What they don’t teach you at film school

161 STRATEGIES FOR MAKING YOUR OWN MOVIE NO MATTER WHAT

CAMILLE LANDAU & TIARE WHITE

You don’t have to go to film school to make movies, and What They Don’t Teach You at Film School offers you 161 practical strategies to make your movies no matter what. A lot cheaper than a year’s tuition, this book has solutions for surviving both the large and small crises of filmmaking. From how to finish (or get started on…) your script, through dealing with jealous actors, abandoned lovers, mutinous crews, angry landlords, and even angrier investors, to what to do when you’re finally done, this is an invaluable guide.

Film-school veterans Camille Landau and Tiare White draw from their experiences and those of other filmmakers to show you how to make a film on your terms, no matter who or what is standing in your way. Filled with pointed anecdotes, warm humor, and healthy common sense, sections include:

• Take story meetings with eight year olds
• Shyness won’t get you the donuts
• Duct tape miracles
• Inventing celebrity
• Ten answers to “Are you done yet?”
• Don’t fall in love with the cast or crew (but if you do…)

“Full of great insight and common sense on how to navigate your way through all aspects or we moviemaking process.” – Cathy Konrad, producer of Scream and Girl, Interrupted

“If you’re crazy enough to make a film, be smart enough to buy this book. It’s equal parts information and inspiration, and a must·have regardless of whether or not you ever went to or ever go to film school.” - Dan Mirvish / co-founder, Slamdance Film Festival

CONTENTS

The Credits

Introduction

Chapter 1 Everything you need to know

Chapter 2 The sign you’ve been searching for

Chapter 3 If all you really want to do is direct, what are you waiting for?

Chapter 4 Napkins, stoplights, and showers

Chapter 5 Fix the script, the rest will Follow

Chapter 6 Sultans, dentists, and Uncle Al

Chapter 7 It’s the budget, stupid

Chapter 8 Get the rights or get a lawyer

Chapter 9 Hustling

Chapter 10 Hype, for cheap

Chapter 11 Friends, enemies, lovers, and thieves

Chapter 12 1r’s a sad dog who can°t wag its own tail

Chapter 13 Getting through the most terrible, wonderful few weeks of your life so far

Chapter 14 The road trip test

Chapter 15 Hire the actors with the shiniest shoes

Chapter 16 The emperor’s parade

Chapter 17 Donuts, red vines, and keeping the crew together: The care and feeding of the set

Chapter 18 Grace under pressure: Directing under fire

Chapter 19 Sex, lies, and 16mm

Chapter 20 Don’t make things more difficult than they are

Chapter 21 Location, location, and location

Chapter 22 The lost, the stolen, and the broken

Chapter 23 How I learned to stop worrying and love the sound

Chapter 24 Uses for duct tape and other quick fixes

Chapter 25 Don’t leave the set without it

Chapter 26 Don’t wait until the mix to fix it

Chapter 27 Point(er)s of distribution

Chapter 28 One or two more things before the lights come up

Chapter 29 Do it again