Zooce-life blog

We have updated the server with new version of  Zooce. The following items have changed:

- Import Final Draft scripts using the .fdx format
- Import Final Draft scripts supports foreign characters
- Import final Draft scripts now has warnings some couldn’t be matched
- Scheduling functionality has been improved with a monthly calendar and list overview
- Different type of shooting schedules now possible (maintain you own)
- All reports have the option not to save the report in your document store
- Navigation tabs have been fixed for Firefox and Safari browsers

Any questions or comments or ideas for new functionality please let us know.

http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

Zooce is now available for everyone to use. No more private beta, we are now officially in public beta. You can now SIGN-UP for free.  It only takes 30 seconds to sign-up. Invite you’re friends and start making movies together.

I would like to thank all the people who helped us during the private beta.

http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

I have to agree it has been a long time since the last time I posted an entry on this blog,  but we are busy to make improvements to the Zooce production management platform. In the next release it will be possible to attach multiple pictures to a location and send links of your documents  by email plus a numerous of other great features.

Other great news is that Zooce will be available for everyone, no more private beta. Everybody can now signup for free!

I will try to post more information regular on the progress of new exciting features.

Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

One of most important aspects of movie making is that movie making is fun and it is team effort. The best results are achieved when you work together with great people. Zooce gives you the possibility to work on your project together by inviting other people to join your production company. The following steps need to be executed.

Step 1. (skip this step if you have already created a crew/member)
You first have to create a cast/crew member for the friend/colleague you want to invite.

Step 2.
Go to the Cast/Crew overview screen and press the invite link for the cast/crew member you want to invite (see picture below)

Enter the user name and e-mail address of your new crew member and press the “Create user” link to send an invitation by email. The crew/cast member will then need to follow the link in the email to active his account and than he/she has access to your production. The picture below displays the screen where you enter the user name and email address.

The picture below shows the confirmation message on the screen that will appear after you have created a new user.

And that is all!

Any questions or comments please let me know.

Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

Hi,

One of Zooce’s useful features is that you can directly import scenes and characters from a final draft script.

You need to do the following steps.
1. Open your script in final draft
2. Save the script as “.sex”
3. login to Zooce
4. Create or select your production
5. Click on the import script tab
6. Enter the location of your script (with the extension .sex)
7. Click on the Upload button

And viola your characters and scenes are imported into Zooce.

Cheers,
Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

Zooce is mentioned as the future of film budgeting services in an article called “LET’S START A FOSS STUDIO!” from Rob Robinson on the website b-independent.com. In the article he demonstrates the creation of a “virtual” film studio and follows a typical production, from the initial story idea through to the final presentation using only free software.

Those without web hosting can look forward to services like ZOOCE.CO.UK and possibly CINEMATRIX INDUSTRIAL 5.0(WIN XP) both still in beta, which portend a future of online film budgeting services.

This is really exciting, because together we are creating the first steps in the future of online film budgeting service.

Cheers,
Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

I was interesting to see what the most popular blogs are with a tag called “filmmaking”. According to technorati these are the top 10 filmmaking blogs based on their ranking (source: technorati on 1/June/2007).

1. Motionographer (rank 5199)
2. Genius Types :Creative Life and Passive Income (rank 18231)
3. Cut Out + Keep (rank 29505)
4. WorkbookProject.com (rank 38694)
5. The Great Swifty Speaketh! (rank 41399)
6. Self-Reliant Filmmaking (rank 58256)
7. Candleblog (rank 82322)
8. Microcinema scene – the no-budget cinema site (rank 143670)
9. This Savage Art (rank 204887)
10. Filmmaking 101 (rank 274114)

Cheers, 
Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

With Zooce text message you can send a text message (SMS) directly to your projects overview page.

This will only work if a person is assigned to the production you want to send the text message to and he/she has a mobile number entered in his/hers cast crew details.

Step 1:
Get you mobile ID from your project details. The mobile ID is 4 characters, for example “ABCD”. This is a unique code to identify your project.

Step 2:
a. Check if the cast/crew member is setup correctly.
Go to the cast/crew member who will be texting messages and click details. Check if the mobile field is entered with this person’s correct mobile number.

b. Check if the cast/crew member is assigned to the production selected in Step 1.
Go to the Crew tab in your production and select the same cast/crew member as in Step 2a.
Check that the crew member is assigned to a role.  If not, assign a role to him/her.

Step 3:
Send a text message from a mobile with the following format “ZOOCE C-<mobile ID> <Text message>” to +447786 200350.
See the picture below for an example.

The message will automatically appear in your production overview.

Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

YES, It has arrived! You’re now able to manage your budget directly in Zooce. This is major upgrade to our solution. You can find more information about the new functionality in the following posts.

• The Zooce way to enter an expense for your production
• The Zooce way to create a production budget

In the following weeks will give more information and tips about the budget and expense functionality.

We hope you like it! Please let us know if you questions or comments.

Thanks for your continued support.

Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.

A few years ago I was sitting on a couch, having drinks with friends. Then midway through the evening one of them came up with what sounded like a great idea. He was planning to join a film directors course and asked if I would like to join him on his venture.

A few thoughts passed through my mind, such as:

- had I ever been involved in film – > well not unless you count the odd lazy evening in front of the big screen
- had I ever used a movie camera -> hmmm, apart from the odd holiday snap, not really
- did I have any experience with acting -> not unless you count that scary moment when I was six, but then thats better to forget
- but directing -> now that sounded like a good idea.

Like all good ideas, this formulated into a plan and somehow the plan happened. This became my first step into the world of film and becoming a movie director.

Cheers,
Onno
http://www.zooce.co.uk,
Dream it. Plan it. Produce it.