All About Indie Filmmaking: A Filmmaker's New Year's Resolution

Thursday, January 1, 2009

A Filmmaker's New Year's Resolution

The new year is a great time to evaluate who you are as a filmmaker and the projects you want to make. What has happened in the past year to help define who are you? Do your projects reflect this new you?

Take time to weed out those projects that are distracting you from being the filmmaker you want to be. Maybe the development process is too draining on one or the topic is no longer timely or the people attached bring you down rather than up. Whatever the reason, let go of these projects and focus on the ones that really excite you and have promise.

It can be difficult to let go. Maybe you have put a lot of time and resources into a project and you don't want to just walk away. In that case, you need to decide if putting more precious time and resources into the project is the right thing. Or is it better for you and the project to take the loss and focus on putting your energy and resources toward other projects that have a better shot at getting made. Everything we do is a part of a learning process in making us better filmmakers. And sometimes being better means making tough decisions, like letting go and moving on. So let's all resolve to be better this year!

2 comments:

Sabina E. said...: I hope you have a great new year. I just discovered your blog a few days ago (on Women and Hollywood) and I think you give a lot of great advice.

Keep well,

Sabina; January 2, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Jane Kelly Kosek said...: Thanks Sabina! I appreciate the support. I figure it's about time to share what I have and continue to learn. Are you a filmmaker?

Jane; January 2, 2009 at 9:57 PM

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Filmmaking Terms

Abby Singer - The second to last set up of the last shot of the day.
Adaptation - A screenplay based on a written work, such as book or short story.
Attachment - Verbal or written agreement attaching talent to a film project.
Day Out of Days - Calendar detailing the days each actor will work on the film.
DDACS - Detailed Dialogue Action Continuity Script
Deal Memo - Short form deal between film production and cast or crew.
Development - The period in which the screenplay is finalized for pre-production and other key elements, like financing, cast, and crew, may be attached.
Digital Intermediate - The process of digitizing a 35mm or 16mm film print, resulting in a digital version of the film that can be corrected and from which a final output to film or tape is made.
HD - High Definition; a higher resolution than standard definition.
High or Low Hat - A camera mount that allows for filming low angles.
Magazine - Lightproof film container that attaches to the camera and holds both exposed and unexposed film.
Martini Shot - Final set up of the last shot of the day.
One Liner Schedule - Shooting schedule condensed with each day's schedule on one line.
Pay or Play Offer - An offer from the producer to talent stating that the talent will either be paid or played (required to perform) by a certain date.
Pick Ups - New shots to be filmed that were not part of the original shot list.
Post Production - The period following principal photography in which the film or TV episode is completed.
Pre-Production - Often referred to as Pre-Pro; the preparation period prior to principal photography.
Principal Photography - The primary period of shooting the film or TV episode.
Production Draft - The version of the script that is used during film production.
Reshoot - A period of filming during which shots of the movie or TV show are re-filmed.
Screenplay - A script for a movie or TV show.
Script Breakdown - Detailed list of items and people needed for each scene in the script, from which a schedule and budget are made.
Shooting Schedule - Detailed schedule of principal photography, including lists of items needed from each department.
Shot List - List of shots to be filmed during principal photography.