Category Archives: Directing

24 February, 2012
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Actor, Directing, Documentary, DP, Editing, Feature Film, Film, Film Making, PMD, Producing, Production Company, Production Manager, Screen writing, Short Film, Uncategorized

Tampa Filmmakers Speaker Series is set to go.

It brings me great joy to announce that the Tampa Bay Filmmakers speaking Series has a lock down date, time and speaker, as well as a name for it, “Filmmakers Speak”

It is being presented by The Florida Motion Picture and Television Association, FMPTA Tampa Bay Chapter, and I will be your host. It will be on Saturday, March 24th at  10 am  at Keiser University, 5225 Memorial Hwy Tampa Fl 33634   This event is free and open to the public and will be live streamed.

We are honored to have as our first speaker Russell Hess.
Here is what Russell will be covering.
Some very important questions answered:

1. Packaging, what is it, is it important and why?
2. I’ve written one or more scripts, now what should I do?
3. Why can’t I raise money for my project?
4. Why you should NEVER lower your budget in an attempt to obtain production capital!
5. Can I arrange for a pre-distribution deal?
6. Is it possible to get movie stars in my film or documentary?
7. How will I know if my film can even qualify for a distribution deal?
(and when should I know this?)
8. What is the best kind of distribution deal to get and how soon can I get it?
9.Why do my films never get off the ground, completed, sold distributed
or make any money? (the answer is more simple than you think)
10. How can I have a better chance at getting into a film festival?
11. Which festivals are the best for my film?
12. Which distributors are the best for my film?
13. How can I create a “product” that will have distributors coming to ME?
Russell Hess has been in entertainment for over 25 years. From actor to producer and from sales agent to distributor, Hess has been responsible for independent film releases world-wide. The indie doc, “inGREEDients” helmed by Russell Hess saw a global release in over 70 countries and in 3 languages. Hess and his partners have developed a proprietary IPTV player similar to Netflix and Hulu. The platform will be for independent content only (for now). The big companies are already making the shift from DVD/BluRay and Hess’ company, Commodity Films, LLC is already moving in this direction.

Hess has connections with major and medium-sized companies and partners in various parts of the world for the releasing of any kind of title. Commodity Films operates an “all-digital” process from screening to release. The inventor of the IPTV player arranged a deal with Facebook so the titles can be viewed (and monetized) on the largest social network on the planet.

Qualifications
Executive Produced/Produced/Co-Produced nine successful feature films
• Co-Produced two Documentary films
• Designed and developed world-wide distribution models for documentary films
• Develops independent feature films from concept to release
• Forms strategic partnerships to create financially viable projects
• Creative visionary, show business consultant, innovator and inventor

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23 February, 2012
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Actor, Auditions, Directing, Documentary, DP, Editing, Feature Film, Film, Film Making, Music Video, PMD, Producing, Production Company, Production Manager, Screen writing, Uncategorized

Need you suggestions

Hey all crowd sourcing time. I am trying to come with a name for the Filmmakers speaker series.  This will be a monthly engagement by local professional filmmakers covering a wide range of topics. Please send me suggestions.

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8 February, 2012
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Actor, Auditions, Directing, Documentary, DP, Editing, Feature Film, Film, Film Making, Music Video, PMD, Producing, Production Company, Production Manager, Screen writing, Short Film

Update on Film Speaker Seminar

Ok well here is a bit of good news. Keiser University is allowing me to use their campus to hold the film speaker seminar. I have some really good people lined up and will be announcing the first date soon. It is my hope to help the Bay area’s film community become stronger and better equipped with knowledge and the tools to be successful.

I plan to hold them once a month. They will be about 2 hours with a 10 minute break.  I am still working on details.

Also if you would like to be a sponsor please contact me at timschroyer@gmail. com

 

 

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13 January, 2012
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Directing, Editing, Film, Film Making, Music Video, Uncategorized

What a difference a an editor can make

What can an editor do for you?

I have worked with 3 editors so far. The first one I worked with was a disaster. He couldn’t take the simplest of directions, was a know it all and just couldn’t edit.  On one of the the music videos I worked with him on I refuse to acknowledge.

Then I recently worked with Miles Harris on the Bomb Shelter music video. Let it be known, he made that music video to what it is. He had a vision and the skills to carry that vision out.

Now I am working with Jason Coté who is editing a trailer I directed and has turned it into a really good piece. And when finished it will be something to be proud of. It will be out soon. He is slugging away at the final cut and it should be out in a week and a half.

So the moral if the story is this post, find a good editor. Pay that editor because it is money well spent.  Editing is so important andI am sure you have seen many films and a lot of music videos where the editing was atrocious. Editing can make or break your project. Find a good one and someone you trust.


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9 January, 2012
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Actor, Auditions, Directing, Documentary, DP, Feature Film, Film, Film Making, Music Video, PMD, Polytrauma, Producing, Production Company, Production Manager, Screen writing, Sexual Violence, Short Film, Uncategorized, Women

2012 What to look forward to.

I am excited about the upcoming year.  I am soon to start my production company, due to the fact that I have projects that are in the works and I need to be incorporated.  I didn’t want to create my production company just yet, however I have to.

At the moment I am putting together a film seminar here in Tampa. I will have local film professionals come out and give a seminar on whatever topic they choose regrading film and the industry. I am currently in talks with a University to hold these seminar and hope to have the first Seminar soon.

I have two productions in the works. One is the Polytrauma documentary and the other is a feature about rape and sexual violence. I am currently looking for 2 PMD’s for these projects.

Finally I am writing a film program/competition. The reason behind it is to help filmmakers prepare for the new landscape. Film making has drastically changed and I think this program will help them.  I will be looking for sponsorship and experts to contribute.  This program will have an emphasis on marketing and distribution as well as crowd funding.

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23 November, 2011
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Directing, DP, Film, Film Making, Music Video

Bomb Shelter

I am proud to present to you all the my first music video I have directed. My friend and one of Tampa’s best Hip Hop artist BC recently put out his second album of a trilogy concept album.  We did a video for the song Fallout Shelter and shot it at a club and used the office as the fallout shelter. We also use the back of the club for the scene with the children.

I had a great team. Me and BC collaborated heavy and Mudd Buddha  was our DP. We had to shoot it in about a week because of the scheduling of the children.  As far as the editing, BC’s friend Miles Harris edited it. He and I both had the same vision for look and feel of the video.  I love how he used and edited  the footage.

Our next move is to enter it into the Gasparilla Film Festival. I am proud of this video. I have gotten really positive  feedback especially from filmmakers and musicians.  I hope you enjoy it.

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23 November, 2011
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Actor, Directing, DP, Film, Film Making, Production Manager, Short Film, Uncategorized

Lucky Me

As you all know I am directing a trailer,  for a screen play written by Barbra Harrington. This is my first time directing.  Yes, this is scary for me in a lot of ways.  At first I was overwhelmed.  I thought of all the things that I need to do and all the things I do not know and could go wrong . Scary to say the least.

However, I am lucky. I have an  amazing production team. I have a my production manager, Al Alvarez,  is top notch and is extremely creative  and organized. My DP, Mike Watrak,  is one of the best DP’s in Tampa. I have worked with Mike many times as his AC and it is always a pleasure to do so.

We had a production meeting at our location, the Flamingo Resort in St Pete,  Monday and got an idea of how we want to shoot it and the blocking. (Always go to the location in you can and scout it out to Figure out how you want to shoot it.) See what are your limitations are. It will help you out more than you know.

So now I am doing research for the film and over the weekend I am taking a small, yet desperately needed, working vacation.  I am going to break down each scene, there are 5, and get a feel of how I want it acted out by each character.

I will have more on this soon.

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14 November, 2011
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Actor, Auditions, Directing, Film Making, Production Manager, Short Film

What I learned today about Auditions

Today, for a short trailer we had auditions.  In addition to that  we got an opportunity to block and rehears a scene that we will be shooting and I am glad we did. The scene we rehearsed was somewhat of a complicated scene for me to set up, so to get together with my Co-Director and Production Manager, who is extremely talented, it was a blessing and a great learning experience.  Needless to say we have a very good working idea of how we are going to shoot the scene.

So back to the audition, we made mistakes. First, the audition was set up for 7 hours. This is fine if you are seeing 40 or 50 people that day however we did not. As a matter of fact while I was there we went through 4.   Secondly.  we did not do was have preselected lines before picked for the actors to read. Instead we were there debating what pages they would read from.  We looked rather discombobulated. And we were.  It was beginner mistakes.  So we learned that we need to be better to be prepared.

I also got the best bit of advice from my Production  Manager, which I hadn’t realized, which is when you get the actor in front of you give them direction.  You need to set up the scene for them. What is there motivation? What are you looking for out of them? Yes it sounds like a no brainier, but if you never have done it before you might not think of it.

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9 November, 2011
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Directing, Film Making, Short Film

Directing a trailer.

I have been asked to co direct a trailer for a script that is being sold.  The point of making the trailer is to show it to people who might be interested in buying it.

We took went to the Flamingo Resort  location to find where we wanted to shoot the scenes. And to get a sense of the place. Great location to shoot.  Once I get the finally copy of the script I am gong to start story boarding it.  I have a great crew to work with so this should go smoothly. I have worked wit many of these people and know their capabilities.  Here is where the preproduction. So this is a huge learning experience for me. More to come.

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