What is the job of a cinematographer? The Oscars recently created a storm of disapproval & then back-tracked on a decision to make a few awards seem 'less' important by relegating them to the advertising break during the show. Happily, there also followed a protest by those who work in the industry and the Academy changed its mind. This prompted me to look at one of those categories this week - what is the job of a Cinematographer (aka The Director of ...
Indie Movie Finance in Today’s Marketplace
Indie Movie Finance: "What do you mean by 'indie' film?'" ... the literal meaning is a movie which does not have finance from a major studio (Disney, Sony, Warner Bros, Universal) or a mini-major (LionsGate) or an SVOD (Amazon, Netflix). How does an indie film get finance in today's marketplace if a studio isn't writing the cheque? Indie movies in today's marketplace get their finance from a 'puzzle' of investment pieces e.g. soft money / tax credits; rebates; pre-sales; private ...
Location Shooting a movie in Belgrade, Serbia
I just spent a few days on location in Belgrade, Serbia on a movie set and I thought I would share some of the experience in this blog. Firstly, why do films shoot on location? Film is a visual experience & filmmakers look for ‘cinematic’ imagery - so, is there a location that has never been seen? Iconic locations audiences love to see. The desire for something different – does the location have futuristic cities; undiscovered countryside; unique urban environments. Film sets ...
What will attract an actor to your indie movie
Sometimes, the piece of the puzzle that tips a movie from an idea to green light is the attachment of talent. Some thoughts below on what will attract an actor to your indie movie. What will attract an actor to my indie movie? The Script Amazing stories are hard to come by - and decisions are made within the first 10 pages of a read. The better the quality of screenplay, the more likely it will get attention from agents and actors. Why do actors take on low paying indie movies ...
finding a producer – to get your movie made
How do you go about finding a producer? If you're just starting out as a filmmaker one of your key relationships will be with producers. At the lower budget levels of independent filmmaking, finding a producer is a crucial piece of the film puzzle. If you have a body of work behind you and an agent, it may be that your agent will send out a script to producers they know and who they feel will match you / the material. Finding a producer with experience will add value and reach ...
How to get distribution for your movie
How do you get you film into cinemas, online & on TV i.e. how do you get distribution for your movie. In the USA, and UK there are 600-700 films released in cinemas on average per year - that's over 10 a week. There is a lot of competition for screening slots - and that doesn't include how many films are released online too. There are many efficient routes to get distribution for your movie: the traditional route via distribution companies; or, through self distribution - pitching ...