| | | Lead Actor Patrick Fabian preparing to shoot a scene for my new feature, DriverX |
| | | | | Mark Your Calendar for My Next LA Class: "The Art & Science of No-Budget Filmmaking" - October 2015 |
| | It's been a busy summer for me and hopefully a productive summer for all of you. You're all probably aware that I'm shooting a new feature film, a micro-budget drama called DriverX. Like I did with my film PIg, I put out a call for interns and got a terrific group of intrepid folks who have gone above and beyond to help make this film a reality. We shot for 5 days at the beginning of this month and are prepping for the balance of our shoot, which we hope to pick up in August when our lead actor Patrick Fabian can make it back to LA. He's currently working on the show Better Call Saul, which shoots in New Mexico, (if you watch the show, you'll recognize him as Jimmy's nemesis, Howard Hamlin). More on DriverX in future emails and certainly, I'll be writing a blog article about my experience, (probably more than one...).
In the meantime, I wanted to announce the dates for my next classes. Please mark your calendar for "The Art & Science of No-Budget Filmmaking," my flagship class, which I plan to teach in Los Angeles on October 10-11; Tom Provost's incredible "Cinema Language" class will follow on October 24-25; and if you live near Boise, Idaho, I will be teaching the "Art & Science" class there in between, on October 16-17. I'll be getting my Eventbrite page up for the LA classes in the coming weeks. Hope you can make it; I'll have much to share with this new film, (and the lessons that come with it), under my belt.
By the way, I should mention that this month marks the 10th year anniversary of No Budget Film School. Much has changed since 2005 (except, of course, my shitty website, which still looks exactly the same...), but while cameras and other technology have evolved, and distribution channels and platforms continue to proliferate, many of the lessons I teach remain the same. Of course, I track the changes and provide you with what's state of the art in the world of micro-budget filmmaking. Keeping one foot in producing allows me to do this effectively, (just ask me anything about shooting with the Sony A7s!). But I'm reminded each time I make a new feature how much the basic tenants still apply: Refuse To Spend Money, Embrace Your Limitations, Work Within The Framework of Available Resources, etc., etc. |
| | | | ONE DAY LEFT TO GET MORE FILM FESTIVAL SECRETS!
Offer Expires July 25th!
Film festival expert Chris Holland is raising money on Seed & Spark to fund the follow-up to his incredible guide, FIlm Festival Secrets. For as little as $10, you can own the new book, Film Festival Secrets 2nd Edition, as well as the original book. But wait, for only a dollar, you'll get access to recorded webinars held during the campaign, on festival strategy and crowdfunding strategy. For a buck! Check out the perks at higher levels and you'll see a bunch of great deals. It's a win/win--you help Chris get this new book out and you'll get great value for your donation. No one tells it to you straighter than Chris Holland. He not only has the experience and expertise working for and with film festivals, he also isn't afraid to share all the dirty little secrets that inhabit that world. If you're preparing to make a film or are getting near the finishing line on one, you'll absolutely want to pick up this new book. For $10, it's a no-brainer.
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| | | CINEMATOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Alex Buono's Visual Storytelling Filmmaking Workshop
This Summer • Throughout the U.S.
So, if you'll recall, I wrote a long blog article several months ago recounting the amazing seminar I attended, Demystifying The Camera, presented by cinematographer Alex Buono, perhaps best known as the DP for all the Saturday Night Live short films. Not only was this presentation chock full of useful information, it was presented in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way by it's presenter. Alex is taking his show on the road in a much bigger way this summer and when I heard about his new one-day workshop, Visual Storytelling, I contacted the company presenting it and asked to get a discount for all of you, because I knew I wanted to help spread the word. If you're a DP or plan on shooting all or part of your next project, don't miss what is sure to be an incredible day. Alex isn't just a talented cinematographer, he is also an excellent teacher. He is teaching the workshop all over the country in over 30 cities, so check the website to see if it will be in your area. The LA class will be August 15th and the NYC class is September 18th and 20th. Remember to use the Promo Code: AVS2LG when you register, (during checkout). You'll save $15. You'll probably be getting another dedicated, fancy email blast from me about this event in the coming days.
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| | | | FREE PANEL DISCUSSION: The ABC's of Filmmaking
Wednesday, July 29 • 7pm • Santa Clarita, CA
If you're in the Santa Clarita area, I will be part of a panel discussion on independent filmmaking that should be full of useful information. I will be joined by filmmaker and Filmmakers Alliance Founder and President Jacques Thelemaque and screenwriter Sean Hood. We plan on giving a candid rundown of indie filmmaking today, and I'm sure I will have plenty to share about my current film, DriverX. Jacques is one of the wisest people I know in the industry and Sean is not only a successful screenwriter, but he's also a blogger who consistently shares his experiences with readers. If you're heading back from a long day at Magic Mountain, be sure to check us out on your way home.
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| | | PANEL DISCUSSION: 'Thriving In Hollywood' Roundtable Presented by Ms. In The Biz and The Hatchery Press
Tuesday, July 28 • 7pm - 11pm • Los Angeles, CA
Ms. In The Biz, founded by Helenna Santos, one of my former students, is having another essential event called "Thriving In Hollywood." An evening of mixing, mingling, snacking, and boozing on The Hatchery Press' rooftop garden patio, followed by an in-depth Panel Discussion that will enlighten, inspire, and empower with authors of Ms. In The Biz’s premiere book “Thriving in Hollywood! Tenacious Tales and Tactics from Ms. In The Biz”. Panelist include multi-hyphenates Santos, Brea Grant, Alexandra Boylan, Taryn O'Neill, and more. Save 15%--use this Promo Code: msinthebizevents
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| | | SINGAPORE SLING
A couple of other former students of mine, Marcos Sigrist and Neto DePaula Pimenta, are finishing their no-budget feature and getting ready to premiere it in the States at the Action On Film Festival in Monrovia, CA. The screening dates haven't been announced yet, but if you're interested in learning more about Singapore Sling, you might want to check out this IndieWire piece about how it was made. You see, it was shot in 7 days utilizing 12 carefully planned steadicam shots. Perhaps the most compelling production element of this $15k film is the $100 wooden camera rig they built to get a unique driving shot. Don't try this on a no-budget at home--if you live in Los Angeles. You'd certainly need a permit, if not a cop; but this film was shot in Brazil, where DIY filmmaking is clearly more welcome! You won't want to miss the Behind-The-Scenes video in the IndieWire article--trust me! And here's the trailer for the film.
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| | | GETTING OUT
One of the members of my Make No Budget Films Facebook Group, Nick Felice, posted information about his new micro-budget feature Getting Out. The film was shot in Michigan with a 3-man crew for $9k, and ultimately finished for a grand total of $17k. The film has played 12 festivals and won 11 awards, and is now available on VOD via Gravitas Ventures. Let me tell you, it is incredibly difficult to make a film and deliver it for just $17k. You have to get radical, whether that means shooting in Brazil and limiting your film to just 12 shots, or shooting in Michigan with a tiny crew, you can't shoot conventionally and pull it off, not even close. Kudos to both of these films. If you're curious to see how Nick did, check out his film on iTunes or on one of the other platforms. He's planning to shoot a new no-budget feature very soon.
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