Film School and Programs: How to Decide Where to Go

By Tricia Roomer

If you want to be a filmmaker or get involved in the entertainment industry chances are you are thinking about going to a film school of some sort. All these programs vary on what they teach and how long the study is for so you should do some research on each program's offering and what is involved from start to finish. Each type of film school has benefits and drawbacks so you need to weigh these before making a choice.

University School Film Programs A university that offers a degree in filmmaking and has a separate school where students attend and complete general education as well as film studies. These usually take four years to complete.

The Up Side: Since it's a normal school they have lots of money for grants and scholarships they can give out to make going to school more affordable and possible. Here they have the best equipment and materials at your disposal because there is enough money to keep everything funded. Also the majority of the professors are part time because they spend the rest of their time working in the industry in their given fields. Since they're working in the business they know lots of people and can bring them to class. Also the big schools get all the first looks at internships and jobs helping their students become as successful as possible.

The Bad: You don't always get complete control over the rights to your films when you use school equipment and resources so you have to check first if this will be a problem.

College Film School Study Programs Smaller schools who offer film classes and have degrees but not always in filmmaking as their schools aren't as big.

Good: Easier to be admitted to because they are less competitive schools. You will also get more attention because there are less people in the program.

Bad: Less money from the school means less equipment and likely fewer opportunities to meet with industry leaders and learn from current pros.

Independent Film Schools One year or so programs that concentrate solely on film.

Good: It's quick so you get done right away and can start working after only a year or so of training. A lot of access is available to pros and real life experience as these take place in popular filmmaking locations and on back lots and production studios.

The Bad: These are very expensive and all intensive leaving you very little time for work and making any income while studying.

Alternative Filmmaking Programs Some weekend courses are offered as well as small study programs that take place over a couple weeks or more. These are all great but you won't learn more than the basics because you need lots of time to actually learn the art of filmmaking. - 23806

About the Author:

Master the art of making movies from mentors from Hollywood and other filmmaking hubs of the world at Asia's Premier filmmaking school, the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT).

Learn About Virtual Surround Sound Systems

By Dave Heebs

These days, home theaters are making an appearance into more and more homes. What most people love about home theaters is the fact that in one area they can enjoy their movies and television shows as well as jam to their tunes on their stereo. Most people who are seeking to buy home theater components look to purchase the biggest speakers they can find in order to reproduce the enveloping wall of sound that accompanies it. However, with the larger size comes the larger price and that tends to be the first limiting factor in the quest to purchase home theater components. However, virtual surround sound systems are here to the rescue!

One big consideration you will need to address is the size of the room which you are planning to place the home theater in. An extremely large television or speaker system will not allow much room for your guests to sit comfortably in a small room. For this reason, you will want to scale down your speakers if you are going to place the home theater system in a small room.

You are in luck if you have a small space that you wish to use. Many speakers today have taken advantageof miniaturization and wireless technologies in order to produce small, wireless speakers.

Still another technology that has made its way to the marketplace is virtual surround sound which mimics the sound you can get from traditional surround sound systems. Virtual surround sound can be found in either the 2.1 surround system or digital sound projection system varieties.

Traditional surround sound systems are typically displayed using 5 speakers. These speakers start with a center speaker which is placed directly in front of the audience. The other 4 speakers are then arranged in a circle that literally surrounds the audience. These traditional surround speakersd are usually denoted as 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems. With virtual surround sound, at least 2 of the speakers are replaced. Digital sound projectors utilize small speakers that are placed in a line in front of the audience. The 2.1 system places only 2 speakers in front of the audience with a third, the subwoofer, placed elsewhere in the room.

The virtual surround system is designed to take advantage of our knowledge of how humans process auditory stimuli. When the human ear is processing the sound waves internally, these new systems fool the auditory process into thinking that more speakers are in use than actually are.

Virtual surround sound systems are a boon to those people who live in large metropolitan cities worldwide. With the smaller apartments that are offered to live, up until now you couldn't enjoy surround sound. Now that virtual surround systems are here, the surburbanites aren't the only ones who can enjoy it. - 23806

About the Author:

Dave writes articles about wireless outdoor speakers and advent speakers

Facts About Decepticons Transformers 2

By Michael Nielsen

Decepticons are the machines that will appear in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen film. They are the foes of Autobots. Decepticons are led by Megatron and they have red coloured optic lenses. They are able to transverse into aircraft, military autos, and construction autos, and are able of turning into small human size objects.

In Transformers 2007 movie, Decepticons are shown very brutal. They take human beings like gadflies or insects. Megatron tosses the human like an insect in the film and calls it "disgusting". Bonecrusher and Blackout killed humans rapidly in the movie and little Decepticon, Frenzy, also called human beings the 'stupid insects'. For Decepticons, this universe is nothing but a war and humans' life does not have any value.

In part 2, you will see Decepticons once again, which were also in the previous film with additive powers and capabilities. Below are some of the roles of Decepticons which you will watch playing different characters.

Megatron is the chief of Decepticons. "Hugo Weaving" articulates him in this film. He was killed by Sam in the first part and casted into Laurentian Abyss. There are hearsays that in this film he can also transverse into jet and tank. In the film, he will be seen stronger as he has absorbed Allspark fragments.

Starscream is also a strong Decepticon who can transverse into F-22 Raptor. Charlie Adler articulates him in the film. In the previous film, he goes back into space and in this film, he comes back with Cybertronian symbolic representations on his body and leads a new Decepticon army.

Soundwave is known as Megatron's intelligence officer. Frank Welker voices him in this movie. Soundwave has capabilities to transform into Cybertronian craft. Welker is also the one who voiced him in the original cartoon series. Blackout and Scorponok will both be seen in this movie. Blackout was killed in the previous movie but he has been resurrected. Scorponok was hit by missiles in the last movie and had injured his tale, which he repaired.

The Devastator is a big robot who is 46 feet tall. He is formed by combination of seven vehicles and walks in a four-legged fashion very much like Gorilla. Physically he is not able to stand but if he would, you will see him as high as 120 feet. The different vehicles, which form Devastator are Scavenger that forms torso of Devastator along with overload. Hightower; it is a yellow Kobelco CK2500 crawler crane and forms the left arm of Devastator.

Long Haul; It is a green Caterpillar 773B dump truck which forms right leg of Devastator. Mixmaster; it is a black and silver Mack concrete mixer truck that forms the head of Devastator. Rampage; it is a yellow Caterpillar D9 Bulldozer that forms the left leg of Devastator. Scrapper; it is a yellow Caterpillar 992 G scoop loader that forms the right arm of Devastator. Overload; it is a red dump truck that forms torso of Devastator. There are other robots like Insecticons, all of them have their own individual capabilities to transform into weapons and cooking appliances etc. - 23806

About the Author:

Don't miss the new Transformers movie, showing at all Odeon cinemas from June 19.

Five Healthy Reasons Why You Need to Learn to Play the Piano

By Michael Mickey Charles

Many people choose to learn to play the piano rather than any other musical instrument. For some, it is because someone they knew or loved was a player. They have deep emotions and nostalgia linked to the sound of the piano. For others it is through no choice of their own. Parents made the choice for them, but what then seemed like torture turns out to be a lifetime love and skill. Do you however know that there are real health benefits to learn to play the ' king of all instruments?'

1. It keeps your mind healthy.The tendency to mental illness among older people is easily averted by having a regular pastime especially if it involves learning.

2. Learn to play the piano because it is good for your heart! Studies have shown that music and the ability to play an instrument can be incredibly therapeutic, helping to decrease the amount of stress one may have in their life and also encouraging other health benefits such as lower blood pressure and steady heart rate.

3. Tickle the ivories and prevent arthritis! One of the most proven benefits to learning to play the piano is the positive effects it has on your hands strength and the health of your joints and fingers. The dexterity involved in playing music on the piano keeps your hands muscles developed and avoids the weakening of small bones located in your hands.

4. Everyone loves a piano player! Having the ability to sit and entertain a crowd with a well orchestrated piano piece may seem stressful to some, but the truth is, being the one that plays, can cut down on social anxiety, low self-esteem and prevent the harmful results that are associated to isolation and loneliness during senior years.

5. Pianos can keep your posture proper! When beginners learn to play the piano one of the first key points they are taught is to keep your spine straight and your shoulders back. Proper posture is a very beneficial habit to develop, preventing both pain in the neck, damage done to the nerves in the lower back and the over all health of your spine.

Now there are a few more reasons to learn to play, in addition to simply being drawn to the music and approachable nature of the piano. - 23806

About the Author:

Michael 'Mickey' Charles was teaching music in the public school system for 30 years before offering private lessons. His years of experience in teaching how to learn to play the piano gives him unparalleled knowledge into what piano teaching software works and what doesn't. Don't buy anything before you read what Mickey thinks of the top piano lesson software at his website: http://www.piano-lesson-software.com/

In Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen - Who Are The Main Actors?

By Michael Nielsen

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is a science fiction/action motion picture and is programmed to be released in June, 2009. It is the next part to 2007's hit flick motion picture Transformers which was the first live action Transformers film. Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg return in that order as director and executive producer of the motion picture, while Shia LaBeouf takes on the character of Sam Witwicky, the man caught in the fight between Autobots and Decepticons. The motion picture introduces many more robots, and the shooting time has been extended over many countries, the most vital of which is Egypt.

Bay ended his making on time with the help of revisualization and a script by his writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and series apprentice Ehren Kruger. Shooting from May to November 2008 largely took place in the United States, together with the preponderance of scenes set in outer countries. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) realizes something about the origins of the Transformers and their olden times on Earth. The wicked Decepticons require incarcerating him for information. The climactic combat takes place at the Giza pyramid complex, where a haven is placed within. Lorenzo di Bonaventura explained that the movie will show the Transformers who visited Egypt earlier to the pyramids were built, and all our champions finish up here because of the Decepticons' master plan. Furthermore, Egyptian tools comparable to helicopters and other current day vehicles in actual life are explained in the pictures as depictions of Ancient Cybertronians.

The film pledges to be more fight concentrated with the introduction of a few recent characters of Autobots and Decepticons. Rumours are that the entire planet is in danger from Megatron and his evil team, unless Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes can work mutually with the Autobots to turn away the Decepticons from world superiority.

Megatron isn't dead as it comes into views from the closing view of the preceding film. Megatron, who is the Decepticon chief was finished and tossed into the Laurentian Abyss. Now, he is raised from the lifeless as Cybertronian tank.

Decepticons come back to Earth on a mission to detain Sam Witwicky as detainee, after the young male lead learns the fact about the historic origins of the Transformers. Joining the task to guard human race with Optimus Prime he forms an alliance with global armies for a second heroic encounter.

Paramount has publicized the release of its combat sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" on June 24 2009.

Main Actors

Starring

Revenge of the Fallen stars: Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are back, as well as Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, and Rainn Wilson.

The Autobots

Prominent Autobots in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

1. Optimus Prime 2. Bumblebee 3. Ironhide 4. Ratchet 5. Arcee 6. The Twins 7. Sideswipe 8. Jetfire

The Decepticons

Notable Decepticons in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) Megatron, Starscream, Barricade, Soundwave, Ravage

The Fallen

The Fallen was one of the new thirteen Transformers who became a servant of Unicorn. The total basis of The Transformers 2 is based around this fight for the oath of The Fallen. - 23806

About the Author:

Don't miss the new Transformers movie, showing at all Odeon cinemas from June 19.