Nick Swerdlow’s Post

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

"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

Envision your life as a #blockbuster #film, and you're the #mastermind behind it! What role do you play? Whether you are naturally a #producer, #director, #screenwriter, or the show's #star, each role plays a vital part in the world of film and the grand #production of #life.   Some people can successfully play all parts, known as Multi-Hyphenates. But they are rare. The rest of us need the support of our family, friends, and community. This is where the beauty of others comes in—to support, enhance, and co-create our lives. By acknowledging our strengths and the strengths of others, we can produce a rich life story interwoven with #diverse perspectives and deep #connection. Our #workshop is designed to help you think about your life through the lens of filmmaking. Whether you identify with one role or a combination of many, remember that every great film relies on collaboration. Your story is yours to create, but it doesn’t have to be a solo production. This is good for #leaders, #directors, #teams, #community groups, and #organizations.   Join Us! Let’s craft #stories worth telling (and living) together! https://lnkd.in/gK76Fj4w

What is Kishotenketsu? https://ift.tt/cN5SfLe As No Film School's resident screenwriter, I am always looking for new ways to approach a story. Recently, I was scanning Reddit and ran into this post on Kishotenketsu. Truth be told, I had no idea what this word meant, so I was pleased to see the post had a video that came with it to explain the idea. Today, I want to bring that explanation to you. We'll go over Kishotenketsu, get its definition, show its breakdown, and talk about how you can be inspired by it. Sound good? Let's dive in. Kishoutenketsu Definition After some intense Googling, I learned that Kishōtenketsu (起承転結) is a four-part story structure widely used in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese storytelling. It's widely recognized as "writing without conflict". And it's very different than what we do in the west. The Four Acts Inside Kishōtenketsu  Kishōtenketsu has four parts that get used to outline a story. They are: Ki (起): Intro: Sets the scene, introduces the characters, and establishes the setting. Shō (承): Development: As events unfold within the plot. The characters and setting are developed in more detail. And we understand them more. Ten (転): Twist: A surprising turn of events happens that can shift perspective or give an unexpected revelation. Ketsu (結): Conclusion: The story ends in a way that is also a twist, or a turn that gives a new perspective or something overarching to wonder about. How Is this Different Than What Western Writers Do?  So, in Western writing, we're much more interested in conflict, obstacles, and conclusions. We usually try to tell stories about people dealing with things and tackling large goals. Kishōtenketsu narratives don't necessarily revolve around a central conflict that needs to be resolved. They create a specific mood or exploring themes through implication rather than direct confrontation. Western endings are usually pretty clear cut as well. We sort of know how it ends and then walk away with something to think about. But in Kishōtenketsu, the ending is more open. There's no clear resolution, only more questions about what happened and what we watched. Kishōtenketsu In Film and TV In the video I posted above, the author shows how Kishōtenketsu plays out in the movie Parasite. I thought that was an excellent example. In that movie, we set the scene of this poor family trying to social climb. and the deeper we get into the story, the more we understand their circumstances and how they need the rich people to survive. Then we get our twist, as we learn our family are not the first to do this, and there's someone living in the rich family's basement. At the end, we don't have a clear resolution. We just have violence and death, and the world continues onward. There are probably other examples you can think about which follow this structure. I think Spike Jonze's Her has something similar, where we jsut steep in the world and characters, with the...

Why post this particular article? It was the journey and deep-bench collaboration that made this movie soar, as described in the below attached, "they locked arms" and went for it. Read about the journey and keep doing your work! #filmmakers #independentfilm #screenplays #filmdirectors #screenwriters #filmdetermination #strangedarling Miramax #spookypictures #filmproduction #inspiration

Writing a great film script can be challenging. ✍🏾 👉🏾 Start by defining your story and the central conflict. 👉🏾 Focus on character development and make sure your script follows a three-act structure (setup, confrontation, and resolution) with clear turning points. 👉🏾 Remember, rewriting is also vital for improvement. If you’re ready to share your work, visit our website to learn more about submitting to the 2025 British Urban Film Festival at https://lnkd.in/e4_2BPWE 🌐 #filmwriting #scriptwriting #indiefilmmaking #storyarc #filmmakerlife 

Dear Film Producers and Execs, please pay your writers before you release the film. If there are people who actually need a good pay, it's writers. These people are responsible for all the good stories people watch out there though they are not given proper credit, at least pay them on time. Dear writers, don't write for anyone without Proper payment, also if they cannot understand your schedule, cancel the deal. You cannot sell the same script twice, once it's gone then it's gone. Think twice and add some value to your skills. ___________ Follow: Elias L Mulenga Zambian Film Content, Film/Content Reviewer, Creative Script Writer, and Film Director

Hey All, There's a new 24-Hour Ask Me Anything happening from Friday 4/19 to Saturday 4/20 over in the Stage 32 Writer's Room Lounge! Shaun O'Banion, Award-Winning Film & Television Producer & Owner of Ravenwood Films (JOJO RABBIT, JUNGLE CRUISE, GENIUS) will be answering people's questions about "What Are Common Producer Red Flags?" The questions won’t be answered until Friday, but the post is live for you to comment with your questions NOW! https://lnkd.in/gn6Rus2u    You can ask Shaun questions like- What are some red flags for you when reading a script? Do you have specific turnoffs when it comes to plot, character, or dialogue choices? What are the red flags for you in a pitch or when you receive a pitch deck? Are there things that writers do or say in meetings that tend to stand out as red flags? What communication styles are red flags for you when developing a project with someone? Don't miss out on a chance to ask your questions! If you're not already a Stage 32 Writer's Room member, you can sign up for your first month entirely free so that you can join in on these opportunities.  https://lnkd.in/gK7Cxi-5

What I learned about writing from directing my short? Script is not something you lock and don’t change. It changes constantly, every day, even between takes. Basically, you write it in pre-production, rewrite in production and then rewrite again in post-production. Locations and actors influence the script and the picture you had in your head, when you were writing it. Locations inspire you and give a specific flavour to your scenes, enhancing you to change it. Rehearsals with actors help you figure out which movements work, which don’t and which movements seem more natural at that moment. These are my main intakes so far😉 🎬 Have you had a similar experience when writing or directing? Share your thoughts in the comments! #filmmaking #writingprocess #directing #creativejourney