Almost three years ago, our son came home from a summer filmmaking program and wrote a script for a musical video he called “School for Boy.” He was 14. Jeff had plenty of motivation and energy at first. He wrote the script, about a girl whose father was headmaster of a private boys’ school, in what seemed…
It’s a common question of amateur filmmakers. “How do I make my video footage look like film?” and also “What camera to buy?” As a low budget amateur filmmaker myself I had even a more pertinent question; “How can I even afford a high end camcorder if I’m broke?” After much research and frustrated head-bangs,…
As a screenwriter, the ability to craft dramatic suspense can turn your script from a basic, by the numbers story into something memorable, and the basis of a movie that people will remember. Film is a visceral art, and a thousand things have to go right in the execution of a story to make it…
As a screenwriter, there are a few ways to get your script sold and -possibly – made into a movie. Screenwriting contests have emerged as a way for unknown writers to get their name out there, but this requires either winning the contest or placing very high, and more than likely having to do it…
When we compare modern moviemaking to widget production, it oftentimes seems as though we are saying that the end product of our work carries with it so much more human, emotional weight and experience than the mere production of a widget. And while I understand that watching a feature film has so much more value to ME, and…
In the world of independent filmmaking, it’s easy to assume that more money can make any problem go away. But most filmmakers – independent or mainstream – will readily admit that nothing derails a project faster than being unprepared before the production begins. It’s tempting to think that the $20,000 budget that you’ve scraped together through loans,…
The President of HBO Documentary Films, Sheila Nevins, and founder of Cinetic Media, John Sloss, will headline the Filmmaker Conference at the 32nd Annual Independent Film Week, Sept. 19-23 in New York. The event is presented by IFP, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of independent filmmakers. To capture the “Future of Film” theme, IFP…
Every Spring, San Francisco comes alive with fabulous films and the talented, creative minds who make the movies that touch hearts all over the world. The San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) is the longest-running film festival in the United States, attracting more than 80,000 people each year. In fact, approximately 6,000 films have been…
Boston, with all of its rich history and culture, is the perfect backdrop for filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike, which is why the Boston Film Festival (BFF) has survived and thrived for more than 25 years. Every September, the city becomes a place for artistic, creative lovers of story, and people flock from all over…
As you’re thinking about getting ready to try and sell your script, you should be asking yourself, is it really ready? The business of screenwriting is hard enough without jumping into the market unprepared. Besides the actual writing, which is a sometimes torturous process in itself, there is everything else that goes into getting your finished work…
