Recent content by chrisjmaes

Hi, Nate -- you can find good talented actors using Actor's Access and Breakdown Express, and set parameters to your area so they will be local. These are trained, hard-working, talented people who will bring their all to your project. For me, it's liberating to hand acting duties over to others...

Most actors would like their director to be able to talk about the character they're playing in whatever degree of detail the actor may require. This can vary day to day from needing very little input, to some days/scenes where the actor may be confused and need more input. It does help if the...

It depends. If you are the Director, how strong is your visual sense and your skills in executing? Have you shot camera or edited before? If so, you probably have a strong inclination to storyboard your scenes and then work with your DP to light and execute them according to your boards. On my...

Apologies, Celtic Rambler... did not mean to imply that one is ever excused from the need to persuade others. As Producer or Director, you will always need to convey your vision and the project's merits to others, including actors, distributors, film festivals, etc. I was specifically referring...

Find the right solution -- one you can afford. Crushing debt will weigh on your mind the whole time you're in film school, so that's not good. How creative can you be? Find a solution that fits your financial resources. I attended UCLA film school at a time when it didn't bankrupt you to go to a...

Spending your time and money to convince others that what you believe has merit will only be frustrating. They will always have a reason to say no. Everyone is afraid of 'taking the plunge.' And every movie that has ever been worth a damn is a risk... what if the shark in Jaws looks fake? What...

Fellow Indietalkers, the economics of streaming are going to make this the primary way consumers watch their media in the coming years. When movie prices reached a cost of $14/ticket plus parking and $8 for popcorn, the writing was on the wall. Hollywood does not/won't listen and continues to...

My answer is to LIMIT the number of days you are asking your team to work for free or deferred pay. Try to group 4-5 shoot days together as one chunk. Then ask them to commit to that, and do your best to jam your most important scenes into those 4-5 shooting days. It's not realistic to expect...

Hi, Aspriing Mogul -- just be aware of the primary rule of filmmaking: Show don't Tell. Your audience will glaze over/lose interest after half a page of heads talking about a past rebellion. Find ways to illustrate the battle - even if it's via still images, or characters that have batlle scars...

Hi, NuttyFilms: Here are some ideas - maybe one of these will help you unlock your creativity. First, know who you are and where you came from. Your family and specifics of where & how you grew up informs your experience as a storyteller. That's your foundry, and usually the more you 'hide'...

"George Lucas: A Life" - great history of his filmmaker days, "Spike Lee's Gotta Have It" - making of Spike's first feature, "Fast, Cheap and Under Control" - interviews w/ indie filmmakers.

Hi, JK -- in my experience, it can happen whenever there is a creative collaboration. An experienced DP may have strong ideas on how to light and shoot a scene. As Director, I have always welcomed that, while also needing to be sure I am communicating with them what I want/hope to see...

Hi, all -- I'm new to the site. I'm a Producer-Director just outside Washington DC. Very interested in narrative (fiction) movies in the sci-fi/thriller genres primarily. Thanks, Chris