The People Behind the Notebook
We're a small group of working editors, sound recordists and community film tutors who remember exactly how confusing the first shoot felt.
Why this notebook exists
Most filmmaking advice online is either selling you gear or written for people who already have a crew. We wanted something for the person with a phone, an idea and no idea where to start. So we wrote down what we tell newcomers at community workshops, in the order they'll need it.
How we work
Every technique on this site is something we've used on real low-budget shoots. We test phone settings and free software ourselves, cite the books and filmmakers behind ideas we borrow, and update pages when apps or platforms change. We don't accept payment for recommendations and we don't run affiliate links.
Roles on our crew- Editor-in-chief: a documentary editor who cut her first short on a borrowed laptop
- Sound lead: a location recordist who has spent a decade fighting fridges and wind
- Camera & light: a community media tutor who teaches phone cinematography
- Script desk: a screenwriter who reads hundreds of student shorts a year
Independence
RockListCanyon is published by RockListCanyon Media Ltd. We aren't affiliated with any studio, film school, festival, software company or equipment manufacturer. Brand names appear only because they're useful examples.
Spotted something out of date? Send us a note.