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 -

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

Episoder(980)

IFH 404: How to Squeeze Money Out of Your Indie Film with Patrick Solomon

IFH 404: How to Squeeze Money Out of Your Indie Film with Patrick Solomon

Today on the show we have filmmaker and Filmtrepreneur Patrick Solomon. Patrick is the mastermind behind the celebrated film Finding Joe.Finding Joe is an exploration of famed Mythologist Joseph Campbell's studies and their continuing impact on our culture. Through interviews with visionaries from a variety of fields interwoven with enactments of classic tales by a sweet and motley group of kids, the film navigates the stages of what Campbell dubbed The Hero's Journey: the challenges, the fears, the dragons, the battles, and the return home as a changed person."WE MUST BE WILLING TO GET RID OF THE LIFE WE'VE PLANNED SO AS TO HAVE THE LIFE THAT IS WAITING FOR US" - JOSEPH CAMPBELLRooted in deeply personal accounts and timeless stories, Finding Joe shows how Campbell's work is relevant and essential in today's world and how it provides a narrative for how to live a fully realized life-or as Campbell would simply state, how to "follow your bliss".I saw Finding Joe years ago and it just blew me away. This is why I was so excited to include the film in the IFHTV Streaming Service. Patrick and I sit down and discuss his film, his distribution journey, and how he used the Filmtrepreneur method to squeeze every drop of revenue out of the film. Enjoy my conversation with Patrick Solomon. Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (http://www.ifhpodcastnetwork.com)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

28 Aug 202059min

MOTIVATION: How to DEFEAT the Filmmaker's Ego

MOTIVATION: How to DEFEAT the Filmmaker's Ego

We all need a kick in the butt sometimes on our filmmaking or screenwriting journey. This show will do just that. Never stop chasing that filmmaking dream. Keep on hustling.Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (ifhpodcastnetwork.com)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

25 Aug 20202min

IFH 403: Making Money & Cracking the Amazon Code for Self Distribution with Ismael Gomez

IFH 403: Making Money & Cracking the Amazon Code for Self Distribution with Ismael Gomez

Today on the show we have a filmmaker that was able to crack the Amazon code and actually make money self-distributing his low-budget film on the platform. His name is Ismael Gomez.Ismael Gomez is a Cuban-American filmmaker. In 2009, he received an Artist Fellowship grant to pursue his B.A in Film Production. After completing his studies, he began to work as lead editor on several motion pictures and commercials for theatrical and TV release. Some of his projects have screened at Cannes, Starz Denver, Tribeca, and Miami International film festivals.His film is Death of a Fool. A teenager and his dying grandfather conduct afterlife investigations in Miami when a mysterious man hires them to find the secret to immortality.Ismael was able to generate close to $75,000 in rentals and sales on Amazon using about $9000 in Facebook Ads. In this conversation, I dig in deep on how he did this, his techniques, and how he used the Filmtrepreneur Method to create additional revenue outside of TVOD.Enjoy my conversation with Ismael Gomez. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

21 Aug 20201h 4min

MOTIVATION: Do You Believe in Yourself

MOTIVATION: Do You Believe in Yourself

We all need a kick in the butt sometimes on our filmmaking or screenwriting journey. This show will do just that. Never stop chasing that filmmaking dream. Keep on hustling.Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (ifhpodcastnetwork.com)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

18 Aug 20203min

IFH 402: Debunking Myths & the Future of Indie Film with Emily Best

IFH 402: Debunking Myths & the Future of Indie Film with Emily Best

Today on the show we have returning champion Emily Best. Emily is the founder and CEO of the crowdfunding platform Seed&Spark, which she started with a group of independent creators after the challenges and lessons of producing my first feature film, Like the Water. "Storytelling can change the world – when everyone can see themselves reflected in the stories we share, we empower all people to take part in shaping how we see our past, our present and our future." - Emily BestI wanted to have her back on the show to talk about the state of indie film and how filmmakers can survive and thrive in the future. I recorded this interview before COVID-19, just around the time TUGG went under.We have a spirited conversation about the future and how the mindset of filmmakers needs to change to make it in the future. Enjoy my conversation with Emily Best. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

14 Aug 20201h 3min

MOTIVATION: How to Be an Unstoppable Filmmaking Force

MOTIVATION: How to Be an Unstoppable Filmmaking Force

We all need a kick in the butt sometimes on our filmmaking or screenwriting journey. This show will do just that. Never stop chasing that filmmaking dream. Keep on hustling.Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (ifhpodcastnetwork.com)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

11 Aug 20202min

IFH 401: How to Shoot a Feature Film in Two Days with Grant Pichla

IFH 401: How to Shoot a Feature Film in Two Days with Grant Pichla

Today on the show we have director Grant Pichla who shot the time travel feature film Making Time in two days. Making Time's 110 pages were shot in just two crazy, fast-paced days, separated by 7 months and a house renovation.After traveling back in time, a divorced workaholic must repeat his past footsteps in order to return to an unaltered present but struggles when it means re-proposing to his ex-wife. How'd they shot​ a full movie in 2 days? This documentary series explains it all.This remarkable documentary is available on Indie Film Hustle TV. Grant and I discuss the insanity of shooting a film in two days, how he came up with this crazy idea, and what it took to put this beast together. Enjoy my conversation with Grant Pichla. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

7 Aug 20201h 2min

MOTIVATION: The Power of Your Mindset

MOTIVATION: The Power of Your Mindset

We all need a kick in the butt sometimes on our filmmaking or screenwriting journey. This show will do just that. Never stop chasing that filmmaking dream. Keep on hustling.Proud Member of the IFH Podcast Network (ifhpodcastnetwork.com)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

4 Aug 20202min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
merry-quizmas
foreldreradet
treningspodden
dypdykk
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-kull
fryktlos
sinnsyn
rss-sarbar-med-lotte-erik
hverdagspsyken
rss-mind-body-podden
gravid-uke-for-uke
lederskap-nhhs-podkast-om-ledelse
rss-kunsten-a-leve
uroskolen
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid