Independent Filmmaking Challenges

Series Summary

You've got a story to tell, but think you need big Hollywood studio connections to get it done. Bah! Start out with your very own indie film and if it's good enough, then maybe the big wigs will notice and hand you a fat contract. Just ask the Coen Brothers or Steven Soderbergh. They started small and now they are major Hollywood players. But to make this dream more than just a wish involves hard work, from raising enough money to get started, to finding the right locations and getting permission to film there, to casting actors to coordinating and organizing your crew.

In this free film making series, our expert takes you through each step of the filmmaking process. Learn how to create and format scripts and storyboards, schedule scenes and create a shot list. Are the concepts of coverage and continuity new to you? Then you should should watch these videos for the inside story on how to make a film.

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Rhett Reiger for White Caspian Studios on behalf of Expert Village. There's a few things that go along with being an Independent film. Number one, there's excitement, because you're doing something independent normally on your own time and sometimes your own money. So there's a lot of freedom, but with that freedom comes an enormous amount of responsibility. So you have the excitement, but you're also going to have multiple challenges because you are probably going to be wearing more than one hat. On a typical feature there's one Director, there's several Producers, there's many Production Managers. In a situation like this, the Director may be doing some of all those jobs. But still, the primary purpose is directing."