In 2011 is Film School Still Worth It?
This is a guest post from filmmaker Seth Hymes who runs the site Film School Secrets. He is particularly qualified to discuss the pros and cons of film school as he is a graduate and former instructor at NYU Film School.
Film schools are a great place to learn the basics of filmmaking and meet like minded collaborators. They also provide a structured environment to experiment and hone your craft.
Unfortunately, I’ve met more than my fair share of young NYU and USC film school alumni deeply in debt with no clear job leads or any idea how to start making movies for a living. I’ve also met many DIYers who wonder if they missed out by skipping school. With tuition costs continuing to rise, and HD equipment costs continuing to plummet, the film school debate is worth reopening in 2011.
My goal in this post is to shed some light on the specifics of investing in film school and also share some cheaper alternatives to get a film education in a classroom setting. Read more...
When ARE You Going To Get Started?
Image via Wikipedia
I was at a birthday party last night and found myself talking to a young filmmaker, Robert, who had just completed his first feature film. Robert admitted that it wasn't very good but he was incredibly excited that he had completed it.
I asked him where he had gone to film school. His answer was quick and right on.
I want to be a filmmaker. No one's going to tell me I have to put myself $100,000 in debt and spend 4 years waiting to get started. Read more...
Importance of Film Storytelling
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Meng Johnson just added a great post to IndieTalk about the importance of film storytelling to the success of a film. Here's an excerpt from that post.
It is easy to get caught up in the technical side of filmmaking and forget the greater importance of the art of STORYTELLING. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what camera you use, how great the VFX, or how big the explosions; if the story doesn’t connect. Read More...
I'm always surprised at the number of questions I get about the technical aspects of filmmaking and how rarely anyone asks me about film storytelling. Read more...
Sundance Film Festival Announces Cultural Dialog Films
- Robert Redford of Sundance - Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Sundance has selected 10 films to participate in the Institute's new film festival program: Film Forward, Advancing Cultural Dialog. The purpose is to encourage cultural exchange through the screening of films that reflect the reflect the cultural diversity of the world.
Ten films have been selected to take part in the Sundance Institute's inaugural cultural exchange program, Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue initiative. The first year slate includes five American and five international titles, screening in New York and Tunisia in December. The concept is a public/private cultural exchange effort spearheaded by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). Read more...
Economy Killing Film Schools?
- Image via Wikipedia
Is the economy starting to kill film schools?
This just in from The Business Journal (www.bizjournals.com) reports that recent budget cuts in North Carolina may force the University of North Carolina to cut their film school.
Film schools have been reported to be one of the most profitable areas for universities so it would be surprising if the cut was made for purely economic reasons. This may be a bluff by the school administrators or just more of the trend of cuting arts programs from mainstream public education. Read more...
Hollywood and Bollywood Sign A Truce?
Image via Wikipedia
I don't know quite what to make of a news article I just found concerning Hollywood and Bollywood.
For years the actor's and crew's unions have fought to stop film productions from leaving the United States as filmmaking companies have looked for countries with lower labor costs. Canada being the first among the usual suspects.
Image via Wikipedia
Now some of the top executives from the biggest studios in Hollywood and Bollywood have agreed to a "treaty" that will allow sharing of locations and facilities between the two countries' industries.
The article talks about Bollywood having access to Hollywood facilities and easier access to the United States for Indian actors and film distribution.
But won't that work both ways? Read more...
Sell Your Screenplay Through Amazon
Warner Bros. Tower-photo credit: SnippyHolloW
If you've been looking for ways to sell your screenplay or project ideas here's a channel you probably never would have thought of.
Amazon practically owns online book sales and has started selling just about everything else, as well. But, you already knew that.
You may not have realized that many other retailers and manufacturers use Amazon as a selling agent for their products, and many aspiring filmmakers and authors have made good money self-publishing through Amazon.
Recently Amazon went much farther from its roots than ever before to establish Amazon Studios. The goal is to find worthy projects and connect them to established Hollywood studios to get them produced and exhibited. In other words, to help you sell your screenplay. Read more...
Screenwriting Idea: Combine Genres
Cover of Let the Right One In: A Novel
Looking for screenwriting ideas? One of the best ways is to think of ways to combine the stereotypes of several different genres to create something entirely new.
Beginning writers often will try writing a horror film because horror films can be inexpensive to film and an original concept can make for a highly successful film. But how do you come up with an original screenwriting concept when just about every variation on horror has already been done?
A little Swedish film has achieved quite a bit of success and even gotten to cult status by combining horror with a coming-of-age love story. Read more...
Publicity Photos: Saved by HD
Julie Stevens in a posed CBS promotional photo. Image via Wikipedia
One of the elements of successful film distribution that is often overlooked by independent filmmakers is the publicity photos. If you want to sell your film you need a complete set of high-quality publicity photos that can be used in publicity such as "stills" and posters. Read more...
It Has To Be An Entertaining Film
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I was tossing some old papers when I found a review by my favorite SF Chronicle film reviewer, Mick LaSalle, and was reminded of one of the most basic rules of filmmaking: It has to be an entertaining film. Read more...
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