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WordPress Beginner Workshop. f or Filmmakers. Kelly Wittenberg. Western Michigan University. What is WordPress ?. Best Solution for Film. Not just for blogging Personalized showcase for your film portfolio Completely adjustable to individual needs “Themes” provide starting point
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WordPress Beginner Workshop for Filmmakers
Kelly Wittenberg Western Michigan University
Best Solution for Film • Not just for blogging • Personalized showcase for your film portfolio • Completely adjustable to individual needs • “Themes” provide starting point • Don’t have to “Blog” if you don’t want to
2 Types of WordPress wordpress.com wordpress.org Free to download themes Need to buy domain name Need to buy hosting plan Complete creative control Some technical knowledge required No ads on your site • Completely free • Plug and play • Limited themes • Less creative control • No technical knowledge required • Ads on your site
Self-Hosting • Use WordPress dot org • Buy <yourname.com> (godaddy.com) • Pay for Server Space (bluehost.com)
Tools You Need • Computer with Internet (Mac or PC) • Internet Browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari…) • Image editing software (Photoshop, Pixlr) • Video Compressor (Mpeg Streamclip) • Pen and paper
Stay Organized • Get a binder • Take notes • Write down passwords
Choosing a Domain Name • Best choice is <yourname.com> • Keep it simple and easy to remember • You may not get your first choice • Try godaddy.com
Webhosting • bluehost.com • dreamhost.com • Others are okay, but if you see what appears to be a bargain, compare with the terms at bluehost
Planning Your Site • What kind of creative person are you? • Online gallery or portfolio? • Present your films online? • Showcase your writing? • Evidence of Teaching, Service, Professional Development?
Seek Inspiration • Bookmark other sites you like • Investigate others in your field to see what they are doing • Create a list of elements you like
Choose Your Theme • Go to <wordpress.org> • Search themes • Look at examples with content • Bookmark your favorite choices
Playing Video on Your Site • Use Vimeo Plus for your film work • Use YouTube for student films • Compress videos according to guidelines at each service
Using Photographs • Use Photoshop to resize images for the web • Large images no more than 800 pixels wide and 80KB • When in doubt, check general setting in your theme for sizing guidelines
Best Resources for Help • www.lynda.com online tutorial • WordPress help pages • The Creative Person’s Website Builder by Alannah Moore