Jordan Peele’s Get Out is already one of the most iconic films of the 21st century. Its simple elegance is a perfect example of how much can be conveyed with so little. In this post, we’ll take a look at The Sunken Place sequence and learn how to maximize storytelling with a minimal budget. A lot of it boils down to prioritizing a breakdown and schedule. We'll do this by learning how to identify the key elements that bring a scene to life (and avoid those that don't). We'll break down the Sunken Place scene's sound and VFX elements to…
Film blocking is arguably one of the most important things a Director must do on set. Think of it as a carefully choreographed dance where the camera and subject move together in harmony. Continue reading 3 Ways To Make Your Film Blocking More Interesting
"Ahorse walks into a gym" is not the opening of a bad joke. Not for me. See, for me it was the reality I faced in scheduling a complicated VFX composite shot. We had to get a horse on a treadmill in a crowded health club. Just another day for an AD. What is VFX like on a practical level? How do you create cool video effects? I’ll show you how to use VFX, how to use a green screen, and how to plan a composite shot on a deadline. Whether you need a horse on a treadmill for an…
Branded content is a powerful marketing technique that can elicit emotions in its consumers, build trust between consumer and brand, and increase brand revenue. If done well, it can be extremely effective, but it often receives a negative connotation as skeptics wonder if the hyper-dramatized content often associated with it, is working only for the better of the brand. But is that always the case? What is branded content and can it do for both the brand and consumer? Continue reading What is Branded Content? Examples from Successful Campaigns
EPISODE 1Budget BombshellMeet the team and watch how they must rework their script so that it will fit inside their limited budget.Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.EPISODE 1Art meets commerceYou have a great idea for a TV show. You’ve already written the pilot, but producers won’t read unsolicited scripts and you’re tired of visualizing the idea in your head. That’s when you decide it’s time to make a proof of concept — a pilot presentation. Where do you begin?The answer is Pre-Production. In the first episode of our Pre-Production web-series, we perform a script breakdown to create a preliminary film…
EPISODE 4 MAKING ITTo Live & Cast in L.A.Auditions, Actors, and Table Read Throughs Setting up casting calls and actor auditions are one of the most exciting parts of the pre-production process, but this is where things begin to get real. See us cast our short film below. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE MAKING IT: EPISODE 4 How to cast actors for your short film It's time for you to hold auditions and cast actors in the various roles you've created. This is where you begin to see your vision come to life, but there are many considerations including self-tapes and finding…
When it comes to the glitz and glamour of the movie biz, most people don’t mention film production budget planning--try saying that three times fast. Continue reading Film Budget Planning: How to Effectively Budget a Script Breakdown
Film producers and directors both have major responsibilities during the filmmaking process, but none is as important as their ability to work together. This post discusses producer vs director responsibilities, addressing the specifics of each role, while also pointing to why their clear communication is critical to the making of a film.Continue reading Producer vs Director: The Roles & Responsibilities Explained
Your film budget isn’t complete until you factor in taxes. But what if I told you could magically get some of that moola back? That’s right. I’m talking film tax credits, baby.Continue reading Film Tax Credits: How to Save Money for Your Project
How we distinguish between producers matters. There are a ton of moving parts in filmmaking, and each producer handles a different one. This post answers the question ‘what is a line producer,’ so you can better understand where they fall in the mix.Continue reading What is a Line Producer? Defining the Basics of the Role
