Screenwriting : Ask Me Anything: Wednesday 4/9 & Thursday 4/10- About being a Writer-Director-Producer! by Eric Nazarian

Hi, Eric Nazarian. It's great to meet you. Congratulations on all your accomplishments! Thanks for taking time to answer our questions on Wednesday! What's one tip you have for screenwriters who want to become directors?

Eric Nazarian Welcome to Stage32. Looking forward to hearing your insight this week. Let me know if you need anything.

Hi Eric Nazarian ,

Nice to meet you through Stage 32 -

Congratulations wearing many hats in the Film business. What’s one secret how you produce and direct and how could I incorporate it in my

Music business- creating & producing ?

I’m beginning to think outsourcing the Mastering part is better right now, in this growth area.

Granted, it’s getting better, hence asking how you blended your different areas. Again, congratulations on your successes and wearing all the hats within the Film industry.

(Cheers - glass wine icon ;-)

Great to meet you Eric Nazarian

Hello Eric Nazarian - honored to meet you and welcome to Stage 32. Thanks so much for spending your time with us for this AMA. Question: what advice do you have for writers who want to become their own producer and what was the biggest obstacle you faced as producer? Thanks in advance!

Hi, Eric Nazarian ! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I would ask, as a writer-director-producer, what helped you to make the jump into features? We always hear of the challenges in raising funds for projects, and wearing three hats on a feature project can be a big undertaking too!

Thank you for being here, Eric Nazarian! As someone who’s both written and directed their own work, how do you approach collaboration with others, like your cinematographer or editor, while still protecting your vision as both the screenwriter and director?

Hello Mr. Eric Nazarian, Great applause for all your accomplishments and undertakings within the industry,

A) What would you say the hardest work would be having a vision or concept in the literary arts, getting it published, and continuing to envision in the catalyst of a feature film project?

B) What would be your advice for budding prospects in this process of improvisations?

C) What has helped you bring your imagination to life?

Thanks for your time and thoughts about the film industry. It's a challenge!

Hello, Eric Nazarian. Thank you for offering your insights to all of us!

Question: What advice would you give to someone new to writing drama features?

Hello, Eric. Thanks for taking the time to answer questions! Mine is simple: why does violence always sell?

Eric Nazarian Hi Eric, thanks for doing the AMA. We are thrilled to have you with us. Beyond film school, as a writer-director-producer what were the best tools you used to educate yourself in these different aspects. I’m thinking particularly about the business-side of being a Producer and did this help you when considering the business-side of writing? Thanks in anticipation of your answer.

Good Morning Eric: thank you for your vision, your compassion, and your willingness to listen. You said, "ask anything"...okay, here it goes. What would happen if a benevolent US President accessed the subconscious mind of a violent enemy and influenced it? Is this a story you might be interested in?

Hi Maurice Vaughn, thank you for your question. The first tip for screenwriters wanting to become directors is to write the story that you are most passionate about that can be done in not too many locations so you can really use the time/resources and work with your actors and discover your voice as a filmmaker making the transition from writer. less is always more!

Hi Kerry Kennard, as I am not in the music business I honestly don’t have any “secret“ about producing and directing that can parlay into the specific area you need. I believe in creativity as a worldwide phenomenon. Finding what works for you that brings your best ideas to life and the medium that you have chosen is the first step. The industry changes, projects change, but ultimately your voice is what matters. Regarding outsourcing, unfortunately I’m not the best person to ask as that is not my field of training or experience. thanks!

thanks Anthony McBride. will do!

thanks Mark Deuce!

Hi Leonardo Ramirez, we spend a lot of time as visual and creative artists producing our own work because we have to lay the foundations. Those foundations, in making films, cost money so fundraising unfortunately becomes a very time-consuming act. I would advise having an airtight script that is very consolidated in the most necessary locations in order to make the most out of your resources with limited means. It is a juggling act that requires a lot of thinking, brainstorming, and most importantly finding the right colleagues who really understand the vision of what you’re trying to bring to life and can help you, create a system that works without going over budget or over schedule. good luck with your project!!

Hi William Joseph Hill, i’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker first. In order to become a filmmaker, screenwriting was the most important work that I did in learning how to tell a story for the screen. If you can visualize an idea and really break it down to its most important fundamentals of drama, that is personal to you, that is the most important step. Preparing your feature screenplay to direct is one of the most exciting and challenging stages in the evolution of a filmmaker. Having a clear idea and working on it every single day is fundamental to understanding what are the absolute essentials you need in order to budget properly and find the right resources to make it all happen!

hi Ashley Smith! Thank you for your question. I started out as a photojournalist, then as a cinematographer and screenwriter. all three aspects of those mediums flow into the act of making movies. The most important thing is to build your vision on paper with images and words, and have a very clear idea of the tone, the sound, the world and the story that you wish to tell. one of The most important stages of choosing a cinematographer, production designer, editor, etc. is chemistry of personality and finding a kindred spirit who shares the passion for bold new inventive ideas and can really be an artist who brings their best talents and work ethic to set every single day. Defining your vision is the most important job of a filmmaker. It’s all all about over communication. The more you communicate, the better direction you can give and also know when not to over direct to let magic happen in a way that is organic to your actors and.crew.

You're welcome, Eric Nazarian. Thanks for the answer/advice!

Thanks Eric Nazarian - appreciate the advice !

Yep - outsourcing is my bus term to make things happen- lol.

Yes - finding works for me. It’s very important in this stage of life. Thanks again!

K. Kennard

Thanks Eric Nazarian -- those are great tips! I agree a lot especially about knowing all the details. My short film is based on my feature, so when I was on set directing, I had answers for everything and my crew was very happy on how fast we were able to complete our days. All of that was related to prep. Glad to hear that it's scalable!

Thanks so much Eric Nazarian for your advice and kind words. All the best to you!

Hi Nigel Gascon, thanks for your question. Everything is a challenge nowadays. the industry of literary arts is an area ghat I don’t have enough experience in. I think the most important strength for any artist to have is their own voice and to keep writing and creating when things seem like they are futile. They are not. Everything comes in waves and having really strong material that speaks for itself is the first step. then it’s about knocking on 1000 doors and hopefully 1 opens. it’s about staying true to my vision as a human being and as a filmmaker. I love independent films because I love working and ideas to life that are not easily put into a box. With my upcoming film, I believe I achieve that with a great deal of hard work for many years. vision, dedication and consistency are the most important things.

Hi Sylvia Melanson, the most important thing has a creative artist can do, in my opinion, for starters, is to stay true to your vision and to define the stories and artworks that come from your heart. This is the first and most important step is to keep practicing on being honest and creating what is inside your heart.

Hi David Newton, unfortunately violent selling to the masses goes back to even before ancient Rome and the gladiators. Vengeance, violence, war, blood, guts…unfortunately surround all of human history. the film industry utilizes the power of spectacle to sell more violence wholesale to the bargain basement shoppers all the way to Wall Street. It’s a sad unfortunate state. that’s why we have to make films that really critique violence in a human way and a universal way that does not feed into the stereotyped, commercial gore and violence that unfortunately there is way too much of.

Eric Nazarian Hi Eric. When and where did you learn to write screenplays? What resources do you recommend to learn screenwriting.

Thanks for your words of inspiration Eric Nazarian.

Great advice about staying True to your Vision and Art (Music) within, Eric Nazarian . Thanks for this.

www.kerrykennard.com

Hi Geoff Hall, thanks for your question. The most important thing for me has always been the inspirations that I’ve been wanting to realize into films. As a film student, the best part of those years were experimenting and learning the craft of film, language and grammar. I’ve always believe that building your voice as an artist and a creative comes first. The business always changes so you can’t really be writing for the business when the business itself is so fickle and based on so many formulaic notions of what may or may not work. It’s all a crapshoot so I wouldn’t advise following any trends if you want to be a unique film or narrative artist. the greatest films that you see being recognized come from a very unique place of creativity and not necessarily what the business dictates. Nowadays, we have no idea what works anymore because everything is being disrupted. It’s always better to take the gamble on what you want to do and bring to life as a filmmaker. The business side will find a way to meet your requirements because we have so much more diversity now.

thank you, Dee Dupree Silverstein, I think the US president is now the enemy of our people. maybe the enemy is his double. lol. The truth nowadays is way more stranger than fiction. I’m not developing ideas based on concepts other than what’s in my wheelhouse but thank you for asking.

hi Anthony McBride, I first learned how to write screenplay when I was 14 years old thanks to my father who was a lifelong cineaste and photographer. The most important lessons I’ve learned about screenwriting come from watching my favorite movies, then reading tye shooting drafts of the scripts, and studying why they work and how they emotionally resonate to me. Reading the scripts of my favorite movies and comparing them to the finish product became the best education for me and also having great professors at my alma mater, USC film school also mentors that have been an inspiration to me.

Your advice means a lot — it's truly encouraging. I'll stay true to my visions. Thank you so much!

Hello, Eric NazarianI was wondering. Do you have any recommendations relating to independent fundraising? Are there any websites or organizations that help raise capital specifically for independent films or creatives in general? Also, I was wondering what your favorite experience has been along the way? Do you prefer writing or directing? If you don't mind talking about it.

-Gloria

Hi Gloria Salazar, thank you for your question. Nowadays, there’s so many different websites for independent grants and film funds. I would look into Film Independent website. for starters. I write scripts because I see the movie in my head and the connection between writing and directing is the same. My favorite part is hearing the words I’ve written come to life. It’s such a special gift to be able to see actors bring to life something that you’ve carried for so long.

Eric Nazarian thank you for giving us your presence here. As a director who tells deeply emotional and socially charged stories, what qualities do you look for in actors during casting — and how can actors best prepare to work on material that explores themes like machismo and gun violence?"

Hi Alexandra Stevens. Great question. Thank you. The most important trait for me an actor brings to the screen or the stage in the preparatory stage is one of trust. Trust in the material and trust in each other as human beings first. Acting is so incredibly challenging and coming from a tradition of acting and directing that is rooted deeply in the Stanislavsky system and all the great theorists of the early 20th century, I believe that preparing a role requires as much commitment as boxing, tennis or soccer. It is so incredibly all consuming that there has to be a deep level of trust, hard work and total commitment between director and actors in order to bring the best out in the work. A committed work ethic, over-communication, consistency, love for the material and being articulate are the most important traits for me that I try to work on every day, as well as seek to find in my collaborators.

Thank you for providing such thoughtful and detailed insights, Eric Nazarian!

Thanks again for taking time to answer our questions, Eric Nazarian! I'm looking forward to seeing The Blue Hour and Die Like a Man!

Eric Nazarian wow, i really liked what you said about the traits you look for! What you say about trust in the material and in each other definitely resonates with me. You sound like a great person to work with. I wish you all the very best with your projects

Eric Nazarian thank you for your answers, Eric.

“It’s all a crapshoot so I wouldn’t advise following any trends if you want to be a unique film or narrative artist.”

Absolutely. I’m a writer-director with a singular vision for my stories. Trends to me are worthless. Why follow someone else’s style, when you can develop your own over time.