Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
Product Description
Legendary Web designer and author Hillman Curtis has always been fascinated by motion and movement. In 2001, inspired in part by the affordability and accessibility of digital video, he began to experiment with short digital films in an effort to reinvigorate his creative spirit and express himself both personally and professionally.
The nine projects Hillman describes in this book, each between 60 seconds and 10 minutes long, draw from a wide variety of creative sources and take various forms—documentaries, music videos, a fictional short film, and a series of video portraits. Each one is unique, yet the goal is always the same: to capture in video the essence of his subject.
Equal parts inspiration, instruction, and personal essay, Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web offers an intimate look into the author’s personal filmmaking process: from the ideas and influences that drive the concept and theme of the piece, through the setup, shoot, and assembly of a rough cut, to the final edit. Hillman explains how his flexible, often spontaneous filmmaking style is guided by certain principles—the value of leaving room for serendipity, the freedom found within self-imposed limitations, the importance of collaborating with others, and the possibilities for discovery and revision when reacting to unforeseen accidents.
Throughout the book, Hillman offers advice on filmmaking’s numerous elements, such as direction, sound, editing, and interviewing. Also included is a primer to help you get up and running with your own digital video projects—explaining the equipment you’ll need and providing an overview of the filmmaking process—and an appendix that guides you through building your own Flash video player.
Hillman Curtis is the founder of hillmancurtis.com, a design studio specializing in Web site design, motion graphics, and digital video. Hillman’s clients include Yahoo!, Adobe, RollingStone.com, British Airways, MTV, and Intel. His expert and innovative design solutions have garnered him and his company numerous awards, including the Communication Arts Award of Excellence and the South by Southwest Conference “Best Use of Design” and “Best of Show.” Author of the bestselling Flash Web Design: The Art of Motion Graphics and MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer, Hillman lives in New York City with his family.
Hillman Curtis’ On Creating Short Films For The Web joins others in the ‘Voices That Matter’ series, presenting the founder of a design studio’s insights on nine projects ranging between 60 seconds and 10 minutes long. Each project covers a range of filmmaking influences; from idea to the setup, shoot and assembly and editing of scenes. Short film produces receive plenty of tested insider’s tips on the entire process in chapters which include plenty of color photo examples form Curtis’ own works.
Rating: 5 / 5
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
A very illuminating book from a designer artist who shows how one can learn on the way. It is more philsophical than technical – about the attitude to creating rather than just a lot of technical facts
Rating: 5 / 5
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
I have been a fan of his works and this is just as inspirational as anything else he wrote. No technical steps but processes and theories are exlained.
Rating: 5 / 5
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
As someone who is making the transition from web design to motion design and film making, this book was great for me. What I found really valuable was that Hillman describes the technical and creative mistakes he made when he was starting out. Hopefully I can avoid those pitfalls now that I’m aware of them. I’m already familiar with most of the technical issues that are covered, however I might have saved myself a lot of time and trouble if I’d read this book sooner.
The projects he describes probably should have been included on a DVD with the book. However, I think all the videos are available on Hillman’s website [http://hillmancurtis.com].
This book is great inspiration for the aspiring (or frustrated) amateur filmmaker. It made me want to grab my camera and start shooting right away.
Rating: 4 / 5
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web
This is a very lightweight read regarding the process of production. It’s more of a personal journal, blog-style account than anything substantial a reader can learn from. However, it does have merit in that respect. So, if you’re a newbie and want to get your feet wet, this may be a book you’d like to read to get yourself into those baby steps.
It’s a bit refreshing to read a guy’s perspective when it’s not full of posturing and bravado. The author has a more self-nurturing tone and approaches the work with humility, which again isn’t bad for a newbie.
The bottom line is: don’t expect anything that is going to turn you into a video producer overnight. Admittedly, it’s a hard profession, technical, requiring time, money and connections, and is very competitive. This is not a strong technical manual.
I have a BA in Film/Video and make educational videos/multimedia for a living, so my perspective is a bit skewed.
Rating: 3 / 5
Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web