Has anyone watch his DVD's or attended his seminar. What do you think?
Dov S S Siemens
- Thread starter wparrish24
- Start date
I have his DVD's. They aren't bad, the one's I have (not sure if they've updated) mention a few outdated things when it comes to digital movie production. Overall, lot's of useful information about every aspect from pre-production to post and distribution.
The one's I have were given to me by a friend. They had a $2000 price tag on the cover? If that's what they really went for, I'm not sure I would have bought them personally. Really good info though, and way cheaper than film school. Not much you can't find by reading every article you can online though.
The one's I have were given to me by a friend. They had a $2000 price tag on the cover? If that's what they really went for, I'm not sure I would have bought them personally. Really good info though, and way cheaper than film school. Not much you can't find by reading every article you can online though.
I watched the DVDs.
Personality wise, hes got a lot of attitude that is not proportional to his information.
Information wise, his education is quite general. Nothing that you can not learn for yourself.
But i knew 90% of the stuff before watching the dvds so... For a beginner, you get a general overview in one place instead of finding it for yourself. That's the only main advantage i can see.
Personality wise, hes got a lot of attitude that is not proportional to his information.
Information wise, his education is quite general. Nothing that you can not learn for yourself.
But i knew 90% of the stuff before watching the dvds so... For a beginner, you get a general overview in one place instead of finding it for yourself. That's the only main advantage i can see.
Like all motivational speakers, he is really good at his job.
For those who need motivation (and have either the money
or a friend with money) there is a lot to learn from his
seminar or DVD's. As Ernest said, the information he gives
is all very general and can be found on your own for free.
But for some people having everything in one, convenient
place is worth the money.
For those who need motivation (and have either the money
or a friend with money) there is a lot to learn from his
seminar or DVD's. As Ernest said, the information he gives
is all very general and can be found on your own for free.
But for some people having everything in one, convenient
place is worth the money.
Haha, spot on.
One good thing about the product: if you are totally green and have no idea where to start, you probably don't even know what you need to know. In the course he'll tell you stuff that you probably wouldn't have realized you needed to research if you decided to let "google" be your education.
I went to a Dov seminar in Chicago last year.
He taught our class how to make a feature film. But he left a ton out.
I already knew I would have to get an excellent story myself, and that it might take years to write it.
I disagree with his theory that anyone can direct their first movie with no editing experience/camera knowledge, ect.
He also said don't make any short films, but if you're not going to film school I don't see how you can learn all the hands-on stuff.
His theory on getting investors is pathetic. Sure, the whole starting a production company, finding a great cinematographer, and renting out a cinema while getting potential investors to view your cinematographers demo reel is a great idea. But how do you get those investors?
He said hire dentists since they have the highest rate of suicide. If not dentists, doctors. Some advice Dov. The man next to me shrieked and got very angry when dov said this.
Our class had only 40 people and I had a chance to talk to him head-on. I told him I was 21 and would have a hard time getting investors because of my age. He told me I was right and what I should do is get an experienced cinematographer, and then make a movie for $30,000.
$30,000? I only have $3,000 and with more scripts and short films in my belt, I'd be more likely to get investors Dov.....
Ultimately, I was back where I started. I learned how to rent a REDone camera cheaply and buy film stock cheaply though.... lol
Buy Dov's book "Reel to Reel" before you check out his course.
He taught our class how to make a feature film. But he left a ton out.
I already knew I would have to get an excellent story myself, and that it might take years to write it.
I disagree with his theory that anyone can direct their first movie with no editing experience/camera knowledge, ect.
He also said don't make any short films, but if you're not going to film school I don't see how you can learn all the hands-on stuff.
His theory on getting investors is pathetic. Sure, the whole starting a production company, finding a great cinematographer, and renting out a cinema while getting potential investors to view your cinematographers demo reel is a great idea. But how do you get those investors?
He said hire dentists since they have the highest rate of suicide. If not dentists, doctors. Some advice Dov. The man next to me shrieked and got very angry when dov said this.
Our class had only 40 people and I had a chance to talk to him head-on. I told him I was 21 and would have a hard time getting investors because of my age. He told me I was right and what I should do is get an experienced cinematographer, and then make a movie for $30,000.
$30,000? I only have $3,000 and with more scripts and short films in my belt, I'd be more likely to get investors Dov.....
Ultimately, I was back where I started. I learned how to rent a REDone camera cheaply and buy film stock cheaply though.... lol
Buy Dov's book "Reel to Reel" before you check out his course.
That's why I don't like his seminar or his DVD's.
Everyone, even the most green newbie, knows that in order to make
a $30,000 movie you need to raise $30,000. And even the most green
newbies know that you have to approach people with money and that
many dentists and doctors have money. This all falls into the
"well duh!" category and you don't need to spend money to find
this out.
When the advice on "how" is to hire a good cinematographer I think
even the most green newbie will ask the obvious question; How does
a beginning filmmaker with no short films finished, no money to
hire anyone and no experience manage to find an experienced
cinematographer to be "essentially" the producer of the movie?
It's not like experienced cinematographers are sitting around, not
working looking for inexperienced newbies to help get financing.
A serious newbie has so many options for research these days I
can't imagine the need to spend this kind of money to be told the
obvious. Even using ONLY Google a total, green newbie will stumble
upon some great books they can find for free at a library (if you
kids even know what those are anymore), some great on line
resources and indietalk.com where they can ask questions and get
answers.
When I was a kid (I'm old, I get to say this now) I didn't have
all these resources and I somehow managed to figure out how to
make a film without a single seminar.
A lot of the current, working directors, producers and writers
also managed the same thing.
Everyone, even the most green newbie, knows that in order to make
a $30,000 movie you need to raise $30,000. And even the most green
newbies know that you have to approach people with money and that
many dentists and doctors have money. This all falls into the
"well duh!" category and you don't need to spend money to find
this out.
When the advice on "how" is to hire a good cinematographer I think
even the most green newbie will ask the obvious question; How does
a beginning filmmaker with no short films finished, no money to
hire anyone and no experience manage to find an experienced
cinematographer to be "essentially" the producer of the movie?
It's not like experienced cinematographers are sitting around, not
working looking for inexperienced newbies to help get financing.
A serious newbie has so many options for research these days I
can't imagine the need to spend this kind of money to be told the
obvious. Even using ONLY Google a total, green newbie will stumble
upon some great books they can find for free at a library (if you
kids even know what those are anymore), some great on line
resources and indietalk.com where they can ask questions and get
answers.
When I was a kid (I'm old, I get to say this now) I didn't have
all these resources and I somehow managed to figure out how to
make a film without a single seminar.
A lot of the current, working directors, producers and writers
also managed the same thing.
I actually agree with Dov on this. In fact, I know many (not famous) directors who would be unable to start a new project file in Premiere/FCP, or be able to explain the difference between an F-stop & a T-stop on a lens.
If you know your story well enough, and can visualise how it plays, then grab a crew & start directing them to do what they've been specialising in - which is giving the director what (s)he wants.
(Still, overall - no way am I forking over good money for a set of DVDs that only tell me the obvious no-brainers)
exactly. Which is why i'm carving my own path the way I am now. I'll be done writing my first draft of a script after this week. I'm shooting my short film next week and the week after i'll edit it and work on my second draft of the first script.
Actually writing is developing my skills much better than I believe the McKee seminar would of.
I did like a few things Dov said. He stressed not to waste time sitting around talking about things. He has a "cut to the chase". He tells you, if you want to be a writer, write. If you want to direct, then direct something. To edit, start editing. They're all no brainers, but you'll be suprised at how many people want to take 6 months to read books on the subjects before actually writing, directing, or editing. I know since I was one of them.
Does his series have a section on how to produce a web video free of bad audio, horrible graphics, some Law and Order sound effect and 3 letter word typos?
Anyone can write and direct a Hollywood studio film, but I guess only the chosen few can over see production of something at least as good as a Sham Wow commercial.
-Thanks-
Anyone can write and direct a Hollywood studio film, but I guess only the chosen few can over see production of something at least as good as a Sham Wow commercial.
-Thanks-
Totally hilarious... Here's some more wisdom (with all of 400 or so views on YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aFQbfxQsnk
Well, i don't think he's going to be advertising on this site anymore after this thread...
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
'I have numerous projects in varying stages of development....'
I've seen a few of his lessons from his DVD's. I like him.