I still remember the day I decided to create 17west.ca by myself. I didn’t know anything about web design, I had zero coding skills and limited Photoshop knowledge. Jump forward a few years and I now maintain 5 websites including 3 blogs. … But I’m still learning.
After all this time, 17 West’s home page was still lacking in functionality. It wasn’t built on a content management platform so updating it was a pain. Social media sites and networking opportunities were no where to be found. Most importantly, the site lacked any ability for expansion without having to redesign graphics and layouts from scratch. It wasn’t an efficient website. But these are all lessons I learned along the way. You learn by trying.
Now, the newly rebuilt 17west.ca is a WordPress powered site with more interactivity, more content and a brand new look. The main page is a simple layout that highlights our films but the central system is the new blog which will be updated often with new content.
I’m excited to finally be able to post new items quickly and enhance our presence online. The new site is built to take us into the future. Not only that, we’ve finally uploaded more films for everyone to see.
Director David Fincher and his team are doing a fantastic job marketing their upcoming adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Their newest promotional release is a video that shows how a metallic poster is created set to music created by Trent Reznor… Nice!
Their last collaboration resulted in one of the best ‘nerd’ movies of all time: The Social Network.
Watching that video made me think about the work I’ve put into my own film’s posters. Obviously, I don’t have access to that type of equipment (or a graphic designer for that matter) so I have to figure things out on my own. At the end of the day, you have to figure out the best way to generate interest for your film.
A while back, after I created the second poster for ‘The Climb’, I asked myself if it was good enough and the answer was no. It wasn’t until a few months later when I finally created something that reflected the story I want to tell. The point is, there is a lot that goes into each and every piece of artwork for a major motion picture so why not equal that effort and passion in your own promotional efforts?
Check out more posts on creating posters and artwork below:
With The Athletic Nerd beginning it’s 3rd year of existence, it’s time to raise the bar across the board. One area that can always be improved is the graphic look of the website. I swear if I could go back and do it all again, I’d be a graphic designer… Allow me to clarify… I do NOT consider myself a graphic designer now. It’s just a hobby I enjoy but I truly wish I could draw and animate.
Regardless, I wanted to make sure year 3 began with some new graphics and I’ve included a few of them below.
I spend a lot of time looking at graphics trying to find things I’m confident enough to attempt on my own. That’s really the best way to learn. Scour the world for inspiration and then create something on your own learning from all the bumps along the way.
Photoshop gave me another outlet to be creative but you can’t improve if you don’t practice. Thankfully, I’m completely addicted and more than willing to put in the time needed to get better.
What do you think of the new graphics? A part of me hopes a graphic designer will come along someday and critique images like these. I’d love to pick someone’s brain.
It doesn’t dominate my life but I definitely love the tools the software provides. I’m far from an artist so my work will never be near the level of many digital artists I admire but I try. I’m always searching the web for new techniques I can attempt and recently, I’ve become a fan of magazines like Advanced Photoshop.
Over the years, Photoshop has become my escape from editing and writing. It’s my third love. My way of turning my brain off while still being creative. I found Photoshop to be a perfect way to keep me occupied while I worked out scenes in my mind. It’s my cure for writer’s block.
I think a lot of people are intimidated by Photoshop and I was no different. However, if you have the motivation and dedication to learn, you’ll never stop surprising yourself. I’ll always be jealous of graphic designers. I tell people I’m good at manipulating elements in Photoshop but I struggle when it comes to creating something great from scratch. I can’t draw. I never could. I think that’s why I stick to logos and fonts and steer clear of more complicated images that are beyond my skill set.
I can’t draw a dragon… But I could certainly incorporate an image of a dragon into something.
Nope, I can’t paint that. That doesn’t stop me from watching videos like that in awe of what some people can do.
THERE IS HOPE IF YOU SUCK AT DRAWING!
Pick up a copy of Advanced Photoshop every once in a while. Learn from websites like PSDtuts. Think of what you want to create and don’t stop researching until you have all the techniques and tips you’ll need to pull it off. Get a digital camera, snap a few images and learn how to manipulate them.
The golden rule of learning how to use Photoshop is this:
The more you learn. The harder it is to stop!
This applies directly to independent filmmakers who are just getting started. Pick up a copy of Photoshop and try making posters and promotional artwork yourself. If anything it’s a cheaper way to go and you’ll learn a new skill. There are countless ways to promote your projects online and Photoshop is a great way to help your film stand out.
I’ve been working with Photoshop for about 3 years or so now and it’s safe to say I’m addicted… That is until a few months ago when my PC died. I lost Photoshop. That day and the subsequent months sucked.
For months, I stopped reading magazines and websites because I didn’t want to see techniques I couldn’t even try. Regardless of my efforts, there were still moments when I took pictures of TV ads, fonts and logos to prepare for Photoshop’s return. I ended up keeping a list of images I wanted to create when Photoshop returned.
Within a week, I had already created a couple ‘posters’ for some screenplays I’ve been working over the last few months. I’ve always found it interesting to try and visualize a screenplay during the writing process. It gives me extra material to look at when I’m developing a new story and inspiration if I get stuck.
There are so many different reasons I love Photoshop. Whether it’s a new screenplay, a poster for my short film, a board game or a new graphic for this blog, I’m always looking to improve my skills and create something unique. What I love the most about Photoshop is the limitless knowledge I have yet to attain. There are billions of ways to use the software and I’m probably at #152 ish.
It’s a hobby that will never get boring because there is always something new to learn. I can’t wait to see what I’ll be able to create 10 years from now or next week for that matter.
XTRA | Here are a couple more Photoshop posts covering screenwriting, short films and more…
Finally, this is an image I created the other day by completing a tutorial from The Artist’s Guide To Photoshop. It’s nothing special and definitely not an official Athletic Nerd logo but it’s decent and it was fun to create.
Remember, if you can ignore the fact that you aren’t an artist and just try the millions of tutorials out there you will get better.
Photoshop fuels my love of screenwriting and making movies.
I came across an article on Twitter recently that discussed the myth of the modern editor. In it, the author describes the modern editor as a “self taught, do it yourself, do it all, one stop shop”
It goes on to discuss how that could impact the final cut if you are constantly focused on other things.
One statement in particular kind of hit home a bit.
“Sometimes they jump right to making the cool lower thirds for the edit rather than spending their enthusiasm for the edit on watching the footage they have. If you don’t do this part of the job, you shouldn’t consider yourself an editor.”
At work, I’m an editor. I start my shift and think of nothing except editing for our nightly shows. However, when it comes to 17 West Productions, I do tend to take on multiple roles throughout the post production process. I’m an editor, a colorist, a sound editor (I try at least) and I’m addicted to Photoshop and After Effects. Truthfully, it’s pretty fun to design graphics for various projects I work on but at the end of the day, you have nothing if the edit isn’t perfect.
Do I fit this definition of the modern editor?
Currently, I’m editing a short film we shot last spring and I’ve basically been picking at it here and there. Lately, I’ve been working on the edit more and I’ve found myself ignoring everything except cutting in order to create something worth while. I realized reading that post that I was spending a lot of time wondering about the final mix and the type of fonts I’ll use in the credits. In that sense, the article is right. If you’re an editor, you need to focus on every single shot, cut and transition. You should be thinking about nothing else except the best possible way to convey the story you are trying to tell.
So while I’m definitely looking forward to ‘packaging’ my new movie, I still need to craft a good movie first!
Another Take on The Modern Editor
On the other hand, I also think that the modern editor SHOULD have experience in more aspects of the post production process. At the end of the day, if you’re an editor, then you need focus, evolve and be the best editor you can be.
Still, these days, there are people out there who are multi talented and can easily take on more than one job. When it comes to independent filmmakers, it’s almost a necessity in order to save money. The more jobs you can do (and do well) on your own, the less people you need to hire on to finish your movie.
Also, resumes tend to look a lot better if you’re an editor with experience in other areas. You may not have to build graphics or produce music but if you have a greater understanding of the work needed, it helps inform your decisions as an editor. I suppose the trick is finding a balance and being able to separate yourself from those ‘other’ jobs in order to think of editing and nothing else.
Regardless, editing is editing and you have to stay focused. I’m guilty of losing focus. A computer with Final Cut Studio and Photoshop is an incredibly powerful and addictive tool with limitless possibilities. Learning new software packages is part of the fun in today’s easily accessible post production world.
I love my job and my movies. Editing is such a fantastic way to be creative and truly fine tune something you can be proud of… But graphics are fun too.
