Why you should support and acknowledge the fans!
Fans work hard. They have to rotate fast and quick to provide an constant air-fluid stream, in order to help us by providing thermal comfort or cooling a vehicle engine. They are always standing guard, ready to spin hard and fast at the turn of a switch. Let’s take a moment to thank these hard workers for all they do, errrr, um, wait a second. I got confused, I think I am talking about the wrong type of fan.
Michael Fredianelli and Wild Dogs Productions, the Filmmaker who does not quit.
Today I want to highlight one of the sources of my inspiration by taking a look at Michael Fredianelli, the bay area filmmaker who had managed to make 59 feature films and counting. It’s a remarkable level of production and dedication to the craft, demonstrating a work ethic that can only be admired.
The Impact of California’s AB 5 Bill on Indie Filmmaking
California’s AB 5 is a bill that was signed into law in September 2019 addressing employment status. It requires the application of a “ABC test” to determine if workers in California are employees or independent contractors. This is important, as in the world of filmmaking, it’s a freelance world. You may get a gig that lasts only one day, or maybe a whole month. Due to the status of film production, finding anything consistent is a challenge. But now are you payed as a independent contractor or a employee?
Filmmakers: Here's why you need a website!
One thing that kinda surprises me in the indie film scene is that a lot of filmmakers don't have their own websites. One filmmaker I spoke with said that he didn't need a website, since he would just let IMDb, Letterboxd, and Google do the the work for him. "People can see my films there." he said. But, I would strongly disagree with this approach. Having a website dedicated to your work can be a great advantage in your filmmaking quest to conquer the world!
Indie Film Soundtracks: Why does your music suck?
The Indie film scene does have its strengths, but I would say that one element that gets often overlooked is the musical score and soundtrack for most indie films. You often notice how must indie films out there tend to have forgettable soundtracks? But why does the soundtrack get ignored like a cheeseburger being served at a Mexican restaurant? Let's a break, break, break it down!
Short Film VS Feature Film: How long should your film be?
So which format to choose, it depends on your story, strategy and what you wish to accomplish. A short film should be kinda like poetry. It's short, sweet, and every single moment needs to count. A feature film is a narrative that is still relatively encapsulated but has more room to explore ideas and issues in greater depth.
The Franchise Killed the Director Star
As the franchise and sequel machine has taken over Hollywood, Film Directors find themselves ever more increasingly interchangeable in the corporate filmmaking world. No longer does the directors creative vision take priority, as the executives want to protect the brand and franchise.
Why is Pizza the most common Filmmaking Crafty Food Meal you find on Set?
You arrive for your fifth day on set, and there you are greeted with boxes of pizza, again! You ask yourself, what is the filmmaking gods' obsession with pizza? Can't we have a little variety in our short lived lives, or shall I be forced to dance with the ZA till the day I part. Well my friends, let's dive into why pizza became the popular on set movie star.
Are Film Festivals a Scam or Worth the Investment? Beware the fake festivals.
Filmmakers are asked to pay hundreds of dollars for submission fees and if they make it into the festival, they’ll receive a special prize. The prize being a PDF-file with a laurel which you can use for distribution of your film, which is in reality, pretty pointless due to the amount of laurels they hand out nowadays.
Autumn Moon 2023 (Wild Dogs Productions) Review
Honestly, Autumn Moon blew me away. Michael Fredianelli has been refining his craft over 50 feature films, and here we find him and the Wild Dogs Crew in top form. I don’t know how long we’ll have to wait for Michael Fredianelli to continue the horror monster series. But when he does tackle a Frankenstein or Swamp Monster movie, I’ll be here for it!
Why it's tough to be a artist and make art in the 21st Century
Right now with the state of corporations, AI Technology, and the gig economy, being an artist today is tougher then ever and things only look bleaker from here. Let's dive in what makes this century a toughie.
Why the 20th Century was the Greatest Century For the Arts and Artists
But with the advent of technology, we saw rise to some of the greatest movements the art world has ever seen. Movies, Metal Music, Animation, and Video Gamers were all birthed in the 20th century. Artists were given some wicked tools, and they decided to created some of the most bewildering innovative art we have today.
Directing a Disney Live Action Remake Must Be Depressing
A reason why these remakes feel forgettable is that what director is going to pour all of their energy and creative time into such a project. You can't really take creative risks or do something new since the script, characters and story beats are already there for you. Who is going to try and make an Disney Live action remake their magus opus in their career?
Don't get discouraged and depressed by low view counts, followers and likes!
You log in to see how it's doing, and you see it's gotten 7 views within a few days. You then search for other videos and short films getting 250,000 views easily. Then you start feeling down and a bit sad from the social media blues. Welcome to the ‘compare and despair’ attitude friends.
How to support your favorite movies, filmmakers and artists when you are broke.
While it's true that money will be the biggest way you can financially support your favorite filmmakers and artists, there are tons of other ways to help us out to that don't require a cent. Your wallet can breath a sigh of relief.
Will Artificial Intelligence Chatbots take over Screenwriting and Storytelling?
That fact that we are here asking this question is a spooky scary thought indeed. If Artificial Intelligence like ChatGPT takes over screen writing, then what are writers gonna do?
Learning to Embrace The Struggle Of Filmmaking and Indie Film Resilience
Real talk, the world of indie film making is a struggle. There will be days where you want to scream into the void and throw into the towel.
The Writer’s Strike and why screenwriting is a under-appreciated art form
“Well I can’t act or direct, so maybe I’ll just be a writer. It’s better then being a production assistant right?”
Why you shouldn't ask this famous question, "What is your favorite movie?"
It's often used as a conversation starter, and while it's a handy question to have in one's pocket, it dose stop and make you think. Can you even have one single favorite movie?