Leopard Lilies

Just Graduated. Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Image extracted from here

The film industry is not easy to break into, especially since having a film degree is not a guarantee for finding a job. As an art form, film is not about how much you know about it but it is about how much talent and dedication you are able to show in a small amount of time. With the film industry expanding into the cyber world, it is a great opportunity for up and coming filmmakers to revolutionize and polish an industry that is just in the making. Although Hollywood has been around for over 100 years, now is the time for change and we are all here and ready to witness it. Most film graduates that I have met during the last few years can’t wait to head to Los Angeles and find a position. As I try to stay in touch with these people who were once classmates and currently friends, I have reached a conclusion:

Hollywood is not the way to break into the business.

As independent filmmakers have more technology and sources to expose their content, it is no longer about getting a big studio to produce your script; it is about creating good enough content to attract the attention of the millions of people in the World Wide Web. This by no means implies that Hollywood is dead, or that there are no opportunities out there. The opportunities will always be there, but they are fewer than the demand for them. Since Los Angeles and New York are the main cities of entertainment, entertainers head to them, ignoring the fact that the rest of the world needs entertainment as well.

Image extracted from here

As a recent graduate, I only have one piece of advise. Take the knowledge you have gained to a place where people have no idea of what you are talking about. It sounds counter productive, but it is in fact a great idea. Why go to the place where everyone knows how to do just the same or even more than you? Direct your knowledge to a place that needs development in your field. If you don’t like the way people work, teach them. If you feel you are surrounded by uneducated people? Educate them.
Start being a cause with your education and not an effect. As Alvin Toffler said on his book Revolutionary Wealth, knowledge is relative to time. There may be people that possess a great amount of knowledge, but if that knowledge is not updated, it is no longer relevant to the new knowledge. You are updated in your knowledge, at least for today. Share your knowledge to an extent, and you will see that gaining a following is much easier than wrapping cables at Universal Studios.

The Avengers

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 06:29:00 +0000

Piture from: Screenrant

A compilation of Marvel’s greatest heroes gets to the big screen to astonish audiences around the world. The Avengers, a film that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Nick Fury and Hawkeye is a mix made in heaven for a night of entertainment. With a cast repertoire that includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Evans, The Avengers provides a variety of personalities that compliment and contrast each other.


Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark

Two spies, a multimillionaire with weapons, an invincible green giant and an ageless super soldier are brought together by a one-eyed agent to save the world from a revengeful god from another planet. This is the premise to a story that provides an intense buildup to a climax that unravels into a nice and clean conclusion that is followed by Marvel’s famous post creditscene, which reveals a possible sequel.

Although there is no specific protagonist for this film’s storyline, Robert Downey Jr. steals the spotlight with a performance that delivers fluidity and wit to his Tony Stark and Iron Man roles. For being such a complex mixture of superheroes, one would expect this film to be all about the action and the special effects. On the contrary, the storyline is able to efficiently introduce each character and their own personal stories as well as to efficiently engage the audience with some light humor.

The fact is that the target audience for this film is anybody who wants to enjoy a nice movie out. Although it would seem that it is targeted to men and comic fans, The Avengers is a film that can be enjoyed by any type of genre or age and does not demand the audience to have seen all previous superhero films. Great direction, action, flawless special effects, wonderful cast and a touch of humor are some of the elements that mix up together to create a very audience friendly and entertaining film.

A Film Needs a Marketing Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:09:00 +0000

Image extracted from here

When making a film, it is important to understand that it is not all about the creative process. On the last post, I talked about a business plan and how relevant this is to making your films a reality. Today, I am going to talk about a specific element of a business plan, the Marketing Campaign. Marketing is a big deal when it comes to promoting and distributing a film.

As we create a story, and get involved in the production process, we must understand who exactly is the audience that is going to be watching your film. Is it for children, teenagers, young adults, men, women, etc? This is one of the most important questions because marketing is not only about selling your project. Marketing is the way you will establish a relationship between you and your audience who will eventually become your fans or followers. Click here for more in depth information about marketing.

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Nowadays, marketing is easier than it has ever been. The Internet and social media have opened the doors to several ways filmmakers can launch marketing campaigns, which have proven to be effective if done correctly. Hollywood is even taking part in this new marketing movement with Lionsgate’s Hunger Games successful campaign through Facebook and Twitter. Experts in business plan development like Eric Sherman reiterate the importance of a marketing campaign in the process of developing a project and getting your film out to the world.

The biggest problem that we face today as independent filmmakers is that there are so many ideas running back and forward that it becomes hard to keep track of them. My advice is to stick to one, and follow the business plan steps to get this idea to become a completed project. Once a project reaches completion, we can go ahead and take on the next project. Use the tools that have been provided for you and do the research. There are several resources like blogs that will advise you and guide you on how you can get started on your own filmmaker career.

Funding Your Films

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:08:00 +0000

A great part of the success filmmakers have in the industry is based on the information they know about the business of filmmaking. Although we are all artists, and it hurts every time we have to focus on the business side of film, it is important to be informed of what the trends are, what people are looking for, and how you can start to get your plan going. All of this requires a small process where the filmmaker has to make a plan and get it to action. A business plan is a great way to start, this will make you sit down and actually think step by step what must be done to achieve success. But where do we start? Well, once you have a plan, it would not hurt to get a professional to look at it and tell you whether you are wasting your time or on the right track.

Eric Sherman is a devoted filmmaker that has gone through all the filmmaking process. He has directed, produced, wrapped cables, done make-up, made popcorn, etc. He also does consultations for business plans, budgets and schedules. If I had to recommend someone to look at your business plan, this would be the guy. He knows about both worlds, something that is hard to find in consultants. Sherman was born and raised in Hollywood, and after attending Yale and co-founding its film society, he has been a consultant for some of the biggest studios including Universal and Paramount. He is currently educating young filmmakers with lectures in California and universities around the country. With such knowledge of the industry, he is with no doubt an expert in the subject and has the ability to recognize strengths and flaws in a project.

But why should we go through all this process? As independent filmmakers, we do not have the resources to pay an expert for an opinion. True. Maybe your plan does not need to be revised by an expert, but if you do your research on the experts, on what they are looking for and on what you have to offer, then you are already heading the right way. Right now, Hollywood is staying in a safe zone where uncertainty is no longer a variable that studios are willing to invest in. They are looking for safe, for steady plans that will guarantee a profit instead of a loss.

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by LeadsFinderSoftware

A successful business plan has 5 key components: An executive summary, a marketing plan, a competitive analysis, a management team, and a financials section. All these sections are of great importance because each of these sections will break down your plan to its bare bones. These elements are considered key because they will paint a picture of the “whole” and will allow any potential investors to see the essence of your project with the backup of your research. “The Executive Summary must communicate to the prospective investor the size and scope of the market opportunity, the venture's business and profitability model, and how the resources/skills/strategic positioning of the Company's management team make it uniquely qualified to execute the plan” (Lavinsky, 2010). Quote extracted from here.

Picture Source

On the other hand, there are people like Dave Lavinsky. He is the co-founder of Growthink, USA’s biggest strategic advisory firm. Lavinsky agrees with Sherman’s view on what the key elements of a business plan are. However, Lavinsky is very clear in the fact that as filmmakers, we tend to make things look ‘creative’. This is a mistake that many filmmakers frequently do. Investors are not looking to see how creative you are at the moment of revising your business plan. They are business people, and as such, they are only interested in the numbers and the profit they could make out of your project. For more information, I recommend his blog which has great insight on finding capital for your projects.

Picture Source

So don’t make that mistake and stick to the words and numbers. It may not look pretty, but it will get you the funds you need to make wonders. Now your plan went from being a pitched idea to a viable project waiting to fall in the right hands. So get started on your research, and you will be executing your plans in no time. Remember that the artist also needs to know about the business. Don’t fall behind!

The Lorax: A Wakeup Call

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:34:00 +0000

Just after spring break, people get back to their normal lives and sometimes change some habits for the better. It is important to realize that there are always things we could be doing better, and a film

that sets a great example for both adults and kids is The Lorax. Directed by Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda, this film offers a fantastic story that communicates a surprisingly educating message from which we could all learn.

Being it is a simple story, this animated feature takes place in a future world where industrialization dominates humanity and extinguishes nature. When Ted (interpreted by Zack Efron) discovers the existence of trees through his crush Audrey (interpreted by Taylor Swift), he starts a voyage in which he defies not only the society in which he lives in, but also nature itself. When he meets a tree-protecting creature, the Lorax, Ted discovers a wonderful world full of fantastic animals, psychedelic trees and a welcoming community. Through a new business, Ted starts exploiting the resources given to him by nature and eventually has a conflict between success and morality. The story concludes with a strong bond between nature and humanity where a teenager reunited nature with humanity.

The Lorax is definitely a catchy and entertaining film that will for sure leave a grin on the audience and a conscious feeling that will start a green wave that will hopefully get us more in touch with our planet Earth.

With the beginning of a technological era, it is important to foster this ecological conscience and social responsibility that comes with all the scientific advances of humanity. So The Lorax is not only a great plan for a night out with the family, or friends, but it is also an opportunity to awaken our awareness to what is going on in the world. This feature counts with all the necessary elements to entertain any audience with magnificent visuals, a flowing story and a lesson that could leave anybody with the empowerment to live in a better and active world.

Buy tickets near you here.

References:

Leadership Lessons from The Lorax

Takepart

The Hunger Games: A Digital Marketing Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:32:00 +0000

With the exponential rise of the Internet and the resources that it provides to access information throughout the world, it is no surprise that the film industry is finally taking advantage of it. After years of investing a great portion of budgets in marketing, studios have begun to use social media sites to promote their films.

Video by Youtube

Lionsgate may be the pioneer of a revolutionary digital marketing movement with the incredible success of their latest film Hunger Games. This film, which is a book adaptation, received over 156 million dollars in the box office on its opening weekend. This is not new to the industry. What is new, is the fact that most of its marketing campaign was done through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and through the use of new technologies. With the release of a free iPhone game, the Hunger Games franchise grew its following from that of the book.

It may have been a bold move, but it has successfully changed the parameters under which Hollywood markets its films. If one film can bring in 156 million dollars with an online marketing campaign, so can many others. This evens out the playing field for us, the independent filmmakers. How? Well, if studios start promoting films through social media (which is free), and succeeds, there is no reason why we can’t all do the same.

According to the NY Times, this marketing strategy is a "blizzard of other inexpensive yet effective online techniques to pull off what may be the marketer’s ultimate trick: persuading fans to persuade each other." The truth of the matter is that today, we are the creators of information and we have the abilities to spread it out if we use the right techniques and use the correct research methods to reach the audience. Search Engine Optimization is the only tool that we need as content creators to reach those who will divulge our information.

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:20:00 +0000

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Lately, all my blog posts have been a little more about the industry instead of the craft. The reason for this is the urgency for our generation to really understand that we are in the middle of a drastic change. The sooner we understand how to deal with all the change that comes from a transition, from second wave to third wave civilization, the sooner we can start building our future. When I talk about a “wave”, I am referring to AlvinToffler’s Wave Theory.

Extracte from Tariganter

Subsequently, we need to understand that from now on, the industry will not be just about mass manufacturing and distribution, but it will be based on knowledge as well. We have come to a point where currency in not even the only form of payment anymore. Content creators out there are selling their content for “tweets” or “likes”, and we are experiencing the beginning of The Social Media Revolution.

The Social Media Revolution is defined by that moment in the time continuum where humanity’s use of technology opened up the opportunity to inter-communicate. By doing so, we have expanded our voices throughout the globe and achieved things that our forefathers could only dream of. Society finally has the ability to have a collective voice. A voice that has the power to stop animal abuse; to fight for human rights. A voice whose power has stopped laws from passing and taken down governments. This is our voice, and we need to learn how to use it. Some people are already doing great things with this voice, while others resist the change, a change that is inevitably going to happen.

Most resistors to this change are those who belong strictly to the second wave. These industry dinosaurs are the generation of workaholics and like such, they simply refuse to stop working. This affects the working cycle tremendously, especially in our transition time. We now face two different generations trying to run the world in two completely different ways, and this, my friends, is what all this chaos is all about.

Luckily, there is no cheating nature, and we are getting closer to our shining moment. Be prepared, because change is coming; and the more you know about it, the wealthier you will be.

New Laws for a New Wave

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:20:00 +0000

When it comes to a new wave of technology, economy and society, it is important to understand that we are in the middle of a drastic change. Since we are the new generation of filmmakers, we are going to be dealing with a vast amount of new problems that our predecessors did not have to encounter. Technology is evolving in a rate faster than the blink of an eye, and with it comes a great deal of new problems and new solutions.

Extracted from BBC.co.uk

The Internet is an integral part of today’s film industry and its pros surpass its pros. However, there are still new problems that need to be solved and one of them is Internet piracy. A pioneer in this subject is David Puttnam, the U.K’s Film Distributors’ Association president. Puttnam has made rigorous statements supporting a campaign to “ approach website enforcement against online piracy to help protect distributors and right owners..."

"A vital step for the technology sector is to signpost legitimate search options far more clearly and to delete links to sites that promote illegally sourced content," Puttnam said in a speech scheduled to be delivered Tuesday in the British capital to a gathered audience of movie industry reps" as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Extracted from Oversite.org

In this proposal, Puttnam emphasizes in the importance of enforcing cyber law and removing illegal links from the World Wide Web. This is an extremely important step to take for us since in little to no time, it will be our content out there getting stolen. In order to protect our intellectual property and distributors from piracy, we do have to act on this matter.

People are aware of such links, and they are also aware of torrents and other file sharing routes that make the online piracy process very simple. The down side to this is that at the rate of piracy that we are going, unless we act on this matter, our films will be out there for free and a film career will not be enough to support a lifestyle.

Podcasts: An Education on the law of the Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:08:00 +0000

Extracted from Indybay.org

Understanding the legal implications in the entertainment industry are just as important as being part of it. As artists and content creators we should all be aware of how we can protect ourselves from getting into a lawsuit. Marty Schwimmer talks on a podcast about trademarks on the Internet and this is an extremely important matter. As a filmmaker, the Internet is a mainstream to the rest of the world and therefore your name should become your brand. An online presence is just as important as being part of the industry. In the late nineties, the Internet industry began to grow and the search engine litigation industry was born. The industry has been evolving and nowadays we are subject to a vast amount of information and so other people have access to our information. This is where trademarks come in hand. But how does a trademark affect the independent filmmaker? All brands out there own the trademark to their products and we have to make sure that we are not infringing on other people’s trademark. For example, something that some entertainers like to do is the mocking of a brand. These are very delicate waters and although it is possible to pursue fair use in case one of these companies files a complaint, we must by no means taint the image of any brand or company. We are creative people and as such, it should not be difficult to make up a brand to use instead of using an existing and registered one.

On another hand Brett Lewis talks on a podcast about domain names. We can always go online and buy any domain name, but be careful on what domain name you register under your name. We all know what brands are so important that they are obviously trademarks, but make sure to do your research before registering a domain. Why? Because if you register a domain name that is already a trademark, you may find yourself in a deep lawsuit for taking somebody else’s domain.

Podcasts are a great way of learning about all of this information. There is a podcast called “When media doesn’t wear a tie” where the importance of copyright is discussed. In this podcast, it is explained that users of platforms such as the Leopard Lilies platform have to copyright their own work in order to assure that even though the content is being displayed, it will never get stolen.

We all need to protect our content and learning about how to do so can save us all a headache and a lawsuit.

Here is a link to more podcasts about Trademark and Copyright laws.

The Hollywood Temp Diaries: Resume Template - Follow at your own risk

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:03:00 +0000

A little something I stumbled on one of my favorite websites www.tempdiaries.com ! Enjoy!

The Hollywood Temp Diaries: Resume Template - Follow at your own risk: Not a good resume I frequently get emails from people asking me to read and critique their resumes. As much as I'd love to help with th...

The Law Knows no Fame

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:09:00 +0000

When it comes to Hollywood, it is important to recognize that although it looks like it is everybody’s business, when it comes to the law, each to his own. The amount of lawsuits that occur in Hollywood is not even a third of what they show on television and it is important for us, the filmmakers, to understand that our craft requires detailed prevention in order to protect not only our companies but also our assets and ourselves. A lawsuit in Hollywood can go in any direction and disputes can occur between individuals, institutions and the state.

In 2012 alone there have been several lawsuits including the Dick Clark Productions (DCP) vs. the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), Hollywood Studios vs. Limewire, and Kevin Messick vs. Film Co. cases. These cases are just examples of the different types of lawsuits that you, as a future filmmaker, could get involved into.

Getty Images

The Dick Clark case is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a “ trial between the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions over who controls broadcast rights to the Golden Globe Awards.” In this trial the HFPA’s allegations are that Dick Clark went ahead and renewed a broadcasting contract with NBC without the HFPA’s authorization. Although this case has not yet come to an end, the outcome is not easy to predict since, in 2004, Dick Clark had a stroke that has left him ill for the past years and has not yet testified in person. Opposing counsels have asked judge Howard Matz to take into account previous depositions and statements made by Clark dated as far as 1993, which would act against the producer if considered in the ruling. The truth of the matter is that in this case, there was a legal document missing that could have saved both parties all the trouble. If HFPA and DCP had signed a contract specifying that the Golden Globe Awards matters were to be handled by both parties, then there would be documentation of such agreement. Now, Dick Clark states that he does not remember previous statements made by him, and he is most likely to show up in court and testify in person. So what is the lesson here? Document every agreement made just to save your time and money.

Another great example of how things can turn around for a company is the Hollywood Studios vs. Limewire case. Limewire, a company that no longer exists, had to settle copyright allegations agreeing to pay $105 million dollars to record labels. But this was not the end of the fight, not only are indie labels requesting the same amount of money, but now Hollywood Studios including Viacom, Disney and Universal amongst others, are prosecuting Limewire for illegal distribution of movies and TV shows. Although there has been no price tag on this infringement, it is argued that all the file sharing could have led to millions if not billions worth of losses. Copyrighted material is extremely sensitive in the film industry and although people protest against “cyber-laws”, the fact is that all these laws protect us as filmmakers. One day, it could be your movie out there, where people are streaming and downloading for free, and you never saw a dime from those “sales”. This does not mean Leopard Lilies agrees with SOPA and PIPA, but there definitely needs to be some kind of regulations to protect us, the creators, from having our content stolen.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Last, but definitely not least, is an example of how co-workers can turn their backs on each other. On the Kevin Messick vs. Film Co. case, Kevin Messick is pursuing producer credit and compensation for the latest Tom Cruise film, One Shot. According to The Hollywood Reporter,

The complaint says Messick, Granger and Levinsohn agreed in 2005 to jointly develop One Shot into a feature. Later that year, Paramount came on board, after which Messick says he spent five years developing the project with Granger, Levinsohn and their company. Then, "beginning in July 2010, Granger and Levinsohn began excluding Messick from meetings with the screenwriter and the studio and withheld certain drafts of the screenplay for the picture," the complaint alleges.”

Now, Messick is not only suing for compensation as a producer, but he also wants to be able to take part in any sequels. There are several E-mails that seem to be genuine and this lawsuit is most likely going to favor Messick. It is extremely important not to only create and sign contracts, but to follow them as well. A breach of contract like this one cannot only damage your company’s economy, but most importantly, its reputation.

So you have read about some cases that you may or may have not heard about before, and this is only a reminder that the law does not forgive Hollywood, as most people tend to believe. There are people who make a living out of lawsuits and we need to protect ourselves from encountering any of these situations. As filmmakers, it is our job, if not to know about the law, to hire somebody who does. This will save you lots of money and time in the future.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:14:00 +0000

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story about a 12 year old orphan who lives within the walls of a train station in 1930’s Paris who embarks a mysterious adventure that involves him, an old magician and a robot.

Cast: Sir. Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jude Law.

Hugo is definitely one of the most mentioned films at the end of last year. It is an adaptation of Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a literary adventure targeted towards children. Its main character, Hugo (played by Asa Butterfield), who stared in The Boy with the Stripped Pajamas, embarks in a search for a connection with his passed away father by attempting to fix an animatron, which hopefully has a message for Hugo. In the process of collecting several pieces, Hugo meets Georges Meliés (played by Sir. Ben Kingsley), an old filmmaker who works in the station’s toyshop. Without knowing it, these two characters will make a connection that will last forever. But this is just a premise to a fantastic story where a relationship between man and technology is born in order to find a profound connection with the past.

To understand a little more about the depth of this story, it is worthy to mention that George Meliés was a revolutionary in the film industry and is considered a pioneer in the special effects and editing of film. After dedicating years of his life to magic, his amusement for the Lumiere brother’s cinematograph led him to explore the method of film as an entertainment media in the times of war. By pursuing his instincts, this filmmaker was the sole creator of films like Journey to the Moon (1903), a film that was Selznick’s inspiration to develop his book. But Selznick was no stranger to film; in fact, Selznick learned everything he knows about film when he was just a kid from David O. Selznick, known for his productions King Kong (the original), and Gone with the Wind amongst others. After writing the book, Selznick decided to replace as much of the text as he could with imagery, which were also used by the filmmakers as storyboard images for the big screen adaptation.

The greatest surprise came when director Martin Scorsese announced that he would be making the book’s adaptation. His inspiration was his daughter, who read the book and asked her father to make “a film I can watch for once” as Scorsese revealed in a red carpet interview at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. More than one person was surprised to see the director of Taxi Driver and Shutter Island make such a masterpiece of a family film. In fact, the International 3D Society has rewarded Scorsese with the Harold Lloyd award for his stunning use of 3D.

Being his first encounter with 3D, Scorsese is able to transmit a Paris that has never been seen before and a depth that manages to involve the audience in a magical experience of the Parisian life in the 30’s. His job was so good, that even Steven Spielberg confessed it was the best use of 3D he has ever seen, and this includes his own films. Scorsese’s development of the story and his composition are flawless and the cast direction really demonstrates that Martin is, without a doubt, the perfect director to tell a story about film history. Nothing like a great filmmaker recreating what was made by another great film and entertainment magician.

Hugo was definitely a golden closing to 2011’s films. With more than $64,000,000 global sales, it was more than expected for this film to win a Golden Globe Award and for it to continue getting recognition during 2012. Hugo is simply a magical adventure for all ages and it will make its viewers happy as it ends. It is also a film that says much more about Martin Scorsese than any of his films.

2012 Year's resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

"Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish. The artist gives us knowledge of nature's unrealized ends." Aristotle.

I would love to think that I was one of those artists who made things more beautiful than they ever got to be. That all I had to do was enhance what nature has given us for the amusement of others. Unfortunately, humankind has made it impossible for this to happen, for we are not finishing the beauty of nature, we are destroying it. As time goes by we seem to be less conscious of the effect that we have in nature and our surroundings.

My ultimate goal as a filmmaker is to provide knowledge of nature's unrealized end but I feel the responsibility to first provide knowledge and consciousness to those who live a life of denial. Mediocrity has led more than one person to believe that if they do one good deed for the world, their grain of sand is already there. That is not true. I want to show the world the life we could be living if we had good habits and a good relationship with our planet.

I want to create atmospheres and worlds so beautiful that they make people be willing to actually do something to get to that point, to where nature is not beautiful enough, to where art is the ultimate medium of beauty. If I can make people see past all stereotypes, races, governments and economies to see real beauty I would consider my ultimate goal to be achieved. I could leave this world knowing that what I did helped future generations.

This is my resolution for this new year. 2012 will bring great things to the world and to the artists that are willing to express their opinions regardless of what others may think. So get out there and start completing your new year's resolutions my fellow filmmakers, lets make some art!

There is no Business like Show Business

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:46:00 +0000

Film making is a craft that helps artists channel our experiences and share them with the rest of the world from our own perspective. Unfortunately, like the famous film title, “There is no business like show business.” The truth of the matter is that films get made because of the producers behind them who actually deal with the business side of the craft. Yes, there is a business side to film making. I had the pleasure of interviewing Duran, a Colombian artist that produces, records, and edits all his films and music. The purpose of the interview was to find out more information about the negotiation process and how the business requires an artist to be able to understand the process.

“ It is all about the people you know.” These were the first words that came out of his mouth as I asked him how he got to where he is in his career. Although he is not internationally acclaimed, Duran just signed a contract with the Warner Music Group and is in the process of starting his second tour. He is very well known across the south of the Equator, and he attributes his success to his social skills. Duran continued explaining that “...the music business is like any other type of art, if you want to get exposed, you need to be exposed.” The truth of the matter is that the more people you know, the bigger the chance is for any type of artist to find that one person that can make things happen.

We also talked a lot about emotions and how to deal with other people’s reactions. Art is subject to criticism and sometimes artists do not know how to deal with it at the time of the negotiation process. Duran explained something to me that was very clear as to why this happens. He said that the problem is that as artists, we are so attached to the work we do that we become the work. When people criticize something you do, things are normally not taken personal. But go and criticize somebody’s baby, or somebody’s house and you will find an entirely different reaction than you would by criticizing something else. “We become so attached to our creations that when a producer tells us to change something, it’s like a stranger telling a mother to have plastic surgery on her baby.” The best way to deal with these types of situations is preparation and acceptance. If you prepare yourself to face the worst when it comes to other people talking about your work, there is a better chance of understanding that the criticism is towards the piece and not the artist. “ It is always important to be able to tell the difference between you and your work...” Duran had several things to say, but in conclusion he made it a point that in the moment of making a deal, people want to talk about money, not talent. So in the long run, they are not criticizing your work, they just want to commercialize it; which is their job. “Otherwise, we would never need producers.”

When making a business deal, it is extremely important for artists to understand our role in the process. In the long run, the producers have that business side that some artists don’t quite understand. “The good thing is that I know a lot about music and a little about business, I always look forward to making business with people that know a lot about business and a little about music.” This is the most important lesson of this interview.

As artists, we must understand the business and negotiating process in order to understand both sides of the table. This will help every negotiation to run smoother and with less conflict, which is ultimately what both parties desire.

So I leave you with this note my dear filmmakers, hoping that you go out there and negotiate your way up the Hollywood ladder.

Getting to know your Audience

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:22:00 +0000

For over 130 years, filmmakers have been trying to find equilibrium between transmitting their art and entertaining people. There seems to be a very thin line that separates a film from being merely entertainment to being a work of art. Who exactly is responsible for classifying films into one category or the other?

There are several opinions regarding this matter. Some people say its the Academy, others conspiracy theorists assure it is the government. I say it is the filmmakers and the viewers who are responsible for the categorization of a film. This goes beyond our personal preferences and it all happens in one place, the human brain.

I am no expert when it comes to the study of the brain, but I do have the ability to observe and analyze people. This hobby of mine has led me to the following conclusions:

1) People do NOT like change.

2) People do NOT like surprises.

3) People do NOT like what their close acquaintances do NOT like.

This last conclusion has its exceptions to those who are leaders in one way or the other; as for the first two conclusions, it is a fact of human psychology. Where I am going with this is that at the end, no matter how much technology advances or time changes, we will always like and dislike the same things in general.

This is one of the main factors when it comes to the classification of a film, since people can only take so much “art” before a film becomes unappealing to the common eye. On the other side you have the filmmaker, the artist of the show. As filmmakers we want to explore, to try new and different things. The problem is that the economy in such a mess that we cannot afford to take these risks because we need to eat. Ambiguity becomes an issue since an artist gets caught between the choice to satisfy him or herself, or satisfy others.

The truth of the matter is that whether a filmmaker produces a film for an audience or for themselves, it is up to the viewers to decide whether or not they like the movie. For those who think it is the Academy, they are wrong. There have been several procedures that the Academy follows in order to determine a year’s Best Picture.

The latest report on this matter states that the decision is based on what the people like. Here is an article by Variety’s John Anderson that discusses this topic at a deeper level.

Film is an art that we have decided to create. Whether you are a filmmaker that wants to express personal emotions or entertain other people, you are going to be categorized based on your talent to tell a story. Regardless of the Box Office and Hollywood productions, in the long run what matters is that you get enough people to prefer your film to others.

With this I leave you, dear filmmakers, to prove to yourselves and the world that film making is more than a business; that it is about people. If you look close enough you will find that in one way we all think alike. Study the people around you, look closely at their taste and figure out how much you can push the limit before they give up on your film. It is a matter of trial and error, but at the end, it will all be a benefit to your growth as an artist. Take that risk and explore your horizons, you will find a balance between making yourself and others happy.

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:14:00 +0000

A Brief Review on Media Online Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:34:00 +0000

The online business model is becoming more valuable as the days go by. Ever since great companies like Facebook and Netflix established a standard for a multimillion online business, entrepreneurs around the world are orienting their models to the World Wide Web. This is not a coincidence, online businesses are on such hype because they work!

Technology has allowed us to reach what we thought was unreachable, and we have explored and surfed the internet to such extent that we have come to perform daily actions through it. Letters became e-mails, the playground became video games, newspapers became tablets and television, and film became streaming. Every type of business is taking the leap forward to catch up to the Internet’s fast pace. People can shop around the world and communicate through social networks; but they also visualize that it may be easier now to start a business than it has ever been.

Competition along online companies is a topic of concern to our society, specially those that provide entertainment. Netflix is a great example of a corporation that has made a great impact on American society. Before, we used to drive to a Blockbuster, pick up a couple of movies with the family, maybe some popcorn, and head back home to have a good time. Now, Netflix provides a variety of shows and films that can be watched instantly from the comfort of your home. This corporation had the ability to obtain over 8 million users in ten years, but made a risky decision that may cost them their victory over Blockbuster. Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings announced in September the split of Netflix into two companies: Qwikster, a DVD shipping company and Netflix, an online streaming company. There is still some confusion amongst users about whether or not this split is happening, but the news and the sudden increase of prices have cost Netflix a loss of over 800 thousand subscribers.

Netflix CEO Announces Company Split, Issues Apology

by Newsytech

This may just be the perfect moment for Blockbuster and Dish Network to get back on the market with their new partnership that allows Dish Network users to obtain a Blockbuster Movie pass for streaming content as well as DVDs and Games by mail. For more information about this partnership click here.
Netflix had not seen a loss this big in 7 years, since their largest drop in stock price until Tuesday October, 25, 2011 when they closed their stock at $77.37 according to the following article:

With this I leave you, the independent filmmaker, to analyze and comprehend the turnover that is happening to our generation of film making. This is a new era, and it is up to us, filmmakers of this generation, to adapt and explode the new resources that have been given to us. We are a community, and we must stand together like one.

Television's impact on society

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:24:00 +0000

Although film is the reason we became creators of entertainment, it is important to understand what the world is watching and more importantly what they want to watch. Lauren Zalaznick, NBC Universal’s chairman, is one of the most influential women in television. She held a TEDWomen speech about the conscience of television.

In this talk, Lauren Zalaznick exposes a deep study on television for the past 50 years and reveals that television is in fact a reflection of society.

It is real to say that society has made a vast transformation about the way they perceive media and television. Entertainment stopped being enough amusement and reality television changed the way people interact with their TV shows. Putting it in a simpler way, TV is no longer a part of the day where a family gets together to share a common experience; it is a part of the day where a family gets together to have conversations about what is happening and to express their piece of mind.

Television is no longer a form of expression for the writers and creators, it is a form of expression for the audience. As Lauren Zalaznick showed in her presentation, the statistics are there. People want to have a voice, they want to be heard. We, as entertainers have the responsibility to make sure that these people are getting what they want. Does this mean we have to compromise our creative skills? No, it means we need to exploit them more, and figure out a way to make the artists and the audience happy.

This TEDWomen talk opened my eyes as a filmmaker and exposed me to a world of opportunities that I had not seen before. So do not think that everything has been done, and that there is nothing new you can’t bring to the table, because there is! If you open your mind and think outside the box, your career as a filmmaker of a new generation has just begun and there is no limit for your creations. Share your ideas with others, create content evaluation groups, showcase your work. Start creating a community for your content and if it is good enough, people will do the rest for you. We have been blessed with the advantage of social networks and tools that make our own marketing easier and cheaper than ever before.

Enzian Film Society

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:46:00 +0000

The film industry has a great amount of branches that allow it to stay on the top. There are all kinds of societies that vary in size. There are the big societies such as the Academy of Motion Picture and Arts Sciences (Oscar) that have a great impact on the industry; and smaller ones like the Enzian Film Society, which have other types of influence in the industry.

Although the Oscars are one of the most important recognition in the film industry, it is because of smaller societies like the Enzian Film Society that films are able to get exposure to the bigger names. The Enzian theater is located in Orlando, FL. This theater is host to a series of film festivals that include the KidFest, Brouhaha, Jewish, South Asian and the Florida Film Festival.

On their website, there is information about each one of these festivals from which I would like to highlight the Florida Film Festival. This festival has received visitations from great talent such as Glenn Close and John Voight and is an incredible way to expose new films.

This brings me to talk about the Enzian Film Society in more depth. This society is a great way for people to start networking with other interested fellow filmmakers and to explore all the different aspects of film. At the Enzian, there is food, drinks and movies. This little independent theater has the capability to attract all kinds of people with one same interest: films.

The goodies of being a member of this society are amazing, since you not only get to have discounted tickets, but free tickets to some screenings, free popcorn, a reserved table to have your food while you watch films, and specially the opportunity to purchase advanced tickets to the Florida Film Festival. Members also get recognition every year for participating and supporting on the festival.

It is very important for new coming filmmakers to take the steps necessary to get our names and our brand out there. If you become a person that can sell yourself and your talent, you are all set. All you need is to get out there and start talking to people. So do the homework and research what tools you have, what societies are nearby and join each and every one you can. Read about films as much as possible, watch them, and breathe them. This is the only way you are going to get wherever you need to be.

10 Steps to Make a Film

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Making a film is a process that has many steps. Whether the script is 10 or 180 pages long, the basic steps are the same. The variation of steps is equivalent to the length of the script so: The longer the script, the more steps need to be taken to make it happen; and vice versa.

10 Basic steps to the completion of a film:

Story, script, finance/producers, pre-production, casting, marketing, production, post-production, Special effects and graphics, and distribution.

These steps have the following relationship:

It is important to understand that there are steps that cannot be accomplished without the fulfillment of another. This can be called a dependent task. To find out more about constructing a network diagram click here.

We have already discussed the story, so within this network diagram, there can easily be a separate one for each of the tasks. The story’s diagram would look the same but with the steps discussed about developing it.

In the future, I will break this down in increasing detail until we have the exact method for developing a film. Think of these graphics as a “To do list” where all the steps you need to take are drawn out. There are several ways you can organize your tasks, but knowing what to do is already half the battle, so never forget to plan what you are doing before executing your idea; otherwise, it is most likely to become your biggest nightmare.

If you do not plan, unexpected problems arise that are going to require you to come up with an unexpected solution. If you do plan ahead for possible errors, you can easily plan ahead for possible solutions and your work on the run will be much easier. Project planning is one of the most important things you as a developer must understand. If you want to know more about how to make your project successful, read more about project management.

Remember that making a film requires your time and attention. Films have never been made by themselves. It takes hard work and perseverance to achieve your goals, and since you are already putting your effort into it, you might as well give it your best shot. So, start planning your great idea and if you follow the steps, it can become a reality. The next step will be writing the script.

Filmmakers United Film Contest Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 23:42:00 +0000

Here is the winner for the filmmakers united contest.

This is a very well made piece of art. Although there is not much of a story, this short shown not only a great production value, but a style that comes from the director. The direction of photography is gorgeous and the light was used well to portray a dramatic effect.

Overall, very well made short. Hopefully we will see more from director Graham McCowen.

The Plot

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:01:00 +0000

The first step you are going to take in the journey that is making your project real is the characters that will tell the story. There are different types of characters in a story. There is the protagonist, the antagonist, the sidekick and the “normal” character.

The Protagonist: Is the main character of the story. We as an audience will see the story through this character’s life. A good way to create empathy with your audience is for your main character to have a character flaw and have him try to overcome it.

The Antagonist: Is the character that will do everything in his/her power to stop the protagonist from achieving any goal. This is the character your audience should hate.

The Sidekick: Is the character that will stand by the protagonist’s side for the story. Sidekicks do everything they can to help the protagonist reach the goal.

The “Normal” Character: All the other people that might have minimal contribution to the story as a whole. They are the rest of the world.

Although these are some of the most important characters, you as a writer can go into more character detail. Here are some more types of characters.

Once your characters are created and have a life, you must set your story plot.

What story are you going to tell? What are your characters going to go through? The plot of your story should consist of a series of events that have movement and change. These events should be increasing milestones that your main character should go through until reaching a climax and resolve the story. There is a lot of information out there that can help you have a better understanding of the plot and its creation.

The plot will consist of 3 acts and 5 parameters: Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

Click the link for more information about the StoryPlot

The story is the central point of every idea you may have regarding the making of the project. You should try do what you think has a positive effect on the story and avoid the things that cause negative effects for the story. Once your story idea is clear, you can proceed to get into details that will tell this story.

Check Out Fellow Filmmakers

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:56:00 +0000

There is a site called Filmmakers United that just hosted a film contest. Check out what other filmmakers are doing to get some inspiration. Inspiration is the first thing we need in order to start making ideas come true. It is not the equipment, its the creativity!

I personally enjoyed this one called L'Odio. Check it out.

On this short film you are able to appreciate not only a great story structure, but the production quality required to have a professional product at a low cost.

Filmmakers United is a growing community that focuses on the networking of filmmakers around the world in order to create projects with several people.

It provides the opportunity to see what other filmmakers need to do and what they are doing to make it true.

It also provides the opportunity to create a profile so people are able to see you as a person as well as a processional. Here you can list your interests and skills which will help others find you if they are looking for something specific that you can bring to the table.

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Leopard Lilies) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Hello fellow Filmmakers! Welcome to the Leopard Lilies Community Blog, a place where we will share everything about film making. Films are an art and they can be made in several ways. However, there are steps to getting started in the film making career, we will help you get started.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at anytime through any of our social networking services.

Now, lets get started!

Here is my latest documentary. Hope you enjoy and give me your piece of mind about it.