Good audio isn’t cheap, but there are plenty of inexpensive options to get you much of the way there without breaking the bank. Here’s Caleb Pike from DSLR Video Shooter with some great budget audio options, all for under $250 each:

These are the three setups, with a full parts list over on Caleb’s site (it looks like the mic stand he recommends may be out of stock, so there are some other options available that should do the job):

$129.05: RØDE VideoMic GO + Extras
$229.04: RØDE VideoMic GO + Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-05 + Extras
$131.26: Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-05 + Extras

Obviously some setups will be better than others in terms of what you’re trying to record. The Zoom H1’s internal mic won’t do very well if you’ve got to record from a distance — that’s where you’ll need the VideoMic GO. If you’re recording interviews or the subject is relatively close to the camera, these setups are all going to be good if you don’t have a lot of money to spend.

If you do have a little more money to spend, moving up to a true shotgun mic like something from the RØDE NTG series and possibly an audio recorder like the H4n or H6 will give you more options and better quality. Tascam also makes some great affordable handheld recorder/mics. If you need something with a wider pickup pattern that’s more configurable, RØDE also makes the Stereo VideoMic X, which will mount on your camera (though it’s a pit on the pricier side compared to these other options at $800).

These more expensive options will take you into the $400-$600 range depending on what you’re looking at, but if you do have a higher budget, there are some terrific recorders that will give exceptional audio from both of these companies. Unfortunately, once you move into a certain style of recorder, that will also make it more difficult to operate both camera and audio, so if you’re by yourself, try one of the smaller recorders from Zoom or Tascam first, and if you have a little money to spend, springing for a better microphone will help you get better sound from a distance.

(The Cinematography is Pretty Good, Too)

Never let it be said that humans can’t accomplish some really cool shit when they put their minds to it.

In a collaboration with DC Shoes, world-renowned motocross athlete Robbie Maddison recently took a trip to Tahiti, where he rode his custom dirt bike into the surf and caught a few waves. And we’re not talking little waves either. No, we’re talking massive 20 foot waves that could absolutely crush somebody. The crazy bike run was close to three years in the making, and of course, it was caught on camera (many cameras actually — the POV shots were taken with a Sony 4K Action Cam, apparently the X1000V) and edited down into an action sports segment that is as breathtaking as it is insane:

There’s a behind-the-scenes documentary underway as well, but unfortunately it appears like it won’t be released for some time. For now, here’s brief trailer for it:

If you’re wondering if the bike could survive a trip underwater — the answer is no. Here’s a snippet from his Rolling Stone interview:

Each time the bike went under, we had extensive mechanical work to rebirth it for another run. We knew we were bound to sink the bike a few times in Tahiti, so we switched from a 450cc four-stroke motor to a two-stroke motor for the advantage of having a less-complicated engine and less electronics and wiring to deal with.

Not only is the act of surfing on a motorcycle pretty badass in and of itself, but the production team behind this video pulled out all of the stops in terms of cinematic techniques. It’s par for the course for action sports films to be littered with plenty of aerial shots and slow motion, but this one runs the gamut and includes some serene macro shots, fast-moving tracking shots (which I’m guessing were captured from cars or other bikes), POV shots from Sony Action Cams, underwater shots, and many more. Add to that some incredibly immersive sound design and a slick, fast paced edit, and you’re left with one of the coolest and well-produced action sports segments of the year.

So, you’ve watched a super awesome movie that inspired you to become a screenwriter, huh? You poor, poor fool.

Well, now that you’re a part of this bande à part, you might need a little help getting grounded. Luckily, screenwriter, script doctor, and consultant Mark Sanderson, also known as Scriptcat, has compiled 10 questions that he believes all aspiring screenwriters should ask themselves. Here are a few from the list:
Do you have an artist’s mentality?

You have to be absolutely cuckoo bananas to aspire to be this line of work, because chances are you’re going to fall flat on your face. Does that sound harsh? Well, it is, damn it! It’s hard to succeed as a screenwriter, which is why having the mentality of an artist is so crucial to your mental and emotional health. You’re facing so much negativity — rejection, criticism, complete and utter failure — so you’re going to need the strength to withstand it all. Not to mention the fact that you’re more likely to see a flying typewriter than a decent paycheck. Steel yourself and keep writing. Success only comes to those who do.

Hollywood is full of good ideas and the winning formula is: good idea + execution of good idea = amazing viable screenplay.

Do you overwrite?

Okay, maybe your reader doesn’t need to know that your protagonist is left-handed, loves the smell of wet asphalt, and owns a table that is made of really nice mahogany that he bought for sale at the Really Nice Mahogany Table Store. Why? Producers and executives don’t really care. It’s a good idea to keep these kinds of details, as well as actions, to a minimum. That doesn’t mean you have to make your script boring and stale, just get to the point.
Have you accepted this fact: Screenwriting is all about execution and rewriting?

What’s that saying — screenwriters don’t ever finish a screenplay, they just give up. That’s because stories go through so many stages, changes, and iterations during the writing process that they’re never really done. They’re — alive. This might come as unpleasant news for those who just finished their first draft and thought, “Yes! I’m finally done! My dream is complete!” No — you’re not, and it’s not. There has never been a perfect first draft. Ever. EVER! Not only should you expect to rewrite your original draft a handful of times before it ever gets seen by another pair of eyeballs, you should also expect to rewrite if it gets optioned and goes into production. We might as well just start calling screenwriting “rewriting” since that’s what it really is.