Filmmaking Motivation: Don't DIE with Your Indie Film Inside of You

When I began my filmmaking journey with my first feature film, This is Meg, I had no idea what camera I'd be shooting with. I had access to both RED Cinema and Arri Alexa Cameras for free if I wanted them but I choose against using them on this film for the following reasons:The infrastructure need to make those camera work was complicated and expensive (even if you are getting the camera bodies for free)I wouldn't have the freedom to shoot whenever I had the cast available. (we shot over 6 weeks)The "footprint" of those cameras do not lend themselves to run and gun guerrilla filmmaking.The Post Production workflow would be costly and drives are expensive.Production Insurance would be needed and that's pricey.So I looked around and settled on the BlackMagic Cinema Camera."But Alex you are nutz! You could've shot on a RED or ALEXA and you choose a BlackMagic Cinema Camera?"Yes I did. For a few reasons:I could own the camera, play with it, test and experiment.No production insurance.Small footprint for those "guerrilla filmmaking" moment out in the streets.Amazing post production workflow (I edited and finish This is Meg on the DaVinci Resolve, more on that in the podcast)I could affordably pimp out the rig and customize it for my shooting needs.This is Meg is a small character driven indie film, shooting with RED or ALEXA would've been overkill.Shooting with the BMCCNow I've been a colorist for over 10 years and the image quality of RED or ALEXA is superior to the BlackMagic Cinema Camera but you need to choose the right tool for the project. The BMCC gave me the freedom that the other couldn't and the BlackMagic Cinema Camera is BY FAR the best bang for your buck. Speaking as a colorist and the director of photography of the film, the image quality is stellar. You just need to understand the camera's strengths and weakness.Here are some tips when shooting with the BlackMagic Cinema Camera 2.5k.The camera need a ton of light.Make sure you shoot at 400 ISO unless you are shooting nights. Try to always shot 400 ISO. The BMCC Image will like it better.Record with a minimum 240gig Card.SHOOT RAW, not ProRes 422 HQ!I also decided to shoot with the BlackMagic Cinema Camera because of its amazing RAW Cinema DNG file it produces. I shot with the BlackMagic Cinema Camera 2.5K not the 4k version. The 4k would've been nice but the cost in media and hard drives out weighted the extra pixel. I also knew I'd be mastering in 1080p and blowing up to 2k for the DCP deliverable.You can shoot ProRes 422 HQ but I'd suggest shooting RAW because if you don't light the scene perfectly having that RAW Cinema DNG file can really get you out of a pickle...trust me!I go into great detail on how I put this rig together in this weeks podcast. I share tips, tricks and real world stories of what worked and what didn't. I also talk about the post production workflow I went through editing in DaVinci Resolve.For links to all the gear spoken about goto: https://www.indiefilmhustle.com/blackmagic-cinema-camera/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

7 Sep 201650min

Can you imagine having a front row seat to the start of the filmmaking careers of Will Smith, Bruce Willis and Michael Bay? Well this week's guest Screenwriter Doug Richardson did just that. In 1989 20th Century Fox hired Doug to adapt Walter Wager’s novel 58 Minutes into the first sequel to the hit franchise Die Hard. In 1990, it was released as Die Hard 2, Die Harder.Around the same period, Doug and his one-time writing partner, Rick Jaffa, garnered national attention when their spec screenplay, Hellbent…and Back was the first in Hollywood to sell for a million dollars. Doug has since written and produced feature films including the box office smash Bad Boys (1995), Money Train (1995), and Hostage (2005).In addition to writing for the screen and print, Doug posts a weekly blog on his website, dougrichardson.com, where he shares personal anecdotes and insight from his thirty-year showbiz career. The first collection of his blogs, The Smoking Gun: True Tales from Hollywood’s Screenwriting Trenches was published in 2015.I had a ball chatting with Doug and his stories from the set had been mesmerized. He dropped some major knowledge bombs in this interview. Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Sep 20161h 17min

Gravitas Ventures: Confessions of an Indie Film DistributorIf you have ever given any thought to the process of distributing your feature film, you know it can be nutz! The film distribution landscape has changed, and changed again as I'm writing this article.Finding a good and reputable film distributor in today's world is hard to say the least. So I wanted to bring onto the show a film distributor that has a very good reputation for working with filmmakers, being transparent and honest. Enter Michael Murphy, President of Gravitas Ventures.Indie Film Distribution from the Ground UpGravitas Ventures is a global entertainment distribution operation with the ability to connect filmmakers and producers with consumers through hundreds of media platforms throughout the world.Gravitas was one of the first companies to develop a global network of digital media platforms as partners and now has relationships with many of the key providers of cable video on demand (“VOD”), subscription video on demand, electronic sell through and electronic rental platforms around the world. CEO Nolan Gallagher founded Gravitas Ventures in 2006 after helping shape VOD strategies for the largest North American cable operator (Comcast), and a major studio (Warner Bros). With a simple mission to deliver ideas to the digital market, Nolan recognized that Gravitas could build a bridge between filmmakers and consumer friendly technology offerings.Soon after Gravitas’ inception, Nolan and Gravitas’ President and co-owner Michael Murphy began attending worldwide film festivals in search of thought-provoking features and documentaries while establishing distribution relationships with worldwide cable, satellite, television and internet based partners.While not abandoning its digital roots, Gravitas Ventures is now one of the largest all rights distributors in the world, with the ability to distribute films into theaters and brick and mortar retailers. The company releases over 400 new films annually and is a scalable partner to new media outlets interested in licensing from our library of thousands of titles. As technology advances and new distribution opportunities arise, Gravitas Ventures continues to stay at the forefront, providing exceptional film product to audiences worldwide.So as you can see Michael knows is stuff. I wanted to grill him on what it takes to get an indie film distributed to the world. Enjoy my interview with Michael Murphy from Gravitas Ventures.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

1 Sep 201655min

How to Break-Through Your Fear & Shoot Your First Feature FilmFear, the one thing that stops most indie filmmakers from moving forward and following their dreams. Fear of shooting their fist feature film, writing that screenplay, making that short film or just taking the first few steps towards their goals.Fear has been a strange bedfellow of mine throughout my career. It has slowed and out right stopped my progress. It has taken many years of failures to final realize I have nothing to fear. As they say:"We stopped checking for monsters under the bed when we realized they were inside of us."Breaking through the FearI finally decided to "feel the fear and do it anyways". Directing a full blown feature film always seemed like this huge, monstrous mountain I had to climb. It was like going to hike Mt. Everest when I never even climb a mountain before.Then I figured out that that a feature film didn't have to be a "huge, monstrous mountain" and that many filmmakers started off shooting smaller films before climbing Mt. Everest. Chris Nolan shot The Following before he made Memento and then the The Dark Knight Trilogy.In that spirit I ventured off into uncharted territory with the making of my first feature film This is Meg. Below is the story on how I got that film started.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEThis is MegIFH 075: What Does It Really Take to Make in Hollywood with Sebastian TwardoszSebastian Twardosz - EmailBill and Ted's Excellent AdventureSteven Spielberg's 1941Robert Rodriguez Mexico TrilogyRebel without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became a Hollywood PlayerSPONCERSVideoBlocks.com - (IFH Discount SAVE $50)Werner Herzog Master ClassAaron Sorkin Master ClassFreeFilmBook.com (Download Your FREE Filmmaking Audio Book)KILLER RESOURCES!!!INDIE FILM SYNDICATE FilmBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

30 Aug 201625min

From Dusk Till Dawn to Nickelodeon with Director Joe MenendezThis week on the show we have the very talented director Joe Menendez. Joe is an award-winning filmmaker of both a successful feature film director and a prolific television director/producer as well -- having moved seamlessly between both mediums his entire career. Joe Menendez has directed over 95 hours of television (both single and multi-camera), written a handful of teleplays, produced several TV series and films, and has directed eight feature films and TV movies so far. He is a multi-genre veteran of drama, action, comedy, family entertainment, horror and rom-com. His numerous and varied credits show that he is a skilled craftsman and an accomplished, versatile storyteller.For this reason I had to have him on the show. Joe Menendez is currently in post-production on Nickelodeon's  LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE, an action-adventure TV movie he directed for Nickelodeon, based on the popular game show of the same name, from the 1990s.His last feature, the action/comedy, LADRONES (THIEVES), was released by Pantelion Films October 9th, 2015, and received a CinemaScore of "A". LADRONES is the sequel to his 2007 feature film LADRON QUE ROBA A LADRON (TO ROB A THIEF), which opened at the time to a record-grossing opening weekend at the box-office for a Spanish-language film in the U.S.Joe Menendez has directed multiple episodes of the one-hour drama FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: The Series for Robert Rodriguez and his El Rey Network, multiples of the new Amazon Series JUST ADD MAGIC and the Prequel Series plus the "uncensored" episodes for the 2nd season of HULU's hit drama series EAST LOS HIGH.I also wanted to have him on the show to discuss what's it like working with a filmmaking legend like Robert Rodriguez. He did not disappoint. His stories are AMAZING! Get ready and enjoy my conversation with Joe Menendez.LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEJoe Menendez - Official SiteJoe Menendez - IMDBFrom Dusk Till Dawn: The SeriesLegends of the Hidden TempleLadronesSPONCERSVideoBlocks.com - (IFH Discount SAVE $50)Werner Herzog Master ClassAaron Sorkin Master ClassFreeFilmBook.com (Download Your FREE Filmmaking Audio Book)KILLER RESOURCES!!!INDIE FILM SYNDICATE Filmmaking CommunityIFH's Online Film SchoolSix 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.

25 Aug 20161h 33min

How to Brand, Market and Build an Audience Using Social Media & Marketing HustleSo I had the plesure of speaking at the HollyShorts! Film Festival at a "fireside chat" with my brotha from another mutha RB Blotto from Stage32.com. We sat down and discussed How to Brand, Market and Build an Audience Using Social Media & Marketing Hustle. I had a ball and as promised I recorded the evening for those of you who couldn't make it. Check it out below:You’ve got an amazing script, now what? The first step is to identify your audience and create a brand for yourself that you can leverage when crowdfunding or selling your film. Once your film is done, the next step is marketing and promotion. Join us for a fireside chat with Writer/Director and Indie Film Hustle founder, Alex Ferrari, and RB Blotto, Stage32.com founder, as they offer best practices on building an audience, creating a brand, marketing yourself and your film, and finally, getting the word out via social media, which is crucial to your success.Sit back and enjoy this knowledge bomb filled episode. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

17 Aug 20161h 55min

What is this guy talking about? No money = better filmmaker? He must be nuts. We'll I'll have to disagree with you. As I  am going through my adventure on the making of my first feature film THIS IS MEG, I have discovered that is the truth.  Having less resources has made me a better filmmaker. When you have no money and limited resources you discover new and creative ways to solve problems. The creative ways end up on the screen and that is where innovation comes from. Doing something people say is nuts. Credit: QuoteAddicts"No one can stop you from doing exactly what you want to do. If you can accept that the cavalry won't come, and if you can be the cavalry, it gives you a chance to be happy." - Mark DuplassWhen I announced I was going to direct This is Meg with a micro budget I can't tell you how many people said I was nuts. BTW, I love it when people do that, it lights my fire. I still think most of the cast and crew still don't know how we're going to pull this off. In this podcast I go over the techinques I used to not only get the ball rolling but also get the film shot and edited. Enjoy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

15 Aug 201631min

This podcast episode comes straight from the heart. Diversity in the film industry is a problem. The numbers do not lie.Original Source: Fusion.netOriginal Source: GirlTalkHQ.comThe film business needs to have many points of views and not just a select few. The more points of views you have, the better the industry as a how will be. Filmmakers can not use their gender or race as an excuse for "not making it". The diversity problem in Hollywood is SLOWLY getting better. Ava DuVernay, the director of Selma, has become the first African-American Female director to helm a major studio film with a $100 million dollar budget. (Source: Business Insider)Original Source: The Hollywood Reporter and The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American StudiesTheir are many examples of the industry changing. Robert Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro, Tyler Perry, Spike Lee, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Ava DuVernay, Gale Anne Hurd, Kathryn Bigelow, Sofia Coppola, and many more have cracked the diversity wall. Original Source: FusionNow that being said, I'm not saying it has been easy for the filmmakers I've listed. It was DAMN HARD! Things are changing but very slowly. I've never allowed being latino stop me from creating my own opportunities. Indie Filmmakers have to create their own opportunities and stop waiting around for "Hollywood" to give it to them. I hope this episode inspires filmmakers to go out and make it happen...no matter what! Keep hustlin' my friends!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

4 Aug 201617min