You don’t have to be a young tech guru to understand how new equipment and the internet are upending the way movies and shows get made. Used to be there was only a few folks held the reins and pulled the levers. Nowadays regular Joes are seizing control. Scores of self-sufficient media wizards are out…
IAFT mentor Sean Akers has a film coming out this weekend in theatres. ALL IS LOST, written & directed by J.C. Chandor, starring Robert Redford, and co-produced by Sean, made a real splash in a number of festivals and has been getting all kinds of excellent notices. Chandor’s previous movie was the superb Margin Call in 2011,…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami Before the tent-pole budgets, trailers, and cutting-edge technology, A-Lister filmmakers were Z-Listers. Being on the Z-List has nothing to do with notoriety, but has everything to do with making a film on a zero budget. Demonstrating the artistic talent and management skills to make an entertaining film…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami A student recently asked, “At what runtime is a movie officially a feature film?” A great direct question—that prompted this long answer. Traditionally, 120 minutes (2 hours) was the standard runtime for a feature. Is that still true today? The Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA views any work over 80…
A Producer’s Baptism by Fire by IAFT’s Pete Wassell When I first went to film school, I wanted to do what everyone wants to do—write and direct. I was going to be the next Tarantino or Spielberg. I was going to make big movies about small stories. Then, as I navigated the maze of…
