Filmmaking Without Fear

Who are the essential crew members in a production? Learn who Elizabeth and Duncan had on their team to make Trust Prey Hope great--and which pieces they were missing.

Elizabeth and Duncan discuss how they gathered all the pieces to embark upon creating their very first film together and Elizabeth’s directorial debut, Trust Prey Hope.

To conclude level one, here are Elizabeth and Duncan’s top ten pieces of advice for success in the film industry.

Learn how to specialize in films within a specific genre while avoiding being pigeonholed. In this episode, Elizabeth and Duncan mention Save the Cat by Blake Snyder as formative reading material for aspiring filmmakers, available through Amazon and other booksellers: https://www.amazon.com/Save-Last-Book-Screenwriting-Youll/dp/1932907009

Though there will always be critics, Elizabeth and Duncan provide advice about how to trust your gut and persevere in the film industry.

Preparing for a film entails more than just pre-production. Learn about what you can do to prep yourself physically and emotionally to make sure you and your film are in top form.

No two days are alike as a filmmaker. Discover what Elizabeth and Duncan’s schedules look like as they juggle their various projects.

How do you turn your passion into a living? Elizabeth and Duncan share their experiences working more traditional jobs while pursuing their dreams. In this episode, Elizabeth notes that she was inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, available through Amazon and other booksellers: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634726

In the filmmaking process, the most important thing between team members is always communication. Learn how to prevent miscommunication on set to bring your shared vision to life. In this episode, Duncan mentions Artemis Pro as a helpful tool for pre-production. To learn more, go to https://www.chemicalwedding.tv/app%20Pages/artemisPro.php or download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store.

What is the most important thing on set? Find out as Elizabeth and Duncan discuss how to keep morale up among cast and crew and reminisce about some set mishaps.

There are several ways to assemble crew for a film. Elizabeth and Duncan share their experiences with networking to find crew for their past projects. In this episode, Duncan explains how using ShareGrid helped him find equipment, events, and fellow filmmakers. To learn more, go to https://www.sharegrid.com/losangeles Elizabeth is also a proud member of Women in Media, which she cites as a valuabl...

Learn how to balance between self-confidence and humility while working with egos in Hollywood.

From glamorous award shows to small screenings, Elizabeth and Duncan break down the different levels of film festivals and various benefits of attending. Here is a comprehensive list of every film festival Elizabeth and Duncan discuss in this episode: Worldfest: https://worldfest.org Sundance: https://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival Cannes: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/ Ven...

Elizabeth and Duncan weigh the pros and cons of film school in comparison to other avenues into the film industry, and emphasize that regardless of your path, networking is essential.

Everyone makes their own Hollywood, populated with people of all experience levels and produced with budgets of all sizes. Elizabeth and Duncan stress the importance of story and the endless opportunities available to make your film ideas a reality. In this episode, Duncan discusses participating in the 48 Hour Film Festival. To learn more, go to https://www.48hourfilm.com/home

Setbacks are inevitable, but Elizabeth and Duncan share their advice for making the most of mistakes and coping with the worst-case scenarios.

Learn how to overcome your inhibitions and dive fearlessly into filmmaking. As Elizabeth mentions in this episode, writing her novel, Arabella, was integral to her filmmaking journey. Her book is available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble: https://www.amazon.com/Arabella-Elizabeth-Blake-Thomas/dp/1975687221

Elizabeth and Duncan discuss the experiences that have shaped their journeys in the film industry.

An introduction to director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas and DP Duncan Johnson, who share how they first entered the entertainment industry.