Shoot From the Heart with Diane Bell: Filmmaking, Screenwriting, & Inspiration

In today's session, I answer the question: "how can I keep believing when nothing is working?" You're going to learn there are practical steps you can take...but also that belief requires decision and your deliberate choice to believe no matter what. If you are finding yourself doubting, grab a coffee, pull up a chair and let's get your belief rock solid again. For the fre...

The Upper Limit Problem is an idea that comes from a book called THE BIG LEAP by Gaye Hendricks.  Essentially it's the idea that we all have an inner thermostat for how much good things we can have in our lives (ie how much abundance, how much success, how much love) and that when we go beyond that level, we sabotage to bring ourselves back to our original setting. In this episode I share som...

As we go after big, audacious goals (like writing and selling scripts or making movies), we sometimes find that our loved ones don't support us. In this episode, I address what to do if our nearest and dearest don't share our excitement about our dreams or are actively sabotaging them. If you love this episode, please share it on your social media and tag me on Instagram @shootfromthehea...

It happens to ALL of us after we go after our goals: we're taking loads of action, we're doing all the things... And suddenly it feels like it's not working  - and we get stuck. In this episode I share three practical strategies to get you UN-stuck. You'll want to bookmark this one and listen to it whenever you feel like you're not moving towards your dreams! To sign up fo...

In today's episode, I answer some questions I received about the practical side of writing screenplays.  How many pages should you aim for?  How much description is too much - and how much is too little?  Will the director change a lot? The answers to these questions (and much more) are all revealed in this episode.  Don't miss it if you want some fresh perspectives on what makes a scree...

There's where you are....and there's where you want to be. The journey between these two points sometimes seems way too long, so the question arises: how can we make it shorter? In this episode, you're going to learn 3 ways to get to your dreams faster, guaranteed! If you are ready to hit the accelerator pedal to your big goals, you won't want to miss it. To join THE SHOOT FROM...

I often asked "is it possible for me to succeed as a screenwriter and/or filmmaker if I'm shy?" In this episode, I take a deep dive into this question - and the answer probably isn't what you expect! No matter whether you consider yourself shy or not, you're going to learn the #1 belief that blocks our success as well as a new way to look at the journey to our dreams that...

If you want to write a screenplay that actually has a shot at getting made into a movie, you're going to love this episode! You're going to learn the #1 secret to all success - as well as what success looks like at different stages of our journey. Registration is opening soon for my course WRITE YOUR SCREENPLAY IN 8 WEEKS, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if you're looking for suppor...

We all have "off" days - days where we're fighting a cold, not feeling great, worried about a loved one, and so on. But what to do when we're having an "off" day - but we've got to get things done?! In this episode I share my own strategies for showing up and following through on commitments even when I'm not feeling great. Learning these tools can make all...

If you are looking for a mentor and community to help you thrive as a screenwriter and/or filmmaker, The Network is for you. In this special episode, I share exactly what The Network is and how it can help you. You'll also hear from current members of The Network on how it has impacted their lives - both as screenwriters/filmmakers and as humans. If you're ready to jump in to THE NETWORK...

To get your film into Sundance is the dream of many aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers. In this episode I share my own journey with Sundance, as someone who's film was improbably selected from the slush pile and went on to win two awards there.  I also share about my journey to being a participant in the Sundance Screenwriter's Lab. You'll learn exactly what you need to do if you...

To get to greenlight, your script doesn't need to be perfect - but it does need to be good enough.   What that really means is that it's got to engage and move the reader. In this episode you're going to learn some unexpected expert tips on upleveling the style of your script.  You'll learn what it means to think like a director (and why it's often the key to great screenw...

The path to your big dreams is a long one and made of many, many steps.  This can feel overwhelming and daunting, sometimes even making us want to give up - but in this episode I offer you an actionable system that simplifies your journey to three simple steps that you take over and over. With these 3 steps, your success is inevitable! To sign up for the free masterclass, DESTINATION GREENLIGHT --...

As we come to the end of the 2022, it's a good time to look back and see what we can learn from this year. In this episode, I get very personal and candid about some of the lessons I've learned. You'll hear about what I've learned from making my big dream come true - but also what I learned about mentorship and trusting yourself.  Tune in, have a listen, then sit down and refle...

As we come to the end of this year, you might already be thinking ahead to your big goals for next year. But as you know - many of us set big goals and don't even get close to achieving them. How do we make sure that this time will be different?  How do we set ourselves up for a year that changes the story of our lives? Pull up a chair and listen in as I share three things you should be doing...

How do you end a movie so that it has viewers raving?  How do you end one so that you set up a sequel that will be a masterpiece? And what does this have in common with how you end your year? As we begin the last month of the year, let's take a look at how to end something meaningfully - and set us up for the best sequel ever. To join the Shoot From the Heart Society: https://www.facebook.com...

Ever heard the story that you have to write at least 3-5 scripts before you sell one? Who made that rule?!   And is it even true?? In this episode, I dive into this myth that you'll hear regurgitated all around the online screenwriting world and share my own personal experience not only selling my first script - but being hired to rewrite a script for an A list director before I'd even w...

Ever feel in a rush to get where you want to go? Feel like if you don't keep hustling, keep moving, keep pushing that you're never going to get there? While it's great to have big dreams and goals, the truth is life is NOW. If we think we can't have fun, be happy or feel abundant and secure until we have success - it's highly likely that we'll never experience what we...

No one thinks they have a negative attitude - yet the truth is many of us are walking around with beliefs that are FAR from positive.  The problem is as long as you hold negative beliefs, you're going to be blocking the results you want.  If you think selling your script is really hard.... it will be! In this bit size episode, I explore what it means to have a negative attitude and offer a qu...

Last week I posted on Instagram that the real reason you won't sell your script is that you don't believe in it enough. To say that annoyed some folks would be an understatement!  I received a bunch of messages saying, "the problem isn't that I don't believe, the problem is I don't know the right people." Fair enough - but let's dissect that!  In that episod...

If you're a friend of mine on social media, you'll be aware there are some changes happening in my world (beyond relocating to Spain!). In this episode, I share about the future of Shoot From the Heart and about the birth of Aim from the Heart, as well as a little about what you can expect from each. I'm so excited about this new chapter in my life and my business and I look forward...

The #1 reason people give for not making their movie is lack of finance.  This becomes even more of a block when every day the news is full of talk of global recession, rising costs and hard times. So what can we do about it? In this episode, I share how and why your success is NOT dependent on the global situation and what it actually IS dependent on. You'll also learn 3 actionable strategie...

Why you want what you want matters.  A lot.   In this episode I share the power of your why and how to harness it so that it fuels you through the challenges you face. To join my free group for filmmakers and screenwriters, THE SHOOT FROM THE HEART SOCIETY --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/239946376921960

Many screenwriters have problems committing to a single idea.  Either they have 5 ideas for movies and just can't choose, or they choose one, get started...and soon find themselves up in the middle of the night thinking about another idea.  A BETTER idea. The problem is: if we don't commit, we won't get to the finish line. In this episode I explore the idea of committing to one idea...

Do you ever wonder if you've left it too late to achieve the really big dream you have? That you're too old to write and sell your script?  To start a business and create financial freedom?  To meet your dream partner? Often we'll say to ourselves "if it was going to happen, it would have happened by now!" In this episode I break down why you are actually the PERFECT age f...