Leilah Namwezi’s Post

I wrote the first ever @Mavins Entertainment short film. Some things I learnt from this👇🏽 1. I didn’t know who the client was at first, and that didn’t make me less professional or accessible. Great things can begin from small places. 2. In that time, I had been struggling with writing scripts because of one bad review I had gotten. I took this as a challenge and to see the very positive reviews on the storytelling, makes me really glad. Never stop because you failed once; fail and fail again until you succeed. 3. Stop hiding. For those who know me, I like to retreat and hide. If not for my network, I may have missed this opportunity. You can be private and still be known for what you do. Nobody lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. 4. Grow your network. Volunteer. Collaborate. While I thank God for the opportunity to have done this, I recognize the networks I had was what got me here. People I did not expect to, spoke about me in rooms I had not entered into. 5. Believe in yourself. Do not be weighed down by imposter syndrome. If you got here, it is because every step you had taken led you here. I hope these five lessons spoke to you🤗. At the moment, while I look forward to more opportunities in the film industry, I am working on my first feature length film. Cinema standard, it promises to be beautiful and exciting. Thank you for reading. I hope to see more of you! #filmindustry #scriptwriter #creative

Dear writers and filmmakers, If you are too scared to call out toxic behavior in your superiors, fearing that you will ruin your relationship with important people, this one incident that I’m about to tell you might change your entire outlook on the film industry. I was once caught in an argument between a director and a producer at a production house where I was freelancing. I’m not going to get into who was right, but the argument escalated to the point where they both decided to call off their collaboration. The producer arrogantly taunted the director: “We don’t need you; there are many good directors in this industry.” The director retorted, “I don’t need you either; there are also many good producers in this industry.” It’s so true! I’ve also had my fair share of ugly collaborations that never worked out (this includes some reputed names too). I used to fear my reputation getting tarnished in the industry. I believed I would never get any work in the future, but that never turned out to be true. I somehow met people along the way who were more like-minded and I kept getting more gigs. Of course, it’s painful to call out your superiors and face the repercussions of it. But why do we have to fear a collaboration not working out when it’s totally normal? This is the ugly part of growth that people fear but is much needed. You can always find your tribe, so don’t be afraid to let go of a bad collaboration. It saves time.

"If I had known the script was this good, I would have read it earlier." A casting director made that joke to me a few years ago about The Sleepless. And it IS funny, because it's so hard to know when a script is worth your time. There are just so many out there being pitched. Now that I'm producing more, I understand this even more clearly. But can we really say: "Hey. This is actually good" to someone? I've done it recently. I'm also pointing to the ratings and reviews of my films on IMDb and elsewhere. So much is out of our control in the film business, and in business in general. But the quality of our work is something we can greatly influence. There's two ways to go about it, that I've found: 1) Grind away at a script or a film until it's brilliant 2) Stay the course until brilliance comes on its own I didn't write many drafts of The Sleepless. It's not a perfect film, but it has been pretty well-received. Something about it just works, for the people it's meant for, especially. That doesn't happen without the 100+ drafts of all the other screenplays that came before it. Or the many other productions I've directed and produced, both in film and as a video marketer. Confession... When I do read scripts that are sent to me, they don't often impress me. (Sorry, but it's true). You have to get REALLY obsessed to stand out, IMO. There are healthy and unhealthy ways of doing that. I've tried both, and am trying to be healthier. But, yeah, that would be my single biggest piece of advice to aspiring or growth-minded writers, directors, and producers. Write the living hell out of that script, or find someone who can. Don't quit until it glows. Things can move pretty quickly once you've got that. PS: I am available for writing assignments, doctoring, and consultations on how to get your movie made. I also have a shiny rom-com ready to go at $3-6M. Tell Netflix. #indiefilm #independentfilm #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmproducer #filmdirector #startupfilmmaker #creators #creatoreconomy

Making a film for the first time can be overwhelming. Especially when you sit and think about: ~ Getting a good story; ~ Getting the right screenwriter who will pen your story to perfection; ~ Getting the right crew that understands the vision and is willing to team up with you to bring it to life; ~ Getting the right cast that will interpret the role perfectly; ~ Securing funds; ~ Getting the right location, equipment, and many more. Honestly, imagining all this alone is daunting. But here is one thing I always tell my clients when they complain to me. TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME. Start with getting the right story. That one story that you are excited to tell and you strongly believe that your target audience would easily relate with. Then proceed to engage a suitable screenwriter for it. Trust me, a compelling story that is scripted well would have little or no issue attracting the right talents and investors. Then take your time to create a strategic and convincing pitch for your shortlisted investors. Before you know it, what seems like an insurmountable mountain will become a piece of cake that can be chewed bit by bit. Trust me, the fear is in the overthinking. Take one step this week and another next week and before you know it, you will be announcing your release date. Try it, it works like magic. Always remember, your favorite film lawyer is rooting for you💪💪 Quick question, how did you get over the overwhelm when you made your first film? Share your experience with us in the comments. PS: Inspire at least one filmmaker today by sharing this post. _ _ _ _ _ Hi, my name is Omotayo, I help scriptwriters and filmmakers like you protect and monetize their content and brand to enable them create generational wealth. Follow me Omotayo Queen Inakoju to get free tips on how to build a profitable and legally protected film business. #filmmaker #filmproduction #scriptwriter #filmlawyer #nollywood

Back in 2019, directing an ad seemed like a far-off dream. Fast forward to 2024, and I found myself directing a full-fledged ad film for a Holi campaign! 🌈📺 The story was all about a housewife juggling the chaos of Holi preparations, only for her husband to step up and handle the groceries and other tasks. Check it out here > https://lnkd.in/d5fdfqas It was a fun, heartwarming project, but it also highlighted something significant: directing ads is one of the hardest art forms out there. Here’s why: You’ve got writers, art directors, spot boys, actors, and many more creatives all contributing their pieces to the puzzle. Aligning all these different perspectives and talents is no small feat. It’s not just about bringing a vision to life; it’s about making sure everyone is in harmony, even if their views or methods differ. And what did directing my first film taught me? : >> Stay Calm: When everything is buzzing around you, losing your cool can make the situation worse. Staying calm helps you think clearly and make better decisions. >> Keep an Open Mind: There are so many creative minds involved, and each has valuable input. Being open to new ideas can lead to incredible results. >> Let the Magic Happen: Sometimes, you just have to let things flow and see where the creativity takes you. It’s about balancing structure with spontaneity. >> Be Thoroughly Prepared: Do your homework and anticipate possible challenges. Being prepared for any scenario helps you navigate unexpected situations smoothly. Working on this #adfilm was like living through a mini-movie of its own.  It taught me that patience, flexibility, and preparation are key to making the magic happen. Have you ever directed a short film or documentary or an Ad-film?   What are the challenges you faced in the beginning? Share in the comments.  ____________________________________ 🫂 Follow Amandeep for more such content! PS - Looking for someone to Direct an Ad film for you that the audience could relate and love to share around? 🔵  Book 1:1 call with me to get started! (Link in the bio!) #CEO #Founder #Agency #Storyteller #writer #Startup #Director

Filmmakers: there’s a magic word that gets actors to do whatever you want. It’s not “please”.   It’s “choices”.   🪄The magic of filmmaking, whatever the kind, lives in authentic emotional moments, and actors are making choices with how they are interpret the script, to bring that reality to your film.   👉 If there isn’t the emotional authenticity, weight, drama, or comedy you’re imagining... It’s on you as the director to step in and ask for stronger choices.   The best way to do this is by communicating what you’re looking for in the scene: what the subtext is, the baggage the characters are bringing to the interaction, and what they want out of it.   Then the actor needs to re-interpret how to be authentic in this new reality you’ve shared. Probably, they need to make a stronger choice… And yes, you can ask for that. 
The actor needs to go deeper into the well of their experiences and emotions and find the real, raw point of connection to the scene they are in.   If you’re directing, don’t act it out and get them to copy you. You don’t want someone imitating you, you want honest, authentic emotion.   …Because ‘acting’ isn’t about acting. It’s actually about being real.   If for some reason you absolutely have to give a ‘line read’ to communicate your vision, then also give the actor permission to interpret that how they want.   Pros won’t try to copy you anyway, even if you ask them to… They’ll just try to understand what you want and then make it real for themselves. But don’t take that chance.   👉 The magic of filmmaking, whatever the kind, lives in authentic emotional moments.
 I repeat: AUTHENTIC emotional moments. Help your actors find that reality, And bring magic to your film. #creativity #storytelling #filmmaking #filmmaker #creative #director #directing #producing #production #videoproduction #commercialproduction #acting #actors #cinematography #brandvideo #writing #screenwriting #scriptwriting #contentcreation #contentmarketing #contentproduction #commercialfilm #tv

One of the reasons why films don’t turn out great is because, (especially in advertising), shoots happen mechanically. A huge storyboard is stuck in the corner, and everyone on the set simply tries to replicate the frame. And it’s natural because generally there’s no next day of the shoot. What it does is, it tends to eliminate every organic possibility that a live set brings. Moreover, scripts are treated like gospel, and the creators tend to think that they have already figured the whole thing out. And in such a practice, one of the biggest factors is ignored: that a lot of people are freshly approaching your process, especially actors. Trained actors. And I have a feeling that every actor is, somewhere, a writer. Every actor has the ability to improve the script or alleviate its weak points with minute interactions. One trick to accessing their reservoir of ideas is to observe them closely without letting them know. Sending assistants to spend time around them when they rehearse the script. Because that’s where they tend to connect the dots between the pages in their hands and the lives they live. Once you know where the actor is coming from, what bank of emotions that individual is drawing from, the process of directing becomes easier and more creative. After that, it’s about finding a way to let the actor feel what’s written on your paper. The performance they deliver is twice as natural and intriguing as a mere recitation of lines written on the paper. #FilmmakingInsights #OrganicFilmmaking #ScriptEnhancement #ActorAsWriter #CreativeCollaboration #ObservationalDirecting #EmotionalPerformance #AuthenticFilmmaking #ActorInsights #BeyondTheStoryboard

There's no one killer first line for film pitches. However, going back to how the project all started can help you to capture their attention and structure the beginning of your film pitch in English. What are your suggestions for how start film pitches? 😊

Week 3: Collaboration & Networking Day 15: Talk about the importance of collaboration in film production. You cannot successfully and effectively make a movie without collaboration. Collaboration in film production is essential to creating a cohesive and impactful final product. Filmmaking involves numerous roles, from directors and screenwriters to cinematographers and editors, each contributing their expertise to bring a shared vision to life. Effective collaboration ensures that the artistic and technical elements of a film harmonise, enabling a seamless storytelling experience. By working together, team members can tackle challenges creatively and refine their work, leading to innovative solutions and a higher quality film. Collaboration fosters a dynamic and supportive environment where diverse perspectives can enhance the storytelling process. As different individuals bring unique skills and viewpoints, the collective input enriches the narrative and visual style of the film. This synergy not only boosts creativity but also ensures that the final product resonates with a broader audience. In essence, the collaborative nature of film production underscores the importance of teamwork in achieving a unified and compelling cinematic experience. Thanks for reading. See you on Day 16! 🥂 #oziomaogbaji #storytelling #screenwriter #producer #nigerianscreenwriter #nigerianfilmmaker #africanscreenwriter #africanfilmmaker #womeninfilm