Independent Film

What is a ‘genre’ Nobody likes to have their movie put into a box, but a genre is just style of movie whether it’s a comedy, a romantic comedy, a horror film, a teen slasher film. Genres can get more and more specific as you want them, but they’re basically about: What kind of movie...
Read more »

How do I find a ‘cast’ for an independent film When you want a cast for your independent film, get the script to anybody who is willing to read it. Whether it is a big Hollywood star and you are trying to approach their agent directly, or dealing with a casting director. Usually if you...
Read more »

How do I determine a budget for my independent film Independent films can cost one dollar to fifty million dollars. The reason why it’s an independent film is because that’s where the money is coming from. But Is it coming from somebody who is guaranteeing distribution? Or is it coming from somebody who is hoping...
Read more »

What is ‘post-production’ Post-production is when a film is being edited. It’s when a film is being scored, the music components are getting put in the film, and audio things are being checked and balanced out. Sometimes, the actors have to come back during post-production and do ADR, which is when they do voiceovers and...
Read more »

What is ‘location scouting’ Location scouting takes place during the pre-production phase of a film and it’s when you go out there and try to find the places where you’re going to go out and shoot the movie. Location scouting is really about approaching businesses in the city where you’re shooting the film, or wherever...
Read more »

What is an ‘independent film festival’ There are really two types of independent film festivals, in my opinion. There are the big festivals where films are being sold to studios and to distributors. Of course there’s the Cannes Film Festival in the South of France every summer and there’s the Tribeca Film Festival, and Sundance....
Read more »

What is ‘production’ Production is when you go out there and make a movie. It’s from the first day of shooting to the last day, and on the final day, the director says, “It’s a wrap.” Production is the actual nuts and bolts, getting all the material you need to then go to the editing...
Read more »

How do I start writing an ‘independent film screenplay’ Every great independent film starts on the page. You’ve got to just hit the keyboard and write an independent film, and often times movies are adapted from other source material whether it’s a book, or a graphic novel, or even an article in a magazine can...
Read more »

What is a ‘production company’ A production company is the one that’s really going to be able to go out there and help you make the movie. They’re going to help you develop the script if you sell your script to a production company or are working closely with a production company. They’re going to...
Read more »

What is an ‘independent film’ An independent film is a movie that is made without the help of a major Hollywood studio to distribute it. It’s a film made without distribution that is just being made, and then they’ll try to sell it so it can get seen. It’s independent of a studio which would...
Read more »