Russell Hasenauer: Director in Toms River, New Jersey.

Follow your dream. Visualize it and be determined to make it happen.

Dive in headfirst Russell, the water is warm...LOL. I feel lucky in that the first time I ever shot a film I shot a feature so I've only thought along those lengths. The script is obviously most important, and that is where I failed, as do most filmmakers. Most people want to focus on the camera-work to make it look great. Fascinating films can be made with no camera movement, etc. if the script is right. Write it right!

Best wishes to you!

2 MOST important things when making ANY film, but especially a feature: 1) write a decent script 2) Get GREAT actors (not necessarily name actors unless you're lucky or can afford). Second most important (but it IS important) is know where to put the camera. Storyboarding helps a lot to save time and money.

Hi we are close on releasing the book Become Courageous Abeba. We just launched it on kickstarter It would be kind if you take 5 minutes to check it out and hopefully contribute or share it with your friends and family. Please ckick on the link below. Thank you for your support. Have a blessed day! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/367671485/become-courageous-abeba-a-...

Russell, I watched all five episodes and read your blog, and I wish you well on your journey. If I can encourage you with some pointed comments gleaned from 20 years experience and observation: (1) feature film projects are rarely completed, and it is even more rare that they are completed by groups of aspiring film makers. To a large part, this is because (2) many if not most of group members cannot conceive of being a professional in the industry, so they will not be professional or committed over the length of the shoot. And (3) feature films are NOT short films only longer... They do not do well shooting intermittently or on weekends. They are a different breed of production entirely. They are not a "moving up" step - they are another species requiring a different mindset and different production outlook amd orders of magnitude more effort. You will find that out when you get into one. It appears to me that you have the technical skills for a feature film. To actually be successful, you need as well the attitude. I think in the last episode of your 5-part series you observed that your shoot felt at times ""...as if this were a major professional production...". That is ALMOST the feeling you need for a feature. You and everyone else involved need to understand that it IS a professional production. To tolerate anything else is to risk producing a very long home video instead of a worthy feature, and to waste your and everyone else's time. It is not merely a matter of finishing principal photography on your feature - but it is ensuring that is done as the first milestone on your first feature. All the best!

Zdenko Špoljarić 10 090 Zagreb Croatia E-mail: zdenkosp@gmail.com FB: http://www.facebook.com/zdenkosp Hello Russell Hasenauer !!! Subject: Do you have any acting project for me Actor or do you know who has a need for the role of my profile in their future project ? My biography (CV) I was born on 17.06.1959. I finished a high school and after that I worked as a security guard of people and property. I am retired now, but for the past 10 years working in the media as an amateur actor, thanks to God I have very nice results. Although I am not satisfied with it, because I can do better than these roles, of course if I get the chance . Therefore, the producer and director of movies, TV series, commercials and music videos, if you need to have acting in your future projects, I will gladly respond. If you are interested to see some of my past engagements, please take a look at my Profile on Facebook, as well links from movies, music spots and commercials, enclosed in attachment below. Or, if you know any of the producers or directors to be interested in me your recommendation in their future projects, I'd be grateful. OK .. I'll send you my complete data on your e-mail, as well as some of my current role to be played if you want to look ... I would like you to continue using e-mail contact .. Best regards ! P. S. Just some of my roles on link: - Music video "Panic", Edo Maajka (December 2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Sk2ll0aqU - Music video "Swing the ship," the group Elemental (November 2011) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7A3M0_4l3s - Advertisement "Stella Artois" (role) for the "UK" the market, (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtYhPJ2mfGU P.S. Please send me your email and I'll send you my full CV

Go for it! Fear is made up in our minds when we are about to do something we haven't done before. It can keep you from moving forward...it paralizes most people. Make sure your script is great...not good. It is the blueprint and if the script isn't great then you have no chance of making a great film. Everybody has at least one great story in them and I always encourage everyone to get those films out there so we all can enjoy them. Best of luck and keep moving forward!

Good article, Russell, but there are two sides to any coin. Being older and probably bolder, I started on the other end of the spectrum -- or -- other side of the coin. Produced a feature with all the whistles and all the bells. I will now admit I had an undeniable fear of short or low budget projects. While I enjoyed the dedication and often the results of those who undertook a project in the venue, I simply couldn't fathom how a film, short or otherwise, could be done on a shoestring or non-existent budget. That was until I want invited to function as the consulting producer on a short, live action project written/funded/directed by an old friend. Shot in New Orleans with a $5K budget and funded with a Kickstarter offering. I was amazed with the cohesion and the dedication of what could be called a skelton crew. What I saw on set was the atmosphere of common goal that my business partner had envisioned on all our more lofty undertakings -- but -- never realized. I made the decision to lose the fear and take the plunge -- this time into the shallow end of the pool. Convincing my business partner was actually easier than I anticipated, he being old school and much more cynical from his years spent on the other end of the spectrum. Wish us luck, our short project, LAST WISHES, is scheduled to go before the camera mid-October. The only thing to fear is fear itself...

Great blog shot for the stars Russ.

Russell - this was a great look into the psychology of what goes on in one's mind before you make that leap into features. Trust in yourself! Those around you will follow. Thanks for sharing. It was a very honest blog and really cool to read.

Thank you for this blog, Russell! I'm on the same boat, transferring from shorts to features. My main problem is not having money or a producer to help me raise money. How are you getting your feature made? I would love to follow your journey into making your feature. Will you be blogging about it here?

<3 Indy Mogul, thanks for teaching me all that you have!

Hi Russell. I'm RB, co-founder and CEO of Stage 32. As an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work and attracting attention to their projects. That's why we created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 90,000+ members strong spanning 180+ countries making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth. This is a network for you, built by you. Like most things in life, the more you participate, the greater the rewards. We ask all new members pay it forward and invite at least 5 fellow creatives and to spread the word of Stage 32 through other social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can also invite fellow creatives through the site by using the "Send Stage 32 Invites..." button on the upper right side of your profile. The more creatives, the stronger the network. The stronger the network, the more opportunities. Thanks for joining the movement and for being a part of this most talented and inspiring community. PS - Please take a moment to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @Stage32online.

Hey Russell, I'm the CTO and lead developer at Stage32.com. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback about the site. I'd love to hear your comments!