Mira Nair is a film director and producer, her best-known films include: “Salaam Bombay”, “Monsoon Wedding”, “Mississippi Masala”, “Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love”. Her recent films include: “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” and “Queen of Katwe”. 1. Make sure actors feel comfortable and relaxed during the casting process. If actors feel pressured or judged, they will…
7 Writing Tips From Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin is one of the most celebrated and accomplished writers working in Hollywood at the moment. He writes for film, TV, and theatre. He is the creator of “West Wing” and “The Newsroom” and the scriptwriter behind “The Social Network” and “Steve Jobs”. In 2017 he directed Jessica Chastain in “Molly’s Game”, which I…
Filmmaking Is A Collaborative Art
I believe that filmmaking is a genuinely collaborative art. Of course, as independent filmmakers, we can and often wear many hats to get our projects off the ground. Over the years, most likely than not, you have picked up a range of hands-on skills and tonnes of practical knowledge, which surely would allow you to…
Organisation Is the Key
I believe that to be working independently in the creative field one needs to be highly organised, especially when you have a part-time or sometimes even a full-time job that isn’t related to your artistic career but allows you to pay your bills. If you aren’t organised, time can easily slip through your fingers and…
What Motivates Your Audience?
Motivating an audience to stick with the story you have created is an art form. Creating a piece of art that will get your audience trapped in that piece, wanting more from the story, is something every writer aspires to. However, the question for many writers has always been what is this amazingly magical ingredient…
7 Tips on How to Find and Work with Sales Agents in the Film & TV Industry.
1. The most common way of finding a sales agent is at film festivals. Film festivals screenings and premieres have been used to attract both: sales agents and distributors for years. 2. If you are not doing the film festival circle with your film, writing to sales agents and introducing your project is a good…
What Do Sales Agents Do In The Film Industry?
Sales agent’s in the film and TV industry main task is to help you sell your project to distributors, TV networks, airlines, hotel chains, and any other outlets that screen films and shows. The sales agent is the middle man between the production and the people exhibiting the content and usually can get to places…
5 Tips on Telling Good Stories
1. The secret to good storytelling is knowing your audience. 2. If you are trying to capture your audience, start with something they already know and can easily relate to. 3. Tapping into shared experiences will help you capture your audience. (What are yours and your viewers common and shared experiences?) 4. Use those shared…
Marketing and Promoting A Film Is A Group Effort
Filmmaking is a collaborative art form and anyone, who has ever made a film knows this obvious truth. Of course, there are instances when one filmmaker makes the entire film on their own or with very limited help. But these are rather exceptions than a norm. In my opinion, doing everything or almost everything on…
Scriptwriting In A Nutshell: External Antagonist and/or Obstacle
As a writer, you need to care for your external antagonist as much as you care for your main character. The external antagonist or the external obstacle that the main character is trying to overcome is going to drive your story; and a strong, consistent obstacle or antagonist can only benefit your story. Things, bad…