Filmmaking / Directing

Ok, I have to brag a little. If you've followed any of my posts at all, you know that I haven't been doing this for very long. Only about five years in Acting/Producing and about two in Writing and Directing. So I'm still to the stage where there are still new things happening for me.

The first time...

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The first time I got a SAG commercial was pretty cool. The first time I got a part based on who I knew was thrilling. The first time I got to call "Action" as a Director on something that I wrote was amazing (even if the film wasn't! Lol!).

And so now, I have another first. I got to go to Cannes this past May (also a first in and of itself) based on the fact that my first feature film "Turbo Cola", my short film "Calls", and the script for my new short passion project "Stories" all got into this guy's film festival (Darwin Reina at The North Film Festival) year after year.

So, I went there with a plan. I went there with three completed films. The two feature films I was a Producer on, "Turbo Cola" and "18 1/2" and a film that a friend of mine did, also here in Central PA, called "Transient", a nice little Sci Fi Thriller. All three had received North American Distribution but I wanted to see if I could get Worldwide distribution as well.

I talked to everyone I could. Everyone who would take an appointment with me. For a lot of people, it was fun and glamor and walking the red carpets but for me, it was a work week. And as of Friday, I am happy to announce that I was able to get a deal for my friend's movie "Transient".

I'm still new to the game and still enjoying all of the "firsts" that come with it. I'd love to hear about some of your favorite firsts! Leave 'em in the comments!

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Hello all, I was thinking about sharing with you how important prep is for any filming day to be completed succesfully. The best way to do this, is by example. So I am jumping right in...We had to film a scene which more or less, was this: "in a fishing boat, in the middle of the sea, two women are fighting with a knife, trying to throw each other overboard. The very young protagonist is hiding in the boat. As the women were fighting, he tried to stop them, and he ended up falling overboard".

Before I start, I need to add that this was a very low budget film, so as filmmakers, we had to find the best solutions, with the little money that we had. First of all we had extensive discussions with the director and all the teams involved, to understand the needs to succesfully deliver this scene. We decided we would actually film most of the scene in the open waters, close though to the shore. We found a bay were waters were always calm and not very deep.

The results for the filming day were: 1)Many boats. We had the scene boat, plus four more. A side boat where the filming crew was, camera, sound, AD etc. A second boat with additional crew and monitor, make up, hair, wardrobe, etc. A third boat with security personnel, doctor, first aid team, safety divers, stunts etc. A fourth fast small boat to carry people back and forth to the shore, from any of these boats. 2) Catering that day was planned according to this scene, not many fluids, light food etc, 3) We had bought different types of anti-nausea or motion sickness candies, like more pharmaceutical or more natural. 4) We had life vests for everybody, who were oblidged to wear during filming. 5) We had been sending for a week before, instructions of how to have a more comfortable filming day to all crew with call sheets, like sleep early, don't eat late, don't drink the day/night before. 6) We had purchased firm boat shoes for all crew that were on the action boat. 7) Rehearsals on the boat while it as anchored to the marina, for the fight and the moment up to the fall in the water. 8) The actual fall was filmed in a pool.

9) Although we captured sound, we had planned and did ADR for the dialogue.

What do you think of these measures? Were they enough, do you think we have missed something? I would love to hear your thoughts.

View all All comments

Trevor Learey

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1 person likes this
- Pat Savage
10 hours ago

Kimberly, I'm happy you have found a good and reliable friend.

Kimberly Kradel

8 hours ago

Thanks Trevor! She does sound like a friend, doesn't she :)

I use AI, and 'HE' is a bit of a retard, just telling me what he thinks I want to hear.

Patrik Gyltefors

3 hours ago

My experience with using A.I. for research, is that it is totally counterproductive. More often than not, it will present incorrect information as "fact", and lead you astray. If A.I. was a person, it...

Expand comment

2 hours ago

"lacks any sense of morality and human values? Defines AI, But if you just want pub chat content, go for it.

Maurice Vaughan 5

1
1 person likes this
- Koby Nguyen
10 hours ago

As an audience member, I like both, Alex Gutenberg. I prefer grit though, like the movies and shows I grew up watching.

Koby Nguyen

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
10 hours ago

I agree with Maurice.

2
2 people like this
- Charmane Wedderburn
- Geoff Hall
14 hours ago

I haven't seen Megalopolis yet, Geoff Hall, but I'm looking forward to. I might do a Megalopolis Megadoc double feature.

Geoff Hall

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
14 hours ago

Maurice Vaughan 5 wow, Maurice, you really do have an appetite for FFC! I’d be really interested to see what you make of Megalopolis.

1
1 person likes this
- Charmane Wedderburn
13 hours ago

I saved your post, Geoff Hall. I'll let you know what I think of Megalopolis and Megadoc.

Pat Alexander

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
11 hours ago

I really enjoyed Megalopolis and felt audiences deeply misunderstood the intent of the film and many of the social criticisms it was making. It's an incredibly amusing spectacle of a movie and audienc...

1
1 person likes this
- Pat Alexander
11 hours ago

Thanks for sharing the video, Pat Alexander. Chad Stahelski is one of my favorite directors. He talked about showing a feeling with a look instead of a character expressing how they're feeling. That's...

Stephen Barber

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3 people like this
11 hours ago

This right here is good stuff.

Sydney S

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
2 months ago

Hi, LaDonna! I completely understand the challenge of finding producers and executive directors who are genuinely interested in your genre of screenplays. If you’d like some recommendations, helpful t...

Or about other helpful resources outside of the lab, I am here as well.

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
2 days ago

Hey all, so excited to get going with the lab with the incredible Alexia! If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please email me at edu@stage32.com

Alexia Melocchi

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
- Michael David
12 hours ago

very happy to do this again for the Stage 32 Community! My last student, who participated in the Cannes workshop, won the Cannes LARGO pitch competition after working with me. Whether you go there or...

Michael David see my comment on this

Michelle Prostrollo

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4 people like this
5 days ago

I’m so glad you shared that piece. Wow!

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3 people like this
5 days ago

I'm looking forward to seeing Alien: Earth, Florin Şumălan! I'll come back and watch the video after I watch the series. Thanks for sharing it.

Ashley Renee Smith

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan 5
15 hours ago

I'm so obsessed with this show right now, Florin Şumălan! Thank you for sharing this video!

2
2 people like this
- Ashley Renee Smith
- Charmane Wedderburn
4 days ago

Congratulations on getting a deal for Transient and all your success, Brandon Keeton! Congratulations to your friend!

What stood out about your post is "I went there with a plan."

One of my favorite fir...

Brandon Keeton

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3 people like this
3 days ago

Maurice Vaughan 5 Sweet! I KNEW those Introduce Yourself weekends paid off! Lol! And yes, go there with a plan and at the same time, be adaptable. Honestly, people were more willing to talk to me abou...

Jon Shallit

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2 people like this
- Ashley Renee Smith
- Maurice Vaughan 5
3 days ago

Big success! Congrats!

1
1 person likes this
- Ashley Renee Smith
3 days ago

Yeah, Introduce Yourself Weekend definitely pays off, Brandon Keeton. I've built a LOT of relationships during IYW, and it's a great time to catch up with friends.

Be adaptable is great advice! I go in...

2
2 people like this
- Brandon Keeton
- Maurice Vaughan 5
15 hours ago

Love this post, Brandon Keeton!

2
2 people like this
- Ashley Renee Smith
- Frank Van Der Meijden
3 days ago

Congratulations on directing and producing the shorts, Frank Van Der Meijden! Congratulations on your documentary premiering in cinema last week! I enjoy watching movies I wouldn’t usually write....

2
2 people like this
- Frank Van Der Meijden
- Maurice Vaughan 5
15 hours ago

That’s such a fascinating and honest reflection, Frank Van Der Meijden, and I think more filmmakers relate to this than they realize. There’s something about the craft of making a film that taps into...

Elena Priovolou

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2 people like this
- Ashley Renee Smith
- Maurice Vaughan 5
2 days ago

Rescue team

And paradise :)

Alessandro Sicardi

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3 people like this
2 days ago

Gosh, I never thought how complicated the preparation of a scene like that could be...!

Hannah Woolmer

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3 people like this
1 day ago

As a composer that also works on sound design and post-production audio I'm very pleased that you included good sound prep in your list

Elena Priovolou, this is an incredible breakdown of practical, thoughtful, and safety-first filmmaking. Thank you for sharing such a detailed look behind the scenes. This kind of transparency is so va...

Filmmaking / Directing

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