THE STORYTELLER BLOG
Supercharge your filmmaking with inspirational and educational content
on directing, visual storytelling, film distribution, leadership, producing, and more.
Directing

Interview: 4 Valuable Tips for Shooting Your First Feature Film

November 19, 2020

This is an interview with director Pearry Teo – I asked him to give 4 tips for filmmakers interested in making their first feature film.I knew that he...

Directing

Indie Filmmaker’s Guide: How to Hire a Cinematographer

July 9, 2020

Whether you’re directing your first film, your 4th film, or even your 43rd film, knowing how to hire a great cinematographer is of key importanc...

Directing

Interview: 4 Valuable Tips for Shooting Your First Feature Film

May 26, 2020

This is an interview with director Christopher Sheffield – I asked him to give 4 tips for filmmakers interested in making their first feature fi...

Casting

Ultimate Guide: How to Cast Excellent Actors for Low-Budget Films

May 23, 2020

The more films I make, the more I find learning how to cast actors for low-budget films is one of the most difficult parts of making a good film.I als...

Directing

How to Use Color & Light to Set the Tone in Your Film

April 13, 2020

I recommend you spend time thinking about these aspects for your next film. How can you use color and light to enhance your story?Lighting and color a...

Directing

Storyteller Podcast Ep. 3 | From 1st feature film to Netflix w/ Joseph Mbah

January 7, 2020

LISTEN TO EPISODE 3 HERE.The Storyteller Podcast can be found anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). A quick way to find it ...

Directing

How to Use Shot Sizes & Camera Angles: 4 Ways They Affect Perspective

September 15, 2019

How do you pick your shot sizes and camera angles?Are you picking what looks cool? Are you picking what is easiest or most practical?Maybe you’re just...

Directing

19 Attributes You Need to be a Great Film Director

August 8, 2019

A filmmaker – a great director – is more than a guy or gal who makes a movie.Regardless of a feature film’s budget, a great director has m...

Directing

5 Story Elements You Need to Make a Great Film

August 2, 2019

What are the bare-bones essentials of a good story?[Podcast discussion of this topic now available here.]What makes for a good story? When you start w...

29

December

2020

How to Make Money as a Filmmaker When You’re Stuck at Home

Business, Entrepreneurship 0

19

November

2020

Interview: 4 Valuable Tips for Shooting Your First Feature Film

Directing 0

9

July

2020

Indie Filmmaker’s Guide: How to Hire a Cinematographer

Directing, Leadership 0

26

May

2020

Interview: 4 Valuable Tips for Shooting Your First Feature Film

Directing, Leadership 0

23

May

2020

Ultimate Guide: How to Cast Excellent Actors for Low-Budget Films

Casting, Directing 3

13

April

2020

How to Use Color & Light to Set the Tone in Your Film

Directing, Visual Storytelling 0

7

January

2020

Storyteller Podcast Ep. 3 | From 1st feature film to Netflix w/ Joseph Mbah

Directing, Film Distribution, Fundraising 3

14

October

2019

Film Networking: How to Make Connections Without Being Fake

Networking, Self-Development 0

15

September

2019

How to Use Shot Sizes & Camera Angles: 4 Ways They Affect Perspective

Directing, Visual Storytelling 0

8

August

2019

19 Attributes You Need to be a Great Film Director

Directing, Leadership, Self-Development 1

2

August

2019

5 Story Elements You Need to Make a Great Film

Directing, Writing 0

21

July

2019

A Breakdown of Why the First & Last Images of a Scene Matter

Directing, Visual Storytelling 0

30

March

2019

How to Win the Filmmaking Game by Embracing Discomfort

Self-Development 0

30

March

2019

3 Reasons Filmmakers are Lazy, Shortsighted Time-Wasters (but don’t have to be)

Self-Development 1

14

January

2019

24 Filmmaking Video Essays that Will Make You Think

Directing 0

14

December

2018

92+ Links: Huge Directory of Free & Cheap Filmmaking Assets

Filmmaking 0

17

November

2018

20 Insanely Helpful Videos New Filmmakers Should Watch

Filmmaking, Self-Development 0

13

November

2018

Case Study: How to Avoid the Failures of “Sacramentum”

Visual Storytelling 1

12

November

2018

How to Fail Up: BTS from my Directorial Debut

Directing, Filmmaking 0

6

October

2018

How to Get Volunteer Cast & Crew to Show Up

Filmmaking, Leadership 0

29

September

2018

Becoming a Movie Director – 9 Tips for Success

Directing, Self-Development 2

15

September

2018

5 Challenging Scene Types and How to Conquer Them

Directing, Filmmaking, Visual Storytelling 1

1

September

2018

Filmmakers: Try the Army’s Proven 4-Step Feedback Method

Leadership, Self-Development 2

18

August

2018

10 Vital Life-Skills Filmmaking Will Teach You (Part 1/4)

Filmmaking, Self-Development 0

11

August

2018

10 Educational Resources Filmmakers Need to Know About

Filmmaking, Self-Development 3

14

July

2018

[Free Film Questionnaire Form] 3 Foolproof Steps to Apply Feedback to Your Film

Directing, Filmmaking 2

30

June

2018

10 Vital Life-Skills Filmmaking Will Teach You (Intro)

Filmmaking, Leadership, Self-Development 2

23

June

2018

4 Facts You Need to Know about Profits for Your 1st Feature Film

Business, Filmmaking, Fundraising 1

16

June

2018

Film Distribution: 5 Things You Need to Find a Great Deal

Business, Filmmaking 4

4

June

2018

Film vs. Digital Shooting (what I learned by shooting film)

Filmmaking, Technology 1

26

May

2018

How to Pick a Film Producing (or Business) Partner

Business, Entrepreneurship, Filmmaking 3

18

May

2018

Worldbuilding: Icons & Big Ideas (What All Prominent Fiction Has in Common)

Writing 0

13

May

2018

How to ‘Make the Day’ – Staying on Schedule as a Director

Directing, Filmmaking 0

23

April

2018

The Value of Testing Before Your Shoot

Filmmaking 0

21

April

2018

How to Make a Film Look Book & 7 Big Reasons You Need One

Directing, Visual Storytelling 6

11

April

2018

8 Directing Books Every Filmmaker Should Read

Directing 2

7

April

2018

10 Powerful Techniques to Maximize Your Productivity

Self-Development 2

20

February

2018

3 Lessons Learned from Crowdfunding

Filmmaking, Fundraising 0