Peter D. Marshall

Hi, I’m Peter D. Marshall and I’ve worked (and survived) in the Film and TV industry for over 38 years: as a Film Director, Television Producer, First Assistant Director and Creative Consultant. (See IMDb Credits.)

ActionCutPrint is one of the top film directing websites for Independent Filmmakers on the Internet today featuring online movie making courses, film directing articles, film and television books and filmmaking workshops.

In 2000, I started publishing my free monthly film making ezine, The Director’s Chair which is currently read by over 6000 filmmakers in 105 countries around the world. (You can read 125 back issues here.)

In 2007, I created my daily filmmaking article blog FilmDirectingTips for Independent Filmmakers like yourself. (As of February 3, 1580 film making posts have been published on this blog!)

I have also developed several filmmaking workshops that I have presented over the past 18 years – from Canada to Singapore to Dubai. And I am also a directing instructor at the Vancouver Film School.

So please Bookmark this Page Now or Subscribe to this Website to get instantly updated on the latest filmmaking articles, film and television resource links, new online filmmaking courses and the latest film production books.

The Film Director’s Intuition: Script Analysis and Rehearsal Techniques. Acclaimed director Judith Weston offers a deeply creative exploration on how to access and stimulate the filmmaker’s most precious assets: instincts, imagination, and intuition.

The feature article in this month’s issue of “The Director’s Chair“ is called What a Director Looks for in the First Script Read-Through: “A director needs to understand every detail about the story you are telling. And in order to understand the script, a director needs to be able to operate in the sub-world of the characters.”

SUBSCRIBE to the current issue of “The Director’s Chair” and get two free bonuses: (1) Day One of my 220 page Online film directing audio course, “The Art and Craft of the Director Audio Seminar” and (2) the first 26 pages (plus mp3 audio) of my 155 page “Script Breakdown and Film Scheduling Online Course For Independent Filmmakers.”

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need is the ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who’s proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!

Cinematic Storytelling: The 100 Most Powerful Film Conventions Every Filmmaker Must Know by Jennifer Van Sijll. What the industry’s most successful writers and directors have in common is that they have mastered the cinematic conventions specific to the medium.

Here is the link to the podcast of the Live Chat from Monday, January 9, 2012 TOPIC: The Actor & Director Relationship-Part 2

NOTE: Unfortunately, the audio for Trilby Jeeves did not record so there are blank spots on the audio recording track

============

NOTE: This Live Chat has been completed.

I would like you to join me and my special guest, Trilby Jeeves, for a Live Online Chat on Monday, January 9 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. (Los Angeles/Vancouver time.)

TOPIC: The Actor & Director Relationship - Part 2

What do actors want from this relationship?

TRUST!

If actors feel they cannot trust the director to know a good performance from a bad performance, they will begin to monitor their own performances. And when actors begin to watch themselves, they also begin to direct themselves – they become “Director Proof.”

To find a character they are playing, an actor must surrender completely to feelings and impulses. A good director understands an actor’s vulnerability and creates a safe place for them to perform.

Actors want to work with someone who understands them and their vulnerability. And good actors will often take their time before deciding if they can trust you.

To sign in to the chat on Monday night, look at the bottom right of this page and you will see a blue bar that will say “Live Chat – Monday, Jan. 9 (7-9pm PST“). Just click on that link and sign up to the chat room by either using your Facebook or Twitter account.

If you don’t see the blue bar at the bottom of this page, please refresh your browser. If you still cannot see the blue bar at the bottom of the page, please email me at pdm@actioncutprint.com and let me know.

So please mark your calendar for Monday, January 9, 2012 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. I look forward to seeing you there.

Facebook Page: Live Online Filmmaking Chats

I have also created a Live Online Filmmaking Chats Facebook Page where you can post questions, answer questions and add interesting filmmaking resources. I will also be posting any relevant links here for you to use.

Remember, this Facebook Page is for all of us to share our knowledge – and learn from others.

Cheers,

Peter

Here is the link to the podcast of the Live Chat from Monday, Dec. 19, 2011
TOPIC: The Actor & Director Relationship

============

NOTE: This Live Chat has been completed.

I would like you to join me for a Live Online Chat on Monday, December 19 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. (Los Angeles/Vancouver time.)

TOPIC: The Actor & Director Relationship.

What do actors want from this relationship?

TRUST!

If actors feel they cannot trust the director to know a good performance from a bad performance, they will begin to monitor their own performances. And when actors begin to watch themselves, they also begin to direct themselves – they become “Director Proof.”

To find a character they are playing, an actor must surrender completely to feelings and impulses. A good director understands an actor’s vulnerability and creates a safe place for them to perform.

Actors want to work with someone who understands them and their vulnerability. And good actors will often take their time before deciding if they can trust you.

To sign in to the chat on Monday night, look at the bottom right of this page and you will see a blue bar that will say “Live Chat – Monday, Dec. 19 7-9pm PST“. Just click on that link and sign up to the chat room by either using your Facebook or Twitter account.

If you don’t see the blue bar at the bottom of this page, please refresh your browser. If you still cannot see the blue bar at the bottom of the page, please email me at pdm@actioncutprint.com and let me know. I have just started testing this live chat program so I don’t know all the bugs yet. I do know that Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari work well.

So please mark your calendar for Monday, December 19 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. I look forward to seeing you there.

Facebook Page: Live Online Filmmaking Chats

I have also created a Live Online Filmmaking Chats Facebook Page where you can post questions, answer questions and add interesting filmmaking resources. I will also be posting any relevant links here for you to use.

Remember, this Facebook Page is for all of us to share our knowledge – and learn from others.

Cheers,

Peter

From script analysis to post production, here is the all-inclusive guide to directing for film and television. Written by noted director-producer Myrl Schreibman, The Film Director Prepares offers practical insights on filmmaking, using real-life examples.

Here is the link to the podcast of the Live Chat from Monday, Dec. 12, 2011
The top 3 qualities directors look for when casting actors

============

NOTE: This Live Chat has been completed.

I would like you to join me for a Live Online Chat on Monday, December 12 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. (Los Angeles/Vancouver time.)

TOPIC: “The top 3 qualities directors look for when casting actors.”

Casting is the “bottleneck” of the film industry. It’s a place where both sides of the table have only a few minutes to make choices – choices that can affect all of our careers.

The Casting session (the “audition”) can be a terrifying place for any actor. It takes a lot of guts to walk into a small, windowless room and have 5 – 10 minutes to “show your stuff” in front of complete strangers.

But it’s just as tough for the Director and Producers as well! How can we correctly decide, in less than 10 minutes, who is right for a particular part?

In this live chat, we will discuss the top three qualities director’s look for in an actor during the audition:

1) Do they look the part?
2) Do they have range?
3) Can they take direction?

Casting sessions are also a very useful way to improve your script. When you listen to actors performing a scene in the script, you get a real feel for the words and how they flow when different actors read the same scenes. You can see (or hear) what works and what doesn’t. It is from the casting session that many of your script changes will happen.

To sign in to the chat on Monday night, look at the bottom right of this page and you will see a blue bar that will say “Live Chat – Monday, Dec. 12 (7pm PST)“. Just click on that link and sign up to the chat room by either using your Facebook or Twitter account.

If you don’t see the blue bar when you first arrive at my website, please refresh your browser. If you still cannot see the blue bar at the bottom of the page, please email me at pdm@actioncutprint.com and let me know. I have just started testing this live chat program so I don’t know all the bugs yet. I do know that Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari work well.

So please mark your calendar for Monday, December 12 from 7:00pm-9:00pm PST. I look forward to seeing you there.

Live Online Chat – Filmmakers Discussion Forum

I have also created a Live Online Chat Discussion Forum for anyone who participated in my Live Online Filmmaking Chats. I will also be posting any relevant links and other resources from Live Chat sessions here.

Please drop in to ask additional filmmaking questions – and answer questions as well! Also, please post your own resources here for others to use. Remember, this Discussion Forum is for all of us to share our knowledge – and learn from others.

Peter