Donald Schaffer —Video Producer and EditorDonald Schaffer —Video Producer and Editor
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Tag Archives: filmmaker

April 23, 2018

Creativity: Power to Unite

Welcome to week number seven in our study on creativity! Let’s review briefly in an effort to go forward… If you have begun to discover your individuality as a creator…

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September 8, 2017

Purpose + Personal Strength + Passion = Destiny

Most everyone born in the later half of the 20th Century is familiar with the 1981 Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire (Best Picture, Best Original Music Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design + 3 additional nominations), featuring the story of runner Eric Liddell. The Olympic gold medal recipient has influenced many following his days on the track, leaving various quotes and statements in his interviews while also demonstrating them in his life of service. One such statement has proven to be a North Star, of sorts, for me, and the longer I work with industry professionals it proves itself over and over. Liddell said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.”

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October 24, 2014

Canon C100 Camera Review

The Canon C100 was a weapon of choice for a project I shot nearly a year ago in Guatemala (documenting poverty and the impact on children & families by charitable giving) and then recently in Peru where small form factor and a filmic image were desired. Also, shooting with a documentary format would require both location sound via a shotgun mic and interview sound from a couple lapel mics. For those who have done run-and-gun work with a DSLR, they know that it can be a struggle double-checking to be sure that the sound recorder is functioning properly and that the resulting separate audio and video files stay organized. Likewise, constantly changing locations can have a significant impact on the ability to set the correct aperture, shutter speed and ISO for accurate imaging on a DSLR in extended lighting ranges. While still of concern on the C100, the 4K imager provides the shooter with a broader range, allowing significantly more flexibility to record images that will be adjusted and color corrected in post. Here are some of my thoughts on the gear and how it performed.

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October 30, 2012

Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling

…links for authors and screenplay writers to follow in creating meaningful stories…

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April 3, 2012

Making it in Hollywood: An Interview with Actor Mark Atteberry

Every year, thousands head to Los Angeles, CA with the hopes of becoming icons for the film industry. Those that are in the mix will you tell you it’s certainly not as easy as one would think. Overnight success is a rarity, and very few find the gleaming lights of public notoriety and stardom. If one wants to navigate properly through the maze of connections he or she can find help from those who have already found some success in the business.

Enter, Hollywood Connect. Hollywood Connect (HC) exists to “[equip] creative artists and professionals to thrive personally and professionally in the arts, media, and entertainment industries” (HC website). HC hosted a well-attended Q&A with Mr. Mark Atteberry recently, and in this gathering, Shun Lee Fong led discussion and then fielded several questions from the audience to get Mark’s responses. I took notes feverishly and thought to share the wisdom – with Mark’s approval, of course.

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November 15, 2011

“I Need a Car” A True Run-n-Gun Video Production

Okay, first, watch “I Need a Car” and see the clip on facebook, then read how it was completed.

I usually don’t do stuff last minute, but it must have been fate that I was thinking about WJXT’s Morning Jam Contest when I was approached by a guy who asked me to help him win a car. Unfortunately, I only had two days to complete the project. GULP! So, I threw all caution to the wind and did a true “run-n-gun” production. 

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August 18, 2011

Intrinsics & Production’s 3 Major Forces

Most anyone who produces anything (books, videos, toys, cars) can tell you the three major forces that are constantly tugging at each other: Cost, Time, and Quality. Essentially, you can pick two of these items, but the third will be pulled from the sum of the other two. For instance, if I choose to do a quickly done project with high quality, I should expect to pay more for it. Similarly, choosing to go on a reduced budget within a short timeframe, I should expect to find a sacrifice  in quality. The opposite is true if I choose a high budget and a longer production time – quality will certainly go up.

For some time I’ve prided myself in the fact that I’ve been able to still provide quality in spite of a lack of time or funding in most of the productions that I’ve been asked to produce. However, in taking a closer look at the three pulls, they do little to recognize the intrinsic value of the artist(s) involved in the project. Let me explain.

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August 12, 2011

UK ‘Priest’ Trailer Editor Headed to Hollywood, Courtesy of Sony Pictures

A few months ago, Sony followed three film students from the United Kingdom as they competed for the best edit of a trailer for the film, “Priest.” Of these, Mr.…

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June 27, 2011

‘Wrecked’ Selected for Central Florida Film Festival

June 17, 2011

Shooting for the Edit

Here’s an article that was recently written by Christian Bell, pointing out several production errors that keep the editor from a successful cut: 6 Ways Directors Screw Editors. This somewhat mirrors…

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10/18

About Light Points

Welcome to Light Points by Don Schaffer, Creative Producer.

Here, you will find musings and practical elements surrounding creativity and the artist’s journey, primarily—but not exclusively—within the scope of film/video production.

Recent Posts

Finding Wonder after DarkApril 23, 2020
So You Want to Be a Film/TV Director?January 23, 2019
Tears in the rainJanuary 19, 2019
Tips for​ Finding Your Next Creative RoleMay 18, 2018
Pain – Getting Through ItMay 2, 2018

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Light Points

Welcome to Light Points by Don Schaffer, Creative Producer.

Here, you will find musings and practical elements surrounding creativity and the artist’s journey, primarily—but not exclusively—within the scope of film/video production.