IFH 085: Why You Don't Need a Screenplay to Make an Amazing Film

IFH 085: Why You Don't Need a Screenplay to Make an Amazing Film

Why You Don't Need a Screenplay to Make an Amazing Film


As indie filmmakers we throw a lot of obstacles on our own path to creating a feature or short film. No obstacle is larger then the almighty screenplay. How many screenwriters and filmmakers do you know that have been working on the movie script for 3, 5, or 7 years? They keep chipping at it in hopes of cracking that nut or it gives them an excuse for not actually making a feature film.
I was no different. One of the biggest things that slowed, if not stopped my filmmaking journey was "the screenplay." I decided to see if there was a different way to approach making a movie with my first feature film This is Meg.
In doing my research I came to realize that in the last few years, some of my favorite films happen to be (almost) entirely improvised. No structured screenplay. Some were huge tent pole studio movies, Oscar winners (Ironically for best screenplay) and small indie films. It certainly seemed to be a more prolific style among independent filmmakers and I find that it can mean success when they cast the right actors. Especially in the "Mumblecore" and "Dogma 95" indie film movements.
Iron Man had no screenplay?
My favorite "lack of screenplay" story was the Marvel Studios tent-pole Iron Man. You heard me correctly. The film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that show the word what a great leading Robert Downey Jr could be. It remains one of the most enjoyable adaptations of a Marvel comic book to date.


via Marvel Studios

Take a listen to what Jeff Bridges revealed in a recent interview.

"They had no script, man! They had an outline. We would show up for big scenes every day and we wouldn't know what we were going to say. We would have to go into our trailer and work on this scene and call up writers on the phone, 'You got any ideas?' Meanwhile the crew is tapping their foot on the stage waiting for us to come on."

Although a story and structure was firmly in place, the dialogue wasn't - leading to much improvisation on set, which accounts for the film's energetic, sparky atmosphere.

"I said, ‘Oh, what we're doing here, we're making a $200 million student film. We're all just fuckin' around! We're playin'. Oh, great!. That took all the pressure off. Oh, just jam, man, just play. And it turned out great!" Bridges recalled.

Here is a list of film I mention and discuss in detail in the podcast:

John Cassavetes - Shadows
Mike Leigh - Vera Drake
David O. Russell - American Hustle
Lynn Shelton - Your Sister's Sister
Jon Favreau - Iron Man
Derek Cianfrance -

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Episoder(978)

IFH 017: Indie Film Distribution on VOD with Linda Nelson

IFH 017: Indie Film Distribution on VOD with Linda Nelson

The world of film distribution is filled with unknown land mines. Even more mysterious is how an indie filmmaker can get their film placed on these elusive VOD or Video on Demand platforms?That's where this episode comes in, we have video on demand expert Linda Nelson from Indie Film Rights, the film distribution arm of Nelson Madison Films. Linda walks us through the maze of VOD and film distribution options and explains what it takes to get your film placed in the potentially very lucrative platforms.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcasBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

22 Okt 20151h 12min

IFH 016: Getting Attention from Influencers – My Roger Ebert Story

IFH 016: Getting Attention from Influencers – My Roger Ebert Story

I always get asked by indie filmmakers:“How do I get attention for my indie film?”This is one of the major challenges facing indie filmmakers/entrepreneurs in today’s noisy independent film landscape. One fast way is to get an “influencer” to focus a little light onto you or your project.Now this is much easier said than done. When I promote my projects I approach every online indie film influencer I can.This includes indie film sites, niche sites (around your subject matter), industry news outlets, film magazines, movie fan websites, film festivals, podcasters, conventions, and movie reviewers.In this podcast I tell the story of how the legendary film critic Roger Ebert was so amazingly kind to a young filmmaker.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

20 Okt 201511min

IFH 015: Selling Your Film at the American Film Market with Ben Yennie

IFH 015: Selling Your Film at the American Film Market with Ben Yennie

If you have ever looked into selling your film at a film market then you more than likely have heard of the North America's largest film market, AFM or the American Film Market.The American Film Market is a labyrinth of crazy characters, thieves, wannabes, filmmakers hustling their latest film, distributors, industry professionals and of course buyers and sellers from around the globe.My guest this week is Ben Yennie who has written the only real guide to this carnival called "The Guerilla Rep: American Film Market Distribution Success on No Budget." You should not go to the American Film Market or any film market for that matter without reading this book.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

15 Okt 20151h 6min

IFH 014: Post Production Workflow - Understand it or DIE!

IFH 014: Post Production Workflow - Understand it or DIE!

I know I'm being a bit dramatic when I say "Understand Post Production Workflow or DIE!" but I've seen and been involved with sooooooo many independent films that just die in post production because of one simple thing, they didn't understand post production workflow.Post Production Workflow is not a black art that only a few understand, granted it is getting more and more complicated these days but you as a indie filmmaker can still understand the basics.Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

12 Okt 201516min

IFH 013: Inside the Edit with Paddy Bird

IFH 013: Inside the Edit with Paddy Bird

I've been an editor now for over twenty years. When I was starting out I looked everywhere for some course, book, video, or anything that could teach me the black art of creative editing. There are many courses design to teach you AVID, Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro software but nothing on the creative process.One day I was surfing the net and found this site called "Inside the Edit." The site was boasting the it was the world's first "creative editing course," which I found very hard to believe. I took the course for a test ride and OH MY GOD, they did it, they cracked the code.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEInside the Edit - 10% OFF email: IFHDISCOUNT@insidetheedit.comInside the EditBlackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Software for Mac/Win/LinuxAdobe Premiere Pro CCFinal Cut Pro XFreeFilmBook.com (Your FREE Audio Book)Six Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

8 Okt 20151h 30min

IFH 012: How to Turn Your Independent Film into a Business

IFH 012: How to Turn Your Independent Film into a Business

How to Turn Your Independent Film into a Money Making BusinessSo many independent film creators just want to think of themselves as artists. That's fine but it's called show business for a reason. If you don't understand the business you won't be able to create the show.In this episode I share with you what it takes to change your mindset and start thinking of your independent film not just as a precious piece of art but to also think of it as a product that needs to do well in the marketplace in order for you as the filmmaker to continue putting on that show!LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEFreeFilmBook.com (Your FREE Audio Book)Six Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Action Items:Subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes,  Stitcher or via RSS.If you like this show take a listen to Dov Simens Interview:America's Greatest and Quentin's Tarantino's Film TeacherEnjoyed this blog post? Please share it in your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, email etc) by using social media buttons at the side or bottom of the blog. Or post to your blog and anywhere else you feel it would be a good fit. Thanks.I welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the comments section below...Get Social with Indie Film Hustle:Facebook: Indie Film HustleTwitter: @indiefilmhustle Instagram: @ifilmhustleYouTube: Indie Film Hustle TVPodcast: IFH PodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Okt 201512min

IFH 011: Suzanne Lyons Pt 2: How to Produce Your First Feature Film

IFH 011: Suzanne Lyons Pt 2: How to Produce Your First Feature Film

Here's Part Two of my interview with Suzanne Lyons. This week on the show I'm excited to have uber independent film producer Suzanne Lyons. She has been living in the indie film space for over twenty years. Working on SAG Ultra Low Budgets to over $15,000,000 budgets she has seen it all.Suzanne Lyons takes you by the hand and walks you through what it takes to produce your first feature film. She goes over the pitfalls, legal concerns, deliverables, selling to foreign countries and most importantly of all how she gets her financing for her feature films.She laid out such amazing information that I had to break the episode up into two parts. I spoke at one of her famous indie film producing workshop and learned a ton while I was there. Suzanne Lyons also wrote an amazing book called Indie Film Producing: The Craft of Low Budget Filmmaking. I suggest you all pick it up. It's better than film school!LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Suzanne Lyons IMDBSuzanne Lyons Production CompanyIndie Film Producing: The Craft of Low Budget FilmmakingFreeFilmBook.com (Your FREE Audio Book)Six Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

29 Sep 201551min

IFH 010: Suzanne Lyons Pt 1: How to Produce Your First Feature Film

IFH 010: Suzanne Lyons Pt 1: How to Produce Your First Feature Film

This week on the show I'm excited to have uber independent film producer Suzanne Lyons. She has been living in the indie film space for over twenty years. Working on SAG Ultra Low Budgets to over $15,000,000 budgets she has seen it all.Suzanne Lyons takes you by the hand and walks you through what it takes to produce your first feature film. She goes over the pitfalls, legal concerns, deliverables, selling to foreign countries and most importantly of all how she gets her financing for her feature films.She laid out such amazing information that I had to break the episode up into two parts. I spoke at one of her famous indie film producing workshop and learned a ton while I was there. Suzanne Lyons also wrote an amazing book called Indie Film Producing: The Craft of Low Budget Filmmaking. I suggest you all pick it up. It's better than film school!LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Suzanne Lyons IMDBSuzanne Lyons Production CompanyIndie Film Producing: The Craft of Low Budget FilmmakingFreeFilmBook.com (Your FREE Audio Book)Six Secrets to get into Film Festivals for FREE!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

29 Sep 201553min

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