by Michael Chasin Hollywood is swimming—in screenplays. It’s reported that the Writer’s Guild of America registers 50,000 screenplays—a year. Plus there are screenplays—filed with the U.S. Copyright Office. Plus there are screenplays—not registered at all. So when added all together—there is an ocean of screenplays. And with each script at about one hundred pages…
by Michael Chasin Before you realize your ultimate filmmaking dream of being a screenwriter or director or producer or DP—you will likely first—be a hyphenate: Writer-Director-Producer-Prop Master DP-Editor-Set Designer-Production Assistant Writer-Director-DP-Editor-Producer-Prop Master-Set Designer And possibly even—Actor This is because at the zero or micro budget level—where you will probably start—you will be compelled to…
by Michael Chasin You are the guiding force—and decision maker—of your film. You have written—or obtained—a masterful screenplay. That screenplay is the reason why a great actor agrees to do your film. And after the actor affirms that the script is powerful—concerns arise: Why must my character do this? Is it really necessary for…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami A screenplay can serve many purposes. It can be the entry into a screenwriting contest or festival—that launches a career. It can be the pages that the screenwriter sells—for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It can attract elements—such as actor or director—to green-light the project. It can attract…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami Real screenwriting—is re-writing—because it’s rarely perfect in the first draft. And even if seemingly perfect, the dedicated screenwriter will labor to make it—more perfect. Then, finally, after double-digit drafts—the screenplay is ready—not for submission—but to be read by someone else. Because after months of contemplating the story and…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami One of the glories of the written word is its ability to span time and countless characters. One of luxuries of the written word is the ability it gives its readers to rest, reflect—and even re-read. Movies’ unrelenting forward motion—and two hour time frame—makes such reflection—impossible. Therefore, sweeping…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami Film’s power is the result of that masterful mosaic of many distinct elements—story—acting—voice—visuals—colors—sounds—and music. An equally important element is production design—the overall look of a film. Within production design is set design—covering the space of a specific set. And within set design is set decoration—the objects/props that are…
by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami Film—as all art—can be not only about entertainment—but also about exposing its audience to new perspectives and ideas. I tried to keep this in mind when I was invited to serve on the Advisory Board of the new Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival (MiSciFi). While I was greatly…
by Frederick Bailey IAFT/LA The young man sits on the couch, looking relaxed and confident. “Hello, my name’s Cristian Madero,” he says. “I own and operate CMDelux Films, and I’m a graduate of IAFT.” He’s a very enterprising young man. He founded his video production company in 2013, the same year he graduated with…
For younger viewers, movies are—the real world. With that responsibility, movies—while being entertaining—should also strive to cause critical thinking—and moral examination—in those young viewers. The film Ender’s Game does just that. Ender’s Game is set in a future where children are selected for high-tech warfare because—as the film posits—they are better able to learn, react,…
