Filmmaker's Tools...

Back Burner Films uses exclusively Final Cut Studio and Digidesign Pro Tools. However, not everyone can afford a professional editing rig from the get-go. So fortunately, there is a wide selection of tools available online to independent filmmakers. Listed below are links to several free or inexpensive tools and templates that we believe can help any new filmmaker get the ball rolling. (Please consult your attorney before using any legal document samples included below.)

Templates...

Tools...

CeltX (Win, Mac, Linux)... A free script-writing and production planning suite based on Mozilla.

Quicktime Pro. (Windows, Mac)... More than just a player, Quicktime Pro will become the backbone of your editing environment whether you use a Mac or a PC.

Live Capture Plus (Mac)... For the price, absolutely the best tool for capturing from any Firewire DV device.

Final Cut Express (Mac)... Far and away the best NLE for the price. Capture, edit, and output. If you can't afford the full Final Cut Studio, be sure to check this one out.

Avid FreeDV (Windows, Mac)... The only free NLE that sports an industry standard interface and tools. Capture, edit, and output. Despite its streamlined feature set, there is a hell of a lot of power under the hood if you take the time to look.

Avid FreeDV Tutorials (Windows, Mac)... You will need these. Trust us.

MovieGate (Mac)... What good is a movie without an audience? Create video DVDs playable in most DVD players.

Coming Soon...

Say Hello To Clive For Me

Debut screening April 11, 2006. Click here to enter the site.

"Multiple Homicide Shocks North Side (CHICAGO, IL) | An area resident stumbled upon an apparent multiple homicide while jogging in Gompers Park on Chicago’s North Side early Sunday morning. The witness said she was drawn to the scene by a small dog that resembled her missing terrier attacking an empty bowling bag in the parking lot. As she approached the scene, she discovered several bodies, one of them badly beaten, next to an abandoned vehicle. A police spokesperson declined to comment on the identities of the bodies, but confirmed that all but one of the victims had been shot. Smith noted that the scene was littered with unused printer paper and several empty bowling bags. As of Sunday evening, no other witnesses have come forward, and the District Attorney’s office has placed a gag order on the investigation. However, a source in the coroner’s office suggested a connection to local organized crime families. Police are offering a reward for any information leading to an arrest."

Say Hello To Clive For Me is the story of five aspiring criminals who, with the help of a local delivery runner, stumble on the biggest heist of their young careers, only to find themselves caught in a spiraling game of cat and mouse with a local crime family. Premieres April 11, 2006.

About Us...

Back Burner Films was founded in 2005 by Steven Luce and David Frisk as a community of creative professionals and independent filmmakers in Chicago, Illinois, who share a commitment to telling quality stories through film. We believe that good storytelling is limited only by the size of one's imagination, and not the size of one's budget. And sometimes, smaller really is better.

Partners in Clive...

Back Burner Films is proud to work with the following organizations in the making of our own films, and in promoting and equipping the film community in Chicago: The City of Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events, The Chicago Film Office, The Chicago Park District, The Chicago Police Department, and Beyer Insurance Agency.