Telling a story, developing a story, organising production, selling the finished product, finding the audience; all those elements are part of every filmmaking process. Unfortunately, nowadays it seems that quite many filmmakers have forgotten that having the newest or most expensive equipment is not the beginning, the middle, or the end of the filmmaking process. Every production…
Filmmaking and Writing
Pitching Your Projects
Pitching projects to decision-makers, other filmmakers, financiers, and anyone else who could help you get your project off the ground is not an easy job. It requires skills and practice, as well as determination and persistence. There are specific formulas for pitching projects at different pitching stages. Usually, you wouldn’t just go into a meeting or…
You Made A Film What Happens Next
This is the big question; every filmmaker asks themselves during the production process. Partially, you should know who your target audience is, and who is going to watch your film, before you start the development process and invest a ton of time and energy into that project. The sooner you start thinking about your distribution…
What Is Spike Lee’s Writing Process Like?
Spike Lee is an American film director, producer, writer and actor. He is known for such films as: “She’s Gotta Have It”, “Do the Right Thing”, “Malcolm X” and, most recently, “BlackkKlansman”. Spike always dedicates one notebook, in which he collects ideas for a story, names of the characters, dialogue, plot points, etc. Once the…
How Mira Nair Auditions Actors?
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…