Golden Elevator to Indie Film? Plus, Rolling Calls
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04/27/23 • 44 min
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How can a truly independent film find success at the large film festivals? How does one manage to get well-known actors to star in your film? The answer is simple, yet takes effort. You need to get in the mix!
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine and GG Hawkins discuss:
- The truth about getting an indie feature made
- Golden elevator films versus free-range films
- Big actors starring in small, independent films
- Hustling your network and constantly building connections
- Thinking strategically about certain relationships you have in the industry
- Learning how to accept “no” and still maintain a professional relationship
- Steps an emerging producer should follow to grow their career
- Rolling Calls - what are they?
Memorable Quotes
- “Everybody that gets into Sundance knows each other.” [4:27]
- “There are a lot of people who want to appear to be a filmmaker.” [26:06]
- “I hate to say it, but it depends upon how big your bank account is.”[27:20]
- “Rolling calls is an art and a science.” [35:33]
Mentioned Resources:
How to Get a World-Famous Actor in your Short Film
SKYWATCH (a Sci-Fi Short Film)
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How can a truly independent film find success at the large film festivals? How does one manage to get well-known actors to star in your film? The answer is simple, yet takes effort. You need to get in the mix!
In today’s episode, No Film School’s Charles Haine and GG Hawkins discuss:
- The truth about getting an indie feature made
- Golden elevator films versus free-range films
- Big actors starring in small, independent films
- Hustling your network and constantly building connections
- Thinking strategically about certain relationships you have in the industry
- Learning how to accept “no” and still maintain a professional relationship
- Steps an emerging producer should follow to grow their career
- Rolling Calls - what are they?
Memorable Quotes
- “Everybody that gets into Sundance knows each other.” [4:27]
- “There are a lot of people who want to appear to be a filmmaker.” [26:06]
- “I hate to say it, but it depends upon how big your bank account is.”[27:20]
- “Rolling calls is an art and a science.” [35:33]
Mentioned Resources:
How to Get a World-Famous Actor in your Short Film
SKYWATCH (a Sci-Fi Short Film)
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
'Chevalier' Director Stephen Williams on Big Breaks Outside of Hollywood
Stephen Williams is a producer, director, and writer who has worked on popular TV shows such as Lost, Undercovers, and Watchmen. He recently directed, Chevalier, a film based on the true story of one of France’s most important composers. Chevalier is about the journey of understanding oneself better, through the trials and tribulations that life sends one’s way.
In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Stephen Williams, discuss:
- Growing up in Jamaica and skipping class to go to the movie theater
- Starting as a PA in a production house in Toronto, Canada
- Moving to Hawaii to produce and direct episodes of Lost
- Comparing the role of producer to the role of director
- A scene in Chevalier, that was like a rap battle, but with violins
- Selecting collaborators behind the camera with the same care you cast the performers
- An example of how his collaborators saved him from making a mistake
- Thinking about the impact his career has on his family
- How to tell a narrative story about a real person
- Identifying and connecting to the journey of the main character
You can watch Chevalier in theaters on April 21, 2023.
Memorable Quotes
- “Literally on a Friday I was pushing a broom as a PA, and on a Monday, I was a director at this company.” [9:00]
- “I just didn’t find anything that really warranted me stopping what I was doing, until I read Chevalier.” [19:25]
- “I want everyone to feel free...completely free to bring all of themselves to the table.” [28:18]
- “My working life is really important to me, but it pales in comparison to my family life.” [34:52]
- “Not everything has to be factually true...It just has to be essentially true.” [42:44]
Mentioned Resources:
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
Puberty and Filmmaking—Not So Different! ‘Are You There God?’ Director Kelly Fremon Craig
Kelly Fremon Craig is a writer and director who has earned awards and nominations for her first feature, The Edge of Seventeen. Her second feature, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, is based on the very famous Judy Blume novel of the same name. A main theme of this film is what it’s like to undergo the complicated process of puberty, which is ironically similar to Craig’s experience with the screenwriting process.
In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins and director Kelly Fremon Craig, discuss:
- How this film brought a sense of relief from embarrassment
- Why the worst place to create from is a place of self-consciousness
- Accepting the complicated emotions that arise during the writing process
- Trying to render the truth of an experience
- Letting kid actors give their authentic reactions on camera
- Giving actors the freedom to play and create on set
- How she decided to shoot a very specific scene in the film
- Figuring out how to shoot more intimate moments without crossing the line
- Why directors need to get different versions of a shot
- Watching all the different takes and pulling out the nuggets
- What Kelly hopes this film will inspire viewers to do
Memorable Quotes
- “I felt such a crushing pressure not to screw it up.” [5:44]
- “I love creating a set, an atmosphere on set, where everybody feels safe to try even their wildest ideas.” [16:54]
- “I like that ‘fly on the wall’ style of shooting where you feel like you’re eavesdropping.” [24:12]
- “Every single different version is a different tool in your toolbelt.” [26:54]
- “It’s treasure hunting on set. You’re just looking for little diamonds.” [29:04]
Mentioned Resources:
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Find No Film School everywhere:
On the Web
https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool
https://twitter.com/nofilmschool
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool
https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool
Send us an email with questions or feedback: [email protected]!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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