Producing

Happy Sunday & Happy Mother's Day! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice and let's dive right in. First up, since "May the 4th Be with You" was last week, I thought it would only be fitting to share some Star Wars content. Insider recently put together a fascinating behind the screens video covering the innovative virtual backgrounds that were used to film The Mandalorian. In this video, they talk about the technological and cre...

My name is Tennyson E. Stead, and I’m a showperson with thirty years of stage experience, fifteen years in film development, and more than 40 screenplays under my belt as a writer. I’ve survived fraudster film producers, I’ve survived a crippling brain injury subequent to having an actor accidentally beat my head in with a prop sword, I’ve survived homelessness, starvation, and even employment as an Arclight Cinemas usher and concessionaire in order to make my dreams and plans in Hollywood a rea...

Hi guys, I thought it was time to make a film blog; seventy-odd productions ranging from lead, stunts and directing, to shooting in jungles, deserts and military bases and acting with Special Forces and the worlds best-known stunt team, the Jackie Chan team. I'm going to take you into the heart of filming, from my personal experience shooting on major film and TV, including working daily with stars and renown directors. This is part one of several; I'll discuss particular productions wit...

You’re a filmmaker, a writer, a director, maybe even an actor. You want to keep working, but the phone’s not ringing so… you decide to shoot a short film. Before you start down the rabbit hole you may want to ask a few questions. Why do I want to shoot a short film? What resources do I have at my disposal? What resources will I need to obtain? And the most impactful question: What’s it going to cost? Anyone who has ever taken on the challenge of shooting a short knows that there ar...

Thanks to the successes of instant classics like ZOOTOPIA, TOY STORY, THE LEGO MOVIE and SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, and daring TV satires such as RICK AND MORTY, BOJACK HORSEMAN, BIG MOUTH, and BOB’S BURGERS, the wonderful world of animation is more exciting, diverse, and in demand than ever! There is truly something for everyone when it comes to animated features and TV series & correspondingly, it is undoubtedly more in demand than ever before! Walt Disney said, "Animation can expl...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee and let's dive in. First up, our friends over at Studio Binder recently put together a fascinating breakdown of Wes Anderson's iconic directing aesthetic. This video illustrates Wes Anderson's style throughout the entire filmmaking process including story, production design, color, editing, music, and more. They use examples...

People love to read or watch love stories. It’s exciting, they can relate, and even some elements of a love story makes the whole story more real. But what to do if you don’t know how to write about love? There are different types of love, and many of us have experienced this feeling. But even if you were madly in love, it does not necessarily mean that you can express this feeling on paper. Luckily, you can use several ideas to learn how to write about love properly. Ways To Write About Lov...

People from all works of life live with stress, which has sometimes led to other more serious health issues. This is a personal account of how writing helped me cope with and manage stress. Corporate Background I worked as an accountant for several years in a company with offices in multiple countries and clients in different time zones. This was challenging enough in the best of times because of the fast-paced environment and the inherent pressures of the profession. But also at the worst of...

There’s a saying that we’ve all heard a thousand times over, that “A picture is worth a thousand words”. This resonates with visual artists when ensuring that the visuals they convey will provoke the right tone and message to the many words and feelings that they will portray and intend for their story. Now this concept isn’t new to most you and it’s just what good storytellers and filmmakers should be doing right?! I mean, what artist doesn’t put their heart and soul in infusing their vision...

So, you’re a writer and you’ve written some scripts that have been optioned, maybe even produced, or someone hired you to write on a series. Congratulations, you’re off to a great start. Now what? Keep writing, because that’s your job as a professional. If you are hired to write for a company who is a signatory of the Writers Guild of America, either East or West, you will be required to join. A signatory company is any company that has signed the WGA’s collective bargaining agreement. What...