SCREENPLAY: FROM IDEA to TREATMENT (2-Weeks & Save $34,589)

Everyone has a great idea or two… But taking your idea and writing it into not only a screenplay but a great screenplay is quite daunting, if not overwhelming, when you don’t approach it, one step at a time, in a logical process…

However, when approaching it logically via a simple 12 Step process will you, a first-timer, to have a good shot at owning a great Screenplay in less than 2 months…

[Click to Continue…]

HOLLYWOOD FR*CKIN’ LIES. 

Let’s talk budgets. Movie Budgets and how they so clearly demonstrate that “Hollywood Lies”… and you should learn to play the game called “My Budget is!”

PS: Hollywood doesn’t lie… It markets… It markets by telling budgets, manipulating the number and creating larger-than-life perceived values… by either inflating the budget or in independent fil;mmaking deflating the budget… And if Hollywood does it, maybe you should too…Welcome to Hollywood.

The Million Dollar Feature Film?

[Click to Continue…]

Performance

HOLLYWOOD LIES: The Budget Is?

Actually it’s not called lying. It’s called marketing and Hollywood is 70% a marketing industry and 30% a filmmaking industry… with the biggest lie (oops. marketing) existing in the announcement of a film’s budget.

And as they, they being studios, networks and platforms (aka: Hollywood), love telling (marketing) everybody what their budget is or was for the forthcoming project they are trying (marketing) to get you to see whether through purchasing a ticket (pre-Covid-19) or through Streaming or Downloading…

[Click to Continue…]

THE GREAT SCRIPT (8 Steps)

Writing the great script, based on a great idea, with a great title, with a great story, with great sub-plots, with great characters with great dialogue is absolutely not easy… but it is not expensive to try…

Thus, give it a shot, 500-1000 sheets of 8.5×11 paper is cheap, the proper software is almost free… and the buyers… now with On-Demand platforms like Netflix, Hulu, WarnerMedia, Facebook, Apple,

[Click to Continue…]

YOUR FIRST SCREENPLAY

It is said that 1-page of script, formatted properly (Final Draft, MovieMagic, Writer Duet, Celtx, etc) becomes 1-minute of running time when shot.

Now everyone knows how long a half-hour sitcom or a one-hour drama is in page count…. Answer is 25 Pages (+/-) and 50 Pages (+/-)

But how long is a movie script that you need if you yourself are going to produce or direct it independently?

[Click to Continue…]

FILM FESTIVALS and DEAL MAKING

For a filmmaker, with an independent film, the purpose of a Film Festival, other than social validation, is to demonstrate to distributors (assuming their Acquisition Executives are in attendance) that your film is (A) Marketable, (B) Sells Out screenings, (C) Makes Money,  (D) most important, has “Buzz”…. so you may get some cash (E) to pay back your investors and (F) launch your career.

Straight. Honest. To-the-Point.

 (Enjoy the premiere but make sure the Acquisition Executives are in attendance)

(A) MARKETABLE: You’re accepted to Sundance,

[Click to Continue…]

WANT TO BE SPIELBERG? START WITH CORMAN!

Anyone can direct… Yes, that includes you… Once you know the Directing basics.

Making a Movie is like building a building. After the Blueprint (aka: script) build the floor & walls… how you design the floor & walls is what’s called “style” or “art” and I can’t teach “art” or “style” but pour the foundation, get the floor and then put up the walls.

Now, let’s talk film making and directing.

[Click to Continue…]

HOLLYWOOD FR*CKIN’ LIES (Remember Hollywood is a Marketing Industry)

Let’s talk budgets. Movie Budgets and how they so clearly demonstrate that “Hollywood Lies”.

PS: Hollywood doesn’t lie… It markets… It markets by telling budgets… Now welcome to Hollywood.

The Million Dollar Feature Film? The $2-3 Million Feature? The $20 Million Budget? The $50 Million Studio Feature? The $200 Million Mega-Budget Franchise? Budget amounts are all over the place and first-timers need to know “what does it really cost” [Click to Continue…]

HOLLYWOOD MOVIE AGENTS

No-Bull! Yes you need an agent.

Yes you need a movie agent that knows how to sell scripts, hire writers, attach bankable actors, create movie packages, take meetings with deal-makers and power-brokers and help with financing via pre-selling, etc.

And the secret to securing a true Hollywood agent is to retain a powerful Hollywood attorney and literally buy your way into the system.

However, to succeed,

[Click to Continue…]

WANT TO DIRECT?
Then Select One of These Dates (April 4-5, August 8-9 or December 5-6, 2020)

Directing is easy when you know the basic nuts-and-bolts.

Get a script. Keep It Simple. 90-pages. Real Time. Pick a location. Cast actors. Get a Camera. Hit On-Button. Say “Action”. Wait 90-minutes. Say “Cut”. You got a movie… Why make it difficult?

Yes, there is more… much more… but let’s start with the basics…

[Click to Continue…]