We’ve noticed a shift in content throughout the digital age. Filmmakers spend years studying traditional filmmaking only to find that some viewers now prefer web-based content over traditional film and TV.Continue reading Make a YouTube Web Series to Get Noticed as a Filmmaker
A script breakdown is one of the most important phases of pre-production. It’s usually the first time you start to develop a clear picture of the size, scope, and cost of a production. Breakdowns allow filmmakers to find the balance between telling the strongest story for the lowest budget. Easier said than done, but in today’s article… Continue reading A Tale of Two Script Breakdowns: Titanic vs. Brooklyn
You, a production professional, know how to make script sides.The 2nd AD tells you, “Make script sides and distro when they’re done.” What are sides? How do you make them? What does distro mean?Continue reading How to Create Script Sides for Film & TV [with Examples]
I think we can all agree that making a movie is hard work. Throw a few bumps in the road and it can get hectic. That’s where having a flexible shooting schedule comes in handy. Today we’re going to go over one of the most insane movie productions ever, The Revenant, and show you how… Continue reading The Revenant Movie: A Shooting Schedule Nightmare
C reating call sheets is time consuming, complicated and necessary. But what if you had an easy to use call sheet template that you could apply to all your projects? What StudioBinder offers is a simple and clear way to create, send and track a call sheet template online. In this post, I’m going to show… Continue reading How to Make a Call Sheet Online with StudioBinder’s Call Sheet Software
W hat’s your 20? What does 10-4 mean? Bogey. A walkie-talkie is a powerful tool on a film set. But it’s nothing unless you know the walkie-talkie lingo. Luckily, mastering film set walkie talkie lingo isn’t as hard as finding your film crew. We’ve compiled the most-used walkie talkie codes and radio etiquette tips to have you… Continue reading Walkie Talkie Lingo Everyone On-Set Should Know
L ogistics. Your average filmmaker’s worst nightmare. A good film producer, however, knows that the better organized a shoot is, the better the outcome for everyone involved. Historically this has included number different documents, over numerous different programs. For me personally, it involved spreadsheets, running sheets and never-ending ‘to do’ lists. However, with the emergence of all things… Continue reading Customer Success: How Diana Fisk Streamlined the Call Sheet Process
W hat is a lined script? And what does it have to do with your shot list? On the surface, a shot list is exactly what it sounds like. A list of shots that communicates to your crew what camera shots you intend to get. Yet we all know once you get to set, issues arise and something always… Continue reading How to Make a Lined Script and Save Your Shot List
Behind every Spielberg or Shonda Rhimes is a superhuman production coordinator. Without any of the glitz, these multitasking savants build organization empires out of nothing.Continue reading 22 Things Every Working Production Coordinator Should Know
Where there’s a film crew, there’s a craft services table a few feet away. Having well stocked food on set can directly affect your crew’s happiness and your film’s overall quality.Continue reading 8 Essential Tips for Prepping an Awesome Craft Services Table
Working with talent used to fill me with dread. Celebrity talent was even worse. Dealing with handlers, agents, lawyers and even personal assistants can try any producer’s patience. But it’s part of the business. If you want to make movies you have to learn to work with demanding celebrities.Continue reading Working With Celebrity Talent: How… Continue reading Working With Celebrity Talent: How I Learned To Respect the Kardashians
Understanding the essentials of film set etiquette is paramount when creating a streamlined production without any obvious hiccups. Our friends at Screencraft have provided a useful 6 step guide on helping your cast and crew learn about film set etiquette.Continue reading 6 Tips For Proper Film Set Etiquette
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that most photographers don’t think about a photo release form after the photoshoot has wrapped. Not surprisingly, you can prevent headaches down the road from past clients by educating yourself on how to use them.Continue reading Why You Should Have a Photo Release Form Template
What exactly goes into call sheet? Which producer’s names go on the top? Where do you put the parking details? Is the lunch menu listed? Fret not, gentle reader.Continue reading The Anatomy of a Call Sheet: How to Make a Call Sheet for Film and TV
Don’t want to fall behind the shooting schedule? Here’s how you can load in and load out more effectively when filming on location.Continue reading How to Load In & Out Without Falling Behind Schedule
Call sheet protocols vary depending on the scale and type of production (documentary, narrative, still, commercial, live etc.). In this article we outline how call sheets are approved on features and television projects.Continue reading How Call Sheets are Approved on Features and Television Shows
Abbreviated DPR or just PR, the daily production report might be the most important documents a producer looks at every day. From video agencies to indie productions, having a up-to-date DPR is necessary for assessing progress, catching inefficiencies, and tracking each production daily expense. In our post, we cover the process with our free production report template… Continue reading The Daily Production Report Explained (with FREE production report template)
Filmmaking by its very nature is very counteractive toward sustainability. Sets and props are temporarily built, special effects cause chaos, and don’t get us started on plastic water bottles. But green film production is not a myth. Being sustainable with your productions may seem like a daunting task, but with the right steps, it’s very… Continue reading 13 Steps Towards Green Film Production We Can All Take
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
Utilizing spreadsheet formulas for call times can speed up the process of creating call sheets, but for many AD’s and Production Unit folks, formulas can be intimidating. In this article, we’re going to show you how to setup Excel formulas for staggering call times automatically.Continue reading Staggering Call Time Formulas for Your Next Call Sheet
Call sheet formats can vary dramatically depending on the type of project (documentary, narrative, still, commercial, live etc.). We talked to two 1st ADs about their process of creating call sheets and getting them approved.Continue reading How Call Sheets are Approved on Short Form, Music Videos, and Commercials
Making a visually stunning film is no easy feat. The goal of a production designer is to immerse you in the world they have created. That’s the magic of production design, creating the world you see and making you believe the unbelievable. But what does a production designer do exactly? Creating the worlds that leave us… Continue reading What Does a Production Designer Do? A Crash Course with Examples
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Assistant Directors (the 1st AD) are one of the most valuable crew members on any production. Your 1st AD is responsible for on-set communication, department coordination, maintaining the shooting schedule, conflict resolution, and safety. Continue reading 13 Ways You Can Become a Better 1st AD
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 at West Point, and how they can be repurposed as core filmmaking tips for directors and line producers to become more effective… Continue reading 11 Ways to Become a Better Producer or Director on Set
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