AF’s Tip of the Day

You too can become a true "Independent" filmmaker and show your films all over the world. Or you can be a sell out and go to Hollywood and make Police Academy 54. It makes no difference to me.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide (coming soon)

AF's Guest Quote of the Day

I am driving all day Monday, (Santa Fe, NM to LA) so I am posting this on Sunday Night, it's really Monday's post. I have always loved this quote about Hollywood.

They shot too many pictures and not enough actors.
~ Walter Winchell

AF's Tip of the Day

By the way, are you insured? You better be!

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

You need good lights. Good lighting is the difference between amateurs and professionals.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

People try to emulate some of the things they see on screen, which is all well and good if you're watching a movie like Norma Ray, or To Kill a Mocking Bird, not so good if you're watching Jackass: The Movie, or Friday The 13th Part 42.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

People try to emulate some of the things they see on screen, which is all well and good if you're watching a movie like Norma Ray, or To Kill a Mocking Bird, not so good if you're watching Jackass: The Movie, or Friday The 13th Part 42.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming fall 2007)

The Angry Filmmaker in Europe

I am going to be in Europe in late November/early December doing workshops and screenings. I will be in Amsterdam for the Documentary Film Festival (Nov 22nd - 30th), and then I will be heading to the UK where I have bookings in Aberdeen, Dublin, Wales, and Nottingham.

I teach 4 workshops, Making The Extremely Low Budget Feature, Sound Design for Independent Films, Making The Personal Documentary, and Guerilla Marketing and Self- Distribution.

I am looking for more bookings and I am hoping that you can help. If you have any contacts at Universities, Independent Theatres or Media Art Centers that you think might want to host one of my workshops, I would really appreciate you sending them to me. If you would like to host a work shop or screening yourself that would be fantastic! My fees are modest, and students and filmmakers get a lot out of what I have to say.

If you can hook me up with a screening or a work shop obviously you can attend for free, and I'll give you a couple of my DVDs. I wish I could do more, but I am a poor filmmaker.

In case you have forgotten, I am probably best known for working with other people. I was the sound designer on six of Gus Van Sant's feature films including, MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO, GOOD WILL HUNTING, and FINDING FORRESTER, and Todd Haynes film, FAR FROM HEAVEN.

I received a BA (1980) and an MFA (1982) in Film Production at USC, and did some post graduate work at the American Film Institute (1989).

I have written and directed three full-length features (KICKING BIRD, THE GAS CAFE & BIRDDOG) , 8 shorts and a few documentaries. My films have aired on PBS, The Learning Channel, Canadian and Australian television and have been shown at Film Festivals like London, Sydney, Annecy, Sundance, Sao Paulo, and Edinburgh.

In the last 18 months I have done six tours. I have driven 59,000 miles, flew to the UK (February 2006), given over 200 lectures and work shops, screened my work 143 times, talked to thousands of students, eaten my weight in patty melts and club sandwiches, drank a swimming pool full of cheap coffee, (okay maybe a wading pool...), and ate three cases of antacids. And I am ready to do it all over again.

Please check out my web site, www.angryfilmmaker.com and hopefully we can work something out. You can email me at angryfilminfo@aol.com. I may be the Angry Filmmaker, but I am pretty easy to get along with.

Thanks.

Kelley

AF’s Tip of the Day

I don't recommend editing your own work unless you've done it on other people's movies.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

As the filmmaker you are in charge. The producer always thinks that they're in charge, but that's not true, unless of course you're the producer as well.

- - from The Angry Filmmakers Survival Guide

(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

A screenplay doesn't write itself.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide

(coming Fall 2007)

AF’s Tip of the Day

Film cameras don't become obsolete. They were built to certain specifications, 24 fps, 36 fpm, (90 fpm in 35mm), and they are always going to run at this speed if you have good batteries.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF’s Guest Quote of the Day

"In Beverly Hills . . . they don't throw their garbage away. They make it into television shows."

~ Woody Allen

AF’s Tip of the day

Been a tough week. Sorry I have missed a couple posts. I'll write more this weekend.

We deserve to be paid just like everyone else, and anyone who gives their work to a broadcast entity for FREE is hosing all of us.
- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

The simpler you keep your record keeping and your organization, the more time you're going to have to do the fun creative stuff.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide

(coming Fall 2007)

Screen writing software...

October 8th, 2007

I need to send out a shout to my buddy Chris Huntley, and tell him he was right. He assured me that if I started using Movie Magic Screenwriter 6, that I would be writing within 15 minutes. It is that easy he said.

So I tried it. Damn you Chris! This is a great program! I wasn't writing in 15 minutes, it was more like 20 minutes but I am slow when it comes to new programs, but I am finding this program so easy to navigate. What is up with that?

My big problem with script programs is having to learn new stuff just to write. I want a blank sheet and I just want to go. I have written my scripts on word processing programs for years, and then manually formatted them to read like screenplays. I have been doing that for so long that I don't even think about it. And I have always told people it doesn't matter what you write with, as long as you write. Find a program you are comfortable with and stick with it!

Well, I still feel that way, but I am sticking with Movie Magic Screenwriter 6. I am amazed and happy. I don't have to worry about formatting, it just does it. I am able to concentrate on the story and the characters, not which button I need to press so that I can center names on the page, or whatever.

I also put 2 of my older screenplays in and it reformatted them with no problems, or errors! The other great thing about Screenwriter 6 is that I can pull all sorts of breakdowns from my scripts. I used to have to go through manually and make prop lists and location lists, stuff like that. Not anymore.

This is a great program and they aren't paying me anything to say that. (They can if they want.) I am going to keep using the program.

If anyone out there is looking for a great script writing program, this is it!

Go to http://www.write-bros.com. Check out all of their stuff. These guys are great. Thanks Chris! Hey, I am not as famous or as rich as the guys you have up on your web site talking about your software, but if you ever want a Real Independent Filmmaker's endorsement let me know. I am happy to do it!


You all need to check these guys out. Good luck to you.

Kelley

AF's Tip of the Day

Look at your scene, your shot list, and the location. How much time can you save by lighting the whole set all at once?

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide

(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

I can do 5 or 6 short films for what many people spend on a 25 minute film, which means I'm learning a lot more about my craft and I have 5 different films out in the real world working for me, while other people only have one.
- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

To go back in and shoot later is really bad. It is a pain to re-light what you need and to get the actors all pumped up again.
- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)

AF's Tip of the Day

You want the audience to be able to make a personal connection to your work.

- - from The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide
(coming Fall 2007)