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Category: Management

Sep32010

Film Production Management 101 – Free Interactive Production Forms

As part of the update to my book, I’ve made the free, downloadable production forms into interactive documents. You can find them over at MWP Books (along with a lot of other great, downloadable resources):

http://www.mwp.com/virtual-film-school/resources

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES NOW **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Booksigning/Canadian launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Aug272010

Box Office Stats Online

If you love stats – especially box office stats – enjoy…

North America or International – BOX OFFICE MOJO – Daily, weekly, all time…

USA Domestic – BOX OFFICE.COM – Stats and projections

Canada – TRIBUTE.CA – North America and Canada-only box office info
Canada – FILM CHAT BLOG  – Go to “Film Comparison Stats” to see which films are above/below the “10% of North American” estimates

Europe – LUMIERE – Database on admissions for film released in Europe (choose by film title)

India – BOX OFFICE INDIA – Many lists of top earning films over the years – more specifically coded as “semi-hit”, “hit”, “super hit”, “blockbuster” and “all time blockbuster”

Do you have other site(s) you’d include in this list?

Cheers & happy stats to you!
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES NOW **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Getting Your Ducks In A Row – Free Book Virtual Event – in August at FB/DebPatzBooks
* Booksigning/Canadian launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Aug132010

Which Expensive Elements Do You Need In The Budget?

Can you imagine a production where nothing in the budget was extraordinarily expensive? No, of course you can’t. There always happens to be expensive line items in a production budget: kids, animals, special effects; period settings; night shoots; etc. Why? Because you need them.

Expensive elements make the production something special… but – importantly – the right expensive elements are more than just flash. The best ones have at least two purposes for their existence, one of them being a direct connection to the storyline or characters.

The trick is not to to have too many expensive elements in a production. Too many and the budget will be stretched too thin, leaving you with insufficient resources to accomplish any of them well. Narrow down to the one(s) that really matter – that solidly contribute to the story – and then allocate enough production money to them to really excel.

Do that, and the production will indeed be something special, plus you’ll have a lot to talk about during publicity and marketing.

Here are links to my previous blog entries talking about all those lovely expensive elements… just pick and choose!

See http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/5-expensive-budgetary-items/ for a discussion on:

1. Period scripts
2. Animals & Children
3. Night Shoots
4. Distant Shoots
5. Anything CG

See http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/5-expensive-budgetary-items-ii/ for a discussion on:

6. Stunts & Special Effects
7. Prototype Equipment
8. Large Vistas
9. International Coproductions
10. Music Rights

And see http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/5-expensive-budgetary-items-iii/ for a discussion on:

11. Lots of Set-Ups
12. Lots of Unit Moves
13. Name Stars
14. Weather-Dependant Scenes
15. Rush Hour, Hockey Season & Other Fun Times

Cheers & happy budgeting to you!
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES NOW **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Getting Your Ducks In A Row – Free Book Virtual Event – in August at FB/DebPatzBooks
* Booksigning/Canadian launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Aug62010

Film Production Management 101 – What’s New About It?

 A second edition… what’s new about it, you ask? Well, let me tell you!

“Film Production Management 101: Management & Coordination for a Digital Age”

Since 2002 there have been a lot of changes in the tools we use to produce film and television. It’s definitely time for an update to the book! Digital is the first choice for filmmaking format with film stock coming now in second. That alone is a 180 degree turnaround. This new edition only starts with that 180 degree turnaround in coming up-to-date! Inside you’ll also find a whole new chapter on publicity in this digital age, and lots of new information on money-saving tools like previs, and ISAN and much more.

The new edition is over 500 pages now… so, I guess in short: it’s bigger, it’s better; and it’s written for today’s production world!

As for what’s the same? It’s still a terrific on-the-job resource for both Production Managers and Coordinators. Not only that… when you look at Amazon, it’s all for the same price! Whattadeal.

So, read it and make up your own mind, and then share your thoughts with others on Amazon.

I also invite you to connect with me and the PM101 community on Facebook at DebPatzBooks. At the moment there’s a “Getting Your Ducks In A Row” Free Book Virtual Event going on. “Like” the page, write on the wall and/or post a picture of your interpretation of “getting your ducks in a row” for a chance to win the first autographed copy of the new book! Looking forward to connecting with you there!

Cheers,
Deb

– – – – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES NOW **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Getting Your Ducks In A Row – Free Book Virtual Event – in August at FB/DebPatzBooks
* Booksigning/Canadian launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Jul22010

The Free William F White Interactive Budget Planner

Wow, this is cool. When budgeting for film equipment, sure you can sift through a rate sheet and – with your trusty calculator – figure out an estimate of your camera, grip and lighting package… or you use Whites Interactive online budget planner:

http://www.whitesinteractive.com/index.php/requests/add

Click, choose and change your selections. Pick or skip insurance options. Be prompted to remember to budget for the expendables. Then get an instant online estimate! Great for instant feedback during for after-hours budgeting sessions…

Enjoy!

Cheers & happy budgeting to you!
Deb

Jun42010

Script as a Road Map: Naming Script Locations

After the organic writing process of creating the script, it’s time to reformat the script in preparation for the shoot. Make the script what it is: a road map for making a film production.

What if the action moves from one room to another within a scene?

If the plan is for the set of rooms to be open concept, then one scene label in the script is fine; however, typically you need to breakdown the scene into several, labelling each scene separately, i.e. Int – Living Room – Day; and then Int – Dining Room – Day; and finally Int – Kitchen – Day… giving each one a different scene number. Even if the plan is to shoot a long take, moving the camera from room to room without cutting, it may be worth breaking down the scenes separately. Best to discuss the shooting plan with the 1st AD and Director in order to prepare the script appropriately.

What if there is more than one descriptive name for a location?

Sometimes you’ll see the same location described in a variety of ways: Int – Living Room – Day; and then Int – John’s Living Room – Day;  and then Int – House – Day;  and even with slight spelling differences like: Int – Livingroom – Day. Script formatting software is picky about how you name things, and presumes if you make a slight spelling difference to a script location, then you expect to shoot each one in a different set location. In this case, the software would expect you to shoot in 4 locations instead of 1. Do one complete pass of the script combing through the script as you are numbering the scenes for the first time to check for these script location references with multiple names and spellings and fix them. Your focus on this one (very common) error will be time well-spent.

Since the script is a interim product – and not a final product (like a book is) – don’t worry about changing the formatting for the shoot. The goal is to capture the writer’s intention… and to do that, you need a good road map.

Cheers & happy script formatting to you,
Deb