Tag Archives: film gear

Goal Setting

As we transition into the New Year, many of you may still feel stuck in old habits, and goal setting can be an easy tool to help us overcome obstacles. We still have many of the same challenges that we faced the year prior. The pandemic is still a threat to public health and safety and we are all adjusting the best we can.

goal setting. white wall with professional lighting equipment.

For many of us, our dreams and goals were pushed to the side due to challenges resulting from the pandemic, both financial and health-wise. 

So, how do we get back on track? Let’s talk about goal setting. 

The first step in setting a goal is to think about what we want to accomplish. We can write this down with as much detail as possible. Do you want to become a successful filmmaker? Why? Do you want to focus on directing, cinematography, or sound design? Think about what it is you truly want to accomplish and write it down on paper or electronically. 

Once you have a goal in mind, we need to set a timeline to accomplish that goal. Realistically, how long will it take to accomplish? Are we ready to take action now? Where do we go from here? At this point, we need to consider what actionable steps we are going to take to make our dreams a reality. 

This is where Digital Film Academy comes in.

Studying with Digital Film Academy could be the first actionable step to fulfilling your filmmaking goals. 

Digital Film Academy offers two programs: A year-long Certificate program and a sixteen month Associate’s Degree program. In both programs, you receive free lifetime access to our equipment.

This means long after you graduate, you will have access to the equipment you need to fulfill your goals. Our Associate’s program also includes a personal equipment kit including a Blackmagic 6K camera, Canon M50 camera, Sound Recording Equipment, Lighting Kit, etc. 

Attending Digital Film Academy can serve as an actionable step towards achieving the goals you make for yourself. DFA makes it easy for you to set timelines with future intakes in May and September, allowing you to plan what works best for you. 

Digital Film Academy offers a variety of professional media training including Cinematography, Sound Recording, Directing, Video Editing, and Screenwriting. These classes allow for exploration of your true passions while developing skills in every facet of digital media.

Contact our admissions department for more information about our programs and how to align it with your goals: [email protected]

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Every Ending is a New Beginning

“Every story has an end. But in life, every ending is just a new beginning.”
Dakota Fanning as Ray From the movie: Uptown Girls

As we begin a new year, we reflect on the past. This past year was challenging and full of ups and downs. For some, the end of 2021 may have felt like a huge relief. For others, this ending may have felt bittersweet. 

What goals did we have for ourselves that we didn’t quite meet? Is there something missing in our personal or professional lives that we want to incorporate into this new year? 

As we reflect on our goals for 2022, the question of training and honing in on our talents might arise. 

Digital Film Academy is here to help you meet your professional filmmaking goals and fine-tune your talents to become a better filmmaker. 

For instance, if you are interested in pre-production, we offer lifetime access to our equipment, saving you time and money when producing your own projects. 

We also have an equipment kit included in our Associates Degree program featuring a Blackmagic 6k Camera, Tungsten and LED Lights, and more, yours to keep. 

For post-production, we have cutting edge technology available to you such as Davinci Resolve, Avid, Pro-Tools, After Effects, and many other softwares. 

DFA’s training is geared towards giving you all of the tools and resources you need to succeed in the film and media industry. 

While new beginnings aren’t always easy, taking this step for your career could be very rewarding. Many students have taken this leap with our programs to become a more well-rounded film professional.

You can take a look at what some of our students and alumni have said about our school here: DFA Students and Alumni.

If you are ready for a new beginning, consider attending our Open House on Thursday January 6th at 1pm EST. You can add your name to the guest list here: https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/open-house/

We look forward to starting this new year with you. 

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Chase a Story not the Gear

What camera did you use? What editing software? What LUT? Which filmmaker haven’t ever heard these questions? We are being bombarded with new releases from established equipment brands being announced constantly, and it’s hard to keep up with the always evolving technology surrounding film gear. People are consuming more content now than ever, spending more time in their phones and computers and Content Creators have a lot to work with.

But can a camera make you a better filmmaker? It’s a valid question in today’s filmmaking world but the answer is no. As filmmakers, our goal is to tell stories through our unique experiences, our knowledge, and, most importantly, our feelings and emotions. The cameras and gear you use are nothing without the eyes and brains behind it. 

Even when you tell stories that were already told more than once, they are not the same stories. The perspective and the point of view of who is telling the story can change everything.

But won’t the equipment help the story?

New equipment gives the filmmaker the opportunity to get results that he/she couldn’t get before, and if that’s not why you’re using it, then you don’t need it. It’s simply expanding your palette of colors for painting your story, nothing more and nothing less.

You need equipment that allows you to deliver your story. And most of the time, you have plenty of options of equipment to use (DFA students and grads have free lifetime equipment access through LEAP: https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/why-dfa/). But if you don’t have a good story, it’s not the gear that will make it interesting.

So first of all, work on your script. Creating good stories is demanding and it takes effort. “Screenplays are not works of art. They are invitations to others to collaborate on a work of art” — Paul Schrader

Are you ready to start facing those blank pages?


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