1. According to Margaret, a novel is a long story that ought to inspire the reader or listener to hear more of what is happening to the characters and how life turns out for them at the end. 2. Don’t be afraid to try out different voices, styles and techniques, and always keep only what…
Filmmaking and Writing
Writing Tips From Judy Blume
1. Reading is the key to writing. Read as many books as possible and then start writing. 2. The only way to learn how to write is to practice, and that takes time. No magic tricks or fast rules will allow you to skip the hard work that writing requires. 3. Your individuality is what…
Ron Howard’s Filmmaking Tips
As a filmmaker, you ought to feel emotionally, not intellectually, connected to the story. You should live, breath and dream the story. If you ask your audience to invest their time and money in your film, you need to be certain that the story has something different and exciting to show. Always look for powerful…
7 Filmmaking Tips From Martin Scorsese
1. You should always think carefully about your camera choices. 2. There are no manuals, no shortcuts and no secrets to finding your own way. You learn everything by doing the work. 3. As a director, you will always have to make some hard decisions, and in the process, kill some of your darlings while…
6 Tips on How to Approach Decision Makers
1. Do your research correctly, so that you know exactly who you are approaching. Approaching the wrong person, or the wrong company with your request is counterproductive because after putting all your efforts and energy out, you will never hear back from them. If you are looking for a distributor or a sales agent, make…
9 Tips That Will Help You Work with the Sales Agent or the Distribution Company
1. Always research the agency and distribution company you want to work with. There’s a lot of cowboys in this industry, and you don’t want to be a victim of one of them. 2. Before you start negotiating with either the sales agent or a distribution company, you should check what films they have successfully…
CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION THE NEW WAY OF DISTRIBUTING FILMS
The film distribution landscape is changing rapidly. Many filmmakers and production companies decide to cut out the middle man (sales agents) and go directly to distributors or VOD platforms with their productions. The reality is that finding the right sales agent, who would represent your film is a challenging task. The sales agents charge a…
Traditional Way Of Film Distribution
You have finally finished your film and decided that the best way to distribute your work of art is with the help of a sales agent. A good sales agent (in the perfect world but remember, the filmmaking business is far from perfect) will represent your film at markets, film festivals, introduce you and your…
Can a Sales Agent Stop a Filmmaker from Contacting the Distributor Directly?
In short, a sales agent cannot stop a filmmaker from contacting a distributor directly, as long as the latter didn’t sign a contract with the sales agent. If one did though, they have to check what the said contract says about directly contacting the distributor. If it’s you, make sure you will not be in…
Filmmaking Isn’t Just Pointing Camera in One Direction and Recording
Many people go into the business of making videos and films, believing that pointing the camera in one direction and pressing record is the way filmmaking works. Unfortunately, this idea is hugely misleading since filmmaking is not only about pointing your camera in one direction and recording whatever happens in front of it. Of course,…