Episode #8 -
The Screenplay - The First 10 Pages

March 2, 2008 | Comments?

In this continuation of last weeks discussion, screenwriter/director Bob Gebert examines the elements that go into creating the first 10 pages of a script, and how to make the audience identify with the hero and experience the movie through the characters eyes.

Actor/producer Christina Mauro joins Bob to talk about producing indie films, working with first time directors and what she looks for in a project.

And we award another prize in our 6-week series of give-aways.

Movies and books mentioned:

The Godfather
Bart Gavigan
Rambo
War of the Worlds
A Killer Life: How an Independent Film Producer Survives Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond

Comments?

Box Office Receipts 1986 - 2007

February 26, 2008 | Comments?

The New York Times online edition published an interesting interactive graph this week called The Ebb and Flow of Movies - Box Office Receipts 1986 - 2007.

The undulating area of each shape in the graph represents the weekly total domestic gross (height) and the theatrical run (width) of an individual movie. Clicking any of these fluid shapes brings up details of that movie and a link to the review. This is a fun and handy reference piece for those of us who like to “follow the money.”

Check it out at nytimes.com.

Comments?

Episode #7 -
The Screenplay - From Idea to Plot Points

February 24, 2008 | Comments?

This week screenwriter/director Bob Gebert and I begin a multi-part, in-depth discussion of the screenwriting process. In this episode we examine the sellable idea, character charts, the heroes journey, the concept of the negation of the negation, and plot points.

Movies and books mentioned:

Missing
The Matrix
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
Writing Screenplays That Sell: The Complete, Step-By-Step Guide
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting

What are your thoughts? Post a comment or a question to continue the conversation, or click here to send us an e-mail.

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Win this weeks prize - a production slate

February 24, 2008 | Comments?

February and March are prize months at FilmmakerOne! Congratulations to our previous winners:

Luis of Sarasota Florida
Andy of Nashville, TN

Enter our drawing for your chance to win one of our weekly prizes. This weeks prize - an ikan production slate!

It’s a real nice piece with a black and yellow, diagonal stripes on the clapper, a white dry-erase board for noting reel, scene, take, sound and other such information. It’s a forty dollar value, and it makes a great tool for field shooting, or just a nice wall decoration for your office. Anyone can enter the contest. Simply sign up for our free e-newsletter here.

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Three Filmmaking Tips - From Here to Awesome

February 21, 2008 | Comments?

From Here to Awesome is an experimental on-line film festival, the goal of which is to “create a direct connection between filmmaker and audience.” The website states that there are no submission fees, and filmmakers retain all their rights.

Click to play

The festival was founded by DIY filmmakers Lance Weiler (The Last Broadcast, Head Trauma), Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters) and M dot Strange (We Are The Strange). In this video Leah Meyerhoff, John Putch, Arin Crumley and Susan Buice talk about online identities, posting your films online and smooth distribution. This is a clip from a panel hosted by the Evil City Film Festival.

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Episode #6 -
Creating a breakout indie film

February 17, 2008 | 1 Comment posted

This week we have a jam-packed show full of insider movie info. We talk with Bob Gebert about building the production team for your breakout movie. We discuss planning for your entry into the market, the secrets you need to know about film festivals, and how to increase your odds of screening at Sundance.

I announce the winner of the first filmmaker one contest drawing, and let you know how you could win the next one. (Hint: sign up for the free newsletter) Then, I wrap things up with my thoughts on some interesting developments in digital self-distribution.

Items and articles mentioned:

1 Comment posted

Win a production slate - tomorrow!

February 14, 2008 | Comments?

This is a quick reminder that we are having our first prize drawing tomorrow, and announcing the winner of this cool ikan production slate on the show this weekend. There is still time to get your name in by signing up for our free newsletter here.

If you miss out, don’t despair. We will have another drawing every week for the next five weeks.

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Filmmaker One HD Production Diary - Must buy new toys.

February 12, 2008 | 2 Comments posted

I am committed to starting up a secondary video podcast for a number of reasons. I want to present some visual material to accompany the Filmmaker One audio show. But I also want to explore distributing HD video through RSS and iTunes.

So, first things first. How do I use this project to justify buying cool new gear?

I already have a Panasonic HVX200 at work, but I don’t want to lug that thing around. That’s too much like work. If this show is a labor of love, lets keep that ratio more love than labor.

That’s why I’ve been eying these cool little Sony and Canon consumer HD cameras, Like the Sony HRD-SR5 and the super-popular Canon HV20. I decided on the Canon HG10 because of the hard drive, the AVCHD format, and I got a killer deal on it. The prices of the Canon cameras are dropping like crazy in the last few days. Newer models were announced at CES, and will start shipping in April.

The new version of the HV20, now called the Vixia HV30 is almost the same camera. It makes a few baby steps with improvements to the LCD and the zoom button, but the innards are almost identical, including its use of MiniDV tape for its HDV recording.

After spending some time with solid state recording devices, like our Panasonic and my wifes Flip Video, it is hard to go back to tape. It feel like dial-up.

So I am sacrificing image quality for convenience and going with AVCHD, and the 40GB hard drive inside the tiny Canon HG10. There is an ongoing, unresolved debate over the image quality between HDV and first-generation AVCHD. For my particular project, convenience wins out.

As usual, everything is a trade off.

2 Comments posted

Best of Fest screening “11 Minutes Ago”

February 11, 2008 | 1 Comment posted

Here is a treat for all our readers and listeners in the Los Angeles area. The Best Of Fest, an evening of independent film is screening our co-host Bob Gebert’s feature 11 Minutes Ago on Wednesday, February 27th at 7:30. A Meet the Filmmakers Q & A Reception will follow the screening.

This is a great opportunity to see the sci-fi, time-travel, romance that you have heard us discussing (Filmmaker One Podcast, episode 1 and 2), and to meet the co-host of the show.

The movie was recently featured in this segment from The Dailies Show on the Reels Channel.

So drop by and see the show. Take all your friends and tell them, “Yea, I know that guy. We get together every week to talk about filmmaking.”

The screening is sponsored by Indie Express and the The Victory Theater Center. For ticket information, please call 818-841-4404, and tell them you heard about it on Filmmaker One.

1 Comment posted

About Us is now actually about us

February 10, 2008 | Comments?

Just a quick note to let you know that the About Us page has been updated to reflect more about the fine people who create the Filmmaker One shows and blog, and keep it running. Thanks to all!