FilmmakerIQ.com » Pre-production

How to Make Sure You’re Ready Before You Walk on the Set

John P. Hess — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:19 +0000

As a filmmaker, be it as a producer or director or both, you are like a captain of a ship. Once the production day starts and the ship has left port, everyone will be looking to you for guidance and direction. Nothing will sink your project faster than indecision – an issue that can be mitigated with proper pre-production work.

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, personal savings and credit cards—and possibly an illegal act here or there—will trump readiness. It’s not true. So many films don’t get made because of poor planning, or just assuming that you can make it up as you go. Granted, it’s much easier to shoot now with digital as opposed to film, but it should be fairly obvious that you can’t just turn on the camera and film until the battery dies. Because the work that you’ve put in during pre-production will help in post, when you’re editing, looping sound, or trying to figure out how the boom ended up in all of those shots.

—Film Slate |Read the Full Article

Rethinking Kickstarter – A Strategy for Success (the Wrap)

John P. Hess — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:30:14 +0000

John Hess explores a different way to think of Kickstarter and how to find success in online crowd-funding.

Episode 34:

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Last week’s best article which inspired today’s talk:

TEDxVictoria – Crowdfunding 101
Victoria Westcott shares the five simple lessons from her childhood and how they apply crowdfunding, including raising $20k for her first feature film “Locked in a Garage Band”

Top Seven Articles from January 15-21, 2012

7. The Internet Goes on Strike over SOPA, Productivity Skyrockets

Late Night Chat on the Canon C300 with the DP of 24

In this series of late night vlogs with Rodney Charters (DP for the TV show 24) the Bui brothers explore the capabilities of the Canon C300 after shooting a camera test and having a few drinks.

7 Tips for HD Color Correction and DSLR Color Correction

Vashi Nedomansky a few professional tips on how to color correct footage for evenness and then how to color grade to add visual punch and style.

Making of “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The title sequence to David Fincher’s “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is an amazing mix of dark forms and stylized violence. This sequence which houses over 250 shots alone was created by visual effects house, Blue Studios.

Writing the Mirror Moment

James Strzelinski explores what he calls the “Mirror Moment” – the turning point of a character arc which has the lead metaphorically (or literally) looking in the mirror and reevaluating everything.

Drew Berry: Animating Unseeable Biology

Molecules exist in dimensions smaller than the wave lengths of the visible light spectrum and because of this they are impossible to photograph. But that hasn’t stopped scientists from thinking about what they look like and what they’re doing. In this TEDxSydney talk, Drew Berry shows an amazing 3d animation of what’s going on at the molecular level inside a cell nucleus as it’s getting ready to split.

Many more molecular animations available on the article.

Press Pause Play: A Feature Documentary on Art in the Digital Age

Does the Democratiation of Media mean better art or is true talent being drowned out? That’s the question addressed by PressPausePlay, a documentary film containing interviews with some of the world’s most influential creators of the digital era.

WTF Post of the Week

20 years of Doh!

15 Steps for a Successful Kickstarter Campaign

John P. Hess — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:29 +0000

Though designed for an independent game design project, Gary Sarli provides a thorough and detailed break down of how to approach Kickstarter in a strategic manner.

Phase I: Preparation

(1) Create a detailed outline for the final product; you won’t necessarily be sharing all these details at the beginning, but it will give you enough information that you will be able to answer questions and give potential backers a firm idea of where the project is headed. More importantly, this will help you decide what parts of the project (if any) are negotiable and open to input and feedback from backers.

Insider access and input are the most important things you’re selling to your backers, so give this very careful thought. You absolutely have to be up front and clear about which decisions have already been made and which are open to negotiation. The more input backers get, the more interest you’ll be able to drum up for the project — but don’t promise more than you’re willing to deliver.
— G M Sarli Games | Read the Full Article

In the Casting Chair with Carolyn Pickman

John P. Hess — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:29:26 +0000

Carolyn Pickman has over 50 feature films to her credit. New England Film profiles her work and tries to figure out what she looks for in actors.

Casting a Martin Scorsese film isn’t just about the look, it’s about the sound. If you listen to his movies, you’ll here that “the sound of his films is uniform,” says casting director Carolyn Pickman. She would know; she and Scorsese’s long time casting coordinator Ellen Lewis are responsible for the uniform sound you here in both The Departed and Shutter Island. “I need to know how his characters talk,” she says, so she can make that special sound happen in an audition, ensuring that all the roles she’s helping to cast are in that same Scorsese world. In the casting business since the 1980s, Carolyn Pickman has a well-trained ear and an understanding of the nuances of acting that has helped earn her work with everyone from Martin Scorsese to Ricky Gervais. An actor at heart, Pickman’s past has helped make her the sought-out casting director she is today.
— New England Film | Read The Full Article

What do Producers do exactly?

John P. Hess — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:51:11 +0000

John August and Craig Mazin discuss what the job of a producer is (or should be). John looks at the four different roles a producer can take on: The general, The diplomat, The creative or The bulldozer.

Via JohnAugust.com

NYFF Forum: Women Produce Well Developed Films

Dennis — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:35:14 +0000

Producers Guild of America East presents: A panel of female producers and film academics including Jane Startz, Amy Robinson, Jane Gaines, and moderator Julie Buck, discuss the history of women in film and recent changes in the production process during a free Amphitheater forum at the 49th New York Film Festival.

Celtx Shots: New Storyboarding iPad App

Dennis — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:10:23 +0000

Our friends at Celtx have created a new app, Celtx Shots, to capture your next great idea. It is the first app with both storyboarding and set blocking built-in allowing you to create storyboards and block scenes in the field, on the set, or anytime inspiration strikes. Celtx Shots also syncs with your free Celtx desktop software, so you can work anytime, anywhere.

While you are at the App Store don’t forget to also download the iPhone/iPad app for Celtx Writers. Celtx Script is the only mobile screenwriting app that syncs directly with Celtx desktop software, making it easy to write a screenplay from any place at any time.

Even if you don’t have a iPad you can still download Celtx for FREE and start planning out you next film!

Storyboard Anywhere:

Create dynamic storyboards using the iPad 2 camera or images from your Photos folder.

Block On Set:

Sketch informative setups quickly and easily using clip art images.

Communicate Your Vision:

Design your productions for full dramatic effect.

Sync Shots:

Sync your project between the desktop and iPad using iTunes.

Features:

Create and edit multi-sequence, multi-shot storyboards.

Block camera, lighting, talent, and equipment setups.

Create storyboards and sketches linked to scripts imported from Celtx Sync.

Import and export projects through iTunes.

Import images into storyboards directly from Photos or Camera.

View storyboard and blocking animatics with the built-in player.

Resize, rotate and flip storyboard images in-app.

Email edited image files.

Email sketches as PNG, PDF or SVG files.

81 pre-installed clip art images for set blocking. Purchase additional Art Packs in-app.

Developed by Team Celtx.

Screenshots:

Reddit to Warner Bros. “all your stories are belong to us.”

Dennis — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:05:04 +0000

James Erwin is a fledgling author who posted a series of short stories in Reddit’s forums about what would happen if U.S. Marines traveled back in time to fight the Roman Empire. Warner Bros. took notice and moved to buy the movie rights. But Reddit’s user agreement may turn his dream into a intellectual property nightmare.

Reddit’s User Agreement:

“you agree that by posting messages, uploading files, inputting data, or engaging in any other form of communication with or through the Website, you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, translate, enhance, transmit, distribute, publicly perform, display, or sublicense any such communication in any medium (now in existence or hereinafter developed) and for any purpose, including commercial purposes, and to authorize others to do so.”

So, who really owns the rights if you crowdsource your story? The Hollywood Reporter looks into it:

Arguably, this means that Reddit also has the right to take Erwin’s story and license it to another studio — say, Universal or 20th Century Fox.

In addition, although Erwin undoubtedly did much of the hard work in crafting the story himself, during the genesis of “Rome, Sweet Rome,” some of Reddit’s other users made suggestions to his work that may ultimately shape the final story.

So what exactly did Warner Bros. buy here?

Jerry Birenz, who is listed as the copyright agent for Reddit, says that this raises an “interesting issue” and that by a strict reading of the user agreement, multiple parties might be able to make a claim to a license if they chose to develop Erwin’s story.

Birenz wouldn’t speak further without getting permission from his client, and executives for Reddit didn’t respond to requests for comment. (It’s worth pointing out that Reddit is owned by a major publisher — Condé Nast — which has shown interest in more robust licensing activity)

Other lawyers also agree there may be room for another studio to ambush Warners’ attempt at a film adaptation of a story posted on Reddit. This problem comes up, they say, because many social community sites wants to encourage active sharing and thus maintain permissive licensing arrangements.

“These assignable, nonexclusive licenses are everywhere, and problematic,” says Denise Howell, an IP lawyer in California. “Many professional photographers are eschewing photo sharing sites because they need to be able to grant exclusive licenses to their clients.”

Hollywood Reporter | Read Full Article

Writer/Director Rodrigo García on Ensemble Casting

Dennis — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:10:07 +0000

AFI Alum Rodrigo García talks to current AFI Fellows about working with ensemble casts like that in his upcoming film ALBERT NOBBS.

The CIA Has Some Script Notes For You

Dennis — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:10:49 +0000

If you are like me you can’t figure out how Michael Bay comes up with such thought provoking, emotionally powerful scripts time and time again. Now thanks to Mark Riffee with Wired we know his secret… the CIA is his writing partner.

That’s right if you have a screenplay that shows the Department of Defense in a positive light they will give you a helping hand, maybe even loan you a aircraft carrier or perhaps even let you in on a few classified secrets.

If you want to make a war film and need a fleet of F-22s, a crowd of Marines, or a Navy aircraft carrier, just call up the Department of Defense’s entertainment media office and they’ll tell you if the Army can spare that M1A1 Abrams tank you’ve always wanted for a day or two of filming.

“The scripts we get are only the writer’s idea of how the Department of Defense operates,” Vince Ogilvie, deputy director of the Defense Department’s entertainment liaison office, told Danger Room. “We make sure the Department and facilities and people are portrayed in the most accurate and positive light possible.”

Hollywood has been working with government organizations to make more credible films for years (for instance, Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount Pictures worked closely with the Pentagon when filming the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun”). But the phenomenon is under newfound scrutiny. There was a bit of a kerfuffle recently when some in the press and in Congress speculated about whether the government will give Sony Pictures any pointers while they make a film about the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Wired | Read The Full Article

The excerpt below is from the CIA Entertainment Industry Liaison and they are eager to have a “constructive dialogue” with you.

As an organization that plays a key role in America’s defense, the CIA is a frequent subject of books, motion pictures, documentaries, and other creative ventures. For years, artists from across the entertainment industry — actors, authors, directors, producers, screenwriters, and others — have been in touch with the CIA to gain a better understanding of our intelligence mission. Our goal is an accurate portrayal of the men and women of the CIA, and the skill, innovation, daring, and commitment to public service that defines them.

If you are part of the entertainment industry, and are working on a project that deals with the CIA, the Agency may be able to help you. We are in a position to give greater authenticity to scripts, stories, and other products in development. That can mean answering questions, debunking myths, or arranging visits to the CIA to meet the people who know intelligence — its past, present, and future. In some cases, we permit filming on our headquarters compound. We can also provide stock footage of locations within and around our main building.

Intelligence is challenging, exciting, and essential. To better convey that reality, the CIA is ready for a constructive dialogue with a broad range of creative talents.

CIA | Entertainment Industry Liaison

Now, I know what you are thinking… where can I get may hands on some cool military gear. Well here is their contact information. But take my advice; go with the nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Otherwise you are going to need to bring 150,000 gallons of fuel to the set each day.

U.S. Military Assistance in Producing Motion Pictures, Television Shows, Music Videos

Department of Defense
Special Assistant for Entertainment Media
Department of Defense
The Pentagon, Room 2E592
Washington, DC 20301-1400
(703) 695-2936 / FAX (703) 695-1149

For information regarding U.S. military assistance in producing feature motion pictures, television shows, documentaries, music videos, commercial advertisements, CD-ROM games, and other audiovisual programs, please contact the Military Service being portrayed or being asked to provide assistance:

Army
Chief, Office of Army Chief of Public Affairs
Los Angeles Branch
10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1250
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 235-7621 / FAX (310) 235-6075

Navy
Director, Navy Office of Information West
10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1220
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 235-7481 / FAX (310) 235-7856

Air Force
Director, Secretary of the Air Force
Office of Public Affairs
Office of Public Affairs-Entertainment Liaison
10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1240
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 235-7511 / FAX (310) 235-7500

Marine Corps
Director, Marine Corps Public Affairs
Motion Picture and Television Liaison
10880 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1230
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 235-7272 / FAX (310) 235-7274