How You Can Write, Direct & Distribute Your Short Film
Reviews Average Rating: 5 out of 5
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Alec Franco The most comprehensive course I have taken to date covering the process of making a short film. Im an actor and I only want to make short films for now. James Kicklighter's well laid out lesson plan demonstrates the working in a clear, understandable presentation. -
Emeka Mbadiwe Theres nothing like listening to one who is passionate and educated on the craft of Filmmaking. James is a voice for aspiring filmmaker's ears. Thank you for the well outlined course. -
John Garrett I have been recommending the Short Film Master Class to film makers since I completed it. It is entertaining and contains so much information. Not only does he cover "how", but includes the "why". James is phenomenal. -
Jaye Lowe Insightful, informative and entertaining! A must for the rookie and the pro alike. James hands you tools to utilize in today's viral distribution market. After the course, you'll feel empowered and prepared to shoot, distribute and publicize your next project. -
Cecilio Chopper Martinez This was a great class! James effectively takes you into his journey of becoming a filmmaker. He shares his experiences of what to do and what not to do. Taking his class has put me on the right track as I start my film making career. Thanks James!
Other education that may be of interest to you:
Deconstructing Oscar-Winning Films: Spotlight, Network & All The President's Men
Over the past few decades as the media landscape has changed, so have methods for reporting and information gathering. Your Stage 32 Next Level educator, award-winning director, James Kicklighter, has personally learned this while directing his new documentary film, Digital Edition, profiling the digital tools changing media as we know it. In “Deconstructing Oscar-Winning Films: Spotlight, Network & All The President’s Men,” we will evaluate and deconstruct common methods deployed in these three groundbreaking films to tell stories about journalism and media. Through this process, we will identify the successful techniques from these masterpieces for directing and writing movies about the media we consume. While filmmaking isn’t typically thought about as “investigative,” to create a film about journalism and media, it requires extended research that goes beyond writing the fictional screenplay. We will evaluate the preparation process of interviewing industry professionals, utilizing research to inform the written narrative, and how to visually manifest the themes on screen. You will walk away learning techniques to help your directing, writing, acting and producing to help you improve your projects! PRAISE FOR JAMES'S TEACHINGS: There's nothing like listening to one who is passionate and educated on the craft of Filmmaking. James is a voice for aspiring filmmaker's ears. Thank you for the well outlined course. - Emeka Mbadiwe I have been recommending the Short Film Master Class to film makers since I completed it. It is entertaining and contains so much information. Not only does he cover "how", but includes the "why". James is phenomenal. - John Garrett Insightful, informative and entertaining! A must for the rookie and the pro alike. James hands you tools to utilize in today's viral distribution market. After the course, you'll feel empowered and prepared to shoot, distribute and publicize your next project. - Jaye Lowe This was a great class! James effectively takes you into his journey of becoming a filmmaker. He shares his experiences of what to do and what not to do. Taking his class has put me on the right track as I start my film making career. Thanks James! - Cecilio Chopper Martinez
Writing the Producible Low-Budget Screenplay
As you know, independent film is enjoying a resurgence. Whereas a few years back, it seemed as if getting a low budget indie off the ground was a Herculean task, now, especially with the rise of Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney+ and other streaming platforms not only purchasing indie fare, but producing it on their own, lower budget independent films are back in high demand. However, to take advantage of the current gold rush, you must understand what makes an independent script attractive to managers, agents, producers, development execs, financiers and others in a position to greenlight your screenplay. For most writers focused strictly on the craft, the disconnect between a script that gets high marks for the writing, yet still has a problem drawing attention of managers and agents or finding a buyer, is a lack of knowledge as to the current marketplace. It is vital that you understand the creative and commercial realities of the business. Everything else streams from there including all the aspects that you will need in your screenplay to make it a no brainer for the aforementioned gatekeepers and decision makers to want to get involved with the project. With so many screenplays flooding the market, reps, producers, filmmakers, financiers want to choose those screenplays that already have the heavy lifting toward getting the script into production already figured out. James Kicklighter is a multi-award winning writer/director whose work has been recognized by the world’s press, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India, Film Courage and FilmInk Australia. James began his career raising funds for numerous small budget short films, which allowed him to move into award-winning feature films. Most recently he directed The Sound of Identity about the first transgender woman ever to perform as Don Giovanni in a professional opera. The film is produced by Emmy Award-winning producers Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow and executive producer Josh Bachove (Lizzie, Yoga Hosers, The Little Hours). James will teach you the ins and outs of writing a producible, low budget independent feature that will draw the right attention. He'll start by diving into the marketplace and how you can research, review, and understand the current landscape. He will then discuss how to choose material, create compelling, deep, and unique characters, and how to write using accessible locations. He will teach you how to optimize the screenplay for production, including some tips and tricks to help a filmmaker and/or producer understand how they can schedule efficiently just by reading the script. If you are looking to control your own material, James will even dive into how to attach talent and modify the script while in production. PRAISE FOR JAMES'S TEACHINGS: "James has style and class to spare. I've taken over 20 Stage 32 webinars and this was one of my favorites." - Theo K. "So much detail and so much information. Makes me look at my scripts in a whole new light." - Amanda D. "I've had so many screenplays that have received Consider or Recommend coverage from executives in this business, but I've never been able to get one of these screenplays launched and I could never understand why. Now I do. The writing is there, but the awareness to a producer's needs can be better. I'm on it. Thanks, James." - David V. "I learned something today. I want to produce my own work. Actually two things. I CAN produce my own work. This webinar was worth its weight in gold." - Martina S. "There’s nothing like listening to one who is passionate and educated on the craft of Filmmaking. James is a voice for aspiring filmmaker's ears. Thank you for the well outlined course.“ - Emeka M.
A Line Producer's Guide to Making a Movie in 10 Steps
Most people don’t know the scope of what a Line Producer actually does. How does one make a budget? What goes into it? How do you devise a realistic plan to shoot a movie and how do you seamlessly make it happen? Maybe you’ve managed to finish one movie, but how do you repeat that over and over? Do I really need a budget for my $100k film? (Hint: the answer is Yes!) Every project, whether it's a movie, a TV show or web series, or even reality TV works off the same basic blueprint. You need a script, a schedule, a budget, and lastly someone with a plan to manage all the elements you need to shoot, from cast and crew to locations and equipment. This person is the Line Producer. Maura Anderson is an award winning Line Producer who has worked on films and TV series such as Academy Award nominated Winter’s Bone, Would You Rather, and Suit Up. She's the former EVP of Production for Indigenous Media, a next generation digital studio focused on producing original content for digital and emerging platforms worldwide. Having filmed in many places and situations, from the Ozark Mountains to the Alaskan Tundra, and with budgets ranging from $30k to $10M, Maura discusses everything from the minuscule details to the broader strokes of making a film. In this Stage 32 Next Level Webinar, Maura will take an in depth look at all the steps a line producer takes from script stage to years after the film is made. Using materials from actual films, she’ll discuss how a script is turned into a schedule and a budget. You’ll learn how to build out your team and how you can create long lasting relationships. You’ll also learn the basics of setting up a film’s infrastructure. Lastly she’ll look at enacting the brilliant plan that you came up with and what that looks like in terms of prep, shooting and wrap. This webinar includes live examples of schedules, budgets, wrap binders, etc. from films she's worked on! PRAISE FOR MAURA'S TEACHINGS: "Seriously one of the best webinars on the whole site. Absolutely fantastic, informative, and easy to follow. Maura gets 5, no 20 stars from me!" -Steph G.
From Script to Set: Getting Ready For Your 1st Day on Set
The script is finally ready…now, how do you prepare for your first day on set? There are a lot of factors that go into preparing for your film shoot. We’ve brought in producer, Samm Haillay, to talk about the process from script to set. Samm is an eight-time feature film producer, whose films have premiered at Cannes, Venice, Sundance, SXSW and who’s film Island of the Hungry Ghosts won best Feature documentary at 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. He’ll be going over everything from schedule, budget, casting, locations and more to get you prepared for day one. He’ll be sharing his decades of experience and helping you avoid common mistakes made, as you get ready to shoot your film.
An Entertainment and Securities Lawyer Teaches You About Compliance & Securities Law + Receive Resources to Help You With Investors.
A New Exclusive Webinar! Learn from an entertainment attorney with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission experience! PLUS, receive practical resources to help you decide how best to seek investors. You're ready to raise money for your film, and you’re excited about how to make it happen. But you’ve also heard something about the “federal securities laws.” What are those laws, exactly? How do they impact your ability to reach investors? And why do you need to know about them? When it comes to raising money, doing things right can help avoid serious problems down the line. Failure to comply with the securities laws can lead to government investigations, penalties, and in extreme cases, jail time. Moreover, your investors could automatically have the right to return their securities and get their money back. And of course, as one SEC official once put it, the securities laws are not merely a suggestion; they’re the law. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you’ll find out what you and other independent filmmakers need to know about the securities laws. You’ll learn the essential elements, including how equity investments fit into your overall finance structure and how to tailor securities offerings for your film project. You’ll also receive practical resources to assist you in deciding your project's fundraising approach. Knowing and following these laws creates benefits for your project. Doing things right may help instill confidence in prospective investors. Plus, handling your offering correctly can help prevent possible disputes with investors, so you can keep your focus on your film. Taking you through this crucial process is Cathie Saadeh, a member of the Board of Directors of Women in Film & Video in D.C. and an entertainment attorney who provides business, production, and intellectual property legal advice to production companies, creative businesses, and independent filmmakers just like you. Prior to opening her law firm, Saadeh P.C., Cathie served as the General Counsel of ACA Compliance Group, a global financial technology and consulting company, and worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You’ll walk away with the investment offering process de-mystified, knowing the lingo and the lines you can’t cross, and armed with this essential knowledge so you can think creatively about how to raise money, how to protect yourself and your film, and feeling more confident when approaching investors.
How to Be an Effective Script Supervisor: From Pre-Production to Post Production
The Script Supervisor. It's a role not taught in film school, yet it might be the most important job on set. From saving your production days and money, to director's notes, to continuity, and more. Its a a great way for you to break into the industry as there is more opportunity for script supervisors right now all over the world than there are people who know how to do the job. See how you can tackle this vital role! Filmmaking is a collaborative experience. So imagine the incredible frustration of getting to the project's release... and seeing a coffee cup that's not supposed to be in a scene sitting on the screen! Script supervisors keep coffee cups out of shots, as well as ensuring there are no other continuity errors. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of what a script supervisor does. From pre-production through post, the script supervisor can bring clarity and help avoid costly mistakes that will sink your small budget film or incur expensive reshoots to bigger budget ones. But, if this is the job you want, or want to hire, how can you understand its importance without training? Stage 32's exclusive webinar will show you how. Rachel Atkinson has worked on countless film, television, and commercial productions, and she's ready to give you everything you need to learn to be a script supervisor. Her recent credits include Hulu's DOPESICK, Apple TV+'s SWAGGER, Showtime's HOMELAND, AMC's THE WALKING DEAD: WORLD BEYOND and TURN: WASHINGTON'S SPIES. She's also worked on commercials with brands including Nike, Guitar Hero, and JC Penny. Every format has a nuanced version of script supervising duties, and Rachel will show you how to be a script supervisor in each. With so many years under her belt, there's no one better to teach you how to operate confidently in this role. In addition to her fantastic expertise, Rachel brings sample scripts, forms, and breakdowns for your hands-on practice! She'll also be available live for your questions. Can't make the live? This webinar will be accessible in your account for an entire year so that you can rewatch it to get the most out of this valuable knowledge! PRAISE FOR RACHEL'S TEACHINGS: Rachel covered exactly what I was hoping to learn. She clearly broke down the most important aspects; there is so much to learn about script supervision but she gave a very digestible start. -Kristen A. Very helpful, informative, and interesting. The instructor, Rachel did a wonderful job of really going into detail about her position. I attended a Script Supervising class via zoom a few weeks ago with a different organization and instructor, and it was nowhere near as great as this one was! -Shelley R. Rachel was great :) Thank you for making this possible. -Mickayla P. Thorough. Insightful. Generous. -Moitri G. Rachel did a wonderful job explaining the key concept and answering our questions. -Elizabeth V.
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