Filmmaking can lead to amazing experiences. Whether that be climbing the mountains of Colorado, the sunny coasts of California or the empty spaces of North Dakota you can see a lot of the world while making films and telling stories. But what about when your story requires you to travel outside the country? That’s where today’s topic of carnets come in.
Read MoreIf you’ve been following me or my blog for a while now, you probably know that I’m working to establish myself as a producer in the film industry. However, working G&E was where I actually got my start in the industry having worked multiple features, shorts and commercial projects as a grip. Today I thought it would be fun to take a break from the producing talk and share the five tools I think everybody should purchase when getting started as a grip.
Read MoreNow a days the internet is filled with YouTube videos, social media posts, podcast and blogs about filmmaking. Yet personally, I always found the amount of content aimed more at producers in short supply. During the course of my producer journey I’ve come across a number of books that are either aimed at producers or are a must-read for producers. So if you’re looking to learn more about this area of the industry take note.
Read MoreEarlier this year I was blessed to attend the 2021 Christian Worldview Film Festival and Filmmakers’ Guild. As an up and coming producer in the industry one of my favorite parts of the Guild was the Producer Q&A Panel. One of the things that made this panel so great for me was that the concept of stewardship was brought up in light of a producer. This is a concept that has been on my mind in regards to being a producer for some time and to hear other producers talking about it was really cool. So I thought I’d take some time to break down some of my thoughts on the concept of stewardship and how it applies to being a film producer.
Read MoreIn almost every industry a common feature is a portfolio. The film industry is no different, except that it is generally referred to as a demo reel. A demo reel highlights the experience you have and the type of work you want to be doing for others to see when they are considering you for their next project. With the release of our 2021 demo reel earlier this month we thought it would be fun to deconstruct the reel and look at the decisions we made in crafting it.
Read MoreI’m sure every business owner remembers reading dozens if not hundreds of books in school growing up. Maybe you’ve always been a reader and still always have a book you’re working on. Or you could be someone that can’t stand reading or says you don’t have the time to read with your schedule. Regardless of where you fall on the reading spectrum there is a lot to be gleaned from the right books. That is why today we’re looking at the top 5 books I’d recommend every business owner read.
Read MoreLate night discussions, arduous paperwork, laughs, and gear prep. The common denominator that all these things have in common is where they happen. The Production Office. So let’s dive in and find out what makes a good production office and why it can be important to have on your next film set.
Read MoreMedia is everywhere we look. Whether it’s a video on YouTube, an ad on your Facebook feed, or a TV commercial we are bombarded by videos. Yet over the last few years I’ve come to find that many business owners often forget about an important audience when creating their content. That audience is the deaf and hard-of-hearing. To reach them is easy, yet many business owners don’t do it or know how to do it. So how do you reach them? Captions.
Read MoreTo start off, let’s address what this article is not about. This article is not about testing for COVID; how it should be done, when it should be done, what type of testing should be performed. It’s not an article about masks; when they should be worn, do they work or what type you should wear. If you want answers to those there are plenty of resources put out there by Hollywood and the medical industry on what to do.
Read MoreWe live in a digital age. People are constantly bombarded by ads, pictures, videos, emails and more all vying for their attention. When it comes to running your business, whether you’re a film company or not it can sometimes seem overwhelming trying to stay creative with your content while not letting the responsibility of posting wear you out. So today we are going to look at how you can be more time efficient and effective with your online marketing.
Read MoreYou’ve been a PA for a while now. You’ve grown your resume, jobs are coming in more frequently and you’re ready to up your game in how you come to set. But what tools should you pick up next that will be worth the money and be used over and over? Let’s find out.
Read MoreLast month before everything started shutting down due to the Coronavirus I got to join a number of other filmmakers, some I previously knew and some I didn’t for a 12 hour film race. Similar to a 24 or 48 hour film race we were divided up into two teams and given 12 hours to create a film from concept to locked edit. Thankfully those 12 hours didn’t include rendering out the project.
Read MoreWe’ve all been there at some point in our filmmaking career. Starting out at the bottom of the totem pole learning how a film set works and what departments we want to work in while trying to build a resume. Generally that takes the form of being a Production Assistant, and whether you’re getting ready to PA on your first set or are 10 years into your career and PA occasionally on projects there are a number of tools that will not only make your job easier but help you catch the attention of other people on the crew as someone who is serious and can be depended upon.
Read MoreWe’ve all heard the stories about film projects with bad crews. Those projects where people didn’t know what they were doing, everyone was upset and people were yelling and snapping at each other. But how can you bring together a crew that will not only complete the project but do it without biting each other’s heads off? Let’s take a look.
Read MoreWe all have those projects. The ones that are now set as private on your YouTube Channel, hidden on a DVD or VHS tape, or securely locked away, buried on a hard drive with dozens, if not hundreds of other projects. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in the industry for years making blockbusters we all started in the same place and we all have those projects that we hope will never see the light of day again.
Read MoreYou’re excited. As a business owner you are preparing to produce a video to promote your business, event or product. You’ll finally be on the same level with your competition and it’s for sure to drive in more business, right? Yes and no, like everything else in business the more you understand and have thought through the more successful and impactful you can be.
Read MoreWhen it comes to real estate what is the one phrase you always hear? “Location, Location, Location.” In filmmaking it is no different. Whether it’s a teenager’s bedroom, a garbage strewn alley or a mountain summit, the right location can bring your film to life and greatly increase the production quality of even lower budget shorts, commercials and features. But what goes into finding those locations and more importantly what keeps you from getting kicked out of those locations?
Read MoreWhen you think of roles on a film who comes to mind? Certainly, the writer and director, who created and crafted the story; the actors, who brought the characters to life; the editor, who made the film presentable; and the composer, whose score you’re still humming. Yet so often people forget about the Producer and his instrumental role in crafting the film. In fact, the role is so important I believe every filmmaker should produce someone else’s film during their career.
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