Five Characteristics of a Good Scene, and Eight Signs of a Bad One

There are probably many more features that could be listed to describe scenes that “work” or “don’t work,” but here are some essentials as written by “Sreenwriters University” at the site (www.WritersStore.com) which is the best resource for Screenwriters as well as Writers, Poets, Journalists and Lyricists.

(“Always remember, “Nothing is Written… It’s Re-Written.”)

FIRST: 5 GOOD SCENE TRAITS

1. The scene connects to the main character’s problem/goal for that story.

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THE 7 MOVIE BUDGETS FOR INDEPENDENTS

Want to Produce or Direct even Write or Act in a Feature Film? If “Yes” then you absolutely must realize, upon preparing a budget, what is a realistic and what is an unrealistic for independents.

First, let’s look at the 7 basic Independent Movie Budgets.

1st: NO-BUDGET Budget ($10,000-$40,000); a 1-week or a 4 weekend (4 months) shoot, with a 5-7 person Non-Union crew, shot in real time with 2 iPhones,

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WANT TO DIRECT?

Don’t make it difficult… Get a script. Get a Camera. Use a Wide-Angle Lens. Cast Actors. Hit the On-Button. Say “Talk” (OK: say “Action”). Wait 90-minutes. Say “Shaddup” (OK: say “Cut”).

Voilla. You got a movie… Why make it difficult?

(“Who doesn’t have a script? Cameras are cheap. Actors are everywhere. So, if you want to direct…then direct.)

Yes, of course there is more and there are two film school methods (Traditional and Alternative) to master the craft of directing…Pick one.

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WHAT IS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER?

There are 5 Producer classifications.

(1) PRODUCER: This is the dreamer, the visionary, the person who wakes up one day and says “I got an idea.” After he gets the script he looks for an Executive Producer to get the money.

(2) EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: This is the person, an attorney, a famous name, an IP rights owner, or a proven showrunner, who knows where money is and how to get it.

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FEATURE FILM SUCCESS ODDS:

Filmmaking success is not based on revenues and profits. It is, when a first-timer, based 100% on “Did you get financing”.

Think profits, revenues, names, international co-productions, pre-sales, tax credits, cable deals, etc. for your second film but for your your first just focus on (a) get real and (b) financing.

And, by real is meant, accepting that neither you, your mom or dad are marketable names,

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TWO RULES FOR ANYONE WITH A TV IDEA.

Rule 1 is that “No one owns an idea.”

If all you have is an idea (aka: a thought), you’re sure it’s bloody great, but are not mega-famous or mega-wealthy, then sadly it is best to just forget about it.

(“No one owns an idea. Write it. Register it. Copyright it. Now you own something.”)

Why?

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INDEPENDENT (LOW-BUDGET) FILMMAKING: The Budget, Script, Shoot, Crew & 1 Hot Tip

(1) BUDGET: $200,000-$300,000 or $300,000-$500,000

(“For $200-300K you produce a quality 3-week shoot, signing with likely only 1 guild.”)

Want to make a “Million Dollar Feature”.

However (Shh! Secret coming), you do not need $1,000,000 to make a “Million Dollar Feature” for you can do so with only $200,000-$300,000 (Shh!

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MICRO-BUDGET FILMMAKING: The Budget, Script, Shoot, Crew & 1 Hot Tip

(1) THE BUDGET: $50,000 to $100,000

(“With $50-100K and proper prep, anyone can execute a quality 2-week shoot.”)

The previous post I outlined No-Budget Filmmaking (1-Week Shoot) when all you have is $5,000-$20,000.

Now, assuming you have $50,000 to $100,000, the topic is no longer “No-Budget Filmmaking” but “Micro-Budget Filmmaking”.

“No-Budget Filmmaking”

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NO-BUDGET FILMMAKING: The Budget, Script, Shoot, Crew & 1 Hot Tip.

(1) THE BUDGET: $10,000-$50,000

(“”El Mariachi”, “Clerks”, “Saw”, “Tangerine” were successful No-Budget Movies that launched careers.”)

For your first independent feature film (independent as in “you are independent of the studio system”) you will have a budget of $10,000-$50,000.

QUESTION: Why?

ANSWER: Because once you stop talking like low-budget is only $1-2,

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INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING

Studio Executives, with respect to financing indy films or why they won’t, always state “It is very difficult to define what Independent Filmmaking is.”

Huh? No it isn’t!

For over 30 years I’ve heard execs, attorneys, agents, and dealmakers, speak on panels about Independent Financing and state time-and-time-again… “It is very hard to define Independent Filmmaking.”

Even development and programming execs at Amazon,

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