you want VO help, be specific about what format you want and when you want the files back by.

Be ready to use and (if necessary, break) all the "standard" conventions of movie making; what works in a film studies book about "optimum positioning" and "golden ratios", etc, doesn't always work for machinima.  Be prepared to get creative to fix or avoid problems with sets, animations, lighting, etc.

And, above ALL else... have fun and enjoy the process, or it's pointless you indulging in it!  That's the biggest secret, after all ;)

Killian is totally right, good films come from film makers who enjoy what they do.;)



I Make My Mates Do The CanCan For The Amusement Of Killer Robots:D

The fun of creating animation is that you don't have to follow the approach of traditional film-making.  I have worked with independent animators (as a composer) and it is not unusual for them to combine writing, set design, lighting, and animation. Only music, sound design, and final editing were done by others.  

Now, personally, I would spend money on good voice talents, but I would find having to deal with a whole team too restricting; it would remind me too much of my day job. You have to know your limitations of course...

I came to animation in part because I do have ideas about film music and sound design. However, rather than having the stress of working for hire for a film director, it occurred to me I could try and create the films myself. Animation is ideal for that purpose.

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I do agree that animation and Iclone are ideal for solo work. I myself work this way, but there are areas I am better at than others. I do see the point you are making.



I Make My Mates Do The CanCan For The Amusement Of Killer Robots:D

There is a team (or teams) behind every great movie, even for short animated ones. When movie making reaches a certain level, no one has the talent and time to make it alone.

That said, not everyone is aspired or committed to do that kind of movies. Some of us only want to make a few animated clips to share with friends and family. Some want to enjoy the process of making a movie alone, just like a poet enjoy writing a poem alone. iClone is ideal for these purposes.

Even for some of us who would like to have his or her own team, or be part of a great team someday, iClone is a great way to start. iClone makes it possible for an individual to learn and hone movie making skills without the need for a team. Along the way of learning, one can find out which aspect of movie making appeals to him/her the most, and what type of movies s/he really enjoys making. One will also know and be known to other movie makers with whom s/he can form a team in the future.

Learn iClone and, more importantly, learn how to make movies. There are good discussions of iClone skills, animation skills, and even modeling skills in this forum (because it is the iClone forum?:-). There are way too much complaints of how iClone can't do this and can't do that. On the other hand, there are few discussions of movie making skills. Is it possible that this lack of focus on movie making is one of the reasons that iClone movies in general are not making waves out there yet?

I wouldn't want to measure the level of creativity or commitment of a filmmaker to the size or even the existence of a team.  I have worked with and seen the work of animators who basically worked alone, except as I said before for some aspects.  They are probably too edgy or too foreign to ever be shown in the US (too far removed from the Hollywood formula), but that doesn't diminish their value in an artistic and creative sense.

If you are interested in artistic freedom, a team can be a burden, unless you are the one calling the shots and not the producer or anybody else with a financial interest.  But, of course, to each his own.  If you feel the need or urge to be part of a team, go ahead. 

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Ok I may have been wrong:D



I Make My Mates Do The CanCan For The Amusement Of Killer Robots:D