One of the most important abilities to learn and master in the motion picture and television industry is to know what someone is saying about your project without them actually having to say it. Since much of this industry runs on hope in the face of constant rejection, most filmmakers prefer to sit on the […]

Delivering A Film I was nursing an Arctic-cold Dr. Pepper at the American Film Market (AFM) on Santa Monica Beach a few years ago, when a fiercely confident independent filmmaker interrupted my moment of bliss by asking me why he couldn’t sell his film directly to buyers without dealing with companies like mine. “Because credible […]

One of the best lessons I ever learned about knowing my international territories came in Budapest, Hungary at DISCOP; a Film and TV content market “for growing world regions.” I was at dinner with Edward Stencel, (a dear friend who ran my company with me for five years) and some new clients. We were at […]

Today we’re exploring three ways on how to field horrific notes on your scripts or feature films, without jumping off a bridge, or burning a bridge with the person who gave you the notes. In today’s cinematic world of fragile egos and harsh opinions, the only thing harder than listening to insensitive professionals bash your […]

Development Hell! The first draft of the first screenplay I ever wrote left a lot to be desired. It was a family drama I wrote with a friend of mine in the fall of ’94, just months after I graduated UCLA Film School. I still remember how sure Mike and I were we’d sell our […]

What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Sale! Hi everyone. I hope you had a magical week. Welcome to “What To Expect When You Are Expecting (A Sale). Today’s article is written for filmmakers who are selling their recently completed motion picture. I thought today would be as prime time to help you get prepped […]

The Indie Filmmaker Trap Hey, everyone! I hope you’re having a great day. Today I’d like to discuss a trap that visually all filmmakers fall into at some point in their careers (I know I did). It’s called the Indie Filmmaker Trap, and it’s more treacherous than loose quicksand. This is a crucial element of […]

I’ve got $50,000 and a cinematic dream.  How I can maximize my money into order to launch my career to the next level? Now that’s a question most filmmakers have to answer at some point, so without further ado, here are my answers. First Things First Your initial action should be to decide what you want […]

Film Production Strategies Since January of 1997, I’ve produced and or executive several independent productions. I’ve also had the honor to serve as a film festival jury member, screener or panelist at several festivals worldwide. From the far north reaches of Dawson City, Yukon, to the down under sands of Sydney, Australia, to the ice-capped […]

Sundance is a festival I love and have attended over 20 times, so I thought I’d share some insight on Film Festival Strategies. Now every festival – big and small – have their own DNA, and the cinematic fabric they possess is what makes them original, “must attend” events. So, instead of sharing a snowdrift full […]