Tips

Happy Sunday everyone, and to those celebrating, a very happy holiday weekend.  Hope you're enjoying and participating in another edition of Introduce Yourself Weekend.  Now on to another edition of Coffee & Content. First up this week, I love me a good TEDx Talk and this one from John Dufresne, How to Write a Story, certainly fits the bill.  Get yourself a backup cup of java for this vid as you may just want to watch it twice. Next up, cinematographers and gaffers, I hear ya!  You want more...

In my experience there have been three types of people who approach me with ideas:1) Those who have no idea what the creative process entails, nor respect for the creative person. With people like this, I am polite but stay at a distance. 2) Those who really want to write their stories themselves, but are blocked by their own fear and/or denial. With people like this, I am polite but will share advice. 3) Those who want you to write their story for them and are willing to discuss a contract...

When we watch the Super Bowl, we often see a huge amount of emotion erupting not only from the fans, but the players. How many times have you seen Titans of Sport weeping like children because they lost a game? Or because they won the game? Fights break out, Gatorade is poured over coaches’ heads, the emotional displays are often unexpected but always completely authentic, spontaneous, and often as compelling as any film. What’s more, the players deliver these kinds of performances without givin...

When it comes to coverage, writers end up with a vast array of responses from seasoned readers, not-so-seasoned readers, producers, and executives. But how does a writer handle the coverage? And what can he or she do to make it better? Ricard Botto and Jason Mirch handle the question for a writer during the free "Ask Me Anything" webinar hosted by both gentlemen. A hint on how they responded? Be receptive to notes and let go of any defensiveness. Click below to hear more.   Click Here For...

Happy Sunday, everyone.  Hope you're all having a fantastic weekend. I don't know about you, but my coffee is on point.  Let's compliment it with some killer content. First up, it was recently announced that Christopher Nolan's next film has entered pre-production with Robert Pattinson, John David Washington, and Elizabeth Debicki attached to star.  Seems like the perfect time to feature Nolan here on C&C as he waxes poetic on the craft of film directing. Next up, one of the most celebrate...

If you’re an actor, you may or may not have come to the realization that as the sole owner of YOU, Inc., no one seems to care as much about your company as you. Often, actors believe that once they get a reputable agent, that the agent will make it their sole mission in life to make the actor successful. Even the best agents can’t offer that. Over time, you come to realize that if this company (again, we’re talking about your career) is going to be successful, there’s only one person that can ma...

The average filmmaker would not put any thought into their CV or Resume design. Some of you reading this might even believe that having a CV as a filmmaker is a waste of time. Regardless of your film industry job role, it’s likely at the start of your career you will be asked to provide a CV when applying to jobs. The majority of jobs advertised online (and on Stage 32) ask to provide a CV and cover letter attachment.My name is Amy Clarke and I previously worked in the UK film industry as a Scri...

I am sure you have all been here and have your own ideas on this subject, fellow toilers, but, here, today, is just my penny’s worth regarding what Development Hell is, why it occurs, how to avoid it, and some small suggestions for success in collab writing. The producer is the one with the fork. 1) What IS Development Hell? Development Hell is something I hear a lot about. What I hear from my friends and read about as well, is that projects sometimes get stuck.They go around and around and...

Happy Sunday, everyone. Miss me?   All apologies for no new Coffee & Content last Sunday. We wrapped filming on Rain Beau's End in Chicago on Saturday and then, well, there was the after party. Enough said. Our shoot couldn't have gone better.  Eighteen days of shooting, nearly a month in Chicago, but it all came together. Our cast, including Ed Asner, Sean Young, Melanie Chandra, Janelle Snow, Amanda Powell, and a host of others knocked the cover off the ball. I'll be sharing more from our sh...

Discover the Introvert’s Yes I know what you’re thinking, “Umm, Cheryl, Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes came out in 2015. Eons ago in internet time. Plus it's the beginning of April." But when you find yourself immersed in what is now one of your fav books, all you wonder is, Why the heck didn’t I read this book sooner?In my defense, Year of Yes has been on my Read This Now (aka When You Finally Freakin’ Slow Down) List. It truly feels like it just released this month, in my Dr. Who timey-wimey u...