Shooting a documentary is very different from shooting a narrative film. In many ways it can be on the cuff, guerilla style shooting. Documentaries can also be made of properly planned and composed shoots. Great documentaries are made of both and thus require an organized documentary shooting schedule. Creating a documentary shooting schedule is an effective way to ensure that you get the everything you need to piece together a compelling documentary. It will also help our production stay organized, efficient, and streamlined. Let’s dive into how to create a documentary shooting schedule. Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Shooting Schedule
Maybe you’ve seen the term art director in the credits of a movie, or on a call sheet, but you’re not quite sure what it means to be one. But what is an Art Director? Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker looking to learn more, or a graphic designer who wants to know how to become an art director, this post is for you. We’ll outline the art director job description by defining the role. Let’s jump into the basics.Continue reading Art Director Job Description: What Does an Art Director Do?
We’ve talked quite a bit about script breakdowns. We’ve shown you how to break down a script, and how to do it with free script breakdown software.Now, we’re going to take a look at Bong Joon-ho’s script for Parasite and do a deep dive into how you would tag its characteristic set dressing in a real-world production scenario.You can read and download the entire Parasite script below. Let's get started.(Caution: Parasite spoilers ahead)Continue reading Set Dressing Guide: How Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite Creates Meaning
Successfully running a film set requires very specific leadership skills. Vince Duque, 1st Assistant Director to projects like “House” and “Battle Creek” shares 11 Leadership Principles he learned in the US Marine Corp, and how they can be repurposed as core filmmaking tips for directors and line producers to become more effective leaders on set.Continue reading 11 Ways to Become a Better Producer or Director on Set
Filmmaking is not for the faint-of-heart. It is only a matter of time before you work a project that truly tests the limits of your body; the dreaded night shoot. Whether you're an AD or Producer, we'll cover production hacks to help you better manage your set during an all-nighter.Continue reading Night Shooting Survival Guide
You’ve got the green light. Your shoot is coming up. Your next task? Create a script breakdown. The script breakdown sheets are used to determine the shooting requirements of every scene and also inform the budget. But do you know how to break down a script like a seasoned pro?In this post, we’ll review the complete process of marking (or “tagging”) scene elements to create a script breakdown. Follow these six steps and learn how to break down a script every possible way — including the best way. We’ll also give you a free script breakdown sheets PDF template that…
The number of producers that exist in the industry is overwhelming. What do they all mean? We won’t overwhelm you here. Let’s take it slow. This article tackles two basic questions, “what is an associate producer?” and “what does an associate producer do?” Let’s get into it.Continue reading What is An Associate Producer and What Do They Do?
The credits start rolling and you see one producer title after another. Do you know what they all mean? Do you care? Well, if you want to move up in the industry, it’s pretty critical you know the basic difference between producing roles. This post covers the fundamentals what a co-producer is, and answers the question “what does a co-producer do?” Continue reading What Does a Co-Producer Do? A Quick Overview of the Basics
In the era of the digital camera, there are numerous settings and adjustments that can be made on a camera. Keeping these details organized and recorded is important for many reasons. Camera reports have changed substantially over the last few years so it's time to get an updated version. In this article, we’ll give you two options for a simple yet effective camera report template that will keep your camera department organized on your next production. Continue reading Camera Report Template — Free Downloads and Guide
Production film budgets differ from television and commercial budgets. While episodic television often use the same budgeting software and overall structures they must separate series costs from individual episode budgets. Commercial and non-film short form projects most often use AICP or a similar structure.Budgeting softwares like Movie Magic and AICP can cost a pretty penny. If these softwares are cost prohibitive for you and you need a film budget, we’ve got you covered.Continue reading Movie Budget? Here’s the only free Film Budget template you need!
