Director's Lab: A Workshop for Micro-Budget Production

We are offering a unique Writing/Producing/Director's Lab to a small group (6 – 7) of dedicated, first time feature filmmakers who are ready to take that next big step and make a feature film.

The workshop is intended to take you step by step, point by point, through the complex, and often intimidating process of shooting your first feature film.

The first time feature filmmaker faces a set of seemingly endless challenges that no single book, weekend seminar, or film school degree can totally prepare you for, except the experience of making your first feature film, but unfortunately, way too many first time directors are simply not equipped for what lies ahead, and the odds of success are stacked against them. This workshop is aimed at moving the odds in your favor.

The hands-on, intensive course material will take you step by step through every aspect of the micro-budget filmmaking process, from finding the right script, to forming the business entity you will need to produce the film, to negotiating the necessary legal agreements, to the final stages of preparing for production.

This workshop is intended to help organize you for the real world realities that are unfortunately NOT taught in the academic milieu of a film school. Filmmaking is a creative endeavor, but it is also a business that needs to be built upon a solid marketing strategy.

Each session is structured around your specific project in a caring, mentor-type environment with experienced, working professionals who have been down this road before.

Each class will provide you with the invaluable practical experience you need to be a confident and effective filmmaker, but at the same time is NOT intended to make the process into a dogmatic, "paint by numbers" experience. The goal is to truly free you to be as creative and imaginative as possible, while at the same time, approaching your project as a commercial venture.

Included with the workshop is a free thumb drive containing a library of proprietary documents and agreements that is essential to making your first feature film, (valued at more than the cost of the course alone).

It is preferred that you already have a rough draft original script that you want to direct available at the start of the workshop, but if not, we will provide you with the unproduced source material needed to write a rough draft screenplay.

Course Outline:

Part 1: Producing
Creating an effective strategy and support team

• A quick summary of the film studio vs. independent business model, and why the independent filmmaker is becoming more relevant to the marketplace every day
• How the filmmaker as entrepreneur is essential to the new digital revolution
• Filmmaking is a business, and you have to treat it like one, or suffer the consequences
• Forming the legal business entity – How and Why? Discuss the many options and legal choices
• Collaboration vs. Partnership? How to avoid Filmmaker Divorce and Heartbreak
• LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship? Pay now or later, it's your choice
  Copyright – The property is king. How to protect yourself from the sharks & hucksters
• Chain of Title: What the distributors will need in order to buy and/or license your film
• Employment Agreements – What's needed and why? Remember, you are either the employer, or an employee, and if you want to be the boss, you have to step up
• Payroll - What about the taxman? Worker's Comp, Federal, State and Local Taxes
• Funding strategies – How much do I need?
• Underfunding roulette – What happens if I run out of money?
• Investors $$$ – Follow the money. What investors are looking for in a film project
• What do I need to open the store for business – How do I know when am I ready to shoot?
• Financing Agreements – Remember, be careful what you ask for because you may get it
• Selling Securities vs. circle of family and friends? Steps you must follow to legally raise money
• S.A.G.? Don't be afraid of working with professional actors
• Insurance & permits – who's responsible if something goes wrong? The myths and downside of guerilla filmmaking, and the upside of being legal

Part 2: The Script- How to build the successful foundation for your story

• Finding the right script for a micro-budget production
• Searching for your voice as a first time filmmaker
• Original idea vs. existing source material
• Story structure and analysis rules
• Character, Plot, and Theme development guidelines
• The pathos pyramid: what it is, and how to use it to construct a compelling main character
• Keeping your eye on the prize: making a film distributors will want to market
• Building your story around locations you can afford and control
• How to create production value at the script stage for little or no money
• Writing a script that doesn't exclude you as director: managing talent and money

Part 3: Directing - How to successfully execute your plan, pay the rent, and not lose your significant other in the process

• Finding a Director's vision within the boundaries of a micro-budget movie
• Defining your screen grammar and aesthetic point of view
• Beat by beat script breakdown and the formation of a shooting script
• Mastery of time, space and narrative continuity
• Scene construction and knowing: "will it cut?" (before you get into the editing room)
• Blocking strategies for executing the most efficient coverage and shooting techniques
• Executing successful Storyboards and Floor plans
• Creating a visual design and directorial style within the confines of a limited budget
• Casting and Rehearsals
• The fundamentals of working with actors and how to capture compelling performances
• On set protocol and rules of the game to be an inspired team leader
• Finding the right crew and running a smooth set

Please bring comfortable clothing, laptop, ipad (not required), pens, notebooks