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When writing a serialized teleplay—or rather when outlining seasons and such: Does act structure apply just to the episode, or the season, or both, or the whole series? Puzzling... any thoughts or article links appreciated

To writers and/or directors: How well do you know your characters before moving on to shooting? i.e. WHAT do you know about them before even beginning to rehearse: Does motivation and backstory suffice? Or do you have a hundred questions on minute details you must answer first?

Hi there, If you have any advice, or even better books/free online lessons about production design—that would be much appreciated.

Open question for you indietalkers, Just curious: What preparation—script analysis, scene/character breakdowns, etc—do you do before getting into rehearsals. Or do you skip this and just wing things?

I'm about to direct a film with quite a few lengthy, abstract dialogue scenes——script makes me recall My Dinner with Andre. I read that Louis Malle rehearsed with those actors for SIX MONTHS (I read elsewhere that Wally rehearsed 9 months before Malle got onboard). I only have about one month...

Title says it all. Any tips on getting actors to just be/react, and not project their emotions?

Hey indies, Can any of you give some examples of films shot on a 3:2 (1.5:1) aspect ratio? THanks

How much / what do you know about your characters before beginning the first draft?

So I've been having trouble finding a sound mixer who will work on a micro-budget. One new acquaintance told me he'd be willing to do sound and that he's recorded and fixed location sound before, but after some of my own snooping I haven't seen any finished work so he has zero credibility. If...

Hey Are there any examples of films without basic makeup used? Or even better, a with and without comparison? Thanks

Hi, Still not a master in editing language :P To clarify something on the principle of 30 degree angle changes, I often see cuts from a wider shot to a closer shot that don't change the angle, just the frame, and it doesn't look awkward or jumpy. I see how this relates to the 30 degree 'rule'...

How many frames per second are necessary to be eligible for a film festival (or the average festival)? I never see this in listed requirements. Thanks

In reading wikipedia lists of past oscar winning screenplays, I noticed: 1928-present: there is an award for "best adapted screenplay" 1931-1956: there is an award for "best story" 1940-present: there is an award for "best original screenplay" So from 1940-1956, what was the difference between...

Super basic question :P What music is free to use for festivals or my own projects that may or may not make money, and where/how can I find as much of it as possible? Thanks

Composing question So I just heard my new film score and love it for the most part... But the last two minutes seem a tad too cheery/hallmarky, while I want something more "meditative-content" Also, he put in some chimes and pulsing violins I that don't fit. We discussed the film and score...

I feel like months leading up to a production I always come back here and ask the same question. I'll post it now, and maybe fine-tune my question later: I’ve read countless stuff on 'directing actors'. All teach non-result directing in a way that strikes me as a complex code you must use to...

Hey peeps, My second draft of an action-adventure 78 page screenplay reads like Alice in Wonderland on crack, constantly introducing new characters and locations, and I'd like to be able to "savor" every scene more, or make the story feel more full, but don't want to add unecessary detail. How...

Why does the 1AD call "turnover" or "sound/camera" when the director could easily say these things? Is it so the director has piece of mind and can focus on the actors?

This one non-actor is playing an important part in a couple scenes. This guy is psychologically/physically just like the character I want in the film, but I've been meeting him one on one before group rehearsals to go over his lines, and it's somehow hard to get him to just be himself and say...

Hi everyone, I've read you shouldn't have actors memorize their lines before the first rehearsal, to keep them from forming line readings and such, so we can first meet and discuss objectives. If you only have time for a couple rehearsals, is getting on-book prior to meeting a good idea or a...