The pandemic has decimated some industries, with the film industry in particular feeling the economic effects. Movie theaters have been boarded up, an...

This is an interview with director Pearry Teo – I asked him to give 4 tips for filmmakers interested in making their first feature film.I knew that he...

Whether you’re directing your first film, your 4th film, or even your 43rd film, knowing how to hire a great cinematographer is of key importanc...

This is an interview with director Christopher Sheffield – I asked him to give 4 tips for filmmakers interested in making their first feature fi...

The more films I make, the more I find learning how to cast actors for low-budget films is one of the most difficult parts of making a good film.I als...

I recommend you spend time thinking about these aspects for your next film. How can you use color and light to enhance your story?Lighting and color a...

LISTEN TO EPISODE 3 HERE.The Storyteller Podcast can be found anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). A quick way to find it ...

Do you struggle with film networking? You aren’t alone. In my experience, many creative people are not extroverted and would rather work at home on a ...

How do you pick your shot sizes and camera angles?Are you picking what looks cool? Are you picking what is easiest or most practical?Maybe you’re just...

A filmmaker – a great director – is more than a guy or gal who makes a movie.Regardless of a feature film’s budget, a great director has m...

What are the bare-bones essentials of a good story?[Podcast discussion of this topic now available here.]What makes for a good story? When you start w...

Start and end with the images you want your audience to remember.I’ve told people (inspired by the advice I’ve read) that they should choo...

Some nerdy statistics, first…Ever heard of the 80/20 principle? (AKA the Pareto principle)In the past, I’ve explained that there are a small num...

With hard work, we can change. Here’s how.I’ll tell you a sad story. This is the story of past Nick, who wasted countless hours on things that w...

Video essays are a great way to stimulate your creative mind.Video essays aren’t really ‘instruction’, but they give you a new perspective on various ...

I hate wasting time – and I like saving money.I originally created this list because I was sick of wasting so much time looking for that one per...

I’ve rounded up some of the best content in every category.We’ve all spent hours sifting through dozens of tutorial videos on YouTube (don’t deny it)....

What kills pretty much any short film?I recently created a commentary on my old short film “Sacramentum”. Back when I made that film, I le...

Ah, the good old days. My first feature film.It’s crazy to look back and see all the things I’ve learned. There was so much we didn’...

Volunteer cast and crew aren’t necessarily known for their reliability.Sometimes, people fail to show up, for whatever reason. Other times, they...

You dream of directing. You can see the lights, the camera… the action!Whether it be directing commercials, short films, or one day, directing feature...

Practice, practice, practice!As the saying goes, you need to put 10,000 hours of practice into something to become a phenomenal practitioner of that t...

“Alright everyone, great work today. That’s a wrap!”A very familiar phrase. Without hesitation, the crew is packing the gear. They’re eager to get hom...

Doing the stuff you don’t feel like doingFear. Laziness. Discomfort. Weariness.Filmmakers often face these obstacles.I’m no exception. Especially when...

Become a life-long learner & stay on top of your gameYou should be constantly educating yourself, then applying that knowledge. This is important ...

Clear feedback is key to pulling together an effective final cut of your film.You just finished the cut of your recent film and are feeling oh-so-comp...

Making your very own movie: the holy grail of filmmakers.Or at least, that’s how I felt (and do still, to an extent) about making a feature film. I sa...

Money matters can be quite complicated……and I aim to sort them out in a comprehensible manner to help you get ready to launch a bigger project (...

When I made my first movie, I was clueless about film distribution.I wondered how we would figure it out. How does film distribution work? What is a f...

Boy, shooting on film sure is a challenge.Don’t get me wrong – I’m glad I did it. But shooting on 16mm film was expensive and challenging. I hop...