Cinematography

Happy Tuesday, Creative Army! Last week, I announced our 11th Annual Short Film Program at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, and I promised I'd come back and introduce you to the extraordinary filmmakers behind this year's six finalist films. So grab a coffee and settle in, because these are the people we're celebrating on August 13th, and once you know their stories, I think you'll want to be in that room as badly as I do. First, in case you missed last week's announcement, he...

What's up, Creative Army! I have been on the road, in the meetings, and on the phone with executives, producers, financiers, and buyers all year long. And every time I come back from one of those conversations, the same thing happens. I want to sit down with the creatives in this community, and I want to tell them everything I just heard, because so much of it is information that would genuinely change how they approach their careers if they only knew it. So that is exactly what I am about t...

Happy Wednesday, Creative Army! You've made a short film. You've put your time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and maybe even some serious money into it. And your goal isn't just to get it seen. It's to get it seen around the world, and by the people who can actually make a difference in your career. Would being screened at an Oscar-qualifying film festival matter to you? How about having your film screened for over 1,000 executives, including managers, agents, producers, and financiers? Then...

So you want to create your own content for social media, what do you need? Your phone. The end. Now that’s probably the shortest blog ever, so I’ll elaborate. Your smartphone is an incredibly powerful tool, and if you have nothing else in your arsenal, your phone can do just about anything. There are three important aspects needed to create good content. You need to be clearly seen, clearly heard, and clearly understood. 1- Be Clearly Seen (Video, Lighting) If you’re an actor, you’ve...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Let’s kick things off with a huge shoutout to everyone who has already jumped into this month’s Introduce Yourself Weekend. Thousands of creatives from around the world are connecting, sharing their stories, and building relationships that can lead to collaborations, opportunities, and lifelong friendships. If you haven’t made your introduction yet, you still have time. Head over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge before the weekend wraps. Be bold. Introduce yourse...

This was the first and last question I was asked as a student in film school. Is it something that we see on a big screen? That can’t possibly be the answer, you can see just about anything on a “big screen” these days and most cinematic experiences now happen in your home. I remember playing Metal Gear Solid on my PlayStation and remarking that it was quite a “cinematic experience.” Yet, when I watch the news, I don’t feel like it’s a cinematic experience. So, in this, I can understand the d...

One of the most valuable things you can learn as a creative, whether you have spent years on set or have never stepped foot on one, is who actually does what on a film crew. It is the roadmap to how a production really works, and it is often the first step toward finding your own place on one. Most people, inside and outside of the industry, have familiarity with the primary "above the line" crew positions and the creative forces behind a project. Yet many of the "below the line" crew position...

Once on set, I think of the 1st AD as the present, planning and keeping the day moving forward. At the same time, the 2nd AD is the future, planning and spreading information for the following days. Before Filming Begins The 1st AD gets the script and breaks it down into a schedule with all the puzzle pieces – Working closely with the director, everything having to do with the script is decided - locations, cast availability, equipment, day vs. night, sets, props, stunts, special effects, and...

It's official, Stage 32 Community: July Filmmakers Club is back for our 3rd annual run, and I could not be more excited to kick this month off with you If this is your first time joining us, here's the quick version. July Filmmakers Club is your month-long creative accelerator, built to help you connect with fellow filmmakers, set clear intentions, and move your projects forward with real purpose, in partnership with Blackmagic Design. And this year, here's the rhythm you can count on every...

How I Financed, Produced, Finished, and Delivered a Feature Film to the Global Marketplace in Just 210 Days Seven months ago, Key of Bones: Curse of the Ghost Pirate existed only as a screenplay. Two hundred and ten days later, it screened in Cannes. Whenever I say that, I think it's important to explain exactly what I mean. The film was not an Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Those films are selected by the festival itself and compete within the festival's official program...