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LEARN PRODUCING

The Ultimate Course for Indie Film Production

 
with Carole Dean and Carole Joyce

This comprehensive course will give you the information, guidance, and support to become a successful producer and get the funding you need to get your project completed!

Each class covers essential aspects of Film Production and Funding, including:

 Financing, Budget, Distribution, Post, Locations, Hiring Crew, Music, Marketing, Legal, much more!

We’ve found that the biggest reason indie films are denied funding is that most filmmakers have not developed their documentary or feature enough for investors and donors to be confident their film will ever get made.

Learning how to produce and develop your film is critical to your success as a filmmaker.

 

Do you have a dream of becoming a filmmaker?

 

Are you a storyteller who would like to present your vision in the video or film arts, but don’t know where to start?

 

Or are you a seasoned professional Filmmaker who is having challenges muddling through today’s new world of technology and the new world of motion picture arts distribution and film making?

 

Look no further than the Producer’s Class with From the Heart Productions! 

Written by a Producer’s Class Student, Filmmaker Paula Randol Smith

 

Get your First Month (2 Classes) for Free!

Then Only $44/Month

You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion for the course when you finish 20 Classes!

 

Classes are conducted via Zoom.  Exclusive links to the classes are sent via email several times to enrollees beginning on the Tuesday before the next class.  If for some reason you did not receive a link, please email info@fromtheheartproductions.com 

Meet the Instructors

Carole-DeanCarole Dean

Host, Founder and President of From the Heart Productions

Carole Dean is the Founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that supports independent filmmakers by helping them raise funding for their projects. Over thirty years through From the Heart’s fiscal sponsorship program, she has assisted filmmakers in raising over $30 million for their films. 

She created the Roy Dean Grant in 1992 and has awarded over $2,500,000 in grants to independent filmmakers, and helped to produce over 80 films through the grant. 

Her creation of a business in 1970, Studio Film & Tape, that purchased leftover motion picture film from production then resold it at a discount, helped spark the independent film revolution by giving filmmakers affordable film stock. 

In the 1980s, she produced 120 Health Styles Shows that were sold to Oasis Cable and 30 Filmmaker shows, now in the National Archives. She was Executive Producer for BAM 6.6, Women Behind the CameraStep Away From the Stone, and American Chain GangMore of Carole’s producing credits are available on IMDB.

Carole Dean is the author of The Art of Film Funding, 2nd Edition: Alternative Financing Concepts & The Art of Manifesting: Creating your Future Click here to see Carole’s complete Curriculum Vitae.

 

Carole Joyce 

Co-Host, From the Heart Productions Board Member and Producer

A talented filmmaker, photographer, and producer, Carole Joyce is a Director of the 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Productions and Director of the Roy W. Dean Grant, of which she has been an integral part of for over 20 years.

A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography, Carole is an award-winning filmmaker for her documentary Survivors. Carole served as Executive Producer for the award-winning short film Stairway to the Starsstarring Sean Young and as LA Line Producer for Wheels of Heaven with Mickey Rourke. Carole’s additional credits are available on IMDb.

Click Here to schedule a consultation with Carole Joyce. Students enrolled in the year long Producer’s Class get a special discounted price of $80 for a 1 hour consultation.

 

Robert Seigel, ESQ.

Guest Legal Instructor, From the Heart’s Attorney

We have our attorney on the class to answer your legal questions.  Robert has been helping filmmakers with all phases of production and sales to cable and streamers for over 20 years.  He specializes in documentary and feature films. 

 

 

 

Jonathon M. Smith

Guest Instructor, Filmmaker, Industry Trends Specialist

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

The Definitive Guide to Producing

 

Year 1 of the Producer’s Class (Classes 1-26) is based on Producer to Producer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Low Budget Independent Film Producing  by Maureen A. Ryan, an award-winning producer whose credits include the documentaries Man on Wire, Dick Johnson Is Dead, and Becoming. 

This is the Bible for learning to develop & produce in the film industry.

One of the most asked questions is, “What do Producers do?” Maureen Ryan says, “They make it happen.”

This is what we are teaching, how to “make it happen” with developing and an emphasis on funding.

 

Year 2 and beyond of the Producer’s Class will expand on topics explored in Year 1 and new topics! 

 

About the Class

 

ONGOING NOW! JOIN ANY TIME

 

Taught Every 2 Saturdays at 9am PT 

 

Live On Zoom – Classes are 1.5 – 2 Hours

Hosted by Carole Dean

Special Guest Instructor with Q&A Each Class

Film Attorney Robert Siegel Joins Each Class

Join by Monthly Subscription

2 Classes per Month for $44

Get Class Recording Free

  

Get your First Month

(2 Classes) for Free!

Recordings of Completed Classes Now Available for Sale! 

Hear What Our Students are Saying!

Lorenzo DeStefano

Filmmaker – “Stairway to the Stars”

“Another excellent and informative From The Heart Productions presentation. Congratulations.”

 

Julia Campanelli

Filmmaker

“These classes make producing seem possible, when usually it seems so overwhelming, like climbing Mt. Everest without a guide.”

 

Alexis Rafael

Filmmaker

“This is really helpful! So clearly presented. Thank you.”

 

Melissa Morehead

Writer / Producer – “Prodigal Daughter”

“I started the producers class with no experience except standin experience on the movie set. I was amazed at how much I have learned in such a short time from advice on the script to what needed documents that are nessary for legal representation in producing a film. The support alone has been outstanding. I would recommend this class to anyone who is serious about making a film.”

 

Irina Chernikina

Writer / Producer / Director

“From The Heart Productions has become an essential part of packaging all of my projects as my fiscal sponsor. Thank you Carole Dean and Carole Joyce for your dedication to filmmakers’ success, I’ve learned a lot from your courses and mentorship!”

 

Paula Randol-Smith

Director / Producer – “Forecast the Film”

“Through From The Heart’ss Producer’s Class you will get it all! The class will give you tens of thousands of dollars worth of training in production, for a nominal fee,  from the legal know-how of Robert Siegel, ESQ., to the experts across the board with the film industries top professionals. Carole Dean’s love of storytelling through film and the love and true caring of the filmmaker has gotten me personally through the most difficult documentary production of my career.


I could not afford to pay for the information that I’ve gotten from the Producers Class. It is an affordable treasure that gives the participant only hands on, factually solid support in their filmmaking ventures. I didn’t know then what I do know now, and much of that is from the help I’ve gotten through what I’ve learned in From The Heart’s Producer’s Class.

 

I could not just recommend this film class enough – don’t wait, you should jump in and get everything they’ve got and learn everything you can to get your film made.  From The Heart’s Producer’s Class has it all!”

Your First Month is Free!

Next Class

CLASS 39 – Saturday, October 12th, 2024

 

How to Avoid Getting Sued as a Producer 

 

 

Guest Instructor: James Forsher

James Forsher PhD has been producing non-fiction programming focusing on Hollywood for over 4 decades (www.forshermedia.com His television programs include the hour long RODDENBERRY;S TREK (2023), The hour long Elvis and the Girl from Vienna (ORF, 2017), the twenty-six part HOLLYWOOD CHRONICLES for the Discovery Channel (1990), the eight-part PBS series CHANGING CULTURE OF THE WORKPLACE (1995), THE HOLLYWOOD CENSORSHIP WARS for the Arts & Entertainment Network (1994), LOST WARRIORS for PBS (1998) and the thirteen part THE 1960’s for Encore! Feature length specials include HOLLYWOOD UNCENSORED and HOLLYWOOD GHOST STORIES (which have aired on such systems as Cinemax and. Dr.Forsher wrote THE COMMUNITY OF CINEMA: HOW CINEMA AND SPECTACLE TRANSFORMED THE AMERICAN DOWNTOWN (Praeger, 2002).

He has served as a consultant for a number of organizations, including ABC News, PBS Marketplace. He also was a producer of visual content for Pearson and Allyn & Bacon Publishers.

Dr. Forsher is a retired Associate Professor in Communication, having taught at The University of Vienna, California State University, East Bay, Seattle University, Temple University and Florida State University. He has also served as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Vienna and Klagenfurt University in 2015 and received a 2023 Botstiber Fellowship to work out of Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. His background is a blend of an interest in American cultural institutions and communication studies, which he has examined both in written works and as a television producer.

We Cover: 

The talk explores the idea behind ‘image rights.’  Everything that goes into a film today is possibly litigious, and we will explore how to protect yourself against that nasty letter you get from an attorney saying that ‘you used material owned by their client.’

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

We have our attorney on the class to answer your legal questions.  Robert has been helping filmmakers with all phases of production and sales to cable and streamers for over 20 years.  He specializes in documentary and feature films.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Get your First Month (2 Classes) for Free!

 

Then Only $44/Month

Completed Classes

 

Recordings of past classes with incredible special guest instructors are now available for purchase! 

 

Click here to learn more about these classes and find a link to purchase recordings.

 

 

Class 1: Acquiring Rights with Alexis Krasilovsky

Class 2: Screenplay Creation & Revision with Jacob Kreuger

Class 3: Script Feedback with Max Aaron

Class 4: Log Lines with Kara Williamson

Class 5: Film Grants with Joanna Rabiger

Class 6: HNI’s & Investors with Kara Williamson

Class 7: Distribution with Udy Epstein

Class 8: The Art of the Pitch with Kara Williamson

Class 9: Trailers with Michael Torres

Class 10: Color Correction with Sam Dlugach

Class 11: Script Breakdown with Kara Williamson

Class 12: Budgeting with Jonathon M. Smith

Class 13: Film Funding with Kara Williamson

Class 14: Casting with Donna McKenna

Class 15: Locations & Hiring Crew with Chris Debiec

Class 16: Legal with Robert Siegel

Class 17: Scheduling with Kara Williamson

Class 18: Fair Use and Insurance with Deborah J. West

Class 19: Production with Lorenzo DeStefano

Class 20: Safety & Wrap with Colette Smartt

Class 21: Post-Production with Chris Debiec

Class 22: Audio with Jerry Deaton

Class 23: Music with David Raiklen

Class 25: Film Festivals with Anabelle D. Munro

Class 24: Marketing with Tony Panaccio

Class 25: Film Festivals with Anabelle D. Munro

Class 26: Low Budget Screenwriting Masterclass – Part 1 with Jonathon M. Smith

Class 27: Low Budget Screenwriting Masterclass – Part 2 with Jonathon M. Smith

Class 28: Documentary Distribution with Keith Ochwat

Class 29: Fundraising Parties with Carole Dean

Class 30: Pitching Your Project with Carole Dean

Class 31: Story Structure with Karen Everett

Class 32: Development with Kara Williamson

Class 33: Distribution with Gary Rubin

Class 34: Media Relations with Tony Panaccio

Class 35: How to Make Money on YouTube with Jonathon M. Smith

Class 37: What Happens After the Sale with Brynn Lucas

Class 37: How to Hire a DP with Michael Hofstein

Class 38: How Generative A.I. Will Transform Independent Filmmaking with Jonathon M. Smith

You can also purchase Year 1 of the Producer’s Class (26 Classes*) for a special price of $440.

 

Upcoming Classes

CLASS 40 – Saturday, October 26, 2024

 

Editing

Guest Instructor: Gael Chandler

Gael Chandler, based in Los Angeles, was nominated twice for a Cable Emmy for comedy editing and has trained hundreds of professionals on digital editing systems and students on editing systems, practices and theory.

She has edited comedies, dramas, documentaries, features, corporate videos, and promos, and cut on every type of medium: film, tape, and digital. Nominated twice for a Cable ACE award for editing a comedy series.

Additionally she has taught editing practices and history at Loyola Marymount University and California State Universities at Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Northridge, and has trained hundreds of professionals, independent filmmakers, professors, and students to operate digital editing equipment.

She is author of the book “Editing for Directors”.

We Cover:

  • How to shoot right for editing
  • What an editor brings to the party
  • Hiring a collaborator
  • What you want from your editor
  • In the cutting room: from dailies to first cut

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 41 – Saturday, November 9, 2024

 

Distribution

Guest Instructor: Jon Reiss

Jon Reiss is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, author, media strategist, and speaker. He began his film career at the notorious Target Video where he not only shot seminal bands such as Black Flag, Iggy Pop, Throbbing Gristle, and The Cramps, but also filmed and edited a series of videos documenting Mark Pauline’s Survival Research Laboratories’ early performances. He collaborated with SRL on a short film, A Bitter Message of Hopeless Grief, which played numerous festivals – including Sundance, Berlin, and New Directors/New Films.

His feature films Bomb It, Better Living Through Circuitry, and Cleopatra’s Second Husband have all been released theatrically in the US and broadcast throughout the world. He has also directed numerous music videos including, notoriously, “Happiness in Slavery” for Nine Inch Nails.

Reiss has worked as a producer on the series In The Making for Firelight Media, as well as the documentaries The Good Breast, Sweetheart Dancers (for Showtime), and Desolation Center.

Additionally, he has conducted workshops and presentations around the world including Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca. As a consultant – through his company 8 Above – he has advised hundreds of filmmakers and film organizations on distribution strategies. 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 42 – Saturday, November 23, 2024

 

TBA

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 43 – Saturday, December 7, 2024

 

TBA

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 44 – Saturday, December 28, 2024

 

Goals for 2025

Carole-Dean

Instructor: Carole dean

Carole Dean is the Founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that supports independent filmmakers by helping them raise funding for their projects. Over thirty years through From the Heart’s fiscal sponsorship program, she has assisted filmmakers in raising over $30 million for their films.  

She created the Roy Dean Grant in 1992 and has awarded over $2,500,000 in grants to independent filmmakers, and helped to produce over 80 films through the grant. 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 45 – Saturday, January 11, 2025

 

TBA

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

CLASS 46 – Saturday, January 25, 2025

 

Editing

 

Instructor: Karen Everett

Karen Everett is one of the world’s leading documentary story consultants, as well as an award-winning documentary filmmaker.  She taught editing for 18 years at the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley, named the #1-ranked documentary program in America by Documentary Magazine.  Karen founded New Doc Editing LLC, an editing and story consulting business. She has helped hundreds of filmmakers structure compelling documentaries for venues such as PBS, HBO, community screenings and top film festivals such as Sundance and Telluride. Author of Documentary Editing, she has directed and produced six of her own documentaries, including the award-winning PBS biography I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs. She can be reached at Karen@newdocediting.com

 

We Cover:

  • How do you shape a mountain of footage into an impactful and entertaining documentary? 
  • Tips on editing your trailer
  • How to reduce costs on editing your documentary

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.

Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

Completed Classes

Click on a Class Title to Learn More or Purchase Recording

 

You can also purchase the first full year of the Producer’s Class (26 Classes) for a special price of $440.

Buy the Class
Recording for $26

 

Acquiring Rights

Producer to Producer book, pgs. 1-6 

Carole shares from Maureen Ryan’s Producer to Producer how to use this book. We cover the various producers’ jobs and
titles. How to develop your film, acquire rights, and how important a chain of title is to your film. Alexis
Krasilovsky teaches adaptations. Lorenzo DeStafano shares rights and chain of title. Carole Joyce teaches how to
create a log line and introduces us to people in the industry. We close the class with questions and answers.

Photo Credit: Kim Gottlieb-WalkerGuest Instructor: Alexis Krasilovsky

ALEXIS KRASILOVSKY was born in Alaska, survived sexual assault at gunpoint, know what it’s like to be completely
deaf, and has traveled to over twenty countries. She studied film at Yale and CalArts (MFA Film/Video) and is an
award-winning filmmaker (“Women Behind the Camera” and other films). Alexis is the author of “Great Adaptations:
Screenwriting and Global Storytelling” (– 2nd Place Winner, 2019 International Writers Awards) and Professor
Emerita of Screenwriting, California State University Northridge. She is currently adapting a children’s story
with Shameem Akhtar about a Bengal tiger in Bangladesh. See www.alexiskrasilovsky.com for more.

We Cover:

  • Pages 1 through 6 in Producer to Producer.
  • Finding the idea or the material.
  • Learning to say no.
  • Studying scripts.
  • Development process.
  • Do you legally have the rights to your material?
  • Rights acquisition of script and or underlying material.
  • How to write a logline.
  • We introduce you to top service people in our industry

A vast majority of Academy Award-winning Best Pictures, television movies of the week, and mini-series are
adaptations, watched by millions of people globally. Great Adaptations: Screenwriting and Global
Storytelling examines the technical methods of adapting novels, short stories, plays, life stories, magazine
articles, blogs, comic books, graphic novels and video games from one medium to another, focusing on the
screenplay. Written in a clear and succinct style, perfect for intermediate and advanced screenwriting
students

Homework: Please read Screenplay Creation and Revision and Screenwriting Software for next class in Producer
to Producer, page 6 through 21. You can listen to an interview with Christopher and Kathy Riley from their
book The Defining Moment on how defining moments build characters.
https://d1at8ppinvdju8.cloudfront.net/1/215/show_12159396_2022_10_24_16_54_35.mp3


Read Unleashing the power of the film crew blog here:
https://fromtheheartproductions.com/carole-dean-blog

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Screenplay Creation and Revision

Producer to Producer book, pgs. 6-18 

Guest Instructor: Jacob Krueger

The founder of Jacob Krueger Studio, Jacob has worked with thousands of writers, from Academy and Tony Award Winners, to beginning writers picking up the pen for the first time. Jacob is a WGA Paul Selvin Award Winning screenwriter, playwright, producer and director. Jacob’s first produced movie, the Emmy Award Winning “The Matthew Shepard Story” (2002) won him the Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Award and a Gemini Nomination for Best Screenplay. He has collaborated on original film musicals with Tony Award winning composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) and with four-time Academy Award Composer Michel Legrand (Yentl, The Thomas Crown Affair), as well as a full slate of solo projects ranging from Feature Films to TV and Miniseries.

We Cover:

  • What are the most common mistakes screenwriters make and how can they be avoided? This information is excellent for documentary filmmakers because they are writers too. Producers of documentaries and narratives need to know the structure of a feature and how to create their scripts just like screenwriters do.
  • They say when you finish your first draft you are 7% completed, so what do you do next?
  • How do writers create multilayered characters like Saul in Better Call Saul?
  • How do writers approach writing dialogue that is natural and engaging.
  • What is the difference between plot driven and character driven stories for features and documentaries?
  • What tools can you recommend to help writers? What books do you recommend writers read?
  • How do writers deal with producers who are concerned about money? How do you negotiate with a writer who wants you to blow up a bridge when you don’t have that in the budget?
Robert Siegel, Esq. is on the class to answer any questions about contracts or other legal issues. Lorenzo DeStefano, our resident producer, will answer any production questions. While documentaries are often less dialogue-driven than screenplays, the dialogue that does exist must be carefully crafted to reveal character and move the story forward. Screenwriting classes teach students how to write natural-sounding dialogue that advances the story and reveals character, which can be applied to documentaries as well.

Carole Joyce will discuss how to write a Documentary proposal.

  • Crafting a compelling introduction or synopsis.
  • Writing a personal filmmaker statement that conveys your dedication to the project.
  • Tips and techniques to win over grantors and investors.
Homework: Start working on your log line. See this page for help: https://fromtheheartproductions.com/film-financing-and-fundraising

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Getting Feedback on the Script

Producer to Producer, pgs. 16-29 – A step by step guide for low budget independent filmmaking 

Guest Instructor: Max Aaron

An award winning filmmaker based in London, England. Max has worked on over a dozen feature films and two television pilots as a script consultant and has directed over twenty short films, all with a uniquely charming and whimsical stamp. Since graduating from the prestigious MetFilm School in 2015, he has gone on to write and direct multiple short films and established Dreamology Pictures . Max’s latest film as Director was the multi-award winning Hitchcockian thriller and dark comedy ‘Stalled‘, which picked up awards for ‘Best Director’. ‘Best Thriller’, ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Cinematographer’ at the Falcon International Film Festival London and participated in the London Lift – Off Film Festival Online on Vimeo On Demand .

We Cover:

  • Creating your log line, creating a feature or documentary proposal, bios, production plan, budget and financing plan.
  • What is coverage?
  • Why do you need coverage?
  • How to use coverage to improve your script.
  • What you should get from a coverage expert.
  • What grantors and donors want in a documentary proposal.
We will learn why coverage on your script is so important. You will know what to expect from a coverage expert and hear how this benefits you. We discuss how to use this information to improve your script. We offer information on documentary coverage. We discuss what grantors and large donors want in a documentary proposal. We close the class with production questions. Introduce students to industry people who give good discounts to our FTH filmmakers and who are donors to From the Heart’s Roy Dean Grants.

We offer information on documentary coverage. We discuss what grantors and large donors want in a documentary proposal.

We explain how to create a great log line. We go over your documentary & feature outline/proposal and tell you what we want in our grants. We follow Maureen’s book with information on each item needed to go into your proposal for a documentary and in your deck for your script. How sectioning your information in to Theme, background and need, etc. can enhance your materials. Carole Joyce introduces you to our donor who creates posters and discusses the importance of an outstanding image to brand your material from day one.
Homework: Finalize your log line for the next class. Read the information 16-29 in Producer to Producer for the next class.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Log Line:

How to create and why you need it. We will read and critique log lines with Kara’s help.

Producer to Producer book, pgs. 29-43 

Guest Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges.

We Cover:

  • Writing a documentary or feature synopsis.
  • Creating your deck using Tom Malloy’s outline for a deck as all the legal information is current.
  • Bios of your key people
  • Finding Comparison projects
  • How important is your budget?
  • Robert Siegel, Esq. will answer questions on contracts.

Carole Joyce reviews hundreds of grant applications for the Roy Dean Great. She shares what she looks for in grant applications for documentaries, features and shorts. We close class with production questions. Introduce students to industry people who give good discounts to our FTH filmmakers and who are donors of FTH grants.

Carole Joyce reviews hundreds of grant applications for the Roy Dean Great. She shares how important the distribution area is for us. Who is your audience? We want you to tell us that you know your audience and you are communicating with them now or will communicate with them via social networks during the making of the film. We want to know where your film belongs. What streamer you think will be best for this film. Will you keep educational and community screenings for your own use? How will you reach your audience with your documentary? Carole shares one of From the Heart grant donors with the class. We know these people have excellent products and they are heart-felt donors and care for independent film

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Film Grants:

How to find, how to write your proposal, how to win.

Producer to Producer book, pgs. 19-21, 35-44 

Guest Instructor: Joanna Rabiger

Joanna Rabiger is a documentary film grant writer and consultant specializing in writing award-winning proposals for independent documentary films since 2004. Films for which she has secured grant funding include American Sons (forthcoming), Storming Caesars Palace (Independent Lens 2023), Building the American Dream (Voces, 2020), First Vote (America Reframed, 2020), Belly of the Beast (Independent Lens, 2020), Conscience Point (Independent Lens, 2019), Decade of Fire (Independent Lens, 2019), Disclosure (Netflix, 2018), Served Like A Girl (Independent Lens, 2018), Voices of the Sea (POV, 2018), What Was Ours (Independent Lens, 2017) and many more. Current directors with whom she works include Dan Habib, PJ Raval, Kristina Goolsby, Bara Jichova Tyson, Theresa Loong, and Kim Hopkins.

Instructor: Carole Dean

Carole Dean is the Founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that supports independent filmmakers by helping them raise funding for their projects. Over thirty years through From the Heart’s fiscal sponsorship program, she has assisted filmmakers in raising over $30 million for their films. She created the Roy Dean Grant in 1992 and has awarded over $2,500,000 in grants to independent filmmakers, and helped to produce over 80 films through the grant.

We Cover:

  • Information on applying for grants. Joanna excels in helping filmmakers win grants.
  • What goes into an award-winning proposal.
  • How to apply for grants for features, docs, shorts and webisodes.
  • What donors and grantors want to know but may never ask.
  • What is the best search engine for grants.

Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy Dean Grants explains how to apply for grants. What grantors want on their outlines. She reads and reviews filmmakers proposals for documentaries and outlines and scripts for shorts and outlines and decks for features.

Carole Dean shares tips from a grantor on what we really want to know from your proposals and decks. She will also share when and how to hire a grant writer and what to expect when applying for film grants. Homework: read pages 22-34 of Producer to Producer.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Pitching HNI’s and Closing Investors

Producer to Producer book pages 45-68 

Guest Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges.

Robert Seigel will discuss a project’s financial “waterfall” including:

Documentary Producers Alliance Guidelines for the waterfall. https://www.documentary.org/feature/documentary-producers-alliance-unveils-guidelines-documentary-waterfall We suggest you read this information if you are making a documentary.

We Cover:

  • What streamers want and how to approach them.
  • How to pitch a distributor.
  • What you need to close distributors.
  • How do you reach the streamers?
Close class with production questions. Introduce students to industry people who give good discounts to our FTH filmmakers and who are donors of FTH grants. Homework: Read pages 45-51 in Producer to Producer.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Securing Film Distribution: Tactics and Techniques

Producer to Producer pages 45 -51 

Guest Instructor: Udy Epstein Teaches Distribution

Udy Epstein is a distributor and producer of independent and specialized films. Originally from Israel, he studied film at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. In 1994, he founded 7th Art Releasing. The company is noted for its releases of award-winning feature films such as the Academy Award® winning documentary, The Long Way Home. Other films include: Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz, The Jewish Experience, Walter Arlen’s First Century, Persona Non Grata, The Law, Murer: Anatomy of a Trial, 50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, The Prince and the Dybbuk, Portrait of Wally, Jews and Baseball and many more. With a focus on documentaries and over 25 years of experience in launching award-winning films, 7th Art handles sales and releasing in all markets: theatrical and non-theatrical, festival, educational, television, cable, and home video, including digital and VOD. Their expertise and knowledge of the independent film landscape has lead to major festival awards and multiple Academy Award nominations for our films. Since 1994, Seventh Art Releasing has been distributing award-winning independent and foreign films domestically and abroad with the mission to bring unique films to the widest possible audience.

Guest Instructor: Udy Epstein Teaches Distribution

Jenny Waldo got her start in the documentary/educational industry of her hometown, Washington, DC. While earning her MFA in Film Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where she won a directing scholarship, Jenny continued to work on documentaries while also pursuing her passion for scripted filmmaking. Producing credits include the indie feature The Preacher’s Daughter which sold to Lifetime and the feature documentary The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. Developing a hybrid approach to her own work, Jenny’s debut feature film as a writer/director, Acid Test, is a coming-of-age story based on her own tumble through self-discovery as a 1990’s Riot Grrrl. Acid Test premiered at the 2021 Austin Film Festival and is now available for digital rental. Jenny’s second feature, Martha’s Mustang, is also based on a true story from the 90’s about a woman in the man’s world of auto body repair who gets into a fight with City Hall over a hot pink Mustang. Jenny was selected for the From the Heart Intentional Filmmaking Workshop. An advocate for diversity in film and upcoming filmmakers, Jenny was Program Coordinator at the non-profit Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) and now teaches filmmaking at Houston Community College. www.jennywaldo.com

Robert Seigel shares information on two types of distributors. Those that simply acquire films for distribution and those that help with financing, producing and distribution. Seems this is a smaller group.

We Cover:

  • What streamers want and how to approach them.
  • How to pitch a distributor.
  • What you need to close distributors.
  • How do you reach the streamers?

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

The Art of the Pitch

 

Guest Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges. Practice pitching to Grant Funders We have 4 intrepid filmmakers who will pitch us their films and get feedback.

We Cover:

  • How to Contact a grantor before you submit.
  • Pitching a grantor.
  • Creating strategic partners with nonprofits and corporations.
  • The art of pitching your film for funding and donations.
  • How to use your nonprofit fiscal sponsor to ask for discounts.

Robert Siegel Covers:

1. COPYRIGHT IS BASED ON WRITTEN EXPRESSIONS. THEREFORE PITCHING WORK IS NOT COPYRIGHTABLE. IDEAS ARE NOT COPYRIGHTABLE. VAGUE, GENERIC, OR STOCK “IDEAS” ARE NOT PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW. 2. PRIOR TO SHARING A MOVIE IDEA, WRITERS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES BY GETTING THE IDEA RECIPIENT TO AGREE TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR SHARING THE IDEA IF THEY WIND UP USING IT. IDEALLY, A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WOULD BE SIGNED BUT THAT IS NOT ALWAYS PRACTICAL. A CONTRACT CAN BE IMPLIED-IN-FACT THROUGH AN ORAL AGREEMENT OR COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH EMAIL. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE SOMETHING IN WRITING. KEEP AN E-MAIL CHAIN OF SUBMISSIONS (WITH E-MAIL FOLLOW UP AFTER PRESENTATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUBMISSION AND CONFIRM THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARTIES ESPECIALLY IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN.) CONFIRMATION IN WRITING BY PRODUCER IS BETTER BUT NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

Carole Joyce will introduce you to another donor to our grants.

Homework: See the Everything class with Karen Everett when she shows how to edit trailers and there are three classes about trailers here: https://fromtheheartproductions.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-film-funding This is a special pitch session just for those who did not get to pitch on July 8th. You can sign up here and pitch us in a special pitch class on July 18 at 10am. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcu-hrTkuG9eCB6ptZiSBjiPVM5SNVLsL

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Mastering Trailers for Fundraising and Engagement

 

Guest Instructor: Michael Torres

Filmmaker, Editor, and Post Production Consultant. Michael combines his love of filmmaking and art to create living stories that uplift, inspire, and make us feel. Michael has created original content for The Spring Hill Company, YouTube Originals, Fox Sports, Spotify Studios, The NFL Network, and ESPN. When he’s not in production, Michael is a teacher of metaphysical studies and meditation at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles. Visit mtorresproductions.comto learn more.

We Cover:

  • How to shoot interviews to get the answers you need for your trailer.
  • How music plays an important role in the trailer.
  • Why funding trailers are a major necessity for docs.
  • Making trailers for your feature.
  • Editing your fundraising trailer.
Carole and Michael share different types of trailers you can make. How long they should be and tips on testing trailers. This is a major source of income for documentaries, webisodes and TV series. Close class with production questions Homework: Read the blog: Wizard of Oz on my interview with top color correction artist Sam Dlugach. https://fromtheheartproductions.com/a-good-colorist-is-the-wizard-of-oz/

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Color correction sets the mood of the film.

 

Guest Instructor: Sam Dlugach

Sam Dlugach won our Roy W. Dean Film Grant in 1996 and is one of the best colorists in LA. He has over 30-years’ experience working with all types of films. Sam works for a major production company, but moonlights helping indie features and documentaries. He generously gives us his time to serve as a judge for the grant and donates his services to the winners. Please make sure to have read the blog “A Good Colorist is the Wizard of Oz” before class to understand exactly what a Colorist does. https://fromtheheartproductions.com/a-good-colorist-is-the-wizard-of-oz/

We Cover for Investment:

  • The benefits of color correction
  • How your color correctionist can advise you on camera settings
  • Save money on post productions

Finding the right person early in production can benefit you in many ways. Color correction artists advice should be included in choosing and using cameras, setting a mood for each act and much more. Bring your questions for Sam to answer.

Close class with production questions. Introduce students to industry people who give good discounts to our FTH filmmakers and who are donors of FTH grants. Homework: Read chapter 2 on script breakdown.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Learning script breakdown and completing the breakdown sheet Advice to make decision for original music or purchase existing. When and how to bring on your attorney.

Learning script breakdown and completing the breakdown sheet 

Kara Williamson covers script breakdown. Script breakdowns are used for fiction or nonfiction projects with narrative elements like recreations. Maureen Ryan suggests you do this yourself rather than use a computer because it will be much more accurate. Kara simplifies how to do this. During production the producer often makes the script breakdown as the assistant director has not been hired.

Carole Dean and Kara Williamson discuss how important the cover sheet of the budget is. Your breakdown sheet will give you the figures for your budget. As grantors and film funders we give you what we think are important aspects that we look for on the top sheet. How people have lost grants by having their top sheet wrong. It is one of the most important elements in funding and financing your film.

Robert Seigel discusses composer agreements as well as synchronization licenses for songs and master use licenses for pre-existing recordings.

David Raiklen is a talented composer with top studio clients. He will share information on when to bring on your music person. He will answer questions and explain the costs and benefits of original music vs purchasing existing music.

We Cover:

  • Script breakdown
  • Importance of the top sheet
  • Original music or existing, what is best for you.
  • Benefits and timing of hiring a music person
  • Answer all questions

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Budgeting

Pages 69 through 75 of the Producer to Producer book. 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years. He started his career doing promos for Disney and Vogue as a teenager, and continued to work on multiple sets like Hannah Montana, Greek, Numbers, Heart of Dixie, and The Mandalorian. At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a feature film called “The Terrible Children”. It has already been picked up by a distributor and is scheduled to release in the fall. On top of his film career, Jonathon has done work for SAAS companies and the educational industry.

We Cover for Investment:

  • When you should create your first budget
  • Everything but the kitchen sink budget
  • Bare bones budget
  • Budgeting software
  • Top sheet

Carole Dean Covers:

  • What grantors want to see in your budget
  • How your budget can help you win or lose grants
  • Getting real quotes for your grants.
  • How important it is to be able to defend your budget.
  • You should know every line item.

Carole Joyce Covers:

  • Donors to the Dean grant to use on your films
  • She explains how important it is to bring on people early in production
  • Why you want your sound and color and D.P. in meetings with your director

Robert Siegel talks about what to budget for legal in a doc and a feature.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Film Funding

Producer to Producer book pages 108-111 

Guest Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges.

We Cover for Investment:

  • Presales
  • Sales agents
  • Equity investors
  • Deferred payment deals
  • Union signatory film agreements
  • Donations and fiscal sponsorship

Carole Joyce will discuss successful crowdfunding techniques.

Carole Dean discusses how to apply for grants. She has been reviewing and awarding grants for 30 years and this is a compilation of important tips to win a grant.

Robert Seigel covers the legal information.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Pages 120 through 129 of the Producer to Producer book. 

Guest Instructor: Donna McKenna

Donna McKenna, CSA, is an award winning, international casting director, producer and educator. She has cast numerous independent films, TV show, episodic radio shows, pilots and web-series during her more than 20 years in the business. These projects have received theatrical distribution and can be seen on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Apple as well as Direct TV and other streaming platforms. Among some of her kudos are a Voice Arts Award for Best Ensemble Cast Performance Audio Show, the IndieFest Casting Award, Best Ensemble Casting from Blast Off FIlm Festival for Alter Ego and most recently received Runner Up 2020 Mandy.com Casting Director Award. Donna teaches actors the craft of acting, improvisation, and audition techniques as well as a course called “Producing Your Career”, and the McKenna Method Workshops (www.mckennamethod.com).

We Cover:

  • Hiring a casting director
  • Attaching an actor or star to your project
  • Pay or play deal
  • The casting process
  • Labor rules for minors
  • Extras, background actor casting
  • To be union or not to be union?

Carole Joyce shares about From the Heart Productions new partnership with Largo.AI, the film industry’s leading artificial intelligence based program designed to give filmmakers crucial data and recommendations about their films.

Carole will share all about how the program works and walk through the results of a Largo report from an actual From the Heart Filmmaker. Read all about Largo below or Click Here to Learn More.

Robert Siegel, Esq., covers contracts with casting director and actors.

Carole Dean shares information from Think and Grow Rich because your mind is your greatest asset in filmmaking.

artificial intelligence film analysis

The information that Largo provides is an invaluable tool for pitching your film to investors and distributors, hiring crew, and making casting decisions. From content analysis and financial forecasts to character & casting analysis and packaging tools, Largo.ai is designed to empower traditional content creation workflows and help producers, distributors, and studios make smarter, more informed decisions. 

Data from Largo is derived from 

65,000 + Movies

50,000 + TV Shows

950,000 + Talents

Included with Report

Here are examples of just a few of the sections you’ll get in your analysis. 

(These results are from an actual report from a From the Heart Filmmaker. The project name has been removed)

Financial Forecasts

Largo gives you detailed breakdowns of expected box office revenues for domestic and global markets. You’ll also get predictions for number of streaming views and the potential value of your project for major streaming services. Largo can also generate detailed financial projection reports based on Low, Average, and High forecasts. 

 Emotions Analysis

The Emotion Analysis graph illustrates the shifting dynamics of emotions throughout a story.  The system intelligently breaks down the narrative into essential story sections and assesses the presence of 8 distinct emotions within each section. This graph offers valuable insights into the rhythm, pacing, and dominant emotions present in the content, providing users with a comprehensive understanding for expected emotional experience for the audience.

Positive Emotion Score indicates the distribution of positive and negative emotions within the content. A positive score suggests a prevalence of positive emotions such as Joy, Surprise, and Trust, while a negative score suggests a dominance of negative emotions such as Anger, Disgust, Fear, and Sadness. A score close to 0 signifies a balanced emotional landscape. It’s important to note that positive or negative scores do not inherently imply whether the content is good or bad, but rather provide insight into its stylistic positioning compared to other films.

Emotional Intensity Score reflects the intensity of emotional storytelling within the narrative. A higher score signifies a heightened intensity of positive and/or negative emotions, often correlating with increased user engagement. Conversely, a lower score may indicate a lack of emotional depth or a predominance of neutral storytelling. While there is no definitive formula for determining the ideal score, this metric aids in understanding the content’s positioning relative to other films.

You’ll also receive detailed analysis of your project’s genre breakdown, similar film comparison, audience demographics and age suitability.

Casting Suggestions

The system analyzes your casting suggestions and proposes its own suggestions for the best casting choices for each main character. It shows how good of a match they are, how popular they are, and the reasons they were suggested. This can be invaluable information to a casting director and to the potential actors you’d like to hire. 

Through our partnership with Largo, From the Heart is now offering reports generated by Largo.AI for our fiscally sponsored filmmakers 

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Pages 177 through 197 of the Producer to Producer book. 

Guest Instructor: Chris Debiec

Christopher Debiec is an award-winning writer/producer/executive with an impressive thirty-four-year track record in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Some of his credits include Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar, The Crow for Miramax, The Devil’s Advocate, Mad City for Warner Brothers, The Out of Towners for Paramount Studios, and the ground breaking “first of its kind” live-action animation Dinosaur for Walt Disney Studios. From 2000-2005, Chris was called on James Cameron to supervise production for the Emmy Award winning Earthship Productions. In 2010, Chris was recruited as Vice President of Production at Entertainment One Television (eOne). He spearheaded the alternative programming division for cable and network distributors such as Syfy, CW, WETV, BET, MTV, A&E, Discovery Channel, Oxygen and Fox Sports. In 2019, Chris was the Production Executive for Leyline/A24’s The Green Knight. Chris is now the CEO of newly formed award-winning studio Civilized Entertainment.

We Cover:

  • Create location list
  • The specifics of location scouting
  • Check with local film commissions for leads
  • Alternatives to hiring a location scout
  • Finalizing location and negotiating the deal
  • Backup locations
  • Paperwork and location release form
  • General liability insurance certificate
  • Permits
  • Shoot day protocol
  • Leave it better than you found it

Robert Siegel, Esq. covers paperwork for locations.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Scheduling

(Thanksgiving is on the normal day) 

Legal

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Siegel

Entertainment Attorney with 20 over years’ experience with independent feature and documentary filmmakers. He has negotiated contracts with HBO, PBS, and most all streamers. Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

We Cover:

  • Chain of title
  • Production issues
  • Financing Paperwork
  • General agreements
  • Distribution agreements

Carole Joyce will introduce you to a donor to our grants who has excellent prices and quality products

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Scheduling

(Thanksgiving is on the normal day) 

Guest Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges. “Scheduling is one of the most critical steps in the preproduction process. It’s the road map for the project.” Maureen A Ryan, Producer to Producer

We Cover:

  • Schedule principals
  • Shooting schedule analysis
  • Shooting script analysis
  • Scheduling each shoot day
  • Feeding your crew

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers legal information needed for post. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Lights, Camera, Legal: Fair Use and Film Insurance

(Last class of year) 

Guest Instructor: Deborah J. West

In 2013, Debbie became a licensed insurance broker and began working at MovieInsure.com, Inc. with brother David Karubian. Debbie continues to work diligently to find the most economical pricing option for the coverage needed. She has enjoyed watching her client’s businesses grow over the years. Clients who started off with short term policies and then graduated to annual DICE policies. Although, the main office of MovieInsure.com is in Northridge, Debbie is located in Memphis, TN and caters to all U.S. time zones.

We Cover:

  • Annual DICE policies
  • Annual Equipment floaters for owned equipment.
  • Production Portfolios for Feature Films
  • Short Term policies
  • Errors and Omissions

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers legal information needed for post. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

From Day One to a Wrap: Essential Strategies for Success in Film and Media Production with Lorenzo DeStefano and Legal Insights from Robert Siegel

Pages 254 -266 in Producer to Producer 

Guest Instructor: Lorenzo DeStefano

Lorenzo DeStefano is an artist extraordinaire, He has written highly successful books, plays and screen plays. He has directed and produced documentaries and shorts.See full resume here

We Cover:

  • First day of photography to do list
  • Second day disasters
  • Wrap check list
  • Enemy of production
  • The actualized budget

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers legal information needed for post. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

The Art of Post: Navigating the Postproduction Landscape with Jonathon Smith and Legal Considerations from Robert Siegel

Pages 301 – 317 in Producer to Producer book 

Safety First: A Comprehensive Guide to Production Security and Wrap Strategies with Colette Smartt and Legal Insights by Robert Siegel

Pages 267-286 in Producer to Producer book 

Guest Instructor: Colette Smartt

Born in Brisbane, QLD, Australia, Colette Smartt began her career officially at the age of 11 when she joined The Fame Agency. Colette has a long history of Film, Television, Theater, Modeling, Live performance, Singing, Dancing, Writing and more recently Directing and Producing. Since moving to the United States, Colette has done everything from industrial to commercial shoots, independent film and short film festival projects. Colette continues to study acting and filmmaking. In 2017, Colette was awarded a scholarship to attend a summer intensive for The Film School in Seattle, WA, where studied screenwriting and story development, and production with Tom Skerrit and Disney Pixar story developers to name a few. In 2017, Colette became Co founder, Executive Producer, Writer, Director for Soul Element Films, a creative film collaborative in the Pacific North West.

We Cover:

  • Preparing for safety in pre-production
  • Location permissions and planning
  • Unset precautions and protocols
  • Security for post and deliverables
  • Safety protocols for equipment

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers legal information needed for post. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

The Art of Post: Navigating the Postproduction Landscape with Jonathon Smith and Legal Considerations from Robert Siegel

Pages 301 – 317 in Producer to Producer book 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years. He started his career doing promos for Disney and Vogue as a teenager, and continued to work on multiple sets like Hannah Montana, Greek, Numbers, Heart of Dixie, and The Mandalorian. At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a feature film called “The Terrible Children”. It has already been picked up by a distributor and is scheduled to release in the fall. On top of his film career, Jonathon has done work for SAAS companies and the educational industry.

We Cover:

  • Post Production begins in Pre-Production
  • Planning for post
  • Putting together a post production team
  • Digital workflow example
  • Deliverables

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers legal information needed for post. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Capturing Sonic Brilliance: A Journey through Set Sound and Post Audio with Jerry Deaton, Enhanced by Legal Insights from Robert Siegel

Pages 320 – 326 in Producer to Producer book 

 

Guest Instructor: Jerry Deaton

Jerry Deaton, a 35-year music production veteran, launched AUDIOKUT DIGITAL POST to service a growing demand in this age of shrinking film & T.V. budgets: Economical, efficient small-stage audio post-production. AudioKut can provide state-of-the-art technology and personal attention to independent films, documentaries, internet media, commercials, and T.V. projects, with comparable results as large scale post facilities.
 
 
We Cover:
  • DX editing process & ADR process
  • OMF or AAF delivery of non-edited production audio to the post house & formatting
  • Music mix levels & EQ’ing
  • 5.1 mixing

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel covers contracts for sound. Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Melodies in Motion: The Art of Cinematic Music with David Raiklen and Legal Harmonies by Robert Siegel

Pages 301 – 317 in Producer to Producer book

Guest Instructor: David Raiklen

 David Raiklen is an American composer, producer, educator, and host. David was mentored by Oscar winner John Williams and Pulitzer Prize winner Mel Powel. Dr. Raiklen studied at USC and CalArts and later taught at those universities. He has worked for the major studios including Sony, Disney, Fox, Sprint, Mattel, Warner Bros and PBS, plus independent productions. Hundreds of scores in media. His projects have starred Elliott Gould, Doug Jones, Blythe Danner, and Martin Sheen. David made the New York Film Critics Top Ten with the documentary Heist, short listed for an Academy Award® for Worth, and Mia, A Dancer’s Journey won the Emmy. 

Raiklen’s music includes a cinematic hybrid of 21st-century sounds, neoromanticism, post-minimalism, and dance, seasoned with world, jazz, rock and pop.  He works with live, acoustic musicians on recordings and concerts, plus custom electronics. David is inspired by the beauty and peace of nature and is an environmental advocate.

Raiklen compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Disney Hall. He also was host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club, where guests include Yo-Yo Ma and John Williams; host and leader of The Academy of Scoring Arts seminars, and the National Association of Composers LA Conversations. David is currently producing and composing for Space Command, a series of epic adventures set in a hopeful future; creating live concerts, music videos, and producing live Augmented Reality experiences. He is musicalizing the history of the universe in Universe.

Member of TV Academy, NARAS, ASCAP, Board of NACUSA, AAAS

www.davidraiklen.com    or on Facebook and YouTube

 

We Cover:

  • Music – a director’s secret weapon.
  • Finding a post production team and what to look for.
  • Licensing songs – what every filmmaker needs to know.
  • How to find perfect music for your film.

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will be available to discuss legal information.
Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

 

Failure to Communicate: Why So Many Movies Fail at Marketing

Guest Instructor: Tony Panaccio

Tony Panaccio is a 36-year media veteran, having started his career in the 1980s as a newspaper journalist for The Clearwater Sun, The Tampa Tribune and others. In 1989, Tony won the Florida Press Club Award for his eye-witness coverage of the execution of serial killer Ted Bundy, which is also where he met future agency colleague John Wilson. He later shifted his career into public relations with video game producer Capstone, where he also scripted many of their games, including William Shatner’s TekWar. During that period, he was also Shatner’s publicist for his various video game projects.  

We Cover:

  • Three Pillars — Far too many indie producers focus primarily on the creative side of making films, leaving business affairs and marketing to others — or worse — just plugging along without much expertise in either. A good producer is at least going to understand the basic foodchain of marketing.
  • No Marketing Strategy — A film without a marketing strategy is destined to fail, but what IS a marketing strategy? What are the primary obligations of a marketing strategy, and how do they inform the tactical marketing plan?
  • Understanding Media — Today’s media landscape is constantly evolving. To keep up with it, you need to understand a little about the modern history of media and where it’s heading in 2024.
  • Putting it All Together — PR, advertising, promotions and word of mouth are disciplines — when they are combined properly — can propel even a small indie directly into the national consciousness. So, what are the best practices involved to finish this race?
 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss paperwork for archive researcher and recap of fair use. 
Visit his website at  http://www.rlsentlaw.com 
 
 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 25 – Saturday, March 30, 2024

Pages 361 – 368 in Producer to Producer book


Film Festivals

From Premiere to Prize: A Masterclass in Film Festival Success with Annabelle Munro and Expert Tips for Distributor Negotiations by Robert Siegel

Guest Instructor: Anabelle D. Munro

Anabelle is an award-winning actress, writer, director, singer, producer, and C.E.O. of the film production company Blue Boots Entertainment that she operates together with her husband Huntly Munro in Los Angeles.

Anabelle’s artistic focus is dedicated to purpose-driven filmmaking, like spreading awareness about recovery from addiction, healing, and discovering purpose and spirituality.

Anabelle is the founder and director of the ETHOS Film Awards.

 

We Cover

Film festival strategy

Film festival premiers

Jury and Audience awards

What to expect from a film festival

Posters, postcards, and photos

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 26 – Saturday, April 13, 2024


Low Budget Screenwriting Masterclass – Part 1

Learning the Fundamentals of Story Structure

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years. He started his career doing promos for Disney and Vogue as a teenager, and continued to work on multiple sets like Hannah Montana, Greek, Numbers, Heart of Dixie, and The Mandalorian.

At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a feature film called “The Terrible Children”. It has already been picked up by a distributor and is scheduled to release in the fall. 

On top of his film career, Jonathon has done work for SAAS companies and the educational industry. 

 

 

We Cover:

Why Learning How To Write Low Budget Screenplays Will Be Essential in The Streaming Era. 

Learn The Basic Story Structure of Modern Films.

Why The Midpoint of A Screenplay Is Important

Understanding The 8 Main Story Drivers

The Most Popular Story Myths

7 Main Types of Story Goals For Your Character

Why It’s Helpful For Your Character To Have A Past Trauma or a “Ghost”

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 27 – Saturday, April 27, 2024


Low Budget Screenwriting Masterclass – Part 2

 

How To Make Your Screenplay / Film Possible On A Low Budget 

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years. He started his career doing promos for Disney and Vogue as a teenager, and continued to work on multiple sets like Hannah Montana, Greek, Numbers, Heart of Dixie, and The Mandalorian.

At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a feature film called “The Terrible Children”. It has already been picked up by a distributor and is scheduled to release in the fall. 

On top of his film career, Jonathon has done work for SAAS companies and the educational industry. 

 

 

 

We Cover:

  • Learn Why Films Are So Expensive To Make
  • The Difference Between Genre, Theme, and Script Mechanism
  • The 8 Different Types of Films That Work On A Low Budget
  • Examples of Each Type of Films That Work On A Low Budget
  • 5 Films That Were Made For Under $10,000 That Launched Careers (Including Christopher Nolan).

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 28 – Saturday, May 11, 2024


Documentary Distribution

 

Guest Instructor: Keith Ochwat

Keith is a filmmaker and Founder of Show&Tell. Over his 12 year career as a documentary filmmaker, Keith produced three films that appeared on PBS and Netflix.

His film Age of Champions screened in over 3,000 communities and generated over $1.5 million—powered by partnerships with groups like AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association and companies like Cigna Health.

Keith has since taught and advised hundreds of filmmakers on their distribution and fundraising strategies.

He’s delivered keynote presentations on distribution at filmmaking organizations like IDA and IFP and his work has appeared in IndieWire and Documentary Magazine.

At Show&Tell, he has helped hundreds of filmmakers raise over $12 million in virtual event ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, and PBS underwriting.

 

We Cover:

  • Finding Your Core Audience: Learn how to identify and target the audience that resonates most with your documentary’s message.
  • Attaching Strategic Partners: Discover how to forge alliances with organizations, influencers, and brands that align with your documentary’s themes and objectives.
  • PBS as a Distributor: Learn the ins and outs of pitching to PBS and navigating the public broadcasting landscape.
  • Early Funding through Conventions: Uncover strategies for finding and securing unique opportunities for early funding for your documentary through conventions and industry events.

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 29 – Saturday, May 25, 2024


Fundraising Parties

 

Carole-Dean

Instructor: Carole Dean

Carole Dean is the Founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that supports independent filmmakers by helping them raise funding for their projects. Over thirty years through From the Heart’s fiscal sponsorship program, she has assisted filmmakers in raising over $30 million for their films.  

She created the Roy Dean Grant in 1992 and has awarded over $2,500,000 in grants to independent filmmakers, and helped to produce over 80 films through the grant. 

 
 
 
 
 

We Cover:

  • Outline for the party
  • Who makes the ask?
  • Getting donations before the party
  • Ongoing support from party participants

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 30 – Saturday, June 8th, 2024


Pitching Your Project

 

Carole-Dean

Instructor: Carole Dean

Carole Dean is the Founder and President of From the Heart Productions, a top-rated 501(c)3 non-profit that supports independent filmmakers by helping them raise funding for their projects. Over thirty years through From the Heart’s fiscal sponsorship program, she has assisted filmmakers in raising over $30 million for their films.  

She created the Roy Dean Grant in 1992 and has awarded over $2,500,000 in grants to independent filmmakers, and helped to produce over 80 films through the grant. 

 
 
 
 
 

We Cover:

  • Creating your pitch
  • Making a good impression
  • Power of “Body language”
  • Closing

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 31 – Saturday, June 22nd, 2024


Story Structure

 

Instructor: Karen Everett

Karen Everett is one of the world’s leading documentary story consultants, as well as an award-winning documentary filmmaker.  She taught editing for 18 years at the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley, named the #1-ranked documentary program in America by Documentary Magazine.  Karen founded New Doc Editing LLC, an editing and story consulting business. She has helped hundreds of filmmakers structure compelling documentaries for venues such as PBS, HBO, community screenings and top film festivals such as Sundance and Telluride. Author of Documentary Editing, she has directed and produced six of her own documentaries, including the award-winning PBS biography I Shall Not Be Removed: The Life of Marlon Riggs. She can be reached at Karen@newdocediting.com.

 
 
 

We Cover:

How do you shape a mountain of footage into an impactful and entertaining documentary? 

In this example-packed seminar, you’ll discover how influential and award-winning documentaries such as My Octopus Teacher and The Inconvenient Truth are structured. Screenwriters have a lot to teach documentary filmmakers about shaping a story, from the Inciting Incident, to the Midpoint, to the Climax. You’ll learn the challenges and art of adapting narrative devices to films about real life. You’ll glean professional tips for logging footage quickly, to accelerate your edit. Participants will also learn how to configure a compelling trailer in three distinct movements. Finally, these days you need more than just a feature length film. Foreign distributors and PBS often want a “TV Hour”, while conferences and educators want a shorter cut for public screenings. A deeply experienced teacher and story consultant, Karen will show you four criteria for cutting a feature down to marketable film lengths. 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 32 – Saturday, July 6th, 2024


Development

 

Instructor: Kara Williamson

Kara is the Founder, CEO, and Producer of US-based companies, Reveal Live! Entertainment, and Meeting Street Productions. Kara is a top industry film, television and digital media production and distribution executive. She is well-respected for her creative approach, wide-ranging resourcefulness and deep industry knowledge. She is known for tackling the most demanding media and entertainment challenges.

 
 
 

We Cover:

  • Creative Process
  • Focusing & Direction
  • Content Filming
  • Financials & Resources

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 33 – Saturday, July 20th, 2024

 


Distribution

 

 

Instructor: Gary Rubin

Gary Rubin has over 30 years of experience in the motion picture and television businesses encompassing acquisitions, production, distribution and management responsibilities.

In those years, he acquired nearly 100 films, and helped create multiple nine figures in domestic sales. Learn more at www.grconsultingcareercoaching.com

Gary started GRC, a sales agency and consulting company, which represents both new and older films to a complete set of  streaming and distributor clients. GRC also consults on a variety of issues including finance and distribution, for producers, investors, and more. GRC recently oversaw the self-distribution of the acclaimed documentary, The Automat. The Automat was nominated for four Critics Choice Documentary Awards including for Best Documentary Feature.

 
 We Cover:
  • When should I bring on a sales agent?
  • Do I really need a sales agent?
  • What exactly will a sales agent do for me?
  • What is a typical deal with a sales agent?
  • What can I expect in terms of results?
  • Theatrical or streamer?
  • What should you create to engage a distributor?
  • At what stage of production do you contact distributors?
  • What is the current status of film distribution to streamers?

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 34 – Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

 


Media Relations

 

Instructor: Tony Panaccio

Tony Panaccio is a 36-year media veteran, having started his career in the 1980s as a newspaper journalist for The Clearwater Sun, The Tampa Tribune and others. In 1989, Tony won the Florida Press Club Award for his eye-witness coverage of the execution of serial killer Ted Bundy, which is also where he met future agency colleague John Wilson. He later shifted his career into public relations with video game producer Capstone, where he also scripted many of their games, including William Shatner’s TekWar. During that period, he was also Shatner’s publicist for his various video game projects.

 

We Cover:

  • Who are the people who make up the modern media machine?
  • How do you make contact with reporters? Email? Phone? Carrier pigeon?
  • What is the typical day like for a modern media organization?
  • What are the steps in pitching media on your story, and how can filmmakers do it themselves?

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 35 – Saturday, August 17th, 2024

 


How to Make Money on YouTube and Other Social Media Networks

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon M. Smith, is an actor/writer/producer who has been involved in the film industry for over 15 years. He started his career doing promos for Disney and Vogue as a teenager, and continued to work on multiple sets like Hannah Montana, Greek, Numbers, Heart of Dixie, and The Mandalorian.

At this time, Jonathon is currently producing and starring in a feature film called “The Terrible Children”. It has already been picked up by a distributor and is scheduled to release in the fall.

On top of his film career, Jonathon has done work for SAAS companies and the educational industry.  

 

 

 

We Cover:

  • Why LinkedIn Co-Founder Said Most 9-5 Jobs Will be Obsolete by 2034.
  • How To Find The Correct Niche For Your Social Media Platform. 
  • How To Make Money On Ads On YouTube and The Requirements To Become A YouTube Partner. 
  • How To Use Social Media To Make Money Coaching and Providing Other Services.
  • Examples of Other Successful Content Creators.
This will be one of our most in-depth courses yet, so please make sure to bring a pen and paper to take notes and to also participate in the exercises for this class. 

 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 36 – Saturday, August 31st, 2024

 


What Happens After the Sale

Guest Instructor: Brynn Lucas

Brynn Lucas is an award-winning producer with extensive expertise in post-production supervision, delivery, electronic press kit (EPK), and feature film development and production. She has led numerous successful projects to completion, leveraging her deep knowledge in music videos, film production, and documentaries. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, Brynn has a demonstrated history of working on high-profile projects, ensuring seamless delivery and exceptional quality in all her endeavors. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre from Stephens College, which has further enriched her skills in the creative and technical aspects of film and media production. Her client list includes Independent Filmmakers, Studios such as WB, Universal, and Paramount, Major Streamers like Hulu, Netflix, and Apple, and Sales Teams/Distributors such as Studio Canal, S&R Films, Saban Films, and Lionsgate. 

 

 

We Cover:

  • Understanding the type of sale you have acquired
  • Breaking down a Delivery Schedule
  • Getting your project through the QC process
  • The importance of having an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 37 – Saturday, September 14th, 2024

 

How to Hire a Director of Photography 

Instructor: Michael Hofstein

● Developed cinematography and film making skills at Paramount Studios (1970’s) while learning from the great Cinematographers and Directors of the Hollywood Golden Era.
● Became a Commercial and Television Film Director (mid 1980’s)
● Developed as a Producer/writer (mid 1990’s)
● Served on the Board of Directors for the AFPF, the French Producer’s Guild (2007-2018).
● Serves on Board of Managers of VES Georgia (2018-2024).
● Honored by VES as a luminary for career and design patent of Motion Control System
● Worked and restructured courses (2003-2013) as a Professor, developing the Cinematography curriculum while teaching film production at Savannah College of Art and Design.
● Presents Master Seminars at Eicar (France 2013-present), Sony Institute, Maine Media Workshops, and more
● Currently resumed work professionally on movies & television — as Producer, Writer, and/or Director or DOP

 

We Cover:

  • When in production should your bring in your DP? .
  • What is the producers roll with the DP?
  • How to get the best cinematographic work from your DP

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com

 

 

 

Guest Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

Buy the Class Recording for $26

CLASS 38 – Saturday, September 28th, 2024

 

How Generative A.I Will Transform Independent Filmmaking 

 

 

Instructor: Jonathon M. Smith

Jonathon shares how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker. Every class, he will teach different lessons on independent filmmaking to help make your project a reality. He is also A.I savvy and will go over different products and industry trends to keep you up to date on technology in Hollywood.

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

We Cover: 

  • Why Small Teams Are The Future For Independent Films
  • Different Tools and Workflows I Used To Create Visual Effects and Title Sequences
  • Workflows I Used To Drastically Improve Sound Without Location Sound on Site
  • Explain Why Marketing and Creativity Will Soon Determine Your Success — Not Firmly Cost. 

Guest Instructor: Robert Seigel

Our attorney Robert Seigel will discuss how to be prepared to talk to distributors at festivals, and know what to ask for.

Visit his website at http://www.rlsentlaw.com