If you want to know how to make a successful short film, stop and consider a few words on fiscal responsibility. Even if you have an award winning short film script, and a short film budget some features would drool over, you could see it all fall apart. This is why knowing about every financial aspect of your short film is key.Every line producer or indie filmmaker needs to know how to handle the financial aspects of short filmmaking. This includes what you need to have in place so that the budget is well-managed at the start of pre production.…
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 breathless is an all-encompassing task. Let’s look at what a production designer does during production and how every filmmaker can use their knowledge and skills to create a better film.Continue reading What Does a Production Designer Do? A Crash Course with Examples
Everyone has an opinion about your script. In the rewrite stage, you or your producer will find things that don't work. Many of these things will be your babies. These are the scenes, or lines of dialogue, even vague ideas, that you should move to the boneyard. "The Boneyard" is a place to put the ideas that aren't working right now. A screenwriter, or assistant director, can keep track of them, and keep them safe, for later use. Let's see how beneficial using the boneyard is for creating near masterpieces. Continue reading Tales From The Boneyard: Knowing Where the Scenes…
In every script, there are elements that can go unseen. Sometimes even hiding in plain sight. If overlooked for too long, this misstep could affect your scheduling and budget. Hidden elements can make a huge impact on your bottom line and schedule. It is the producer’s job to find these elements before they become a surprise in production. We’ll discuss how to find the most common hidden element in any script: characters. And we will use script breakdown software to do it. Continue reading How to Properly Identify Cast When Breaking Down a Script
Production is not for the faint of heart. Long hours, physical strain, and emotional exhaustion are part of the job. Stress can bring out the worst in people, and when you have to work with difficult talent and crew on set, a production can can go south quickly.Continue reading 3 Ways To Work With Difficult Talent and Crew On Set
Signing film contracts may feel like a formality on smaller productions, a Crew Deal Memo, Producer/Director Contract or Talent Release has real meaning. It is a legally binding employment agreement and should be drafted and signed with care. Here are some best practices to guide you through the process.Continue reading 4 Things To Consider Before Signing a Film Contract
When we think of micro-budget filmmaking, we think of the film’s budget, distribution, or possibly marketing, as the most crucial element.  The process, after all is one that mystifies and entraps legions of filmmakers. Furthermore, how to navigate the often-frustrating world of ultra low-budget filmmaking is something that escapes even those filmmakers in the midst of it.But, with over 20 years experience in the film industry, filmmaker Alex Ferrari knows the most essential aspect of the micro-budget filmmaking process is freedom.  He has figured out that a lack of freedom can stifle a filmmaker’s project. Recently, we had the opportunity…
Background talent has been a staple of the movie industry since the early days of filmmaking.  The need for background continues today on sets in Hollywood. But now, union rates and minimum wage laws means that it's costly to use a cast of thousands, even when the project calls for just that. But producer’s on a budget and indie filmmakers don’t have to reign in the scope of their imagination or productions. The film industry has evolved to find a way to satisfy the need for crowds in some clever and cutting-edge ways.  Now, the savvy producer can multiply a…
There are dozens of filmmaking techniques that require special consideration.  From tracking shots to dutch angles, each of these cinematic gems helps to tell a story in a creative way.  Each technique also comes with its own set of rules and logistics. One such technique that has evolved over time is Day for Night.There are many ways to achieve this cinematic effect of Day for Night.  But, that doesn’t mean that getting it right is necessarily a cake walk.  This is especially true when it comes to scheduling. Come along as we take a look at everything you need to…
