Filmmaking / Directing

Specific films... I don't know. But specific directors: Welles, Hitchcock, Kubrick, Kurosawa, Eisenstein, Ridley Scott.

Jan de Bont, Lars von Trier, Harmony Korine, David Lynch, Jim Jarmush. Von Trier and Jarmush both worked with cinematographer Robby Muller. My favourite film person is Steven Spielberg, he sort of does it all.

Film - Bad Day at Black Rock. Director - I've been on set with Hitch and to just watch him work was an entire film school education.

All of them.

Dear Rebecca, I wish you happiness!

Dan, For our project, Concerned Citizens, we analysed a hell of a lot of BFI data as well as information that can be found on sites such as www.the-numbers.com and www.boxofficemojo.com At the end of the day, there really is not a scientific formula to predict the future, but viewing trends mixed with the aspects of your project can be used to obtain a pretty good guess at what you should expect should the film succeed. Of course, all projects have a chance of being a failure, but your investors will already know this, so concentrate on telling them your estimates based on home-based and international sales, should your project be the success that you're convinced it will be! I hope that this helps, Carl www.thebeyonderproject.com

Hey Dan, did you make any progress?

territorial trends and markets change every six months. There are certain factors that are included in the right kind of estimates that go beyond the very common chart of how other films in the same budget perform in the territories. IF it were that easy everyone would do it. Also most of the time you will want to have low (get ) numbers and ask (hope) numbers. And projections are rarely bankable or of value to investors if your package is not complete. So I would suggest you work on your packaging first, if you have not done so.

Great advice, Alexia!

Hi Dan, are you willing to pay for a projection sheet? That's not what I do, but I may be able to recommend someone to you. He charges a fee. But yeah, you'll want your cast (or alternative cast configurations) in place in order to get an accurate projection because projections are based on cast, director, as well as genre, etc.

No problem. Let me know when the time is right. Good luck finding your essential people.

Where are you filming?

LA, if I can find the right location. Another option is near Tahoe, to get mountains and cold/winter.

Ayelette, seriously, you’re in LA and you can’t find a crew? I’m up here in western Oregon where I really do have a hard time finding actors and crew, but I manage (barely.) You’ve got film schools, and lots of filmmaker wannabies all over the place down there. If you want to shoot up in Tahoe, there are a bunch of folk in Sacramento, Nevada County and the San Francisco area who go there all the time and some in Reno. I know quite a few down there – but very few up here.

Call the local/nearest film Commision (provided they have one where you shoot). They will be able to help you with locations and crew/vendors list.

No particular order. Kubrick, David Fincher, Tarantino, Akira Kurosawa, Scorsese, Nolan, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Richard Linklater, Chan-wook Park, Gaspar Noe.

Haha Mugs Cahill! We were moved by the same quote at the same time! I loved that line, I wrote that down in my journal.

Very well done ladies. Impressive backgrounds and great information. I didn't know about Creative Coalition and checking that out.

Mali and Ashleigh, I'm getting into more genre projects and would love to talk to you but I don't see you here on Stage 32.

Really needed to hear the stories of women like these panelists to remind us that wherever we are in life or our careers that we can forge a path into this industry, that failing is ok, and to keep getting up, making connections, and just don’t stop trying.

Thank you so much everyone for sharing your stories today. Really enjoyed today's panel.

I'd love to talk with you about my animated/live action musical adventure, The MicroCosmic Cartoon Show. It is definitely a genre blending project. I have a strong pitch deck and have won multiple awards.

Write it!

It's a choice. There are no set rules except to make the themes compelling and thought provoking.

I have not yet heard of an anthology that is not thematically linked. Examples?

The Wonderful World of Disney

Well there have been, but the most famous and ground breaking of those was Playhouse 90 from the early days of television which helped introduce the writings of Rod Serling, Paddy Chayefsky, Horton Foote, Frank Gilroy to a larger audience.

Has anyone ever used "Casting 360"? If so, could I get some rating feedback, and any other info? Thanks. :)

Always best to test the waters and find the right deal for you!

Film & TV Pro is now switched back to the Mandy banner apparently. I've never gotten work through either, but I have gotten a gig through Stage32

Stage32 is a great free option. Mandy.com is great, but they charge now as well. other options include linkedin and general social media across several platforms linking back to your website. Craigslist can be hit or miss. general networking is still the best way to get work. go to events, meet new people, talk about your current projects, etc. once you have an established network, it will work for you.

My son uses Mandy to get sound recoding jobs and has done well with it for a few years.

Gigi and James, thanks for chiming in! Both of you have made great points ans have provided us with even further insight into what I believe to be such an important topic. Thank you and everyone else who have contributed here. James, do you feel that newer film directors are perhaps suffering from the lack of ability in storytelling, or do you feel that it is also a direct result of our society as Gigi and others have stated? I myself am beginning to feel as though it is a lack of the storytelling gift and instinct. Of course I could be wrong. However, spectacle and farce certainly seems to have replaced substance. Thanks for the chat, Thomas

Often there may be a time constraint, focus on the pace leading to the climax scene, or a singular focus on a theme regardless of characterization potential. I mostly deal with music videos that have all these features, but for sure I really appreciate a feature film that takes that extra footage to reveal the expressions, emotions and inner character of the people it is built upon. All power to you & cheers from Australia :)

Film directors of today are not the film directors of yesterday. I believe there is a wide gap between the two. Back then it was fairly new. They were pushing the envelope into uncharted territory. Things had not been done yet. The bar was being raised with every film. There was a drive and a desire to see what was on the other side. Almost a giddy feeling, I imagine, went through alot of them back then. What an exciting time it must have been. It invoked originality, going on instinct and thought provoking ideas that stretched the imagination. I'm not saying that it does not happen now, because I have seen some works of art, but it takes a thinker, a dreamer and the know-how to lay down substance. Today, is a time where people with cell phones shoot films and dslr shooters abound. I for one think that's a good thing, but so many think they can just shoot some stuff, edit it quick and throw it up on whatever site and call it good. With so many out there now, it takes more to weave in and out of the thorns to get to the rose. There are still talented people out there and storytellers among the fray, so don't lose hope. "Some say everythings been done...I say...it's just the beginning. - James Felt

Truth is people just want the easy way out and don't want to do the leg work. I have just completed a feature where I wrote character Bio's for all the leads, established their backstory which set their likes and dislikes, this give them personalities. Over all this I spent months researching the South Carolina dialogue and rewrote a character to suit. Just what I said, gotta do the leg work to give each character a personality. It still exists in writers who don't want to just print out a flat screenplay.

Evil Dead Remake. Budget 17 million/0 character development. Number 1 at the box office./Gross to date 35 million. Producer's job with Evil Dead 2? REPEAT PROCESS. -- Hollywood is a business. The question is: If Evil Dead had character development would the movie gross even more? I think so.

Nice one Jacob... Definitely looking forward to seeing the Film when it's done. Here's my shameless promotion... Sign up for a free fillim.com account which you will be able to use to distribute and in the not too distant future fund your film. Cheers Dan

Yes I already have the vision and all, since all the stories have somehow a link, but everyday still I progress it even more- in a good way ,,so if there some certain related stuff "articles, films" with the same theme, that would be fruitful

Hi Ghada.. I am not an expert to advise in this matter but just thought of expressing myself. As far as i know one movie with multiple story lines is called as an Anthology film. One imp question rises here and that is whether all stories have a common goal or common struggle? If yes then characters can come together and fight together towards the end OR can also lead their individual journeys to ultimate gratification. If not then definitely each story should conclude its own destiny and the lesson you wanting to preach should be presented significantly for each tale. Keeping in mind that ENTERTAINMENT is at the top level of priority than educating people with our own beliefs. In India, Bombay Talkies is an example, the movie was made by 4 different directors. Even Pulp Fiction is an example.

Hi. Your project seems to be interesting for you said about 8 nationalities. I am the International Agent and work with the actors from different countries. I look for the projects for my Actors all over the world. No i am in Russia) amazing country with talented actors, so if you didn't finish a shooting may be you could still be interested in the actors of different nationalities)) Have a good day !

Read Linda Aronson The 21st Century Screenplay. Its the most deeply layered and concise book on linking multiple storylines, whether a group story to be linked, separate stories linked and tandem/non linear narrative.

You need to prep now for distribution. Think PR/EPK kit, you'll need photos, interviews of talent, crew on set and locations. Will also be useful for DVD extras release. List your production in every film trade (Hollywood Reporter, Variety etc) in every territory you intend to sell to. Daily blog and social media to build an audience and your blog and diary material will be turned into a 'making of book' to coincide with the release of your project. Just a few.

Have you seen the short film that Whiplash is based on? That's a great example of a short film that is literally a scene from the feature (but not the opening scene, and there's good reason why).

I've seen it.