Matthew Bouwense

Cool article about TRG!!!

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🎧 Delving into the intricate world of storytelling through sound! 📚🎙️ Here's a glimpse of a current project I'm working on: a multi-actor sci-fi audiobook-cum-radio play! 🎬🎧 The pic is my (early stages) Pro Tools session, where every element—actors, sound effects, and ambience—is crafted to bring the narrative to life. 💫 Whether you're a podcaster, audio drama aficionado, or filmmaker, you know that storytelling extends beyond words—it's about crafting emotions and painting scenes with sound. And sometimes less is more...🌟 #AudioDrama #AudiobookProduction #SoundDesign #Storytelling #ProTools

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Here’s another fun explainer I helped out with... Veritone’s Micromentions - they offer a different way (now widely used) to advertise in radio shows and podcasts. Role: design boards, illustration, edit, motion graphics. #veritone #micromention #podcast #radio #radiocommercial #podcastadvertising #podcastcommercial #motiondesign #motiongraphics #explainervideo #adobeaftereffects

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🚀 Last month I had a chance to do a live VFX workshop at Liminal Space Productions in Cleveland. ⏪ Actually, let's rewind for a second. 🎥 Andrew Santin is throwing a yearly Crew & Gear Expo at Liminal Space to show off the Motocrane & camera department demos. Ryan Forte says let's actually shoot a short film that day. 🎬 🎞️ So many talented people in Cleveland came together & donated their time to not only help the Cleveland film community learn from them, but also to end up with a pretty cool short film. 💻 And then when it came to post production, I had the honor to work with Ryan and Brandon Jones to get it to the finish line. ⏩ Back to the workshop. While the coolest VFX shots in this thing are definitely the muzzle flash scenes (don't worry I show off those scenes), I think the process of creating a matte painting, either for a set extension or in this case, to hide something, is one of the most applicable VFX that someone can learn. And it's easier than ever with tools like Mocha AE, Generative Fill, Rotobrush 3 & Mask Prompter. 💥 I need to shoutout Luke Thompson of ActionVFX as well for donating prizes for the workshop & in the spirit of this community short film he leveled up all of muzzle flashes & stock assets 💡 Hopefully these techniques can come in useful for your work. Cheers! #VFX #VisualEffects #Workshop #Learning #Creativity #MattePainting #CameraTracking #VFXWorkshop #Networking #SkillsDevelopment #CareerGrowth #Innovation #ArtistsCommunity #Film #Animation #SpecialEffects #SetExtention #CleanPlate

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A current feature I am doing solo. All the sound editing and mixing. It’s a one location kinda film. With two actors. Pretty straight forward. But the beauty of it was that the editor. Didn’t really put in a lot of temp FX. So as I am building the scenes for the film maker with sound. The sound scape is getting more richer and depth in the scene is coming alive. #soundediting #soundmixing #soundrerecordingmixer #mpse #mpeg #sounddesign

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Working in production can be very stressful. Most people in this field are freelancers who work long hours and understand that sometimes productions are last-minute and affected by global budget cuts. Production professionals work ridiculously hard to get the job done and please their clients. If you forget something, that's okay—you’re human, and there's no shame in admitting it. However, blaming others to cover up your mistakes or not being honest with your client about deliverable times is simply unacceptable. Clients will respect you for being honest. Treating your team with respect and loyalty is the most important thing you can do. If you don’t, it will come back to bite you. In the end, don’t mistreat people on your crew !#advertising #production #productioncompany #globalcasting #director #creative #castingdirector #bullying #servicecompany #freelancecrew

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Catch my latest mix engineer analysis and breakdown on @SonicScoop

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Want to know who’s really in charge of what during a production shoot? To the uninitiated, the roles can seem a little mystifying. This is partly because the job titles often sound the same. Director of this, Producer of that... What do these people actually do? Is their job important? Who's the boss of who? I thought it might be handy to explain all in a series of posts, starting with one of the most commonly confused roles: the Director of Photography. The Director of Photography (DoP, or sometimes simply DP) is responsible for the overall visual look of the film. They work with the Director on lighting, framing, and camera movement, overseeing both the creative and technical aspects of cinematography. Sometimes, the DoP will operate the camera themselves. But often, especially on shoots with multiple cameras, they focus on crafting the overall look and managing the department rather than operating a camera. This allows them to ensure a consistent visual style across all shots. Their role differs from that of the Camera Operator, who focuses on physically operating the camera and executing the DoP or Director’s vision for each shot. It's also worth distinguishing this role from Videographers, who tend to handle smaller projects and are responsible for both shooting and editing. Choosing between a DoP, Camera Operator, or Videographer depends on the project. High-end productions typically require a DoP for a polished, cinematic look, while smaller shoots may benefit from the versatility of a Videographer or the precision of a Camera Operator. 208 Films has some amazing DoPs on our team (as well as Camera Operators and Videographers), so if you need a visually stunning video for your business, get in touch! #VideoProduction #FilmMaking #DirectorOfPhotography #ProductionCrew #BehindTheScenes #208Films

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Pricing Guide for Freelance Filmmakers: How to Charge What You’re Worth Determining how much to charge as a freelance filmmaker can be a daunting task. Many filmmakers undervalue their work, leading to burnout and underpaid projects. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you set your rates confidently and get paid what you deserve. Understanding Your Value Whatever you’re charging now, it’s probably not enough. Your clients are paying for more than just your time—they're paying for your skills, experience, and equipment. Determine Your Day Rates Full Day Rate: This covers 8-10 hours of work, including your expertise and basic equipment. For example, a standard full-day rate might be £1,200. Half Day Rate: This is for 4-5 hours of work. Typically, it’s about 60-70% of your full-day rate. For instance, a half-day rate could be £800. Hourly Editing Rate Set an Hourly Rate for Post-Production: Determine how much you want to make per hour of editing. Separate Labour and Equipment Costs Charge Separately for Your Gear: Always bill separately for your time and the equipment you use. For example, your labour rate might be £1,200 per day, and your camera rental could be an additional £300 per day. Include All Necessary Equipment: Factor in costs for cameras, lenses, lighting kits, and any other gear you’ll need. Always Ask for the Client’s Budget Get the Client’s Budget First: This ensures you don’t undersell yourself. Sometimes, clients have much higher budgets than you’d expect. Avoid Package Pricing No Flat Packages: Pricing in packages (e.g., £600 for a 1-2 minute video) doesn’t account for the varying complexity of different projects. Price each project individually based on the time and resources required. Include Pre-Production and Post-Production Fees Pre-Production: Charge for tasks like storyboarding, location scouting, and talent coordination. Post-Production: Include editing days, music licensing, and any special effects or graphics packages. Practical Tips for Billing Simplify Your Invoices: Combine your day rate and equipment cost into one line item called "Production" for clarity. Contracts and Deposits: Always secure a signed contract and a deposit before starting work to cover initial costs. Continuous Evaluation Market Research: Regularly compare your rates with others in your field and adjust accordingly. Monitor Your Approval Rate: If more than 70% of clients accept your quote, consider raising your rates. If less than 50% accept, you might need to lower them. By following these steps, you can confidently set your rates and ensure you’re paid fairly for your work. Remember, knowing your worth and charging accordingly is key to sustaining a successful freelance filmmaking career. #FreelanceFilmmaking #PricingGuide #FilmmakerLife #VideoProduction #CreativeEntrepreneur #ClientManagement #FilmIndustry #BusinessTips #VideoEditing #FilmmakingTips #CreativeBusiness #FreelanceLife #KnowYourWorth

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Loved this demo of Restream Studio 2.0 from Charles Quilley! Lots of great features that you can manage from your browser. For content creators, having the right tools is key. While Riverside.fm excels in high-quality recordings and post-production, Restream Studio 2.0 is a great option for live, real-time engagement across platforms. Together, they'll give you total flexibility—whether you need polished edits or live streaming power. Why limit yourself? Maximize your content impact with the best of both! #ContentCreation #Livestreaming #Restream #VideoProduction #Riverside

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Did my ears deceive me… or did someone say that audio is making a comeback?! Recent research shows that audio advertising is making a comeback. Radiocentre Ireland, in partnership with research company Colourtext, has released a new study, CampaignFX, one of the largest analyses of audio advertising effectiveness ever undertaken in Ireland. It involves 3,750 individual interviews covering 31 brands across five key product categories. The meta-analysis reveals significant findings on how audio advertising drives brand performance. Notably, audio advertising results in a 26% uplift in ad awareness, making consumers more familiar with the advertised brands. It also enhances brand likeability nearly nine times and boosts brand trust by 72%. Ciaran Cunningham, CEO of Radiocentre Ireland, highlighted the importance of this research, stating, “This is a very significant piece of research work, and the results show, in a very compelling way, the role audio plays in driving business results for advertisers.” Do you reckon it’s here to stay?

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Sound design for science visualization. In this piece, there are multiple motion events in the animation demonstrating the multiplication of staphylococcus, 21 separate events in fact. The scene requires a great deal of timing, and placement of several audio events in various locations in the stereo field, front, back, left and right. The custom music and atmosphere have to be built into the overall landscape. It's a challenge - and taking more time to design and mix - but I love making them! #MedicalCommunication #MedicalAnimation #ScienceVisualization #SciComms #Medicalillustration #MedArt #3D #SciArt #Science #ScientificAnimation #MedicalAnimators

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Pic from the editing bay! We are currently poring over 2000 pages of interview transcripts and nearly 24 TB of footage captured over the course of two years as we work to craft the narrative of the Masami Doc. Think of it like writing a script using words already spoken and shots already taken. Daunting, but exhilarating! #MasamiDoc #documentaryfilmmaking #filmediting

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When it comes to voiceover demos, a well-written script isn’t just an add-on—it’s the foundation. A believable, authentic script will connect with casting directors and clients far better than one that’s clearly just been thrown together for the sake of the demo. Here’s why investing time in a strong script is key: Tailored to Your Voice: The style and tone of the script should work with your unique voice, allowing you to shine. A generic or poorly written script can actually work against you, making it harder to land the roles you’re after. Showcases Versatility: Great scripts highlight your range and ability to adapt. Whether it’s a commercial read, a character voice, or a narrative piece, the script needs to reflect the type of work you’re aiming to book. Engages the Listener: A demo isn’t just about sound quality—it’s about storytelling. If the script doesn’t engage, the listener is unlikely to care how great your voice is. Check out the demo of demos below to hear how we craft voiceover demos that aren’t just technically sound but creatively tailored to you. At Voodoo Sound, we believe in taking the time to craft scripts that work specifically for your voice and the types of jobs you want to land. If you’re serious about standing out, let’s make sure your script is working for you—not against you. Book a FREE chat now to see how I can help you create a voiceover demo that’s built to impress https://lnkd.in/g3swQec7

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Here's a trailer for my latest doc short, directed with Mo Husseini. Let me know what you think.

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