Almost every successful filmmaker today—from Ava DuVernay to Rian Johnson to Chloe Zhao to Ryan Coogler—got their start by writing and directing their own short films. It’s so common of a springboard for creatives that most managers and executives actively incorporate scouting short films as part of their recruitment model when looking for new talent or new ideas. If you're an aspiring writer or director ready to make a living as a filmmaker, mastering the art of crafting a short film can be the perfect launching tool for your career.

Simply putting together any short film isn’t going to be your instant ticket into the industry, however. Tens of thousands of filmmakers produce new short films every year. With so much competition, how do you make your own film stand out? How can you avoid the mistakes that riddle the writing and directing process of making a short film? Once your film is made, how do you get it out to the world aside from just uploading it on YouTube and hoping people view it? And what can you do to convince investors and producers that you're ready to make the leap into bigger projects?

James Kicklighter is a multi-award winning writer and director whose work has been recognized by the world’s press, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India, Film Courage and FilmInk Australia. He has directed nine short films that have found success at film festivals around the world as well as through distribution. He is currently developing projects with Richard Saperstein (THE MIST, SE7EN) and Beau Turpin (COUNTERPUNCH). His latest feature film THE SOUND OF IDENTITY, about the first transgender woman to perform as Don Giovanni in a professional opera, was released this year and is produced by Emmy Award-winning producers Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow and executive produced by Golden Globe-winner and Academy Award-nominated Josh Bachove (MINARI, THE LITTLE HOURS). 

In this 2-part exclusive Stage 32 On-Demand Filmmaking Class, you will learn:

• How to write, direct and distribute your own short film
• The art of writing a short screenplay
• How to develop strong characters that will attract top acting talent, while working within a budget that the average aspiring filmmaker can afford.
• The process of directing your first short
• How to get the cast and crew that you want
• How to raise money and setup the budget,
• How to select the right camera and technical equipment,
• How to work with locations and your actors to maximize your production value.
• Insider tips for distributing and marketing your final product - a step that most filmmakers never learn.
• Hw to target film festivals, cultivate relationships with media, and create a launch strategy that will best serve your film in the present while preparing you for the future.

PRAISE FROM JAMES'S TEACHINGS:

“His experience and expertise as a writer and producer of film were greatly enhanced by his enthusiasm and energy as a speaker. He presented a series of workshops in the production of film, and also was the keynote speaker at our Young Writer's Conference. In both cases, he was able to inspire and connect to many different age groups including several professors in attendance.” - Gareth Jones, Brewton-Parker College

“I think James is a rare breed of artist that combines his business and marketing skills with a cohesive artistic vision. ” - Jason Winn, Film Director

“James is sharp as a razor, quick to grasp an idea, and like mercury when it comes to social media.” - Lilly Lee, Co-Founder, UNICEF Chinese Children’s Initiative

“James exceeds your expectations and helps turn your ideas into reality.” - Susan Woolf, Director of Operations, National Student Leadership Conference

“James is an extraordinary individual. He represents to me, the best of what this business holds in the next few decades.” – Gemma Puglisi, Assistant Professor, American University

I have been recommending the Short Film Master Class to filmmakers 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. Hames 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

Part 1 - Writing, Budgeting & Pre-Production

• How to write an effective short script
• The brainstorming process
• Utilizing real life experiences, what are memorable moments in your life that stick out to you?
• Moments in a friend’s life?
• Creating characters:
• What topics do you uniquely understand?
• What jobs have you held?
• What did your parents do for a living?
• Where did you grow up?
• Writing in proper format
• What is the difference between writing “is working” and “works” in a screenplay and why does verbiage matter when writing action?
• Should I put my WGA and copyright notices on the title page?

• The business of making a short film
• What do I need to do to protect myself?
• Creating an LLC and lawyering up for the right reasons.
• How much is this really going to cost?
• Evaluating SAG Short Film Agreements, cost of renting equipment, everything from lighting to locations, and looking forward to release and distributions, what are the costs beyond the actual production of a film?
• Logistically, how will I be able to execute all the elements?
• How do I handle room and board for out of town talent?
• Is there a local film commission I can work with, and if so, what exactly is their role in helping me execute my vision?
• Q&A with James

Part 2 - Directing, Marketing & Distributing Your Film

• Preparing to direct and the production process
• What do I need to do before I get to set?
• What is the purpose of having location walkthroughs?
• When and how to I make the shot list and how many shots do I really need?
• How do I make my vision clear to crewmembers while still being collaborative in the process?
• How do I work with an actor for the first time?
• How much say should they have in the script and changing the character?
• Should I allow an actor to change my lines?
• How do I follow their emotional journey over the course of shooting a film that is totally out of order so it makes sense in the final product?
• When problems arise on set, how do I respond?
• What are best practices to maintaining authority without creating conflict?
• How do I ensure that everyone is getting the proper attention they need so I can avoid problems?
• What happens if I find out we didn’t shoot something we needed?
• How do I work with footage or sound that didn’t come out the way I expected?
• How long should my final product be so I can be successful at film festivals?

• Marketing your film
• What can I do to promote my film before we ever start filming?
• When is the appropriate time to start promoting?
• What kind of promotion looks and feels professional versus amateur?
• Is there such a thing as oversharing information on social networks?
• During production, how can I use my cast and crew to promote the project?
• What parameters should I set to not give away plot points?
• What is the role of a still photographer on set and how can I leverage the still photographer for publicity?
• How do I reach out to press outlets to promote my film?
• How do I find out what press outlets are the right ones for my film, and how do I even get a journalist interested in covering it?
• What makes an effective versus ineffective pitch letter?

• Releasing your film
• What makes an effective trailer?
• How can I best prepare and present the trailer and still photos for promotional purposes?
• Should I create a Facebook page for my film and a website and a Twitter and an Instagram, etc.?
• How do I get into Sundance? If I don’t get into Sundance, is my career finished?
• There are entirely too many film festivals, how do I begin to figure out which ones are good and which ones are bad?
• What are effective ways of meeting, then following up, with producers and gatekeepers that I meet at these events?
• What kind of communication does an executive find annoying?
• Should I sell my film or give it away for free?
• If I give it away for free, how will I be able to pay myself back?
• How do I quantify if my film was a success?
• How do I use the short film to get myself ready for my next project?
• What if the film didn’t come out the way I wanted, am I completely done as a filmmaker?
• How do I use the lessons I learned to make my next project better?
• Now that I’ve made my first short film and loved it, how do I make this my full time job and become a professional filmmaker?
• Q&A with James

WHAT TO EXPECT

• This class is designed for all level filmmakers - beginner, intermediate and advanced who are looking to understand how to write, direct, and distribute their short film.
• Even though this class is on demand, we highly recommend completing all homework and assignments given in the class so you can get the most from your experience.

All levels of producers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking for a complete guide to producing a short film.

All levels of filmmakers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking for a complete guide to producing a short film.

All levels of screenwriters (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking for a complete guide to producing a short film.

Actors looking for a complete guide to producing a short film.