CRAFTING NAMES

by Michael Chasin, Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT – Miami The power – and fun – of writing an original screenplay is the ability to create a world – including creating the characters that live in that world. A well-considered part of that creation is the naming of those invented characters – with names that will help…

HINTS & TIPS TO THE SCREENWRITER

by Frederick Bailey  Directing Mentor, IAFT-LA   Five suggestions and pointers for aspiring writers and filmmakers. 1.]  Always have a title page with your name, address, and phone number on it (or your agent’s address and phone number, if you’ve got one) and an Email address.  Contact numbers.  Always.  If somebody you don’t know likes…

ARTISAN TRAINING

by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   Technology has made creating and exhibiting content easier than it has ever been. But is all of that content on the internet true narrative entertainment—or really just distraction? Perhaps these benchmark questions may help: Was the content artistically created—or was it just a recorded event? Did the content…

CASTING

by Michael Chasin  Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   Clint Eastwood famously said, “50% of a great movie is having a great script—and 90% of the other 50%—is in the casting.” It is difficult to find fault with Mr. Eastwood, given his legendary career as a director. If we were to write a film for Mr. Eastwood…

CLICHES TO AVOID WHILE FILM-MAKING

by Frederick Bailey   Here’s a scenario.  See if you can make a prediction:  Major supporting character.  In his introductory scene, he saves an innocent man from further torture and he does the right thing.  We have a scene where he’s enjoying his children at home.  A converted hardnose, he bonds with the male lead….

CHANGING TIMES

by Michael Chasin   Conflict – the key to drama – may be more than powerful opponents. Conflict may also be living out of place in changing times – which has been the theme of many great westerns. ‘It’s over, don’t you get that? Your times is over and you’re gonna die bloody, and all…

IS DIALOGUE REALLY NECESSARY?

by Michael Chasin   Film is a visual medium. Should you question that, simply remember the last time you muted your TV and were able to – quite easily – follow the story. That is the power of visuals. So…is dialog really necessary? While visuals move the story forward, what we only see on screen…

THE LATE STARTER

Life as a Performer and How to Get There by Alex Murphy   Whether you are 17, 27 or 57, if you want to perform, to act—in a movie or on the stage—chances are you want to get better at it, no matter what. But if there is no chance of you attending a full-time…

FILM VS. DIGITAL PROJECTION

by IAFT staffer Pete Wassell While living in Boston for a year from 2010 to ’11, I worked a truckload of jobs.  From taking photos of tourists getting on Duck Boat rides, to seasonal help at Borders bookstore (the worst job I’ve ever had…ever!).  But the majority of my time was spent toiling at the…

A REPORT FROM THE FESTIVAL FRONT LINES

by Frederick Bailey   Directing Mentor, IAFT/LA   From the 2013 DANCES WITH FILMS Festival at the world-renowned Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard! You know, the one with all the footprints in the concrete. This is the 16th annual rendition of this festival, billed as Sweet 16, with a tag line that reads, “Defiantly original, uniquely…