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    Shoot For The Stars: The 5 Dimensions of Independent Filmmaking
    Shoot For The Stars: The 5 Dimensions of Independent Filmmaking
    Shoot For The Stars: The 5 Dimensions of Independent Filmmaking
    Ebook147 pages1 hour

    Shoot For The Stars: The 5 Dimensions of Independent Filmmaking

    By Adrian West

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    About this ebook

    This creative and highly informative guide is the ideal production bible for all directors, producers, and filmmakers aspiring to create world-changing art. It takes readers from the initial concept all the way through the long journey to the completion of a feature film. Projects start with an idea, which evolves into purpose, planning, collabo

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPalmetto Publishing
    Release dateJan 1, 2022
    ISBN9781638374077
    Shoot For The Stars: The 5 Dimensions of Independent Filmmaking

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      Book preview

      Shoot For The Stars - Adrian West

      Introduction

      Let's shoot this fucker!

      —Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi

      T

      he 1994 film Ed Wood is the story of a passionate filmmaker who stops at absolutely nothing to manifest his creative vision. Johnny Depp plays the legendary director in a powerful biopic helmed by Tim Burton. On the outside, it's the tale of a journeyman artist who will never evolve past mediocrity. On the inside, Ed Wood is full of life lessons surrounding the human condition, creativity, perseverance, and love.

      Stories like Ed Wood occur regularly in modern society. If you have the ability to control your destiny, greatness is attainable. Use these guidelines to break through creative hurdles and logistical nightmares that will no doubt happen on your film set. The modern artist has to be ready for anything in this rapidly changing digital age. We’ll teach you how to be honest, aggressive, fearless, tactical, and unstoppable. Everything boils down to a formula. It's a fine balance between law, order, and breaking mainstream notions. You will have to operate beyond your comfort zone but maintain the highest level of safety and security for your cast and crew. By thinking outside the box, you can set a new standard for cinema.

      Like Morpheus said in The Matrix (1999), You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain, but you feel it. Guess what? We know something too. We feel the calling to learn and grow into something greater. How do you produce a film or TV show from concept to completion? Where do you get the money? How do you spend the money? How do you write a script? Where do you find talent? How long is the edit? How do you sell your project? And how do you generate profit? We’re only scratching the surface.

      The principles you will learn apply to original filmmaking, scripted TV, music videos, and commercials. In this book, film is synonymous with these media outlets. Pursuing a collegiate degree in filmmaking or screenwriting can be risky and expensive. If you’re considering this path, Shoot for the Stars will be an excellent field manual to prepare you for a diverse curriculum. If you’re in college or have already graduated, this book will spark you to pursue something independent and make your mark on the industry. If you’re a film veteran or have had quality years of real-world experience, you may find a reignited artistic spirit throughout these chapters.

      Shoot for the Stars applies to anyone possessing a hint of creative madness within. If you’re looking to make millions, it's a long, treacherous journey ahead, with a high potential for selling your soul. If you aim to make transformative art, life will reward you. The world is very turbulent. Always has been, but it doesn’t always have to be. A film that reaches a global audience is one of the most effective ways to invoke deep thought on a subject or idea, ultimately causing positive change. It's never been easier to reach a billion people. You can truly spark major paradigm shifts through film, TV, music, podcasts, etc. Improve the world and preserve the integrity and survival of the human species.

      This doesn’t mean your film about saving the planet will make you a better person than anyone in a different professional field. There are countless ways to join a global changing force and make direct impact. Our endeavor is a creative pursuit to make people think and a career that when done right, can leave your legacy upon the world for generations to come. With structure, teamwork, and execution, success will manifest. Everyone must understand that failure is not an option. Focus on the art, and respect the process. Maintain your character and commitment, and have fun.

      Lights. Camera. Action.

      PART I

      First Dimension: Development (DEV)

      Chapter 1: DEV

      Develop

      "I

      n the beginning…"—three powerful words from the most iconic text on Earth. This globally recognized phrase carries impact and longevity as the opening to a greater saga, which is exactly the type of story you want to tell—epic. You may think your target audience should be domestic, but if you want to reach the stars, you need a worldwide market. With multiple online distribution platforms, you can reach a massive audience but only with a good story. Development is the most critical aspect of the voyage…because it's happening now. As we visualize the end result and reverse engineer the steps to achievement, it's most important to focus critically on the present. Dive fully into development, and apply the same commitment to every dimension of the filmmaking journey.

      Clearly identify your target market. How many people do you want to reach? One million? One billion? Your film should strike a chord in the hearts and minds of people on every continent. What traits do the main characters possess? Are they relatable to the common man or woman across the globe? What's at stake? Your story should feature ordinary people battling extraordinary circumstances. Develop ideas and demographic markets to form your story into an organic work of cultural art.

      There's a multitude of aspects involved with crafting an entertaining screenplay. Let's first examine how there are actually two stories being told. The primary tale is on the page—the magical script that will eventually translate on screen. The second story (often overlooked or underestimated) is that of your own production, start to finish. This is the driving force behind the film and requires an enormous amount of collaboration, teamwork, sacrifice, commitment, and leadership. In later chapters, we’ll uncover the dynamics of a great crew in detail. For now, keep in mind that you’re not only telling your characters’ story but also demonstrating to the world a successful process.

      Looking at the most documented wars, we know exactly who the main characters are. We know when it started, what unfolded, where it escalated, and when it ended. At the center is the why. Motivation is a focal point of your story. This is all part of character development. In war, the true why is oftentimes undiscovered by the world for years. Your reason for making this film should be as clear and bulletproof as the main character's pursuit of his or her ultimate goal. As you depict to the audience why they’re chasing a dream, at the same time prove to the world that you’re actualizing one.

      There are many schools of thought with creative writing. Consider this: If the good guy (protagonist) never meets or encounters the bad guy (antagonist), would he still be as interesting or heroic? Would he have to jump through the same hurdles to reach a new level of existence or excellence? Would Good still be as blissful if Evil didn’t exist? Most would say no. The human mind rewards itself after overcoming difficult challenges. The challenges in your script are the key components of the story development.

      There is value to proven formulas, but there's also a desperate need to shatter old-school practices and mentality. For our story, let's start with the basics. Every great saga has a conflict and resolution: slay the dragon, win the crown. Typically, this may be a tale told over the course of a few weeks or months. Some of the greatest films span over decades in plot development. Others take place in a matter of hours. When you peel back the curtain, most scripts originate from a select few story archetypes, which have been utilized in literature and mythology for millennia.

      Overcoming the monster

      Rags to riches

      The quest

      Voyage and return

      Comedy

      Tragedy

      Rebirth

      To make your film next-level, experiment with flashbacks, dream sequences, and nonlinear development (if it makes sense). If your story's best told in the A–Z format, make each progression unforgettable. If it's your first project, pay close attention to the basics to set yourself up for victory. If you’ve been in the game for a while, you may get as fancy as allowable.

      A lot of writers know

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