Directors are the individuals who “translate” the script from the written page into a film.
A conventional director supervises hundreds of people at a time, from scriptwriters to costume and set designers.
Directors are responsible for all technical and artistic aspects of the film.
They conduct auditions, supervise rehearsals and approve location, scenery, costumes, choreography, and music. In short, they direct the entire cast and crew during shooting.
They frequently have several assistant directors helping them handle extras, equipment transport, and arrangements for food and accommodations.
The director’s job is not an entry-level position. Usually, individuals start in another phase of filmmaking and then take advantage of the opportunities and then advance to directing jobs.
Get Directing Experience With Music Videos
Music videos provide experience for budding directors. Directors who started directing music videos include David Fincher, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, Michael Bay, and Marc Webb.
Successful directors are involved in all three phases of production, from beginning to end.
Some directors assume multiple roles, such as director-producer or writer-producer-director.
Whatever other roles they take on, as directors, they must know how to hire the right people, fire the wrong ones, and manage people so the crew works as a dedicated team.
Kazan Speaks About Being a Director
In the autumn of 1973, Elia Kazan, director of such classic films as Gentleman’s Agreement, A Streetcar Named Desire, and On the Waterfront, was honored by a two-week retrospective of his films at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. After the program, Mr. Kazan gave this timeless talk to students. It is what he said about the role of a director.
“What kind of person must a film director train himself to be? What qualities does he need?” he asked. Here are a few: A construction gang foreman, who knows his physical problems and their solutions and is ready, therefore, to insist on these solutions…A hypnotist who works with the unconscious to achieve his ends. A poet, a poet of the camera, able both to capture the decisive moment of Cartier-Bresson (Henri Cartier-Bresson, a French humanist photographer known as the master of candid photography, an early user of 35 mm film) or to wait all day like Paul Strand for a single shot, which he makes with a bulky camera fixed on a tripod. An outfielder, for his legs — the director stands much of the day, dares not get tired, so he has strong legs. Think back and remember how the old-time directors dramatized themselves — by puttees, right?”
Patience is a Virtue
Kazan continues with his talk, “He also needs to be cunning of a trader in Baghdad bazaar — the firmness of an animal trainer — obvious tigers! A great host — At a sign from him, fine food and heartwarming drink appear. The kindness of an old-fashioned mother who forgives all, the authority and sternness of her husband, the father, who forgives nothing, expects obedience without question, brooks no nonsense — these alternatively. The elusiveness of a jewel thief – no explanation — takes my word for this one. The blarney of a PR man, especially useful when the director is out in a strange and hostile location as I have many times been. A very thick skin — a very sensitive soul – simultaneously — the patience, the persistence, the fortitude of a saint, the appreciation of pain, a taste for self-sacrifice, everything for the cause — cheeriness, jokes, playfulness, alternating with sternness, unwavering firmness. Pure doggedness — an unwavering refusal to take less than he thinks right out of a scene, a performer, a co-worker, a member of his staff, himself.”
Film Director Salary
According to the Directors Guild of America, the salary of a film director varies depending on the director’s talent and box-office success. Directors shooting a high-budget movie at $11 million or more earn a minimum $19,143. Working a week on a short film or documentary, directors earn $13,672.
If a movie production takes longer than a week, directors shooting high-budget productions earn $4,786 a day. In short films or documentaries, directors make $3,418 a day. Directors working in the industry earn, on average, an annual wage of $111,320.
Directors successful at the box office earn anywhere from $1 million to $75 million per movie.
Drives the Production
Being a director is a huge responsibility because the crew, cast, producers, and audience count on you to deliver a piece of professional art.
A director beats his heart and soul throughout the production from pre-production, production, and post-production. He is the drive that makes the film a believable and understandable story. He is the drive that makes the film a credible and coherent narrative.
So, if you are thinking of becoming a director, you need an open heart. You need to care about people in general. Then, you know you can care about your crew and actors. Otherwise, reconsider your desire or quest because a director is a people person and a technical whiz-bang.
Good luck with your career, and let me know about your successes.
Deciding on film school or no film school is a choice that will determine how you plan on developing your film career. If you choose to attend film school, you will need a ton of money. You will need to know how to build working relationships in school. Selecting a film school with dedicated and influential alums would be best. Many blockbuster filmmakers went to film school. Why should you go?
It might make your parents happy, but it puts a big dent in their pocketbook or credit score.
Some say if you’ve got the dough, you might as well go. At least you can cut your teeth by working on films in school and even producing your own as graduation criteria.
Knowledge is power. The more you know about the film business, the better off you will be. But do you need to go to film school to get that knowledge?
Further down the page, there are some questions for you to answer, which will help you decide whether to go to film school or not to go to film school.
Some say it is necessary to go to film school, while others say, “Why not just get a jump-start on your career—learn the ropes as you go?” Many blockbuster filmmakers never went to film school, either. Why should you go?
Cost of Film School
Some say you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to get a decent education in moviemaking. They are living in the Stone Age. These days, all you need is Internet access to an online film school and the willingness to listen to some good advice. With Fat-Free Film, this type of DIY film school is just a mouse click away.
Independent moviemakers Joel Marshall and Kamala Lopez-Dawson established Fat-Free Film. It is essentially a series of in-depth interviews with members of the moviemaking community. Throughout the episode, interviewees-including Henry Jaglom and Peter Bogdanovich – weigh in on how to make it in the indie film world and provide some choice anecdotes while teaching the fundamentals of filmmaking.
No Film School
You can attend a film school with influential alums to build relationships. There, you can meet students who share your desire to make movies. Writer and director Nicole Holofcener told me in an interview that while in film school in New York, she met her producer for Walking and Talking. The film was her first feature that launched Catherine Keener, Liev Schreiber and Anne Heche’s careers. Holofcener noted that her producer friend was instrumental in getting the film made and into theaters. In the same interview, she told me that film school is an excellent idea if you have the funds.
The cost of film school ranges between $7,000 and $50,000 per semester. It depends on which film school you pick.
You can ignore film school, save money, and work your way up the industry later. I spoke with the owner of Puppet Artist, who works in the film industry. He told me he hires someone who isn’t fresh out of film school. He likes working with people who work hard and are willing to learn the ropes, not act like they know it all because they went to film school.
The list of self-taught directors and producers is endless. Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola are just a few to name. Each one has their story of how they worked their way into the film industry and became successful.
Going to film school is expensive.
“The beauty of our show is that it reaches places where there are no film schools. Places where our listeners may be the only person in their town or village who has any interest in the art of filmmaking,”— Joe Marshall, Founder of Fat Free Film
Fat-Free Film School
But Fat-Free Film doesn’t focus on the typical interview subjects like actors and directors. The school goes behind the scenes to talk to editors, distributors, costume designers, and many essential members of the film world. Fat-Free Film’s ultimate goal is to create a virtual community for moviemaking.
Marshall notes, “The beauty of our show is that it reaches places where there are no film schools. Places where our listeners may be the only person in their town or village who has any interest in the art of filmmaking,”
Marshall further says, “Trying to break into filmmaking can be a very daunting and isolating experience, and what we are trying to do with Fat-Free Film is reach out to each other, share our stories, help each other and create a network of people with similar interests and goals who can support each other.”
Film school gives you confidence, but it doesn’t mean you’ll succeed.
James Cameron Skipped Film School
Before he entered the film industry, James Cameron was a machinist and truck driver. His first job in the film industry was as a model maker on a film produced by the notorious low-budget film producer Roger Corman’s New World Pictures in 1979.
Cameron recalled the job to Paula Parisi of the Hollywood Reporter in 1995. He talked about the miniature work going well, and the live-action set work, too. Director Jimmy Murakami was having trouble figuring out how to combine the two elements. Cameron convinced him to apply the little-used front projection technique as the solution, and he was the man for the job. The Cameron knighted supervisor of process projection, and four weeks later, they fired the art director and asked Cameron to take the position.
Before he was ever on a film set, Cameron studied that technique in the USC film school library. He taught himself how to make movies, and he could see an opportunity knock while on the set.
Cameron’s next project was as co-supervisor of visual effects for John Carpenter’s 1981 film Escape From New York. Cameron’s work on the film mainly consisted of supervising model making and process photography. Once that project finished, Cameron moved right on to his next project, Galaxy of Terror, also released in ’81. On that production, he designed the sets, miniatures, costumes, and second-unit direction.
Talented newcomers worked for Corman and went on to succeed as filmmakers.
Best Film School is Experience
Cameron’s first shot at the director’s helm was for another independent producer. The association developed out of his tenure at New World, which made Joe Dante’s Piranha in 1978. Corman sold the sequel rights to two Italian producers, who needed a director for this tale of killer fish that take to the air to terrorize a beach of bikini-clad beauties.
Cameron’s luck would have it. In their search, they happened to visit the set of Galaxy of Terror while Cameron was directing a second-unit scene.
As he recounted the event in his career some years later, Cameron recalled that a scene he was directing was of a dismembered arm lying on the ground: “It’s supposed to be covered with maggots … and they’ve got it covered with this tub of mealworms. You can buy them in pet stores; they’re fish food, fairly innocuous little creatures. They’re pretty law-abiding; they don’t do very much…They’re supposed to be writhing around, but they just sat there.”
He formulated a solution to run hidden electrical wires to the slugs and deliver a few “inspirational” jolts. Just then, the two future Piranha II producers strolled onto the set to watch.
Cameron called “Action!” The cue for the technician, who was hidden out of eye range, to throw the juice. “The worms start moving like crazy. I say: ‘OK, that’s good. Cut.’ He pulls the plug, and the worms stop. I turn around, and these two producers are just gaping. I guess they figured out that if I could get a performance out of maggots, I should be OK with actors, so they offered me the film.”
The film industry seeks people who are willing to work hard and do a dedicated job.
Should I Go to Film School?
“Should I go to film school?” is a great question and requires weighing the pros and cons of going. The most significant advantage is networking with other people who want to work in film. The biggest drawback is the cost, with no guarantees of success. You still have to work hard and build your credits.
If you go to film school, give it all you’ve got and don’t waste the expense. If you decide not to go to film school, be prepared to build your film career by working hard and building your film credits.
In all honesty, getting a job in the film industry is not as hard as long as you are willing to work hard and be available to work anytime and anywhere. Once your film career is established, you can pick and choose your projects or create your own projects.
Film Career Success Story
Closing this article is a success story I received from someone who I helped get into the business by reading my book.
“About a year ago, I spoke with you a few times via email. I want to thank you for your invaluable advice.
Thanks to your emails and your book (which I read nearly once a month), I now have a full-time job as a video editor (it’s a great start), was offered a PA position on a feature film, was accepted (1 of 10 students) to the New York Film Academy, and have an extensive list of contacts in the industry.
The best part is that I am only 18 years old. I seriously doubt I could have come this far without your help. Thank you so much.”
Craft Services created quite a spread in this production of “The Couple Next Door.” The castmates seem pleased with the munchies. Eleanor Tomlinson shared this photo on Instagram.
Craft Services Delivers a Quick Bite to Eat
Craft Services is a whole different way of feeding the cast and crew. The service is on set throughout production. It is a source of quick snacks, smoothies, espresso, water, and other delicious food that the cast and crew can grab and return to work. Some even stuff their pockets or Cinebag with granola bars, candy, apples, water, or licorice twists.
Craft services provide the craft behind making the film, from crew to cast. | Source
Assistant camera person, grip, best boy, or production assistant: Use a Cinebag to keep your tools with you at all times. An AC pouch attaches to your belt and fits snug against the waist and hip. It feels comfortable, and I hardly notice it. That’s where I stuff my granola bars and licorice from the Craft Services table.
A filmmaker needs to know about film production, which happens by working on a film set. Being a crew member in a primary film production is invaluable. With that, people working in the film business know about Craft Services and its table layout. They also know it is where informal conversations between cast and crew take place. People new to the industry and need to become more familiar with regulations; mistake Craft Services for where you get breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That is just not so.
Film unions and commissions clearly state that a hot, sit-down meal is provided by the film production company every six hours and is always prepared by a crew of caterers who serve buffet-style food from a huge kitchen on wheels.
Based on a strong rapport from prior work together or word-of-mouth recommendations, the production manager hires the Craft Services company. The production manager tells Craft Services what snacks and refreshments are for the cast and crew. A reputable company will have a price list and snack and refreshment options, which the assistant picks for the cast and crew. The daily rate includes purchasing a variety of food, water, sodas, etc. Special requests or dietary restrictions may incur an extra charge, but the FDA Allergen Avoidance Lists follow food allergy warnings. The law requires foods to state whether they contain one of the top eight food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy, fish, or crustacean shellfish).
I find running Craft Services and a creative job, finding a variety of yummy snacks.
Craft Services on Smaller Productions
For small independent productions with only a handful of crew and a couple of actors, a production assistant is usually responsible for Craft Services and picking up breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the cast and crew. I have held this responsibility, and it gets pretty fun. Craft Services on small productions rarely follow FDA Allergen Avoidance, and special diets are usually a quick request from a cast or crew member. The production assistant who takes on the task fattens up their resume. It is just one more stepping stone toward a higher-paying job.
Craft Services Works Long Hours
In most film productions, the Craft Services table is the magnet for everyone on the set. Don’t be surprised to find a producer chatting with the talent. Background and extras are notorious for flocking to the table when not featured in the next scene. It’s a place to load up on carbs, and everyone comes together for a nice bagel and cream cheese.
A decent Craft Services table is guaranteed to keep everyone on the set happy. Some of the most dedicated individuals will work at Craft Services. They work hard to accommodate the entire cast and crew for hours, and shop before and after the production day. The service is about filling in the long hours between catered meals or the final production hours, when everyone is banking on their overtime penalty fees.
While working as a background extra, I had a lot of downtime. My friends and I would make espresso drinks for ourselves.
Anyone wanting to learn more about Craft Services can visit their union’s website—IATSE Local 80, which includes Motion Picture Studio Grips.
Keep Crew and Cast Happy
A filmmaker must ensure their Craft Services are crafty and willing to keep the cast and crew happy. It is truly the heart of the film set. It’s like free food for everyone. A popular Craft Services table will offer a variety of healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits, cheese, and crackers, as well as junk food like chips and candy. A crafty table will keep a hidden stock of delicious food and bring it out when they sense a crabby crew that needs an uplifting snack for their hard labor, like smoothies or homemade brownies.
With each working day growing longer and even heavier when the equipment feels heavier, Craft Services is a calculated move by the filmmaker. The filmmaker is banking on a well-fed crew, and they’ll keep them happy. So, the crew and cast will work until the dark morning hours.
Craft Services Tips
Craft Services Challenges
Whatever the reason behind Craft Services, a filmmaker knows his crew works very hard. The hours can be unreasonable, and the elements can lower their stamina. They need nourishment with a good, strong cup of coffee and find it at the Craft Services table.
The average Craft Services worker has challenges, so the filmmaker needs to appreciate their talent. Consider the challenge of keeping a table well-stocked, clean, and constantly enjoyable throughout a production. The same-old-same-old doesn’t fare well with an overworked crew. Yet, they are tentative about the popular items and keep those well-stocked.
The elements are quite a challenge as well. A production is shooting on location in the blistering, dry and windy desert or an isolated forest high on the crest of a mountain. It’s not so easy to keep a refreshing ice chest of soda, juice, and water when the nearest place to buy a bag of ice is on the other side of the mountain range. Or the sun is beating down at 100-plus degrees. It does not hinder them from preparing large servings or snacks without a suitable kitchen. How tough might it be? Think about your last family and friends picnic or camping trip, creating a complete meal with all its ingredients, and serving it with serving bowls, serving utensils, eating utensils, dirty dishes, and leftovers. It is not a simple task and takes a professional with a kind and patient personality.
Breakfast rolls on the set in the morning make a quick grab and munch for the crew.
The Craft Services work this way without exception. All day, the cast and crew maintained a fresh pot of coffee and then went to a grocery store after the production manager called it a wrap. They purchase worthwhile edibles for the following day. While the cast and crew rest and unwind from the workday, the Craft Services worker is laboring and planning for the next production day. They are bent over a sink, rinsing pots, pans, and utensils while anticipating making a batch of cinnamon rolls for the crew in the morning. Knowing such a treat will ease the tension of production being behind schedule.
As mentioned earlier in this article, most Craft Services personnel start as production assistants. They work through various film production departments and learn to find the right job for themselves in the industry. Eventually, they realize Craft Services is their career because they enjoy prepping food. They make people happy by offering nourishment or a handful of Red Vines.
Help Crew Forget All Their Troubles
A filmmaker knows that keeping the cast and crew happy makes the overall production a breeze. Production crews work super hard; no other industry pushes its employees as hard as the film industry. Production crews start their workday when the moon is still high in the sky. Some crew rarely see their kids before they leave. When they come home, they’re fast asleep in bed. And on the film set, it can be backbreaking. The Craft Services’ task is to help the crew forget the troubles of long hours by maintaining a happy place on the set and lifting their spirits.
A successful Craft Services table tries to gauge the atmosphere of the film set. It’s like putting out feelers to gauge the day’s overall mood. Is the energy high? Is the energy sluggish? The cast and crew are quiet or chatty and upbeat around the table, looking forward to the next scene. A seasoned Craft Services will know that an hour away from lunch, stomachs growl, and the crew needs something to hold them over until the hot lunch comes from the caterer. Some excellent carb options like smoothies, nuts, trail mix, cheese and crackers, salami and crackers, and so on are on the table. They also know the director wants the crew to set up all the equipment for a massive shoot after lunch. Everyone’s dragging their feet. They prepare some food that will boost them into action.
All in all, a filmmaker needs Craft Services that reads the production’s energy. Sure, some are picky about their food. One or two people will not be satisfied, no matter what the Craft Services sets on the table. They are easy to notice because they come to the table resentfully. The table didn’t have the fruit and veggies they liked, or they wanted Pepper Jack Cheese instead of Cheddar. Even though Craft Services makes a note to get Pepper Jack Cheese and places it on the table the next day, the resentful look is still on their faces, never happy. Craft Services tries hard to make the cast and crew happy. They take pride in offering someone’s favorite cookie or apple because it is an art form that pleases people.
Breakroom or Hangout
The filmmaker can consider the Craft Services table the breakroom of a large company or a local hangout. Everyone’s favorite place to chill, take a break and have coffee or soda. All the gossip and excitement of the production is happening at the table. Cast and crew gather and network, too. Relationships are formed where friends begin and last forever. Even creative ideas are discussed or bounced around because the cast and crew are all artists. It’s an innovative environment where cool ideas and concepts take root and stay healthy with good food.
Baked goods and a fresh cup of coffee made many crew members smile.
Hiring Craft Services Crew
The filmmaker must ensure that the production manager hires a Craft Services team. The person or persons are not physically weak or feeble-minded. Loads of equipment are involved, like tables, coolers, espresso machines, coffee makers, hot plates, serving trays, paper products, and tons of food. They lift heavy products all day, loading and unloading. They constantly move products from the truck to the sound stage; other times, it’s up a hill or down a gully. No matter the location of the set, Craft Services stays prepared to keep the spirits of the cast and crew high. Since they deal with different personalities and attitudes, they need to be people-oriented, with a lot of care and responsibility. They have no egos. If they do, the filmmaker wants to avoid hiring them. Again, the set buzzes with unique and talented artists, but Craft Services must remain patient and easygoing, even as they work hard to keep everyone happy and healthy. Each person on the set has their own issues and personal goals. They could be thinking about their next project even though they should give 100 percent to the production.
On any production day, close to a hundred people work extremely hard and try to get along with everyone. And every so often, disagreements flare up, and tension rises. The Craft Services can’t be disorganized. They must remain strong and step in with a cool, refreshing treat or special surprise that nobody was expecting and keep the cast and crew working together in harmony.
Keep a committed Craft Services person on your film production team. A filmmaker needs a lot of muscle, smarts, and talent to produce a successful movie. And each department is just as vital as the other. They all support each other like they are a family or a clan. Craft Services is a significant part of the clan, keeping everyone healthy, nourished, and in high spirits.
Organize the Craft Services Table
Now, with all that in mind, the filmmaker needs to hire a Craft Services person or assign the task to a production assistant, because other essential tasks need to be done by the filmmaker. But keep in mind that no Craft Services table is the same. Each one has its own atmosphere and will differ from other productions. However diverse the Craft Services, each must be clean, organized, and helpful. That involves the table having individual snacks in baskets or lined up effortlessly. So, the snacks are clearly defined and separated for an easy grab. A filmmaker doesn’t want to see the crew scouring through boxes of warm soda or cartons of trail mix and teas. There should be a variety of fruit, chips, and power bars, but in general, keep the chips with the chips, the fruit with the fruit and the power bars with the power bars. Coffee is fresh next to the coffee cups, creamers, sweeteners, and stirrers. The Craft Services keeps coolers stocked with a variety of drinks and lots of ice. The trash can is nearby, with no scattered debris around it. In other words, the Craft Services person keeps the garbage in the trash can. Napkins are plentiful and weighted down if the production is outside. Outside productions need open items covered from the elements still accessible by the cast and crew. The table is kept restocked and clean throughout the production.
The filmmaker or production manager must ensure that Craft Services stays within budget. Set the budget and sign the contract, or assign a production assistant to the task. Oddly enough, if the producer appropriates money for Craft Services in the budget, the person responsible for the area will not spend too much on food and other products. The average cost per crew member is $15 to $20 per day.
Here is a simple shopping list for Craft Services for a small-budget movie. The list is not a send-all because every crew and set is different. It’s just something to help filmmakers who don’t know where to begin.
First, Craft Services must be aware of dietary restrictions or preferences. Special requests are common, such as gluten-free diets, no nuts, lots of nuts, vegan, non-dairy, electrolytes packs, non-sugar-free gum, diet Dr. Pepper, yogurt without sugars, cheese sticks, Starbucks coffee only, etc.
It is necessary to consider the set location. Is it inside, outside or both? Is it one location or multiple? Will production constantly move from one location to another? Are there any grocery stores nearby?
Do you need to wrap everything individually? Can you offer sliced fruit? A large container of Red Vines is a must. In principle, people would instead reach into their own bag of chips, but they can set out a fresh batch of brownies for a quick grab.
Basic Shopping List for Craft Services
There are many variables when it comes to Craft Services. Here is an essential list of items to have at the table:
Fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, tangerines – don’t need refrigeration and are easy to eat)
Chips (Large box of individual servings)
Granola bars
Coffee
Cookies
Trail Mix
Red Vines
Electrolyte packs
Gum and Mints
Sodas (regular, diet and caffeine-free)
Bottled water
Sports drinks
Hand sanitizer
Napkins
Trash bags
A filmmaker adds these perks to keep the cast and crew happy:
Espresso Bar
Veggie tray with dip
Hummus and Pita
Variety of Cheeses and Cold meats
Grapes
Bagels and cream cheese
Olives
Yogurt
Simple Wraps (cheese, chicken salad, vegan)
Plastic ware
Small plates
Sliced bread (for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches)
Peanut butter
Jelly
Fruit Tray
The Bottom Line
Finally, the filmmaker needs to invest in high-quality Craft Services. The table makes all the difference on the film set, from cast to crew. It’s not an easy job, so be selective in choosing the person willing to bend over backwards to keep the cast and crew happy, healthy, and nourished.
Supporting yourself as an actor is not easy. It takes learning your craft, courage, and determination. | Source
“We ape, we mimic, we mock. We act.”— Laurence Olivier
Actor: Landing a Role and How to become a working actor?
Actors, of course, perform in front of the cameras rather than work behind the scenes. It’s essential to know about the jobs that actors do, even if you plan on working behind the camera or if you want to work in front of the camera — especially as some very famous ones have become writers, producers, and directors (and combinations thereof).
It is conventional for actors to take on multiple roles in film production behind and in front of the camera. Prime examples of these “Renaissance People” include the late Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, John Travolta, Woody Allen, Angelica Huston, Tim Robbins, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Mel Gibson. I am sure you can think of some “Renaissance People” too.
Actors entertain and communicate with the audience through their interpretation of dramatic roles. They learn how to develop characters, memorize lines, be in the light, act in front of the camera, and follow directions.
Only a small number of actors achieve widespread recognition in film. In the majority, most actors live very comfortably playing roles on television, film, or stage and are recognized here and there on occasion. The Screen Actors Guild is a strong union that takes good care of its members, so even small parts or supporting roles keep an actor well-fed with health care and other benefits.
I’ve worked in front of the camera and behind the camera. Actors have it easy. Sorry folks, but you do.
Film Jobs: Feature Extra or Stunt Work
Some actors start as “extras” (the people in the background of the film) with no lines, while others are cast in supporting roles or walk-ons. Walk-ons usually have five lines and work one day. A “feature extra” may be used for the same film repeatedly, without dialogue but lots of camera time and many days of work – making good money.
What do stunt actors do?
Then there are stunt people who take on the more dangerous work, performing such stunts as driving cars in chase scenes, falling from buildings and other high places, or “fighting” for the principal actors.
I know a stuntwoman who also worked as an actor. Sometimes a film will require a stunt person to be an actor because of how the director shot a scene. This particular scene in Denzel Washington’s Training Day required a close-up.
Most acting jobs are achieved through agents. If they are non-union, beginners and lesser-known actors usually register themselves, for a small fee, with several casting directors, who invite them to auditions that may lead to acting assignments.
Casting Director or Agent
What is the difference between a casting director and an agent?
Sometimes, people relatively new to the film business mix up casting directors and agents. The casting director helps the director find the perfect cast for the movie, and an agent works with the actor and director to negotiate a role in the film.
It can get a bit confusing, but a union town keeps the two jobs separate. In non-union cities, the casting director often wears both hats as a casting director and as an agent, because that is how the movie production gets cast – it’s rare, but it does happen.
How long does it take to land a role in a movie?
Although a few actors find parts in feature films straight out of drama school, most spend many years supporting themselves by working in or out of the industry. Some actors work behind the camera to learn the film business. Some actors have gotten jobs at talent agencies or casting companies. Here they understand the process of setting up auditions and casting for commercials, film, and television. Hence, they get the whole picture of how the audition process works, which could help the actor nail an audition and get a role in a film.
I met a casting director who used to be an actor, so careers can change around either way. The key is never to give up and keep working in the business.
Acting Professional Credits
The crucial point in landing a role in a film is to build up your credits as an actor. The credits include theatre, commercials, independent movies, improv, and stand-up comedy. The more you do as an actor, the more chances you have of landing a role.
You must take acting classes at a reputable school. In NYC and LA, there are tons of schools. You need to ask around and find one that fits your technique or comfort. Most acting schools allow newbies to audit a class to see if the school is right for them. These schools are not cheap. They are expensive, so choose wisely.
There is one school I can recommend in LA because I know the founders indirectly and heard nothing but good things. It is called The Acting Center. Professional actors like Nancy Cartwright, Marion Ross, and Juliette Lewis offer their help and personal insight into the business.
Study and Work Your Craft
Actors need to practice and study their craft. Laurence Olivier says it best, “The office of drama is to exercise, possibly to exhaust, human emotions. The purpose of comedy is to tickle those emotions into an expression of light relief, of tragedy, to wound them and bring the relief of tears. Disgust and terror are the other points of the compass.”
To be successful, you need to work your craft and be darn good at what you do. Laurence Olivier wrote several books about his career. I read his book called On Acting, and it is a source of vital information on Acting. The most outstanding actor of our time wrote the book at 79. After reading his book, I landed acting gigs. His advice is sound and easy to follow. It is an inspiration and insight into an actor’s life.
I wish you the best and a successful career.
“I’d like people to remember me as a diligent expert workman. I think a poet is a workman. I think Shakespeare was a workman. And God’s a workman. I don’t think there’s anything better than a workman.”— Laurence Olivier
You want a career in the movie business, but you need the experience of having your first break in the film industry before you can get a job. You can choose internships or volunteering. In other words, you must demonstrate the ability to do whatever is needed and do it well with no or low pay. Once you are in and do a professional job, the opportunity to work is always available. Most important to the process, however, is that you are willing, in the beginning, to work for low pay or even for free. The idea is to accumulate a list of credits- a portfolio, a reputation.
Production Assistant
Here is an example of what not to do – this happened:
Production Manager: “The job is a six-day shoot. We need a couple of PAs to do everything.”
Applicant: “Okay.”
PM: “Saturday is an early call – 3 AM.”
Applicant: “Wow! That is early.”
PM: “Do you know how to build IKEA furniture?”
Applicant: “I don’t build IKEA furniture. I tried that, and I am not good at it.”
PM: “Well, send me your resume…”
The applicant didn’t get the job because of his response to the earlier call, “I don’t build IKEA…”
Here is an example of what to do:
Production Manager: “The job is a six-day shoot. We need a couple of PAs to do everything.”
Applicant: “I am willing to do whatever you need.”
PM: “Saturday is an early call – 3 AM.”
Applicant: “No problem. I will be there.”
PM: “Do you know how to build IKEA furniture?”
Applicant: “Sure. I’ve done that before.”
PM: “Good! What is the best way to reach you…”
The applicant got the job because he responded positively and was willing to do whatever was needed. Even if he failed at IKEA furniture before, it doesn’t mean he will come again. The point is, he will try. He is willing. Production managers need an upbeat crew without creating problems on the set with “I can’t do that.”
Work on Local Film and Television Jobs
Hollywood hires based on reputation and perseverance. You know who you know is another way to get your foot in the door.
It would help if you built a portfolio of decent and reputable work. Build a resume by being willing to take on whatever task the production offers at whatever pay the company provides, even if that’s nil.
Like a production assistant, an entry-level job pays an average flat rate of $125-$250 a day, including meals. As a production assistant, the best pay rate I experienced was $250 for 12 hours, including overtime.
Nevertheless, please don’t get too excited because you may still find it hard to attract any work by offering your services for free. The unpaid crew requires insurance, guidance, and food. It even costs the production time and money to hire you.
Your best opportunity to build your portfolio is to work on smaller independent shoots where the production, most likely, can’t afford to pay you or feed you well. On the upside, track these shoots down and volunteer! Once your resume shows the depth of your experience, you can aim for bigger crews on larger shoots and better pay.
It is most beneficial to start making contacts in your local area. You can contact your local film commission and see if they have a hotline number or a website promoting jobs. Most big-city film commissions do. Check with your film commission weekly to see if a production company is coming to town. Take the time to visit the film commission office, make yourself known, hang around a bit, and help the office. The production companies sometimes leave a contact number with the film commission.
Some cities or regions create a film production directory for companies to use when they come to the area. Some guides charge for listing your services, while others offer it for free.
You can Google “film production directories [enter state] and examine what comes up. The California Film Commission office maintains a website for California, and the link is at the end of this article.
Source
Places to Find Jobs in Hollywood
The film industry is a creative business, so be creative and come up with unique ways to find work. As you call these contacts, make sure you find out about other productions coming up and their contact numbers – in other words, network. Tell them you’ll call back if they are too busy to talk. Be courteous.
Here are some general numbers and websites to contact for information on film work in the area. My book, Breaking Into Film, comprehensively lists film work resources.
California Film Commission — 800-858-4749
San Francisco Film Commission Hotline — (415) 554-6244
New York Film Commission — 212-803-2330
New York City Film Commission — 212-489-6710
Texas Film Commission — 512-463-9200
Chicago Film Office — 312-744-6415
Illinois Film Office – 312-814-3600
New Mexico Film Office – 800-545-9871
The City of Seattle Film Office – 206-684-0903
Update Your Resume
Like any career, building your credits in a competitive industry means you are a professional. Act like a professional. People see you as a professional. Film careers last a long time because those individuals are professionals. Never do half of what your true potential is capable of doing. Learn, be alert, work hard, and be friendly and helpful. Hollywood needs people like you.
Production Directories | California Film Commission Look at what is available for production services directories. The list provides an opportunity to examine the type of jobs available in film and television.
“There are singers then there is Aretha. She towers above the rest. Others are good, but Aretha is great. She’s my only sure-enough sister.”— Ray Charles
Aretha Franklin Concert Review
The more I hear Aretha Franklin sing, the more I look for her songs. The more I hear about her, the more I want to know. Have you read any Aretha Franklin concert reviews that mention her greatest hits? You discover none of them discuss her jazz songs. Why is that?
Recordings that uniformly come up are “Amazing Grace,” “Think,” “Respect,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Chain of Fools,” “Baby I Love You,” “I Never Loved a Man,” and “The House That Jack Built.”
If you google “jazz music,” Franklin’s jazz showcase appears. Now is your chance to hear a gifted and talented jazz singer. As you listen to her voice, she sings riveting jazz band music, lifting the whole arrangement onto a soul quest.
It might sound corny, but Franklin is the ultimate singer who sang anything and sang better than anybody.
Aretha Franklin is Soul
Most agree that Aretha Franklin is the “Queen of Soul.” She undeniably is the singer of the American pop culture. She epitomizes the soul as the central part of her gospel label. She brings a rhythm to each rendition. It’s like a new soul waking up each time someone hears her songs.
Jazz Festival USA
A few jazz fans fail to see her as the main attraction at jazz festivals. Nevermore wrong, Aretha Franklin is a talented jazz singer and performed jazz renditions throughout her career. She even performed at the White House for jazz night.
“Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.”— Aretha Franklin
Franklin Performing at the Kennedy Center Honors
Close Family Ties
Franklin hailed from a house of a gospel minister, Reverend C.L. Franklin. During the 1950s, Aretha and her sisters Carolyn and Erma sang in their father’s church. All three earned recording contacts.
Franklin Sing Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is a documentary about Franklin recording her “Amazing Grace” in a South Los Angeles church. The event took place in 1972 in a packed church.
Gospel Label
Aretha Franklin began her first recordings at the age of 14. Gospel artist in her own right and just a gospel-folk tale, Motown approached her, and she signed with the budding recording label. Contrary to that story, John Hammond, who is legendary as a talent scout, signed her with Columbia and started her recording career.
Jazz Music Songs
After discovering Motown’s fabricated story, I continued my research and learned that Franklin had started singing Jazz while recording at Columbia. In the early 1960s, she recorded some R&B hits while earning a Top Forty single “Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody.”
For all that, while at Columbia, Franklin tried developing her niche or style as a recording artist. Several of her recordings included uptown Jazz. Her Columbia CD “Jazz to Soul” shares some renditions of her jazz potential with songs like “Less Cross,” “Walk on By,” and “Skylark.”
Jazz Wealth
Although speculation about Franklin’s aspirations to sing Jazz gradually died down at Columbia, as things go, when focusing on popular material and production. She dreamt of experimenting with her vocal talents even more in the jazz genre.
Luckily, I found a small number of upbeat recordings by Columbia on various LPs. She lifts her voice, singing jazzy renditions with undeniable passion.
“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”— Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits
Aretha Franklin split with Columbia and made a lasting and profitable impression at Atlantic Records. Her vocal talent not only brought success to Atlantic Records but also enabled her to cross over from soul and R&B to pop without a hitch. She arrived in black music at a time that propelled her to fame, appealing to all levels of society.
Newport Jazz Festival
Prevailing, she vocalized her best at popular Jazz festivals around the world. Some notable ones are Toronto, Newport, and Montreux, Switzerland.
During her Golden Years before she passed away, I liked listening to her rendition of “Brand New Me,” the opener for the Newport Jazz Festival 2008, which is truly a gift from the Heavens. I strongly recommend you take the time and listen to her belt this song out. It is like Jazz in the garden. Listening and looking too, you meet the one and only “Queen of Soul.”
Nick Fraser is a British documentary producer. He devoted 17 years at the BBC to creating and running the international documentary series Storyville, which showcased documentaries from around the world. He said, “The best documentaries are independent. They don’t exist to serve interests, philanthropic or otherwise.”
I agree with Frazer because most documentaries I’ve seen today are slanted to suit a particular vested-interest group connected to the filmmaker, who twists the facts.
The following documentaries may not be factual, but I found their production value high because they got me thinking and expanding my intellect.
1. “Pavarotti: Genius Is Forever”
Oscar-winner Ron Howard takes viewers on a journey through the life and times of Luciano Pavarotti, the opera singer who brought opera to millions worldwide. The trailer explores Pavarotti’s legend and voice. Wherever the man went, and he sang and made history. Howard’s movie is intimate with interviews and sacred footage.
2. “Kusama: Infinity”
The movie is a visual introduction to one of the world’s most talented artists. Heather Lenz takes us on an extraordinary, truthful, emotional journey with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s six-decade career. She left Japan, arrived in New York City, and developed her artistic signature. She persevered and has created artwork ranging from painting and sculpture to installation art.
3. “Love, Gilda”
Director Lisa D’Apolito spins a sad story based on Gilda’s journals, recordings, and scrapbooks. Despite D’Apolito’s demoralizing content, Love, Gilda captured my attention from the very beginning.
The documentary shows Gilda growing up and becoming an Emmy winner. I found that worth watching. The younger versions of the original Saturday Night Live cast sparked my interest because Bill Murray was as handsome as Chevy Chase. Gilda’s talent shone through.
4. “Jay Myself”
Jay Maisel lived in “The Bank” for 48 years. The renowned photographer reluctantly moved from the 35,000-square-foot building in New York City. But the documentary is about his life and shows many photos taken by Maisel, a gifted photographer. Photographers or artists should find this movie fascinating.
5. “Rebound”
The documentaryReboundfollows the lives of three wheelchair basketball players. They undergo hardships and never give up. They are gifted athletes who mainstream sports have yet to recognize.
6. “The Landing”
The Landing is a parody of documentaries because they are no longer about capturing the truth. They are propaganda similar to Hitler’s Triumph of the Will.
It’s a fake documentary about one of the Apollo missions going wrong, and NASA covered it up.
The Landing received awards as Best Director 2017 Boston Sci-Film Festival – Best Thriller 2017 Burbank International Film Festival, and Best Feature 2017 Escape Velocity, Washington, D.C.
7. “I Am Big Bird”
The documentary is a treasure of clips and anecdotes about the Muppets creator and super-talented Jim Henson. Openly, a great friend of Caroll Spinney’s, seeing Henson is touching. The documentary shares footage and memories of working with Henson. A poignant scene unfolds in an overcrowded cathedral at Henson’s funeral, where Big Bird sings “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”
8. “Science Fair”
Award-winning documentary directors Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster present Science Fair. The documentary won the audience award at Sundance and SXSW 2018.
The movie trailer is fun to watch because I understand why Science Fairs are worthwhile experiences for intelligent kids.
9. “Perfect”
Directed by Jeremie Battaglia, Perfect is an award-winning documentary. The movie focuses on the Canadian synchronized swimming team.
The story goes beyond the beauty and shows the challenging journey to secure the qualifying spot as the team for the Rio Olympics 2016. The movie won the Best Documentary at the Winter Film Awards.
10. “Pick of the Litter”
My family lived near the guide dog training facility in San Rafael when I was just a toddler. My mother told me I loved the guide dogs. They put a smile on my face, and I wanted to see them all the time.
With that, Pick of the Litter received several accolades for being a documentary that tells the truth or offers an insight into what it takes for a cute, cuddly puppy to become a guide dog for the blind.
Dana Nachman and Don Hardy directed the movie that follows a litter of puppies from birth, as they begin their journey and develop into guide dogs for the blind.
Nachman wrote the screenplay, covering two years of the dogs’ training, culminating in their most rewarding responsibility: protecting their blind masters from harm.
Watching the documentary trailer gives you a good idea of what these dogs go through. Not every dog becomes a guide dog. However, you will cheer for them as they try their best. We can only wish they develop into the pick of the litter.
11. “Whitney”
The poster for the documentary Whitney says “all the answers,” but I disagree. Whitney Houston’s talent leaped no bounds yet, like a Shakespeare tragedy. Her life was a roller coaster ride.
Watch the movie trailer, and you will see poignant moments that are almost too hard to watch. If only Houston made better decisions. Her voice, music, and talent would still be with us today.
12. Fahrenheit 11/9
I worked with Michael Moore on Bowling for Columbine. He and his crew came to my hometown and designated me the driver, craft services (he loves chocolate), and all-around production assistant. I can honestly say he is a nice guy. He is a professional who knows his vision and gets it. With that, I had no idea I was working on an Academy Award movie.
Fahrenheit 11/9 is another documentary by Michael Moore, and I recommend you study his style to see how he conveys his message. That is what he does with all his documentaries. He gets his message across by making his movie provocative, thought-provoking, and funny. It focuses on the 2016 United States presidential election. He takes a stab at the subsequent presidency of Donald Trump.
13. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Mr. Fred Rogers told kids they were special, unlike anyone else in the whole world, each unique. I remember when my daughter watched his show, and he played a video about how crayons are made. We both learned something new.
Directed by Morgan Neville, who won an Oscar for the documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, it follows Rogers’s life and work. The movie explained how he is known as America’s cherished neighbor.
The documentary follows a man who wore zip-up cardigans and lived in the land of make-believe. In watching this movie, I discovered something unique about him. Sure, he played a big part in educational TV and was an ultimate genius. He influenced so many lives that there is more about the man worth finding out.
I watched the trailer, and tears formed in my eyes. Mr.Rogers was such an inspiration to the world.
14. “Maria by Callas”
If you are a lover of opera or a fan, you will enjoy this documentary about the life of Maria Callas. She led a life read in headlines. The media played along with her tumultuous life, reporting the conflicts and scandals that plagued her life.
She dominated the opera scene as the world’s greatest opera singer ever to live. Regardless, her career failed to last a long time, with an early death by a heart attack. Posthumously, her story scandalized the newspapers with conflict over her trust.
15. “Amazing Grace”
Waiting 40 years for the technology to advance enough to sync the music with the footage, Amazing Grace finally arrived in the movie theaters and is now available on disc or streaming. Directed by the late Sydney Pollack and finished by Alan Elliot, Aretha Franklin sings with the New Bethel Baptist Church choir, recording her live “Amazing Grace” album in 1972.
Watch the trailer and get a glimpse of a young Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
16. “Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins”
The documentary tells the story of a woman who evolved with the times over the decades she spent as a journalist. She not only changed physically but also spiritually. She had the passion and a definite purpose in life that took its toll. Even though her message resonates with me, we need to vote and hold firmly to what we consider substantially important. Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins is a movie you want to see to understand the history and a mortal woman’s ability to tell the truth and shame the devil.
17. “Roadrunner”
Morgan Neville brings us Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, a documentary about Chef, provocateur, adventurer and writer. Neville also brought us Won’t You Be My Neighbor?and other worthy documentaries.
Neville creates an intimate portrait of a man who became a cultural icon. His extensive research includes interviews and an unflinching look at Bourdain’s thunderous presence and his indelible influence on the world.
Documentary Best
The list of documentaries stands considerably varied by subject and genre. I hope you get a chance to watch one or more of them. All in all, I am impressed with the documentarians. These movies are not for the light-hearted or for those who strictly want entertainment. They expand your mind and show you a world you’ve most likely never seen until now.
Writers need to master their craft by studying and practicing screenwriting. One of the first books on screenwriting isThe Photoplay Handbook of Scenario Construction. It was published in 1923, during the silent film era, a time before the term “screenwriter” was in use. The advice in this early screenwriting book still applies today:
“Our ultimate purpose, as a photo playwright, is to arouse the emotions of the audience–to make them weep, to grip their hearts with pity, to thrill them, to make them laugh, and fear; and shed tears of joy. We strive to achieve these things by leveraging the actions of the people we create. We make our characters struggle, suffer, and win and lose in their fight for happiness. Every act of every character may be regarded as an effect.”
Those words were accurate in 1923, and they remain so today.
Screenwriting is writing your story with vision and action. | Source
Writing the Picture
Another great book about screenwriting is Screenwriting: Writing the Picture by Robin Russin and William Missouri Downs. It is a virtual screenwriting class for a fledgling screenwriter who wants to enroll in a college screenwriting program but can’t for whatever reason.
The college textbook begins with a professional perspective on how screenplays can be read and valued in the industry. It proceeds to chapters that deal with the character, theme, and story environment.
Then, there are six complete chapters on story structure, from historical approaches to how genre influences screenwriting form.
The book also devotes chapters to pitching, rewriting, and creating a career in television and playwriting as viable alternatives or adjuncts to writing for movies.
Top Screenwriting Program
Russin and Downs both received their Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting from UCLA. The university’s screenwriting program is considered one of the top programs in the country, boasting notable alumni such as Michael Webb, Michael Colleary, Jonathan Hensleigh, and Ed Solomon. Russin and Downs each won the Jack Nicholson Award for excellence in the field.
Russin wrote, produced, and directed for television, theater, and movies. Downs, an award-winning playwright, has sold feature screenplays and written as a freelance and staff writer on TV.
I spoke with both Russin and Downs about screenwriting and invited them to share their vast knowledge of the subject. I took copious notes while we kept ourselves pumped with drinks.
Talking with Robin Russin and William Missouri Downs
Both working writers and teachers, “Bill and I were frustrated by the many books out there that approached the process of writing from an ‘after the fact’ standpoint,” explains Russin. “They attempt to show how a script should be written by taking something finished and assuming that by critically dissecting it, a writer can then figure out how to create something new.”
Russin believes this approach is helpful and can be used to some extent. “It doesn’t really get at the core problems encountered by someone who is approaching the blank page, trying to get a handle on what and why and how they should be writing. There’s far too much ‘if you write it, they will come’ pie in the sky cheerleading, and far too little hardcore advice on how to make sure your script will not only be artistically successful but survive in the marketplace.”
Royce Hall is the defining image of UCLA.
Create Characters, Dialogue, Environment, and Structure
They wrote the book because of the numerous subpar screenwriting books available. “We wanted a book that concentrated on all techniques, not just one method of writing a screenplay. Our book covers just about anything you want to know about screenwriting,” explains Downs.
Russin agrees, “Probably the most valuable aspect of the book is that we go into much more specific detail than most in terms of how to create characters, dialogue, environment, and especially structure.”
The heart of our book is a six-chapter section devoted to explaining how the structure works on a deep level, rather than a superficial, put a plot point on this page approach. “Most books out there push a specific formula to be imposed on the screenplay. After years of both writing and teaching, Bill and I came to realize that in fact, no formula–even the hallowed three-act structure applies to every screenplay, or even to most of them,” explains Russin.
Familiar Movie Formulas
“These are straitjacketed approaches to a fluid, organic process, and so we wanted to come up with something that would free the writer to create in new and inventive ways. But we also included a very detailed description of the various familiar formulas, both because it’s important to know the terminology and expectations of producers who are familiar with those formulas and because our philosophy is that whatever gets the job done is the right approach.”
“The book is a graduate-level college textbook on screenwriting. It covers the whole spectrum. That is the book’s most valuable aspect,” concludes Downs.
Start Writing Screenplays
It’s up to you to decide whether to go to college and get your degree in screenwriting or start writing screenplays. Either way, you still need to write a script to be a screenwriter. The more you write, the better you will become as a screenwriter.
Screenwriter and novelist William Goldman wrote “nobody knows anything” in his bestseller, Adventures in the Screenwriting Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting. Hollywood jolted, agreed, and repeated those words as rites of passage for any fledgling screenwriter.
Thus, a fledgling screenwriter might ask, “Do I need a degree in Screenwriting to be a screenwriter?”
If you read Goldman’s book, you might be inclined to think not. However, there is no harm in inquiring about UCLA and USC Screenwriting programs. The programs launch careers and attract hopefuls.
Screenwriting, How to Do It
Adventures in the Screenwriting Trade was written in 1982 and is dated. It’s worth the read for anyone considering a career in the film industry, whether as a screenwriter, producer, or director. Goldman is the wise mentor in his book on navigating Hollywood.
Goldman places you in his shoes and walks you on a journey — an adventure where you observe, learn, and realize the hard work it honestly takes to succeed in Hollywood.
Be it on the set of Marathon Man with Lawrence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman or catching an unforgettable and poignant moment between the famous, then divorced, Hollywood couple Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood — their ingenious scene was written as a screenplay.
Is Luck and Timing Learned in a Classroom?
Goldman defines who is who in Hollywood and the instrumental role in getting a film made or not made. Their roles in bringing the movie to life. Something you most likely will not learn in a classroom.
He even mentions legends such as Joseph Mankiewicz, John Huston, Billy Wilder, Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and Norman Jewison.
He discusses the difficulties of writing and rewriting notable movies, including All the President’s Men, a Grand Hotel remake (which never materialized), and The Right Stuff. Losing deals and the sheer timing of getting the jobs back. Which raises the question: “Is luck and timing learned in a classroom?”
“Her heart was like a secret garden, and the walls were very high.”— “Princess Bride” by William Goodman
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
Goldman includes his popular script, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, along with a five-chapter dissertation on its strengths and weaknesses. Any screenwriter who reads these chapters learns multitudes of screenwriting tips.
Nevertheless, there is more. Three chapters strictly focus on adaptations in which Goldman uses one of his short stories as a model, with critiques from major Hollywood players — all the better for writers.
Goldman resonates with such words as, “And in movies, the screenwriter is the odd man out.
But there is a trade-off. That beginning lap we run, regardless of what happens later — that lap is ours. We have the privilege, if you will, of the initial vision. We’re the ones who first get to make the movie…”
I sensed a bit of cynicism, but who can’t help but detect such skepticism if you had walked in his shoes?
Sundance: I can’t swim!
Butch: Why, are you crazy? The fall’ll probably kill you.— “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” by William Goldman
Goldman wrote The Princess Bride, a 1973 fantasy romance novel, and it is considered his best work. The story combines elements of romantic love, comedy, adventure, fantasy, and fairy tales. The names of the characters alone bring great delight to my imagination. With names such as Buttercup, Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Prince Humperdinck, it’s fanciful. However, Westley is a common name. I am awed by his talent because he not only writes screenplays but also novels. He writes in various genres, not just Westerns or political thrillers, which has made him famous. His work inspires me to write and to write well.
“Horror – painful and intense fear, dread, or dismay”— Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Horror Movies to Watch
Horror movies stimulate physical and emotional responses, such as drawing your knees into your chest and placing your fingers in your mouth as your eyes widen. Some even include Halloween as a premise.
The producers and directors of horror movies aim to evoke fear and shock, prompting the audience to respond in kind. They employ themes such as supernatural, macabre, fantasy, and thriller. When people watch scary movies, they feel disgust, terror, and fear and experience nightmares.
Essential components of a horror movie are evil witches, ghosts, demons, extraterrestrials, monsters, zombies, fierce animals, vampires, evil clowns, werewolves, torture, psychopaths, serial killers, and cannibals. The following list of movies offers enough choices to choose the ideal film to dare watch on Halloween.
1. “Pet Sematary”
The cast alone drives horror fans to the movie theaters, with the added benefit that Pet Sematary is based on one of Stephen King’s most horrific novels. This demonic movie stars John Lithgow, Jason Clarke, and Amy Semietz. It is a remake of the 1989 film, and a sequel followed in 1992.
2. “Overlord”
Produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Julius Avery, Overlord is a horror movie set during World War II. It follows two American soldiers who parachute behind enemy lines on D-Day and get into a lot of trouble.
The horror trailer is fun to watch because it’s intense and scary. Scripted by talented screenwriters Billy Ray and Mark L. Smith, the movie will move quickly, featuring suspense and thrilling action.
Billy Ray wrote incredible screenplays, including Shattered Glass and The Hunger Games. Mark L. Smith’s most notable screenplay is The Revenant.
Avery helmed other movies, including Jerrycan and Son of a Gun. His directing credits are unlike those of the screenwriters, but watch the trailer. Overlord is a good horror movie.
The cast includes Bokeem Woodbine, Wyatt Russell, and Pilou Asbæk.
The movie trailer shows several Americans dropping from a plane, parachuting into the occupied German countryside, and facing a Nazi experimental lab. The lab holds some scary and brutal work by a psychiatrist.
3. “Halloween”
Jamie Lee Curtis is, once again, Laurie Strode. She never gave up on finding Michael Myers, the knife-carrying, masked figure. He’s haunted her for 40 years because she barely escaped his killing spree on that dreadful Halloween night.
Now, it’s payback time, and she needs to protect her granddaughter.
4. “The Little Stranger”
I’m thrilled about this horror movie adaptation of a bestseller. It is a quintessential British suspense film, featuring a dynamic storyline that also doubles as a horror movie.
Lenny Abrahamson directs the suspense-horror film, with the story focusing on Dr. Faraday, played by Domhnall Gleeson. Dr. Faraday made a name for himself despite being the son of a housemaid. He put together a respectable life and practiced as a country doctor.
In the summer of 1948, he calls upon a patient of his mother’s former employers, Hall, the home of the Ayres family for over two centuries.
Surprisingly, the doctor finds the former Hall in decline, and its inhabitants—mother, son, and daughter—are haunted by something more sinister than death itself.
He takes on the new patient without realizing how intimately and dreadfully the family’s past twists around him.
5. “A Quiet Place”
The movie stars Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe, and Millicent Simmonds. A Quiet Place is a horror movie in the supernatural sense. Directed by Emily Blunt’s husband and co-star, John Krasinski, the movie’s synopsis says, “If they can’t hear you, they can’t hurt you.”
That line sends chills up my spine. I am a fan of Blunt. The movie is scary but in a suspenseful way. I recommend seeing A Quiet Place because it is a unique story that holds my attention. The direction and acting are a perfect fit – seamless and tight.
Scenes in the movie promote American Sign Language (ASL) through the use of deaf actress Millicent Simmonds. She is not aware when her younger brother makes a noise. Noise kills the family and causes the aliens to attack humans.
Emily Blunt said in an interview that the script was so good that she asked her husband if she could play the mother in the film. She was delighted that he said yes. Her husband, John Krasinski, is a co-writer, director and the husband in the movie. Don’t forget to catch A Quiet Place Part II. The sequel includes the background story of how the alien creatures arrived.
6. “Hell Fest”
Gregory Plotkin directed Hell Fest, focusing on three teenagers who attend a local Hell Fest. The teenagers are played by Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, and Taylor-Klaus. Because it is an amusement attraction, everyone believes all the scary scenes and death-threatening antics are fake.
Once they get through the gauntlet of horror, it will be just a horrific memory of fun. That is not the case because of an urban legend where a teenage girl was killed last year during Fest.
Plotkin is known best as an editor for Get Out and Happy Death Day. He cut his directing teeth, helming one of the Paranormal Activity movies.
7. “Ready or Not”
Co-directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Ready or Not is impressively cast. The story follows newlyweds who undergo a deadly ritual rooted in the groom’s family’s traditions.
His family is not only eccentric but wealthy. The cast includes Adam Brody, Andie MacDowell, and Henry Czerny.
8. “Suspiria”
From the director of Call Me by Your Name, Luca Guadagnino guides three strong female actresses —Dakota Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Tilda Swinton — in a horrific yet fantastical and mysterious film called Suspiria. The story takes place at a prestigious dance company. The mysterious movie focuses on the artistic director, a determined young dancer, and a wretched psychotherapist.
The movie is about those who surrender to the nightmare, while others will wake up decisively.
Ari Aster wrote and directed Hereditary, and it stars Toni Collette, who played the mother in The Sixth Sense. She plays a daughter whose mother passed away and left frightening secrets about the family. The whole family becomes immersed as the mystery unravels. As they discover more about their ancestors, they realize the ominous fate they must inherit.
This movie is Aster’s feature debut as both the writer and director. Watch the movie trailer because the film is a complete nightmare, severely disquieting. The story pushes horror into a nerve-wracking depiction of heritage departed to hell.
The movie also stars Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne, and Milly Shapiro. Shapiro is genuinely creepy as the daughter. In the trailer, she is both horrifying and entertaining.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the best scary or horror movie you haven’t seen yet, because you have seen them all.
10. “Don’t Breathe”
Directed by Fede Alvarez, Don’t Breathe is an award-winning horror movie. It is not your particular horror story, as it is about three young people, played by Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, and Daniel Zovatto, who attempt to pull off an easy heist from a wealthy blind man.
The blind man, played by Stephen Lang, is not what they expected, and they are in for a horrific and challenging undertaking. Lang is so believable and horrific. Lang has amassed a remarkable list of acting credits, spanning from the stage to the movie screen. He celebrated the most for his role in James Cameron’s Avatar. He also has earned a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in The Speed of Darkness.
11. “Slender Man”
The premise of this movie is a tale of urban legends. Slender Man arrives from the imagination of Eric Knudsen, who created a pen name, Victor Surge, to keep Slender Man alive. A fabled creature formed through Surge’s visualization and introduced via the Internet platform Something Awful.
That is as far as Knudsen goes with the storyline, which is nothing compared to American Horror Story. David Birke penned the movie. He is known for scripting Elle and 13 Sins.
Directed by Sylvain White, Slender Man introduces four high school girls living in a small Massachusetts town. The girls gather and conduct a ceremony to uncover the lore of Slender Man.
One of the girls vanishes suddenly, and her three friends are suspicious and believe she is indeed Slender Man’s newest victim.
12. “Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare”
Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare gives me the creeps. Jeff Wadlow directed the movie that focuses on Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) and Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) as young women playing a deadly game of truth or dare.
The undercurrents drive the movie, turning it from an innocent “Truth or Dare” diversion among friends into a scary horror movie. The game spins fatally when something unknown punishes the characters who fail to tell the truth or decline to do the dare.
If you are a super fan of horror, you will enjoy this one because it is unrelenting in its campy material.
13. “Winchester”
It doesn’t seem like a horror movie, but it is scary with some horrific undertones. The Spierig brothers directed Winchester, starring Helen Mirren as Sarah Winchester.
The elaborate story is genuine, as it focuses on Sarah Winchester (Mirre..). Sarah Winchester was a real person who was quirky.
She resides on a remote stretch of land, 50 miles beyond San Francisco. Today, it is in the heart of San Jose on a busy street in Silicon Valley. Reportedly, Winchester lived in one of the most haunted houses in the world. The heiress to the Winchester fortune of the Winchester rifles never stops building her home and continues for years and years.
Ms. Winchester continues building the house for her niece (Sarah Snook), but it is unclear whether that is true. She could be constructing it for Eric Price (Jason Clarke) – her doctor. It would have been helpful if the directors had clarified this.
The story focuses on her constructing the house to imprison hundreds of revengeful ghosts. The worst of the spirits want to get even with the Winchesters’ family because of the firearms they make. They harmed and killed thousands and thousands of people through wars and such.
Not because it’s haunted, since I never considered it haunted. I don’t like tourist traps.
14. “The Strangers: Prey at Night”
The Strangers: Prey at Night is about a family road trip that turns horrific. Johannes Roberts directed the scary movie, with a script by Bryan Bertino and Ben Ketai. The family arrives at a mobile park that reminds me ofBatess Motel in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Too bad the movie isn’t as good as Psycho.
Prey at Night focuses on the family, who plan to stay with relatives at a mobile park but discover the place abandoned, which is amateurishly scary as the movie unfolds to its conclusion.
Three masked psychopaths jump out from the shadows and lash out at the family in the darkness with spine-chilling music. The family fights back on the edge of madness as they thrash out to stay alive.
The horror movie follows the same theme as the 2008 horror movie The Strangers, with a similar story concerning a young couple being stalked by three masked murderers. Interestingly, Bryan Bertino helmed Prey at Night and co-wrote its screenplay.
15. “IT”
I hope you don’t freak out when you see this trailer. IT tells the story based on Stephen King’s book of the same title.
King is a master at writing scary stories. This movie appears to be just as frightening. While watching the trailer, I was compelled to look over my shoulder about five times to see if I was alone, and no one was sneaking up on me. Even the sounds of my house were unsettling and playing with my mind.
At this point, you are witnessing a quintessential horror movie from King’s classic book of horror.
16. “Happy Death Day”
Happy Death Day is similar to Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day and Zoey Deutch’s Before I Fall. Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies, where a weatherman keeps living the same day, Groundhog Day, over and over again. Before I Fall is about a high school girl. She relives her day over and over again after dying in a car crash.
Though Happy Death Day is different than Murray’s or Deutsch’s movies, it still has the same premise as a horror movie about a college student who relives the day she gets murdered with the intent of finding her murderer. The movie is not original, as it copies elements from Groundhog Day and Before I Fall.
Still, watch the trailer and get your fix of scary and horror with a touch of humor.
The producer and director were pleased with the box office return, and the director wrote and directed a sequel, titled Happy Death Day 2U, immediately. It is just as good with a similar premise.
17. “XX”
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why are horror movies so popular?” Watch the collection of short horror movies about mothers, and they give you the answer.
XX comes as a DVD helmed by four talented female directors. The shorts give you a chance to evaluate the popularity of horror movies, as they are not your typical horror movies. They are awkward and confusing at times.
The movies will catch your interest because each short is intelligently produced and acted. The fourth one is the best. It’s called The Box and makes the whole collection a scary, fun time to be shared with your friends. The movie is profound and meaningful. The kids grow up and become who they are, and she can only be their mom. What they do to her is unbelievably horrific.
Only Living Son is my next favorite choice out of the four shorts. The story follows a mother, and she’s left on her own at a stressful party. She continues this experience for the rest of her life. It’s a mother’s nightmare for real. The production is good, and the acting is believable.
Being a horror fan, you will want to see these four shorts.
The overall theme weaves through the movies – motherhood nightmares – fears of what could happen to you and your children. Each director has a distinctive and modern-day expression.
“‘The Ranger’ is one of the most punk horror movies that has ever punked.”— Bloody Disgusting
18. “The Ranger”
The teaser horror movie trailer is entertaining, with its retro look evoking the 1950s or 1960s camping aesthetic. Directed by Jenn Wexler, The Ranger follows a group of punks. The cops confront them, and they head for a national park. Chelsea, played by Chloe Levine, and her pals bolt from the city. They decided to lie low in an old cabin that Chelsea’s family had abandoned.
They fall prey to the watchful eye of an obsessive park ranger, played by Jeremy Holm. He holds a secret concerning Chelsea’s past.
The horror movie is about surviving in the forest while someone is chasing and killing your friends. Humor and glitter mix with the gore to keep the pace moving.
Best Scary Movies
I recommend all these horror movies and hope you get a chance to see each one. Some had higher budgets than others, but they are entertaining to watch.
