Filmmaking / Directing : Directing by Matthew Ward

Matthew... Let me cut-to-the-chase.... Put your script away for your 2nd PROJECT-TO-DIRECT... Now for your FIRST PROJECT... write a 90-page, 1-location script.. Get a DSLR and $5K... You should be able to come up with $5K... And Direct Your Movie.... If you're not sure how read my "NO-BULL FILM BLOG"..... DOV SIMENS

Hi Mathew, been in your shoes already, wrote my script and attached myself as a director. I knew it was gonna be difficult the get a producer on board since it was gonna be my first feature, so I became my own producer, made a well thought business plan, showed it to investors and yes it took me a year to secure financing for the production stage, and another 2 years to finish the film, won a couple of awards and still struggling for theatrical distribution... My point is, if you believe in your project sometimes you just have to do it yourself.

Thanks Rafael! I'm at that point. From the get go I realized that my producer and I would have to do the ground work ourselves.

Matthew: Keep the script down to 90-pages, 1-location and for a 1-week DSLr shoot, with a 5 person crew... you can get it done for $10K-50K... If you do not know how to get $10K... take my "STREAMING" or "2-DAY FILM SCHOOL"... www.WebFilmSchool.com DOV

Great Matthew, it will be a lot of work, but you will learn a lot, wish you the best...

Well, I'm in the same boat you are. I'm working on my first feature, and I'm drumming up my budget. I've always self-financed my shorts, so going to investors and possibly kickstarter is all new to me. If you need to vent frustrations or share any experiences, feel free to touch base.

JORDAN... for Pete's Sake, why are you stubborn. My "STREAMING FILM SCHOOL" is (A) Superb, (B) Perfect for you and (C) Super Cheap.... www.WebFilmSchool.com

and that's how he funds his films with the site. lol

Same boat. except I am also writing a proof of concept to have something to show. crowd funding is the way I wanna go.

Hi Jason... The "STREAMING FILM SCHOOL" is perfect for your needs... at only $89 I guarantee you it does not fund movies for to make... I am just trying to help... God Bless... DOV

Dov, can you please stop throwing insults and pitching your web course? I have two higher education degrees in filmmaking and probably know more cinema history than you do, and I feel like you're just trying to make a buck from artists that are more focused on their art and getting it made. You're cheapening the craft of directing by insulting us directors that are here to network and communicate ideas and projects to each other with you're awful style of advertising your web course.

Jordan, Sorry I offended... Wishing You truly the best in all your endeavors... To help Jason however I was advising to be wary of "Pitch Fests" that are called "Licenses-To-Steal" and many of Screenwriting Contests are mostly fronts for selling "Coverage" or optioning properties... However, Nicholls, ABC, Nickelodeon and Disney have excellent Writer Fellowship programs and was just trying to steer him to the list of 4 Valid Pitch Fests and 5 relevant Contests/Fellowships... DOV

Oops meant Matthew... My apologies

I was kidding

Best advice is to just do it. I took my script, found some good people to help and got it made. Didn't spend much either,. Got all the locations for free. It's a huge amount of work, but nothing can prepare you for all the challenges you'll encounter. But nothing is as rewarding as getting it done. Currently seeking distrobution and dealing with a few options.

Dominic, this is truly the best advice. Film school is really about giving directors, producers, DPs, etc. a common language to interact with one another, and, of course, the opportunity to work together to make a film or two.

Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated. Insight from peers is always helpful... And Dov, I appreciate the ads, but I'm just in a different boat. I'm have an MFA and directed smaller projects in 2 countries already, but many people do need your services and could benefit from them. I'm just taking another path and have amassed a certain amount of experience already . And I have researched the festivals you mentioned earlier an am very familiar with them. Suggestions and advice is always appreciated!

Mat... Make sure your script is doable for no-money... A 1-2 week shoot, 90-page script, 1-location, basically a stageplay... With a 1-week (9-Day) Shoot and 90-Page Script.. You have a Shooting Schedule of 10 Pages/Day... There are only 12 hours of daylight (1-hour setup, 1-hour lunch) that leaves 10 Hours to get 10 Pages... Thus, you must executive 1-page every hour... Now, for quality production you would like each page/scene to have a Master, 2 Mediums (OTS), 2 Close-ups, some Cutaways and an Establishing Shot.. This is 6 setups per scene per 1-hour or GET THIS 15 MINUTES PER SHOT... So Don't waste time, Forget about 2nd Takes, make sure the actors during casting can act and start each scene right away with a Master. Now listen to many others tell you about heart, passion, scouting, connecting-with-the-audience, rehearsal importance, storyboarding etc. etc... Just make sure you get a Master with a couple of Cutaways and an Establishing Shot. All the best... DOV

I worked with Roger Corman who allowed Scorsese, Howard and 100s of other Directors launch their Directing careers on 1-2 week shoots... and all he ever said to them was "GET A MASTER & 2 POPS"... Now you have the Roger Corman School of Directing... God Bless... Dov

Hi Matthew - Dov is giving good advice - I took Dov's course, really enjoyed it, followed his advice and got a movie made - You can view the trailer here https://vimeo.com/106268719 - Worked for me.

Wow, it looks expensive? What was the budget?

Nice man. Did you have to dig all those trenches? lol

Budget for the first 75 minutes was under $300,000 (US) - and of course we ran out of money - and then ended up doing a deal (with people who had a lot more money than we did) to finish it. But - my point is we reached a stage where people were willing to invest by following the advice given above. Yes we dug all those trenches and filled all of those sand bags - and the actors actually slept in the trenches in the middle of winter to get the feel. As a consequence, I think the war scenes look great, and while there is a lot of trickery going on there to make it look bigger than it is - I think the passion of the team shines through. The lesson I got from Dov was - "You want to make a movie - then make one - don't wait for permission".

I've been reading a bit about Ed Burns' latest movies - he is (according to the articles I read) making them on a budget of around $10,000 - I found the article on Raindance.org - there is a lot of good advice on there - which (incidentally) I found by following some links from here on Stage32 - take a look it is worth the time.

I have lots of advice and insight into your query but no time this evening to go into it – I’ll try tomorrow if I can find the time. I assume that you are a small one man band when it comes to filmmaking – right or wrong? I have a couple of questions up front first – be honest if you want my advice.

No, they're many times your only choice. But are they effective "Not really". However, of the 300-500 Script Contests there are 4-5 that have merit and if you come in the top 3 you'll get a (1) Cash Prize, (2) Still own your script and (3) score a real agent... DOV

Matthew - I’m making an assumption here: that you are a small time operator – sort of a one man band filmmaker. As a writer, it’s up to you to develop a compelling story and present in a bullet proof format. The writer is generally a pretty solitary character. When he exposes his creation to the light of day, he must don his armored underwear – lots of people will put your work down (because you didn’t write it their way, because it’s good but not theirs – whatever.) Many of the writer’s creative assets must be shared by the director – that ability to visualize the story played out on the big screen; the writer and director must be simpatico. The director needs to be a more outgoing – he needs to work with the cast & crew. The director must have vision – how to translate what’s on the page to the screen. He must be organized and make sure that everything is in the right place at the right time. He needs the diplomacy to deal with all the players (cast & crew) and he needs communication skills. He must possess a good working knowledge of all aspects of the film production cycle but most importantly, he must exhibit humility. Those that can do both are rare indeed – they are the true auteurs of the emerging indie filmmaking world and are very few. Trying to sell a script and attaching yourself as the director is a total waste of time unless you have some demonstrable previous directing skills.

Unless you produce your own film.

Thanks for the comment Doug Nelson. Appreciate your insight.....This is what I'm planning to do Rafael Pinero. With additional help as well. Not going to do it completely on my own.

DOUG, your comments are spot on and cut through all the verbiage seeking to advise. I disagree with your last line, however; if the script is a "killer", the production company/investor, may consider the writer as a first time director by surrounding him/her with people who will carry the director over the finish line if necessary; like DP, Line Producer, Editor, and /or Production Designer. But again. thank you for your sharing you vast knowledge.

Larry – true but HIGHLY unlikely. You may win the lottery on the one and only ticket you buy; but don’t count on it.

AU CONTRAIRE. In my experience--I do have some--there have been a number of first time directors usually on the strength of their script which the Production company wants. The big problem is not the first one out of the gate; it's the second one with a higher budget that yhe director doesn't know what to do with it.

Larry – I looked at your Stage 32 page; your background and mine are similar (mine – screenwriter, director, producer & line producer) - I’ve been at it since the late 60’s. The OP is a new kid on the set. I certainly believe that he can/should direct his own production but I do not advise him to promote himself to a professional production outfit as a screenwriter & director right out of the gate. When you are new to the game; success far outweighs failure to your ego. My advice is to not set yourself for failure at start up.

I haven't read all the previous replies in this chain so I may be repeating someone else's comments. An important thing to consider for a first-time director seeking financing is this: Can you attract cast? As an unknown quantity, can you attract a level of talent who can trigger whatever level of financing you seek? For example, if your script requires a $10M budget, you need to attract cast who can trigger $10M of financing. Is Joaquin Phoenix going to sign up to be directed by a director he doesn't yet trust, when he's getting offers from A-list directors all the time? Probably not. If your script requires a $10,000 budget, you can cast it with whomever you want, control the process yourself, and try to crowdfund the movie. Just examples of different scenarios.

Regina Lee thanks! Yeah, my budget isn't $10mil that's for sure. More like $100-200k. And I have talent in mind that are up and coming and still willing, at there stage of careers, to take a risk on a first time feature director.

Try to be sure the emerging actors are marketable enough to raise $200k on their market value. Break a leg!

Matthew, Fine tune your script for a 1-week shoot...Drop the budget from $100K-200K to $10K-20K.and direct your first movie...

Although this is the 7th time you mentioned this Dov S-S Simens I have no intention of reducing my budget under $20k, shooting schedule or taking your class. Thank you for your input.

Mathew, you should fine tune your script, make it one location, one actor only, shoot it in your room, and lower the budget to $50 dollars (for coffee, donuts, etc...) and you could act yourself for your first movie... LOL