Anything Goes : Sharing Your Lesson on Filmmaking by Edwin Adrian Nieves

Theatrical Commandment No. 1: "Thou shalt not bore" (story is everything)

I love me some Billy Wilder. "I have 10 commandments. The first 9 are, thou shalt not bore. The 10th is, thou shalt have right of final cut." I do believe that the storytelling is everything. Thanks, Juan.

Bad moments (like actors don't turn up on the filming day!) forces you to make some last minute changes but at the end of the day you realize that, that change made your film better!

Comfortable shoes, hand warmers, bring you own bottle of water (you never know) and don't forget a change of clothes.

Trust people to do their job. If they are slacking ask them if they need help and they will work harder to prove to you they can do it better. I second the comfy shoes, sunblock for outdoor shoots and don't forget to drink water... everything else will work out on it's own. Also never forget rim/back light. It makes everything so much more pretty.

oh sorry you said ONE lesson. oops.

Dunno if I agree with rimlight (especially on HD)-- but sun-screen is a must. Was not prepared for lack of clouds when I moved to So-Cal. I'm too European for this tan!

maybe not "rim"..but at least back light with any effect to the subject.

I dunno. I mean I love back lighting on occasion; it looks good; but sometimes it gets blah. Depends what you're doing-- and I honestly think is a bit of a hold-over from B/w shooting/photography. What I find interesting is when you use chromatic separation, based just off of the varying colors in a scene. Food for thought.

Excellent tips so far, even from the everyday essentials like sunscreen! I learned my lesson on a production one summer in Texas.

If I may provide one of my own..."Take advantage of your limitations by changing perspective and viewing them as guidelines." Also, if anyone wants to provide any backstory to their tips, please do so!

No one cares as much about your project as you do.

As a Post-Prod Supervisor, the one thing you have to learn is to take a proper brief and learn to say "NO" to get things done right!

Time spent in preparation will save money on the shoot

Make friends and develop projects you'd like to do with them -- looking to have such a great experience that you'd (almost) do it for free.

Be very ambitious. If you cannot find a production company that wants to take on your script, set one up. For casting, go to stage plays, meet actors, get your script out, and target specific actors for roles you know they will be good at. ALWAYS be prepared to offer percentage deals on your first film because without initial capital you'll need to work that way. And try to attract a reasonably well known name to your project, makes things easier at the distribution stage. Be prepared to become much more than a script writer because it pays off i can assure you.

"Not to let the hard road of selling a script, or getting a film made deter you from being determined to get it done. Keep moving forward." A great reminder, Lyse, for all.

Hi Edwin, Everyone has told you the truth it is a long road but you will make it, just keep going no matter what. I want to ask you if you know of any children who like magical books. If you do please let them know about my new children's series which is coming out at the end of June this year. The first book is about a little girl and her Granny Ann as well as Poppy the troll go on an adventure to save a ghost child from a evil witch. There is lots of magic it this story and at the end Mary finds a treasure like no other. You can see Poppy flying on Willys back on my web page. http://maryfilmer.com/ It is a great animation with Bill Smith did for me. Any help in telling anyone about the books series is a help. They are being published by Alpha Wolf Publishing and that is also where you can buy them too. Mary Filmer author

Where is the dislike button? I need it for Mary's SPAM.

Mary there are other places to do your PR. We're talking about guidance and advice on this thread. xx

Hello Mary, I appreciate you letting me know about this and I certainly do have younger cousins who would be interested. However, please next time either send me a message or make an individual post on my wall. And most importantly, let us know your lesson that could possibly help out the community! We'd love to get more tips on the thread.

Here's a good tip from a favorite director, Nicolas Winding Refn (Only God Forgives, Drive, Pusher) on respecting your audience: "I think one of the challenges of cinema in general is that it has become too predictable. The DNA of cinema, in terms of the way it’s told, has become so common that for young people the excitement is hard to catch sometimes because even though they haven’t seen the movie they know the movie. And you have an obligation…to make something that challenges them, because it means you’re actually respecting your audience."

Thank you my friend and it is nice of you to say you will tell your cousins for me. When I make a short movies some years back it was for a Fire Service. The one lesson I learned was it felt so good when it was finished. It seem to take so long to do and after when it was out there for the different places to see it felt wonderful that I had completed it. With the help of so many really talented people. Mary Filmer author

I made the short movie for the FB in Western Australia but it was a long time ago. I am going to some how make a movie of my book Mary Sumeridge Beginnings. I am not sure how but I am going to that is not a dream that is what I am going to do but not now as I am writing the 3rd book at the moment. Mary Filmer Children's Author. http://maryfilmer.com/