Film Crew - MAKING IT! in Film Production
There are a lot of different skills on any film & video
production, no matter how large, small, studio driven or independent.
Within the Film Industry there are skilled Props Masters,
Sound Mixers, Gaffers, Cameramen, Costume Supervisors, Grips,
etc.
Why do so few of them upgrade to Line Producers, Producers-For-Hire
or Unit Production Managers? Why aren't more crew reaching
the level of Department Head? Why aren't more film school
students finding work, let alone directing their own independent
films?
I'm sure there are lots of reasons, but take a quiet moment
to really look. Let's see.... It's not incompetence - most
crew disappear pretty quickly if they're slow witted and incompetent.
Film students who graduate have shown they're pretty smart.
It's not a lack of drive - again, for the same reasons. Wouldn't
you agree that the biggest hurdle is getting the opportunity?
Well, that's true and not true.
The biggest hurdle is MAKING the opportunity.
How do you increase the odds of landing a contract as a Line
Producer, a Department Head (if you're not one already), or
even a UPM on a small independent production? Lots of film
school graduates are ready to burst with ideas to get their
movie scripts into a film or video production; how do they
get to produce their scripts?
First you need to get the confidence of the person in front
of you. That single person in front of you needs to believe
that you can control your sphere of work so effectively that
he/she can get on with creating their vision.
If you're already a working professional in film & video
production, you can easily convince someone that you can control
the heck out of your area of expertise. But, if you want to
upgrade, what do you know about the other areas? What do you
know about the relationship of your department to all other
facets of film production? You need to be able to convince
others that you understand the underlying, common denominator
of all filmmaking. Some people feel that a creative mind is
all that's needed. Nobody denies that you need to have a creative
bent in film productions. But let's lay it on the table -
------- The driving force behind
film & video production is MONEY! --------
By the time we, as working crew, start working on a film production,
our creative bent is totally bent by the amount of MONEY available
to us. We want to get the best product we can out of every
buck. Like it or not, your performance in film production
is measured, to some degree, by how well you control the money.
It's like 'Directing', only you're 'Directing the Money'.
To my way of thinking, that's the only way to be taken seriously.
Well, I'm about to tease you with some relevant articles
that will open the door enough to let you walk through. They're
written for the complete novice, so be patient if you've already
been exposed to budgets and cost reports.
The articles are NOT techniques on film budgeting. They are
techniques on being FAMILIAR enough with budgets and cost
reports to be able to show that one person interviewing you
for the upgrade that you can talk the same language as they
do.
The reading is seven articles - all only about 3 to 5 pages
each. The practice comes from drilling the content of the
articles, asking pertinent questions at work and bugging me
whenever you get stalled. There is a eighth article that could
have been added for those who haven't been exposed to the
simple administrative procedures like petty cash, purchase
orders, check requisitions, etc. But in these articles I'm
going to assume you as working film crew are already familiar
with those procedures. If not, Buy the book! (See how to below).
Here are the article titles:
1. MAKING IT! In Film Production
2. Introduction to 'Directing the Money'
3. Translating Ideas Into 'Money Talk'
4. Your Participation In Above-the-Line Budgeting
5. Your Participation In Below-the-Line Budgeting
6. Your Report Card - The Internationally Recognized Cost
Report
7. Presentation of the Weekly Cost Report – It’s
As Important As the Dailies
When you read my articles, print them out. Make your own examples.
Reread them. Send me your questions if you get stuck. You'll
find that you'll be upgrading in no time!
For those of you who are interested in more than just a a
readers-digest form of familiarity with Film Budgeting and
cost reporting, get an instant download of my Ebook (see below).:
Film Budgets:
Filmmakers who read my book "Walk The Talk"
will be able to make comments about film budgets with the
confidence that financiers and producers, not just in Hollywood,
but also throughout the world, will have confidence that you're
'on their team' - because you'll be using the same words and
concepts that they use everyday! You will also be able to
read and follow the style and format of the industry leader
of budgeting software, Movie Magic Budgeting©. It won't
make you into a master, but it will certainly give you the
confidence to sell yourself as the ... ____, or to have your
independent film produced, or to convince a Studio Exec that
you're the first-time Film Director they've been looking for,
etc. If at any time you need help, you can always email me
by visiting my web site johngaskin@talkfilm.biz
and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
Film Production's Weekly Cost Reports (the Report Card
sent to all those who hold the purse strings, and the strings
to your future):
There are many within the Film & Video Industry who are
interested in becoming a respected producer or production
manager. Those who read my book, "Walk The Talk"
will get o read and do many examples of real-life Cost Reporting.
This
is an opportunity not available anywhere else.
The Cost Report at first glance looks incredibly
detailed, and to some, even complex. As a direct result of
these articles, regular film crew will be able to understand
the layout of Cost Reports (remember they're the same the
world over), and be able to make comments about them intelligently.
You'll have the confidence that you'll be using the same terms,
and are looking at the same topics, as the pros. You won't
become a production accountant, but you'll get the drift,
and with experience it will become second nature. There are
several more examples and charts in my book, Walk The Talk,
which will expand on your familiarity with Cost Reports.
Instant
Download of the EBook for only $22.50 -
immediate access to a practical guide with173 pages of experience
to help you make it in film.
 Click
here to enlarge front/back covers
------------------------------------- ** ---------------------------------------
Throughout the book I've inserted some of the juicier real
life pitfalls that I've personally witnessed, reported on,
or unwittingly participated in.
See Story #8
for one such story.
An added aim of this book to give an insight into the world
of Production Managing. To my knowledge and research, exposure
to this type of information just isn't available anywhere
else. This book is vital for film crew who want to become
a Production Manager.
See Crew-It's Cool
To Walk The Talk.
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