IFH Episode 325: What Negative Filmmaking Story Are You Telling Yourself?
We all tell ourselves negative stories. I’m not good enough. I can’t write that. I can’t direct a feature film. These stories are killing us day in and day out. It took me 20+ years to finally change the story I was telling myself about being able to direct a feature film. When I finally changed that negative story I was able to make This is Meg, self-distributed it and even sold the film to Hulu and overseas.
Once you change the stories you tell yourself you will change your life. In this episode, I do a deep dive into the negative stories we tell ourselves as filmmakers, screenwriters, and creatives.
Buckle up. There are a TON of truth bombs in this episode!
IFH 323: Creating Emotional Storytelling in the Edit with Sven Pape
Creating Emotional Storytelling in the Edit with Sven Pape
Today on the show we Sven Pape. Sven is an A.C.E. Award-nominated editor who cut for James Cameron, Mark Weber, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and James Franco. We get into the weeds on editing, storytelling, the business of editing and much more. Oh, did I mention Sven worked with James Cameron for three years? We definitely go into that. Sven Pape’s YouTube Channel This Guys Edit is an awesome resource for filmmakers and editors alike.
You might have heard the saying:
‘Great editing is invisible.’ While that may be true I aim to shed a little light onto the craft. I’m not saying that I have achieved greatness or ever will. This channel is simply about helping you (and me) become more aware of the creative power of editing and to celebrate the “invisible performers in the editing room”.
Why do we do what we do? As writers, our primary objective is to instil some kind of emotion in the audience regardless of the medium. If you're writing a short film, that short story needs to be packed with a message from start to finish. If you're writing a TV series, little by little that show has to provide a source of entertainment over a long period of time. For a feature film, it's just as pressurized as a short film, only it's technically more difficult because you're relying on the audience to invest two hours (or more) of their time in what you created. Writing a novel? You're in for an even bigger set of responsibilities. At its most simple, storytelling is about evoking an emotional response within the people consuming what you created. How do you do that? Tune in to this episode of Wine Wednesday and listen in on what Felicity and Max think.
A huge thanks to our sponsors, The Story Farm and Steele Wines. If you're looking to develop multiple projects over a short period of time, we recommend inquiring with Max on his consulting and development service, The Story Farm. He and continues to help so many writers reach their maximum storytelling potential. Go to www.TheStoryFarm.org to learn more or email him: max@thestoryfarm.org
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
Bulletproof Screenwriting Episode 46:
Today on the show we have million dollar screenwriter Diane Drake. Her produced original scripts include ONLY YOU, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei, and WHAT WOMEN WANT, starring Mel Gibson. Her original script for ONLY YOU sold for $1 million, and WHAT WOMEN WANT is the second highest grossing romantic comedy of all time (Box Office Mojo). In addition, both films have recently been remade in China featuring major Chinese stars. And WHAT WOMEN WANT has recently been remade by Paramount Pictures as WHAT MEN WANT, with Taraji Henson starring in the Mel Gibson role.
Diane, who is a member of the Writers Guild of America, recently authored her first book,Get Your Story Straight, a step-by-step guide to writing your screenplay. She has taught screenwriting through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, and now offers story consulting, and her own guided online course via her website.
Diane has also been a speaker/instructor for The Austin Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Rocaberti Writers Retreat in Dordogne, France, the American Film Market, Scriptwriters Network, Phoenix Screenwriters Association, Stowe Story Labs, Romance Writers of America, Oklahoma Writers Federation, University Club, Storyboard Development Group and the Writers Store, among others; and a judge for the Humanitas Prize, the Austin Film Festival and the UCLA Writers Program.
In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of being a screenwriter in Hollywood. Diane is very open about her experiences, the good and the terrible. If you want to be a working screenwriter in Hollywood then get ready to take notes.
Bulletproof Screenwriting Podcast - Episode 45:
I wish I had someone to tell me this early on my screenwriting journey. In this episode, I go over what happened to me when I was starting out, how my friends affected me and my ability to move forward in my career and what happened to me when I moved to Los Angeles over a decade ago. I discuss how the people around you affect you on a personal, professional and even spiritual level.
Episode 284
This week on the podcast I talk with Director Elle Callahan about her background working in the sound department and how that helped her get into a position to direct her first feature film, Head Count.
Episode 283
In this episode of the podcast I talk with writers Justin Kelly and Savannah Knoop about how they took Knoop's autobiographical book and turned it into a feature film, and then how they got that screenplay produced.
SYS Episode 282
This week on the SYS Podcast I talk with Irish writer/director Liam O Mochain. Liam has written/directed/produced numerous short films and he shot his latest feature like a short film, shooting several small stories and then weaving them together in post-production.
Today on the show we have the legendary Linda Segar. Linda was one of my first ever interviews back when I launched Indie Film Hustle and her episode is by far one of the most popular ever. Here’s some info on our lovely guest.
In 1981, Linda Seger created and defined the career of Script Consultant. She based her business on a method for analyzing scripts that she had developed for her doctoral dissertation project. Since then, she has consulted on over 2,000 scripts including over 50 produced feature films and over 35 produced television projects. Linda was the consultant for Peter Jackson’s breakthrough film, Brain Dead and for Roland Emmerich’s breakthrough film, Universal Soldier.
She was the script consultant on Pasttime and Picture Bride–both winners of the Audience Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival–as well as for the films The Long Walk Home, The Neverending Story II, Luther, Romero, and television movies and mini-series including The Bridge, the Danish-Swedish mini-series (now playing in the US).
Other clients include Ray Bradbury who said, “Linda’s technique is a light to see by,” William Kelley, Linda Lavin, and production companies, film studios, producers, directors, and writers from over 33 countries.
Having authored nine books on scriptwriting, including the best selling Making A Good Script Great, Linda is one of the most prolific writers in her field.
Here new book The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking: From Script to Screen explores what goes into the making of Hollywood’s greatest motion pictures. Join veteran script consultant Linda Seger as she examines contemporary and classic screenplays on their perilous journey from script to screen. This fully revised and updated edition includes interviews with over 80 well-known artists in their fields including writers, producers, directors, actors, editors, composers, and production designers.
Their discussions about the art and craft of filmmaking – including how and why they make their decisions – provides filmmaking and screenwriting students and professionals with the ultimate guide to creating the best possible “blueprint” for a film and to also fully understand the artistic and technical decisions being made by all those involved in the process.
On this episode, we have 17-year-old scriptwriter and filmmaker Jonathan Perry who directed a large budget short film titled SUBNIVEAN which will debut on Amazon Prime June 12, 2019, making Perry the youngest director on any streaming service. I know, it’s crazy.
After filming SUBNIVEAN in December of 2018, Perry and his team of producers wrote a nine-page appeal which was submitted to Amazon. Amazon accepted Perry’s appeal and formed a partnership with Perry. Perry’s partnership with Amazon includes the release of SUBNIVEAN on the Amazon Prime streaming platform, as well as coverage of select advertising costs. Additionally, Perry partnered with EDM band ODESZA for promotional sound mixing.
Once offered a large sum of money for his script titled SUBNIVEAN, Perry decided SUBNIVEAN may be his golden ticket into directing his first large budget feature film. Perry, still hard at work on SUBNIVEAN, doesn’t plan on taking any breaks after the Amazon release. Recently, Perry has signed with a Hollywood director and union members for his upcoming 2020 film with a starting budget of 1.5 million.
Director Jonathan Perry is from Sandusky, Ohio and began his early career in the film industry four years ago when he began writing scripts online for other filmmakers by selling the copyright to his work. Now, this is the part that blew me away, after writing nearly 40 scripts over the course of two years, Perry made a total of nearly $10,000. We go deep in how he did this and you will be surprised at his journey.
The film SUBNIVEAN introduces the viewer to two young brothers and their troubled relationship. Perry states in a film synopsis,
“After a vicious chase home from gathering firewood, an innocent boy unknowingly leads his brother to fall through an isolated pond. The boy has to accept and use his twisted hallucinations of hatred as his only hope to break the ice and save his brother in time or die trying.”
Need they say more than the title? The fine folks at Film Inquiry bring another episode of their podcast, all about one of the best directors of our time, Darren Aronofsky.
It's one of the top shows on Netflix, and if you haven't watched it...and you happen to like murder mysteries with serious emotion and serious laughs, dive in. It's worth every second. In this episode of Wine Wednesday, Max and Felicity discuss what they love about the show and why the show works (in their own humble opinion).
It's a question we all wonder; how can I get paid for what I do, and how much for what project and when and from whom? Yeah...it's a lot, and sadly it's all completely relative. Thankfully the WGA is there for writers to help regulate what writers should get paid, but not every writer is union, etc etc. Alongside how and when producers get paid, this is what Felicity and Max discuss on episode 64 of the ISA's Wine Wednesday broadcast. A huge thanks to our sponsors, YourScriptProduced.com and Steele Wines. Tune in and join one of the most informative broadcasts yet.
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
Whether you loved or hated the series finale of Game of Thrones (or you're somewhere in the middle like Max and Felicity), this episode of Wine Wednesday should be a fun one. Feel free to agree, disagree, argue, or praise - it's the whole point of a dissection of a TV show. Max and Felicity don't quite get into the educational approach to screenwriting in this episode (though it's tough for Max not to go there), and instead they dive into their basic fandom and share thoughts and comments with the ISA's Facebook Live viewers. It's a fun one, and yes there are major spoilers if you haven't yet watched the end - so, you have been forewarned. Enjoy.
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
Got advice? Need some? In this conversation with the ISA's Dir of Education, Story Farm Consultant, and writer/producer, Max Timm, we offer up so many juicy pieces of advice and wisdom, the interview is a can't miss.
Randall Jahnson has delivered scripts for both large and small screens; in both studio and independent realms; in genres ranging from horror to historical. He’s worked with such diverse filmmaking talent as Steven Spielberg, Penelope Spheeris, Spike Lee, Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt, and the late Jonathan Demme. Among his produced credits are the punk rock western Dudes, The Doors, The Mask of Zorro, Sunset Strip, the Norwegian indie, Dryads - Girls Don’t Cry, and episodes of the HBO cable series, Tales from the Crypt.
Dive in and get your learning on! If you'd like to learn more about Max and his consulting services, go to www.TheStoryFarm.org and find out how he can help and what you can do to up your game.
Episode 281
This week on the SYS Podcast Writer/Director Tony Germinario comes on the show to talk about his crime drama feature, The Price For Silence. We also talk through his writing process and how he was able to get the screenplay produced.
Episode 280
This week on the podcast I talk with writer and director Michael K Feinstein about his career, from writing and directing short films, to his current comedy feature film, The Browsing Effect.
It's a question we all wonder; how can I get paid for what I do, and how much for what project and when and from whom? Yeah...it's a lot, and sadly it's all completely relative. Thankfully the WGA is there for writers to help regulate what writers should get paid, but not every writer is union, etc etc. Alongside how and when producers get paid, this is what Felicity and Max discuss on episode 64 of the ISA's Wine Wednesday broadcast. A huge thanks to our sponsors, YourScriptProduced.com and Steele Wines. Tune in and join one of the most informative broadcasts yet.
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
It's not just a story you need to pitch. You're the marketing executive, CEO, CFO, CCO, and all of the other CO's you can think of when it comes to promoting you and your overall business. You're a business, and you should treat yourself that way. In this episode, sponsored by HollyShorts Film Festival and our beloved Steele Wines, Felicity and Max dive in to the different kind of pitches, how to approach them, and what to expect from the industry.
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
It's part of the business, whether you like it or not; networking and self-promotion. In this podcast of the ISA's Facebook Live Wine Wednesday broadcast, Felicity and Max help us see not only the importance of self-promotion, but how to navigate such waters without coming across as a "git" (as Felicity would say). Sponsored by Steele Wine and Max Timm's coaching and development service, The Story Farm, this broadcast will hopefully get your networking brains and personalities revved up and inspired.
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
As part of Max Timm's ongoing solo podcast, The Craft, this week's recording discusses how to approach submitting to screenplay contests, and what you should know before doing so.
Here is a little snippet from the podcast:
"So you’ve just written your masterpiece, and then rewrote it another 12 times, received notes from your writing group, paid a consultant to work with you, or you had your mom read it and she said that she loved it and you.
I hope your mom told you that she loves you, but I also hope you are not ONLY taking your mom’s word for it.
Nonetheless, you’ve finished your script, a bunch of people have instructed you to submit it to a screenplay contest. Now what? You do a little search through FilmFreeway.com or a Google search, etc, and now you’re inundated with choices. To which contest do you submit your masterpiece to and why?
This is a question that I get all the time and it’s a really good question, not just because of the writer’s obvious thoughtfulness, but we should be questioning such a thing. It’s important to have a plan when submitting to contests, but it’s just as important to have a little bit of self-awareness. “Really?”, you ask. “We’re getting in to some kind of spiritual, self-help thing now?” Not really, no. I’m not Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra, nor am I going to try to be. I’m referencing self-awareness, though, because you have to have an understanding of where you are in not only your career as a screenwriter, but also how far along the script is in its development cycle."
If you're looking for support, feedback, script evaluations, one-on-one notes and brainstorming, you should consider working with Max and The Story Farm. They offer the most comprehensive consulting services you'll find as no one is as hands-on with you and your scripts as Max is. Go to www.TheStoryFarm.org to learn more, or email Max@thestoryfarm.org to talk with him directly.
Happy writing.
Episode 278
This week on the podcast writer Jim Mercurio comes on to talk about how we can improve our scene writing. He has a number of concise examples to help us elevate our screenplay scenes. And we talk briefly about his latest book, The Craft Of Scene Writing.
As part of Max Timm's ongoing solo podcast, The Craft, this week's recording is all about being the authority over your work, and that includes being knowledgeable about how much your script might cost, why, and how.
Here is a little snippet from the podcast:
"The best answer to this question is pretty simple, though. Do your research. That is basically telling you that the general answer to your question is, yes. You should have an understanding of what kind of budget your film could receive. You should be aware of what exactly in your script is going to catapult it into a higher budget range. There is a larger issue at hand here, however. And that is? You need to be the authority of your work."
If you're looking for support, feedback, script evaluations, one-on-one notes and brainstorming, you should consider working with Max and The Story Farm. They offer the most comprehensive consulting services you'll find as no one is as hands-on with you and your scripts as Max is. Go to www.TheStoryFarm.org to learn more, or email Max@thestoryfarm.org to talk with him directly.
Happy writing.
Captain Marvel made a huge splash not only at the box office, but in the hearts and minds of audiences - and continues to do so. In this episode of Wine Wednesday, sponsored by Stowe Story Labs and Steele Wines, Felicity and Max talk about the effect of film criticism, and the need for much more balance where voice, opinion, and perspective is concerned (using Brie Larson's take and perspective as a strong, positive example).
Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.
This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to info@networkisa.org and we will be happy to help.
You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: max@networkisa.org If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at max@thestoryfarm.org. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at Felicity@networkisa.org. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.
Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.
Episode 277
In this episode of the podcast I talk with Writer/Director Allan Plenderleith about how he broke into interactive media, and how he got his interactive film, The Bunker, produced.