As a filmmaker, you know that every opportunity to shoot your story is precious. The days when your team is working, your cameras are rolling and your actors are in hair and make-up are days of golden opportunity. But they can also be days of stress and frustration if you haven't prepared properly during pre-production. We want you to have the best shoot days possible and that's why this webinar is invaluable for filmmakers.   

In this webinar, accomplished director Heath Cullens shares his process of preparing for a shoot exclusively with the Stage 32 community.

As a filmmaker, the importance of preparation during pre-production cannot be overstated. Here is your chance to learn how best to prepare from a world-class director. 

Heath Cullens is a director best known for directing IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, AP BIO, GREAT MINDS WITH DAN HARMON, and FX’s YOU’RE THE WORST. Currently, he is directing MYTHIC QUEST for Apple TV.

A good filmmaker is a prepared filmmaker. Filmmakers must focus on getting the story they envision onto the screen, but that vision will unravel if you don’t prepare before. However, if you do prepare properly, you give your film the best chance for success. 

You’ll receive a step-by-step approach to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team. You’ll cover how to:

• Hire the best team
• Communicate your vision
• Prioritize what you need to shoot
• Structure your shoot day
• Create a strategy with your DP
• Properly use rehearsal time and table reads
• And much more

By the end of this webinar you’ll have a process you can use - and the ability to revisit the lesson on Stage 32 - to ensure the confidence to lead your team as a filmmaker.

PRAISE FOR HEATH'S TEACHINGS:

"I thought it was on point and very informative. Heath was great." -Frank L.

Point of View: Getting Clear on Your Intent & Vision

• Why must you tell this story?
• What do you love about this story?
• Whose story is it?
• Who is your audience?

Priorities: Creating Focus & Clarity

• Finding the essential element in each scene
• Determining which aspects of each scene require the greatest time or energy
• Structuring your shoot day to ensure you get what is most important

People: Hiring & Communicating

• Effectively interviewing and hiring your department heads
• Communicating with your collaborators
• Defining what you need from your collaborators

Players: Working with Actors

• What function does each role have in the story?
• How to communicate with actors
• How to use rehearsals to ensure your performers are prepared on set
• What is table work and how should you use it

Plan: Tools & Strategies

• Making a shot list that works for you
• Making the most of your location scout
• Creating strategy and vision with your Director of Photography

Q&A with Heath

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team.

Producers looking to to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team.

Actors looking to to utilize on your projects to ensure a smooth, productive, and creatively rewarding on-set experience for you and your production team.