The Working Director

How Do You Finance Your Film? How do you find investors? What are the ways to bring money into your film? How do you get a bank loan? How do you get a bond to get a bank loan? What companies do you need to know and how do those relationships make or break your film financing? And more! To get in touch with Jim about his next class where you can learn even more about film finance email: jimholt41@g...

Ask An Entertainment Lawyer: FLLCs, Releases, and more! In this new semi-monthly series we let our audience ask any production related legal questions their hearts desire to Entertainment Lawyer & Filmmaker Chris Edgar.  This week, some topics covered:  -When do you need to form an LLC for your film and how long do you need to keep it? -AI – where are we currently at with legal clearances? -Wh...

What is an intimacy coordinator and how can they help you have a safer, more productive set? Whether it's an intimate scene between two actors, a torture or trauma scene, or a scene involving minors, an intimacy coordinator can help you have a safer set and make a better film. Today we highlight this important and lesser-known crew position with intimacy coordinator and actor Chantal Cousineau...

How Do You Direct A.I.? What considerations are there when prepping an A.I. drama? How do you keep it all ethical? We talk with James Walker, Nancy Lanham, and Forest Robin of Velocity Studios about how they created TWO A.I. podcasts (an interview show where an A.I. host interviews an A.I. guest and a narrative feature length show where actors play the humans and A.I. play the robots). (Episode 47...

Ask An Entertainment Lawyer: Fair Use, A.I. Rights and more! In this new semi-monthly series we let our audience ask any production related legal questions their hearts desire to Entertainment Lawyer & Filmmaker Chris Edgar. This week, some topics covered: -who owns the rights to A.I. materials used and should you avoid using them in your film? -what exactly is fair use when it comes to filmma...

ICFX For Indie Filmmakers: Using LED Walls & Green Screen for In-Camera FX What do you need to know when prepping and shooting on LED walls? How about using in-camera fx with green screen? Where is the technology heading and how can you get in on using this now to level up your filmmaking? Let's get in to it! (Episode 45) Hosted by Director/Producer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jenn Page.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to...

How can A.I. actually benefit your team when it comes to production and post production? How do you use A.I. to enhance (not replace) what your cast and crew bring to the table? Join this live discussion and Q&A on the current uses of A.I. for indie filmmakers and how to use them legitimately. From capturing actor images to editing, there is a new world at your fingertips.  (Episode 44) Hosted...

How do you approach investors in a time when anyone rarely makes money? What goes in your business plan? Why should you share the bad news first with your potential investors? Why should you use your own money to make your own film? Why shouldn’t you pre-judge potential investors? Why is getting a mentor essential? We are going to dive into all that with filmmaker Scott DuPont in this episode abou...

Would you rather stick forks in your eyes than network with strangers? Do you get excited about going to an event to meet people but end up speaking only to people you already know once there? What about online? Do you know how the way to best use the tools at your disposal? Networking is the key to success. People have to know you exist to hire you. Whether it's reconnecting with old acquaint...

What is Production Insurance exactly? How do you get it affordably for smaller projects? What exactly do all those terms on that certificate of insurance even mean?!?!? Production Insurance is a non-negotiable when it comes to filmmaking. You need it to rent gear. You need it to book locations. You need it to keep your crew covered. Filming without it is a risky business. We'll be joined by Al...

Until you find a groove getting hired for narrative projects, most directors make their money in the non-scripted world. How can you make the most from your time doing non-scripted work? How can you help your interview subjects feel at ease? How do you know what b-roll to film? How can you keep your set running smoothly? And how does all of that translate to your narrative film work? We’ll talk ab...

When should you start talks with your colorist? How can you best help them understand your vision? What's the best pipeline to go from production through all of post until color? We'll cover that and more in this episode with Film & TV Colorist Tashi Trieu (Avataar 2: The Way of The Water). (Episode 39) Hosted by Director/Producer ⁠ Jenn Page.⁠ To join our private FB group for director...

How do you direct live TV? Whether 21 cameras or three, a live audience or not, there are so many considerations that differ from narrative filmmaking. What are those things? Filmmaker Sharon Everitt shares how she does it on this episode. (Episode 38) Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps em...

How do you sustain a career in a business that forgets you the minute you’ve walked out the door? Writer Michael Anthony Snowden’s career took off in 1977 working with one of the biggest names in comedy, Richard Pryor. After that he wrote for the Wayans brothers on everything from In Living Color to White Chicks. So why does he still feel like every day is still a hustle to work, and what does he...

How can a positive mind shift help you become a working director? How do you turn your relationships into paid directing work? And how does all of that help you raise money for films? Filmmaker Jason Satterlund has done all that and he shares how a simple mind shift took him from low budget music videos to higher budget narratives. (Episode 36) Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our pr...

How do I get money for my own projects? I get asked that question more than any other. The problem is there's no rule book or guide that works 100 percent of the time. You could raise 700k for one, be a success financially, and still struggle to do the next. That's why we are going to bring you several interviews this year from filmmakers who have done it. We'll ask them how they did it and get so...

What is script coverage and why is it so important? When should you even send your script for coverage? How do you build out character breakdowns or break out your script's story? We'll get into all that on this episode with writer Heather Ostrove. (Episode 34) Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that...

How do you shot list? How do you breakdown character arcs? How do you prep with your DP and department heads? Those questions and more will be answered on this episode with filmmaker Soma Helmi as we talk all things director prep! (Episode 33) Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging fi...

How do you get your first feature film? How do you nurture relationships to get the first (and the second...and third...and fourth...)? How does social media come in to play for all of it? And so much more! Filmmaker Kristin Fairweather is fresh off her 5th feature and we are going to share how she got her films so you can start getting yours! (Episode 32) Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To...

Overwhelm and burnout can make you quit things you love, have full mental breakdowns on those you love, and even make you literally sick. How can you avoid it and be more productive? In this first solo episode with your host Jenn Page, she'll give you some tips and tricks to overcome it all. Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Wo...

What is a music supervisor and how would working with one level up your film? How do you know a music supervisor would be helpful for your project? How do you know WHICH supervisor is right for your project? We learn that and SO much more in this episode of The Working Director with music supervisor Jennifer Smith. Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for directors,...

This is not our typical deep dive into the craft or biz of directing, but it just might help you be more successful in both!  How can knowing about your birth chart and all that goes with it help your film career? How can you take a little more control in circumstances that you usually have little control? Open your mind and you might get something really cool from this episode. Author and Co...

Is it your dream to direct on an LED stage (like The Mandalorian)?  How do you choose between LED wall and green screen?  How do you know what to prep before you go to set?  How do you decide the shots you can lose to save money on VFX later?  What about using the tech for your driving scenes so you don’t have to take it to the streets?  Can all of this help you shoot your...

How do you make a compelling series without any moving images? How do you direct name talent like Helen Hunt and Alan Cumming? How do you direct a series like this at all? How do you use marketing to become number 1 in fiction podcasts? Those questions and more will be answered on this episode of The Working Director. Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page. To join our private FB group for director...

How do you ditch the horrible feeling of waiting for the phone to ring to be told you've been hired? The best way is to go get your own clients, create your own work, and start getting paid now. Director/Actor Stacy Singh shares how she's been getting clients for herself since she's been Los Angeles. To join our next live conversation and get all your questions answered, join our free private FB g...