Filmmaking Tips for the Independent Filmmaker

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Drama and Conflict Conflict goes to the very heart and essence of storytelling – without conflict, there is no drama! Good drama shows characters in confrontation with each other as a result of their having opposite objectives. And when you put characters in conflict with one another, the audience experiences this conflict and they are […] Read the full article →

MASTERING THE ART AND CRAFT OF DIRECTING A Masterclass Series of Film Directing Tips, Tools and Trade Secrets For Anyone Sitting in the Directors Chair The information in this series of 25 (e)books is based on my 20 years of experience as a television drama series Director and feature film First Assistant Director, as well […] Read the full article →

The Director and the Story There are many phases of the Director’s preproduction on any film – from location scouts and creative meetings to casting and shot listing – but the first, and most important part of your job is to understand the Story. Understanding the story requires a lot of work on your part […] Read the full article →

Now that you have answered some general questions about the story, it’s time to go into specific detail about the overall story. What is the PLOT? (This is the A-Story that carries the action.) What is the SUB-PLOT (This is the B-Story that usually carries the theme.) What is the INCITING INCIDENT? (This is the […] Read the full article →

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: In January 2015 I received a message from Michael Wiese (film book publisher) who asked me if I would like to write a film directing book. Oh yeah!!!! Well…two years later, “Making the Magic Happen – The Art and Craft of Film Directing” has just been published and is now for sale on […] Read the full article →

This article is not about how to write a good screenplay. It is about how to make the best film – from the script you have now – by understanding the key elements that make up a good story. As filmmaking technology gets better and more sophisticated every year, it has given filmmakers all over […] Read the full article →

“There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins! And the cardinal sin is dullness.” Frank Capra As a filmmaker, I’ve been working professionally in the film and TV business for over 40 years, primarily as a Director and a 1st AD. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of productions: […] Read the full article →

What Makes Good Story – Part One INTRO: This article is not about how to write a good screenplay. It is about how to make the best film – from the script you have now – by understanding the key elements that make up a good story. As filmmaking technology gets better and more sophisticated […] Read the full article →

I have learned many things during my career in the film industry, but one of the most valuable lessons I have learned was to remain human at all costs. And by this I mean to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. During my 40+ years in the film and television business, […] Read the full article →