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...]

When we started, we had visions of creating huge movies. Christopher and I dreamed of epic WWII movies, spy movies, super hero movies -- you name it, we wanted to make it. The problem was, our eyes were bigger than our stomach. Even today when I work with clients and creatives, it's always tough to find the right balance of budgeting and creative spark. When you are starting on your first feature, you are most likely going to have low to no budget to work within. Everyone has to start somewhere and shorts don't usually cut it if you're trying to turn a profit and make a name for yourself. Likely, you'll start with a $1,000 to $15,000 film. Christopher and I made The Painted City for $6,000 and he made LIGHT for $11,000. In terms of feasibility, these are not always the easiest stories to tell because they need to have very few settings, very little cast, and simple to execute. Recently, I reviewed the Dov Simens Film Course where he dives into the specifics of no budget … [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...]

As the year comes to an end, I thought it would be fun to recap my favorite filmmaking articles and videos from 2015. You may recognize some -- I have linked to some before, but as we move forward into a new year, I like to recap everything I've learned from the previous year. There is an awful lot of junk to sort through every month, so I’ve broken down my favorite articles and videos to help cut through the clutter. This is here to help you find the best from the clutter. :) The Best Filmmaking Videos of 2015  Special Effects Anyone Can Do for Free Children of Men: Don't Ignore The Background The Truth About Filmmaking! JJ Abrams on Film School: "More important you learn what to make movies about, than how to make movies" Why Prep Is SO Important  Christopher Nolan on his first (no-budget) film "Following" + DIY Tips & Tricks 18-Minute Analysis By Christopher Nolan On Story & Construction Of Memento Buster Keaton - The Art of the Gag What not … [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...]

One day my phone buzzed at work, it was a message from Christopher, “I found an ad for "The Dov Simens Film Course" school in Movie Making Magazine. I really think we should go....it’s in San Francisco.” Uhhh, what? A ten hour drive for a cheesy film seminar? “You realize we’re both broke, right?” I asked. “Dude, check out these testimonials, though.” He sent me a link the Dov Simens Film Course website with a list of quotes from past students. Whoa...wait...what?! THE Quentin Tarantino? No way. I guess Tarantino didn’t go to film school. But a two day seminar? I felt like I was being sold snake oil, but I kept scrolling. Huh. Really? It felt too good to be true. But there they were, tons of testimonials. Guy Ritchie, Queen Latifa, Christopher Nolan, the list went on. I started clicking through to his videos. It still felt kitsch, but his message resonated with me. “Alright man, I’m in.” What are you going to do? If the class was terrible, at least … [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...]

The biggest turning point for me when starting out was realizing I wasn’t alone. As I mentioned in my informational interview post, local associations are the best place to start your journey. The problem for me when I was starting was the cost of joining my local association. It was only a couple hundred dollars per year, but it was still too much since I was fresh out of college and being as frugal as humanly possible. My solution to this problem was volunteering three days a week at my local film office. Lots of local organizations would kill to have a couple extra hands around to help with their events, outreach, and office work. When you volunteer you won’t be doing anything spectacular during your day, but you’ll be given a huge opportunity to interact with people way above your pay grade. Try to volunteer for as many community events as possible. This will get you in a room with a lot of people in the industry for free. It’s also a perfect opportunity to strike up … [Read more...]

Here are my favorite film industry and production articles + videos from around the internet from the last month. There is an awful lot of junk to sort through every month, so I've broken down my favorite articles and videos to help cut through the clutter. Videos This Month I love this video essay on props -- it talks about the hidden powers props provide and how filmmakers can use them to further their story. How everyday objects are transcended by storytelling and can becoming cultural icons.  Like music, color in film plays an incredibly important role. Color has the power to influence how we feel without our even noticing. Film directors have exploited our connection to color for decades. This video explores how our emotions are effected by color, and how filmmakers can use color more strategically. This is a sweet video on how VFX companies Framestore and MPC were tasked with creating the red planet in “The Martian.” From realistic landscape shots of Mars to simulated … [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...]