Tips

Good morning, Creative Army. Welcome to the last Coffee & Content of 2018. We've had some fun, haven't we? Hopefully we've learned a bit along the way. Let's finish strong, shall we? Brian Helgeland has written some remarkable screenplays including L.A. Confidential (one of my personal favorites). In another phenomenal entry of the BAFTA Guru Series, Helgeland discusses the craft, the business, and how to navigate the highs and lows as writer. Next up from This Guy Edits, a look at the e...

Leave 'em wanting more.Keep 'em guessing.Leave the door open so the audience walks through. The idea of writing a TV series with irresistible cliffhangers is one that may have some writers confused, especially when it comes to the execution. But Lucy V, Hay of Bang2Write feels that too many mysteries or unanswered questions could mislead the viewer. Don't give them up, she says. Just use them the right way.     "...this is the problem with a good 80% of the TV spec series I see: they...

Never mind solutions: the challenge is where to begin with the problems. This post is for all of you newbies, like myself. This coming year I intend to make my fourth and (possibly) fifth feature. They are No Budget features, as I still have another year at University and am thus skint. Apologies for teaching people to suck eggs, when I am but an egg myself. But you never know. There may be an odd but useful nugget in here. Here are my suggested solutions for no budget film problems: 1) Ke...

A few years ago I was struggling with a major script problem. No matter how hard I wracked my brain I couldn’t find a solution. I felt helpless. At the same time, I didn’t want to let go of a project I cared about and spent so much time on. I then came across two approaches to screenplay writing which completely blew my mind, The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler and a simplified version called The Story Circle by Dan Harmon (Community, Rick & Morty). I thought, what do I have to lose?...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the holiday season. Let's get into the holiday spirit with the gift of giving...Here's some more Coffee & Content. First, from our friends at This Guy Edits, it's 3 Filmmaking Mistakes to Avoid. As usual, this one is comprehensive and insightful. Next up, writer, director, and producer Ryan Coogler talks film school and much more in this chill conversation with the Hollywood Reporter. Hope you enjoy the content and will...

"...filmmakers with dreams of Sundance should not view the network of festival programmers, nonprofit talent developers, producers, and yes, filmmakers (no recommendations mean more) as a hurdle. In reality, their tentacles spread far and deep searching for talent." It's hard to read the above excerpt and think that it can possibly be true. Of course getting into Sundance offers a series of hurdles. You have to have clout, right? Sure you do. But how do you measure it? And what does it all m...

Are you craving a successful career in Hollywood, but can’t seem to get your first big break? Are you struggling with rejection, discouragement, fear, doubt, or feelings of failure? I have good news for you. If you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, continue to get rejection letters, or haven’t landed the role you’ve been dreaming of, making a different choice can truly change your life.   The Secret to My Success After taking a giant leap of faith by moving my family from Chicago where m...

With more streaming services emerging and nontraditional content showing up at festivals and on various platforms on the Internet, filmmakers want to know the skinny on where things are going with digital media. Ka Wai Ho, a former studio manager at Studio Crackle and Lionsgate, caught up with Stage 32 at the Hollyshorts Film Festival to offer advice on how one can begin creating content for a digital platform.   Click Here For Ka Wai's Advice!       Remember, if you haven't subscrib...

Ever feel like giving up?   Like this guy here…   Of course you do. If you’re a writer, an actor, a filmmaker or an artist of any kind, you probably felt like giving up at least four times in the last month. Maybe you’re thinking about it RIGHT NOW. Apart from the fact that if you’re anything like me, giving up never really sticks because eventually that urge, that unscratchable itch to create something, comes crawling back with its tail between its legs and a puppy-eyed expression on...

2018 has been quite the year for me. I’ve done a lot of soul searching, endless amounts of planning, and allowed my brain to power through tireless bouts of thinking so I can answer some very difficult questions. I’ve had to deal with some adversity, too. But all of this has only made me stronger. Through it all, I recognize there are some really incredible moments in life. Brilliant, ones, actually, that can change us for the better. But with those brilliant moments come some not-so-brillia...