My parents saved things: either of their personal storages holds a timeline of my life in the form of school papers, teacher notes, drawings, stories I made as a child, clothing, and other mementos. I never look at these things and I’m sure they don’t either, but the idea of recording my life through creations that have accumulated along the way stuck with me. As filmmakers, we amass a good deal of recorded history: paperwork, toys, art, discs of saved documents (yeah, that’s antiquated), and all sorts of items that remind us of every step in our filmmaking journey. I’m sure some folks trash this stuff  or just lose track after a project ends. I’ve opted to strategically save things. This post explains why that’s been essential for my growth, helpful in the dark times, and why I think we could all benefit from keeping a box. WHAT IS A FILMMAKING BOX? A filmmaking box is your personal recorded filmmaking history, collected in a singular location. In the digital age, a … [Read more...]

One of the hardest parts of filmmaking is growing. Artistic and career advancement require learning new skills, collaborating with new professionals, and expanding the possibilities of the medium. This post is meant to help filmmakers navigate the intimidating process of working with an experienced post house for the first time. It can be daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the language of visual effects or the process of working with larger teams. The main thing to keep in mind is this: you’re all there to serve the vision, build new relationships, and maximize your skills. Once you realize everyone is working toward the same goals, communication is the primary focal point. Two years ago I had my first opportunity to venture outside my DIY comfort zone and work with an visual effects house. I’d landed a gig producing and directing an internal video for a large athletic apparel company. Due to the contracts involved I’m unable to show it here. Roughly 75% of the 3 minute … [Read more...]

“It’s not the end of the world. There’ll be other opportunities. You did your best and at least you tried.” - People trying to make you feel better Sure, rejection is innately a part of filmmaking; everyone knows you have to press forward, live, learn, and grow. I wanted to write an inspiring piece: something to help you all live with rejection, learn from it, and keep positive attitudes. But, as I was writing, I couldn’t shake this thought: “Maybe it’s okay to be pissed off in the face of rejection? Maybe saving face and acting positive isn’t always the answer?” A positive outlook and acceptance are crucial, but it’s also essential to feel what you feel in the moment. That’s what the bulk of this article will explore: how to find positivity through rejection, not in spite of it. I hope any filmmaker or artist Googling rejection will find this post and feel reassured: it’s okay to be frustrated. What you do with that frustration is what truly makes the difference. "I'M … [Read more...]

It was November 13th when I found out about Project Greenlight’s Get The Greenlight Digital Series Contest. Get the Greenlight solidified that Michael and I should next-level a series we’d been developing for a couple years. The only problem: the pitch was due November 25th. By the time we decided to go ahead, we had a little less than a week and a half to: Narrow down our development history for our series, Bison Island. Craft a pitch (3 minute or less) that met Greenlight’s criteria. Stand out in the crowd. Make the deadline! We did end up being picked for the Top 20 semi-finals! Public voting is ongoing until December 18th and you can click here to view our pitch and vote! Our video was produced in roughly 10 days, and I want empower other filmmakers: if you think a timeline is too tight or the odds are too slim, you can do it! In this post, you’ll see everything from our schedules to our shot lists and overall productivity philosophies and hacks! The … [Read more...]

This is nearly 40 hours of fascinating, expository, and educational interviews with some of cinema’s top names and talents. Founded as a craft seminar for film and acting students, Inside the Actor’s Studio has been an ever present TV tool for filmmakers for over 20 years. I’ve been watching Inside the Actor’s Studio since grade school and it’s hard to quantify the lessons I’ve learned from this show. Between great film directors’ origin stories, and insights from legendary actors on what works for their craft, this show has been invaluable. More recently, it’s been a bit flashier and more commercialized, but there was a time when the show was a film school unto itself. I included some of these interviews for obvious reasons—they feature great filmmakers discussing their approach, career decisions, and inspirations. Others are a bit broader, but equally valuable—the Dave Chapelle episode is among the best interviews I’ve ever had. I urge you to pay close attention to … [Read more...]

NOTE: If cursing and innuendo offend you, these Howard Stern interviews are not for you. Most people have an opinion on Howard Stern interviews: “He’s a loudmouth. He’s vulgar. He’s a genius. He’s a provocateur.” One thing is undeniable: Howard Stern is one of the greatest interviewers in media history. For the about 40 years, interviewees have entered his studios knowing no subject is off limits—he refuses to interview anyone who objects. Whether guests discuss their craft, pay-grade, or relationship history, there’s an unparalleled transparency on Stern’s show. Howard Stern interviews with filmmakers, actors, and industry personalities provide some of the best, open-doored insights into the industry’s inner-workings. This collection of over 16 hours of audio and/or video can be considered a series of film industry lectures. From legendary directors, to actors, and TV personalities, these sessions opened my eyes to varied elements within the entertainment art, and … [Read more...]

These are tips that I’ve learned over the years, and that have informed quite a bit of my growth. Business and numbers do not come naturally to me. I’m right-brained. If you’re reading this and you are too, fear not! If you think you’re just wired a certain way and you’ll never learn the business end, I’m begging you to think again. I used to believe this about myself, but at a certain point I was tired of feeling victimized and intimidated by the money-people. Whether I was talking to clients or prospective financiers, I got tired of feeling like the “idiot” in the room. I wanted to meet them where they were and not fall victim to any misunderstandings or oversights. So, I worked hard and over a couple years, I learned enough about business that I can now walk comfortably into a room full of MBAs and know I’m capable of keeping up. There’s so much I don’t know, but at this point there’s even more I no longer fear. I hope this post starts you off in that direction. There’s … [Read more...]

80% of how to become a screenwriter is sitting down to illustrate your imagination on the page. The other 20% is knowing your fundamental characters, places, sequences and milestones well enough that they are real to you. Simply put, it’s making your story’s world second nature. While the 20% never really ends, it can certainly take a backseat to the 80%, once you begin on the script itself. These percentages represent the time you put in, not the amount of work they each require. If the 20% is as fully imagined as possible before you sit down and begin writing, the entire process can be far more fluid and rewarding. No two writers have the same methodology. I consume a lot of interviews with writers and my ever-evolving “method” is a hybrid of many common approaches. I hear writers discuss outlining their scripts, versus not outlining. Some create a master document—much like a short story—and pull their script from that. The best approach must really be discovered by … [Read more...]

WHY PACK LIGHT? As a freelance videographer, I’m on a constant quest to refine my creative and logistical approaches. The more time you spend working, the more equipment you pile up, and the more scattered that equipment can become. It also grows increasingly difficult to transport all that equipment without a huge trunk, free back seats, and a few trips back and forth between where you keep your gear, and the car. I don’t know about you, but I hate leaving my gear unattended in the car (even if it’s locked), and multiple trips are always a drag. A while ago it occurred to me: there must be a better way to condense my production suite, pair it down to the bare minimum, and make transportation as easy as humanly possible. THE PURSUIT OF LIGHTNESS I’ve observed freelancers carrying all their gear from gig to gig, and it’s always seemed inefficient. Piled up tubs, boxes, bags and pelican cases are a recipe for early-onset back problems. I’ve spent the better part of ten … [Read more...]

I met Timon Birkhofer in 2012, when he and his co-director Jørg were in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, filming XOXO Maker’s Fair. They were working on their recently released documentary, Capital C. Over the past few years, Tim and I have kept in touch and I was excited to see Capital C’s release come to fruition. As Tim noted in our interview, many films get produced, few get finished, and fewer are released. Tim and Jørg’s hard work and multi-year process paid off: the first crowdfunded film about crowdfunding is beautifully executed, informative, and inspiring! It’s also very focused and far more emotionally gripping than one might expect a film on this topic to be. If you’re looking to crowdfund a project, or are simply interested in this fascinating cultural revolution that has transpired over the past few years, I cannot recommend Capital C enough! It’s available on all major VOD platforms including iTunes and Amazon [Click these links to watch it now]. Having … [Read more...]