Dear producer.... from the other side... 3/18/15 "Get in, Get hot, Get out" comments to an aspiring producer/director...
I received an email from an aspiring producer/director asking for advice on creating a new film. I was flattered, as I am still continually learning and doing what I can to improve my craft like everyone else. Of course there is that saying "Be careful who you take advice from, there is a tendency to end up like the people you take advice from." Always keep your own council and consider carefully your own experiences.
I have been a music professor for many years and found that when you have to teach something, to put it into words so that someone else can learn it easier, you learn it all over again, and gain insight to your own processes as well as the advice you had received and observed. It is a very valuable activity and it is one of the reasons I write this blog, not only to hopefully help others, through my experiences and stories, but to help myself get better. Here was my response to this person's request for my insight on film making:
Dear Producer...from the other side...
-Begin with the end in mind. Then, reverse engineer as best you can what needs to be acquired and required to complete your vision. Know what you want to do with it when it is finished before you even start.
-Even if you don't quite know how to do something, figure it as best you can and then find people who can provide insight into how to get it done. However, if you are the executive producer, you are the captain of the ship at the end of the day, and have the final decisions what goes.
-Reach into your network and the network of your team to see if you already have the leads and resources: script, actors, funds(self, investor and/or crowd funding), equipment, locations, editing and post production, distribution platform.
-Make sure you can clearly and calmly communicate your vision as a producer and as a director, even and especially if you are not directing.
-Put out the best possible product you can with the resources you have in the time you have.
-Plan your shots and know what you want and when you get it. Time is valuable. Like the old jazz musicians used to say about soloing. "Get in, get hot, get out." I tend to do 3 to 5 takes per set up. Of course, you do want to get what you want and if you need to take a lot of takes to get the result then that's fine. However, I have observed that a lot of takes and a lot of set ups takes a lot of time and can deplete your cast and crew, especially if you really don't know what you want and are searching for it. Improvisation is always fun, and searching for an interpretation can be invaluable, but be sure you get what you need to get.
-Vet your crew and cast well. Your job is to communicate your vision and make decisions, if they are truly qualified, trust they can do their areas of expertise, many have spent years and lifetimes to acquire their skills and wisdom.
-Be collaborative, but know what you want and what your boundaries are.
-Don't burn your bridges, but you can always make your bridges into drawbridges.
-You may have to wear many hats, but trust in your Director of Photography, Assistant Director, crew and cast, their experience is many times much better than your own and they can see things and alternatives you many not.
-Figure out the minimum amount of cast and crew(director, camera, assistant camera, sound, makeup, actors, etc) you need to accomplish a shot and the filming schedule. Resources are at a premium.
-As a director and especially as a producer, you should try to be versed, at least a little bit as much as you can, about the technical side and the actor side of film making so that you can best communicate with your cast and crew in their languages.
-Be flexible, things will not go 100% as you plan. Make sure you keep your focus on the outcome, but be prepared to deal with the inevitable Murphy's law(what can go wrong will go wrong/there is always an X factor) and in those events, be inventive and look for alternatives and solutions, not worry about who is to blame or why things are not running smoothly. Remember, the clock is ticking.
-Make sure your sound recording and edit are impeccable. When experiencing a film, the eyes forgive, the ears do not.
-Feed your cast and crew very well. A well fed company is a better and happier company.
-Be kind, be cautious, be yourself, be your best self. Be well.
-Do what you can to leave people places, things, and situations in an equal or better state in which you found them.
-Please be respectful.
-Have a budget and stick to it. Do what you can to stick to your deadlines.
Always have a reserve and back up contingencies.
-You can potentially lose your film at 3 spots: casting it, shooting it, and editing it. A good edit can work miracles and a poor edit can ruin everyone's hard work. Be sure you have an excellent editor.
If you need assistance or need to speak about specifics about your project, or if I can assist you as a writer/producer/director/actor/musician, feel free to subscribe and leave a comment or email me at xavmaxmultimediaproductionsllc@gmail.com
Be well,
Vincent
imdb.me/vincentveloso
My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.
I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances, people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.
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