If You Want a Film School at Home Just Demand It!

Although I think about signing up for film courses, I never seem to have the time or funds available.  However, because of the developing technologies and business models within the industry,  I have been taking various seminars and attending conferences for over two years.  One of the most informative online courses I’ve found is producer/director  David Basulto’s Film School On Demand FSOD 101 Make Your Movie Now, which in 10 Lessons covers the major aspects for making a first film.

 Since I’ve written three screenplays, started this blog and co-produced “Accused”, a great deal of Lesson 1, Getting Started and Lesson 2, The Script I was already familiar with, but there is keen insight offered related to finding screenplays, doing research and  figuring out your resources.  What hit home for me was the mantra Get Everything in Writing, a fact lots of first time filmmakers tend to overlook.  Protecting yourself legally is paramount and when you’re working on a tight budget, especially with people you know, it is easy to dismiss the importance of it.   However, the reality is that not having your paperwork in order can wreak havoc with your production and jeopardize your movie’s future.

In Lesson 3 David talks about Previsualization or Previs and explains how to storyboard your film and breakdown the script prior to shooting.   I can tell you from personal experience that I wish we had done more of this.  Basulto compares pre production to preparing for battle and considering the need for staying under budget and on schedule I couldn’t agree more.  David also talks about several software packages and their prices ranges including the free ones.

Financing is covered in Lessons 4 and 5, beginning with how to create a budget and figure out both hard and soft costs. In the latter section David delves into raising funds and explains different types of financing deals.  If you’ve attended other courses in film funding, some of this may be redundant, but for those who are starting out, it definitely acquaints you with the terminology and offers breakdowns of budget components and payment schedules.

Lesson 6, Pre-Production tells how  to find cast and crew and determine which people you may need to pay.  For example, having good sound in your production is a must, so you need to budget for this position.  From what I’ve seen, this is an area that is often ignored by new filmmakers, who are concentrating on visuals, and it can make or break your project.  Another crucial piece of advice: keep your cast and crew well fed.

Production is the focus of Lesson 7 and there is a great review of what steps need to be taken one week prior to and on the first day of the shoot.  Although it’s not a creative part of filmmaking, you have to keep your paperwork in order.  Every aspect of your production must be documented and you should have a system organizing your deal memos, permits, insurance, etc.  One thing that surprised me was how many pieces of paper there are at the end of a production.

From my perspective the two Lessons I valued most were 8 and 9, Post-Production and Distribution & Delivery.  “Accused” is currently in the last phase of editing and I can say without hesitation I have developed a healthy respect for the process.  David shares a number of places where can learn skills and speaks about different types of editing software.  Find qualified crew people in this area is essential, unless you’re planning to do it yourself.  You can’t afford to leave editing or sound to chance if you want to create a quality product.

By far, Lesson 9 was my favorite.  Although I already knew quite a bit about the different types of distribution deals, it was beneficial to see how a couple of real ones were broken down.  The best part, however, was hearing about deliverables.  Finding specifics about “the list” is often difficult and David let us in on many particulars.  For me, that alone was worth taking the course for.

Wrapping up, Basulto discussed Marketing in Lesson 10 and how it is the key to a movie’s success.  This is probably the aspect of the business I understand the most about, so while there were no big surprises for me, this section does offer a valuable overview for anyone in unfamiliar territory.  Whether you are seeking distribution or are planning to DIY, you have to develop an audience and make money and this involves marketing.  Nowadays, with all of the changes in the industry, it has become a necessary evil for all filmmakers.

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned in taking this course was recognizing my own strengths and weaknesses.  In order to develop and grow in any field, you need to take a long hard look at yourself and determine where you need to improve.  Some things come naturally, while others require developing skills or collaborating.  Being honest with yourself helps you figure out which parts of the process you enjoy and excel at and which ones you are better handing off to other people.  Investing in a program like Basulto’s helps you figure this out and move ahead.  For more  info go to the Film School On Demand website at http://filmschoolondemand.com/.

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