Woman working on a laptop
As an up-and-coming director, you jump at the opportunity to direct your first feature film. When you get your hands on a script being considered for production, you want to make sure you choose well — in this business there are no second chances. How will you know if...
Shooting with people new to the production process isn’t always easy, but with a little patience and flexibility, you can still come out with great result
We all have seen scenes featuring directors with their berets and megaphones, yelling orders to their actors. It should come as no surprise that yelling at your talent is not the best way to elicit a good performance. Think of it this way — a seasoned director is more...
No matter how you go about your contract, the most important thing is that you actually devote time and attention to it.
Have you ever asked yourself whether your video production contract was good enough? If you’re like most freelancers or small business owners, you probably don’t have the time or, frankly, the desire, to deal with something as mundane as a video production contract. And, for the most part, you...
How NOT to be an Overbearing Director
Directing is a tough job. The long hours and pressure of keeping a production on track require a strong leader. While the stereotype of the riding crop and megaphone wielding director may be a thing of the past, many filmmakers maintain a fearsome reputation. But is it necessary to...
Working with Your DP
Your Director of Photography can help bring your cinematic vision to life, but only if you work well together.
When to Call Cut
ACTION. AND….CUT! Saying those words is every aspiring director’s dream! I’d even venture to say, it’s one of the first things learned about being a director. But oftentimes, “cut” has been called at the most inopportune moments. There’s an art in when to call cut. And if you do...
How To Survive A Nightmare Shoot
Last summer, I survived a video shoot that seemed to have been conceived by the darkest forces in the universe, starring a rock and roller who was so neurotic he made Woody Allen look like the Dalai Lama. However, I succeeded, perhaps even triumphed, in the end.I’m still alive...
From Writing to Directing: Famous Screenwriters Talk about their First Time Directing
Anyone who is about to make the leap from screenwriter to director is understandably anxious. Writing is like being a solitary soldier at a lone outpost, quietly scribbling away. Being a director suddenly makes you a general commanding your troops and fighting the enemy! You have to constantly be...
Advice on Big Interviews - Dave Roberson on a shoot in Petra Jordan
Veteran cameraman, Dave Roberson talks about his career in network news and gives us some wisdom in how to shoot the newsmakers.
Andra.Hayes.On the set of Star Trek Renegades with Director Tim Russ - Photo courtesy Star Trek: Renegade
Script supervisor is one of the few positions where you shouldn’t scrimp. Right now you may be thinking “our script knows its job and doesn’t need a supervisor or a manager.” If so, you’re missing the point. Another terms for the role of script supervisor is continuity supervisor, which, although...