Author Archives: Jack Ballo

iPhone Documentary Filmmaking

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Jack Ballo

I wrote an article about making an iPhone documentary for the new issue of Digital Filmmaking magazine.  I shared some of my thoughts and procedures on how and why I used the iPhone.  The publisher added images of interesting apps … Continue reading →

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Shot with an iPhone, Indie Film Shows Life of Brothers – Movie Review

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Jack Ballo

Film critic Joan Ellis of the Two River Times wrote this review about my new iPhone film. She picked up on and wrote about the advantage of documentary filmmaking with an iPhone. “With Brothers, Jack Ballo has filmed their story with … Continue reading →

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Documentary Filmmaking Course for High School Students

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Jack Ballo

The summer DIY Documentary Filmmaking class I taught at the Count Basie Theatre was a great success!  The sold out course for teens ended with a class film screening where all the students invited friends and family for an evening … Continue reading →

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DIY – Low Cost Equipment Suggestions

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Jack Ballo

DIY documentary is about simple inexpensive filmmaking.  Believe me, creating great stories and interesting films have little to do with the equipment.  If your phone or video camera records HD video you are on your way to your first documentary. … Continue reading →

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My new iPhone documentary – “BROTHERS” 2017

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Jack Ballo

My new documentary “Brothers” wasn’t a planned film.  It all happened when I agreed to teach a DIY documentary workshop at Red Bank’s Count Basie Theatre this summer and wanted to experiment with iPhone filmmaking.  I started filming two childhood … Continue reading →

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Sign up today! – DIY documentary workshop.

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Jack Ballo

I am teaching a DIY documentary filmmaking workshop at the Count Basie Theater’s educational program this summer. The workshop will get aspiring filmmakers on their way to their first documentary. It’s for anybody who has a story to tell and an iPhone … Continue reading →

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DIY Lighting

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Jack Ballo

I’m working on a music video by a great song writer and talented musician named Danny Petronie.  This isn’t a documentary and of course I don’t believe in artificial lighting of documentaries anyway.  But when I saw this picture below … Continue reading →

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Indie Street Film Festival 2017

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Jack Ballo

INDIE STREET FILM FESTIVAL – RED BANK, NJ PAVING THE WAY FOR STORYTELLERS OF THE FUTURE This is a perfect film festival for DIY filmmakers.  Their submission fee is low as they look for great independent story telling.  They don’t judge … Continue reading →

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Take your Documentary on a Film Tour!

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Jack Ballo

It has been said that making the documentary is the easy part and that distribution, promotion and outreach is where all the hard work is.  That may be true…so if you are serious about your film and you are willing … Continue reading →

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Woodstock Film Festival

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Jack Ballo

I just got back from the Woodstock Film Festival in upstate New York.  I went to all three days of the festival but only attended one movie.  The reason is because I went there for the panel discussions and also … Continue reading →

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