When writing a creative story, there are a few things to think about that differ between scripts and novels. The writing style is vastly different. Here are a few things that can trip up the new screenwriter. 1. Length of the writing When writing a novel, it’s all about getting the words out and the word count. Not so, in a script. One page of a script is, on average, one minute on screen. For a new writer, aiming for 90-100 pages is the place to start. 2. Descriptions When writing descriptions in a script, don’t paint the reader a picture of the person or place. Keep the descriptions simple ..read more

BY WENDY DESSLER Independent Filmmakers have been recycling old film footage for years. From war newsreels to landmark shots, keen film enthusiasts have noticed repurposed footage in blockbuster films like The Transformers, Star Wars, and even various Disney cartoons. There are many benefits to recycling old film footage for a new movie. For one, there are cost-saving opportunities associated with using something that already exists, rather than shooting something new. There’s also the potential for inspiration from viewing old footage. Finally, there’s something nostalgic and profound from ch ..read more

“Save the Cat” by Blake Snyder has ten genres that make up the plot of all popular movies. In this series, I go into each of those genres and explain the basics of what the story may look like.  Dude with a Problem features an innocent hero being thrown into a sudden event, likely with a life or death battle at the end. These can include spy, law enforcement, domestic, epic, and nature styles of problems. What films have you seen that have a tenacious Dude with a Problem ..read more

If you’re like me, you really like to try out creative special effects, but you also might not have all the necessary products to make movie quality makeup. Well, I’m hoping to show you that you can make great special effects with just normal everyday items you can find around your house! As assumed, using everyday items won’t give you the precise movie quality effect but you can still create quality special effects just the same.  Here is a look at what I personally used.  First, I primed my hand for the foundation. Then I added foundation and blended it in, and next I added the br ..read more

“Save the Cat” by Blake Snyder has ten genres that make up the plot of all popular movies. In this series, I go into each of those genres and explain the basics of what the story may look like. Golden Fleece is the story of an adventure, a quest of sorts. The characters go on a journey looking for a prize, whether it’s a person, a goal, or an item of value. check out this video about the golden fleece to learn more about this genre. Do you love any creative Golden Fleece films ..read more

“Save the Cat” by Blake Snyder has ten genres that make up the plot of all popular movies. In this series, I go into each of those genres and explain the basics of what the story may look like.  Out of the Bottle is a tale with magic and mayhem. The characters come across an entity that grants them a wish. These “bottles could include a body switch, an angel, a thing, a curse, or surreal. Watch this video to learn more about Out of the Bottle. Do you have any favorite “Out of the Bottle” films ..read more

“Save the Cat” by Blake Snyder has ten genres that make up the plot of all popular movies. In this series, I go into each of those genres and explain the basics of what the story may look like.  The Fool Triumphant has a character who is innocent to some aspect of the real world. The fool then has to go through a transformation of some sort. The character can be a political fool, an undercover fool, a society fool, or a fool out of water. Do you know any popular movies that feature a fool triumphant ..read more

When learning how to make movies, there is one major thing that can trip you up: organization. There’s no “right way” to organize your footage. But it should be organized.  This isn’t just for your feature films. It can also help with smaller videos as well. Having organized footage is the first thing you should do, and is also the fastest way to stress you out if you don’t. Check out this video on some of my tips and tricks to footage organization that will keep your work going smoothly ..read more

Disney has a knack for creating tenacious and catchy songs that we hum years later. From Frozen’s “Let It Go” and “Into the Unknown” to Lion King’s “Circle of Life”, these songs are well known across generations (whether willingly or otherwise). But there are also songs that fall through the cracks. Check out this video of some of the most underrated songs in a Disney movie. Some of them are shocking, including a song that was nominated for an Oscar! Do you know some of these songs? Do you have any other creative songs you think people should love more ..read more

“Save the Cat” by Blake Snyder has ten genres that make up the plot of all popular movies. In this series, I go into each of those genres and explain the basics of what the story may look like.  Institutionalized is a genre where the main character is a part of a group. The character has to make a choice to rebel against the group norm and join it. This can be in many different areas: military, family, business, mentor, or with a particular issue.  Do you know any tenacious stories where the character is caught in an institutionalized story ..read more