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Tag: MWP

Jan192012

3… uh, 10 (& more) Reasons It’s A Great Time to be a Filmmaker

Does the new year have you needing inspiration from multiple sources (to help you with direction in the industry)? My publisher charged about 50 MWP authors to come up with 10 reasons it’s a great time to be a filmmaker and assembled them into an eBook.

Rather than pages and pages of lists, the eBook is like a living room full of about 50 diverse authors who all take the idea “10 reasons…” and speak from their POV on the subject. Some of the many interpretations are bound to reach you at whatever stage you are in your career. Check it out on the MWP website (where I believe it’s free when you sign up for the MWP newsletter). You can also find it on Kindle. A nice, inspiring new year’s gift to yourself.

Rather than a list myself, here are 3 of my most favourite nuggets from the eBook… Why it’s a great time to be a filmmaker:

1. “To transform our characters, our audience and ourselves” (from Stuart Voytilla, author of Myth and the Movies)

2. “You are a storyteller” (from Rona Edwards, co-author of The Complete Filmmakers’s Guide to Film Festivals)

3. And from MWP’s own VP, Ken Lee: “…push yourself in your areas of weakness rather than relying on your strengths and what you know you can do. You’ll learn more about yourself when you challenge yourself.”

What speaks to you in the eBook?

Cheers & an inspiring new year to you,
Deb

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Nov182011

Browsing Books Virtually… in the MWP Book Catalogue 2012

Oh to browse through bookstores… and industry books especially!

Well, the new MWP Books catalogue 2012 is out. You can peruse the PDF catalogue online to find out what’s new at: http://www.mwp.com/catalogs/MWP.com_Catalog_2012.pdf (2.2 MB). My book (being published last year) is now on page 37. Browse the pages and then let me know… what books peak your interest? What topics do you find lacking?

As a MWP author myself, it’s an honour to be part of such a professional team of industry workers & writers. I’ve read many MWP books over the years and have never been disappointed by a single book. So if your thinking of Christmas, thinking of your career, or thinking of just browsing… enjoy!

Plus you can join the many folk at MWP Books FB page (http://www.facebook.com/mwpfilmbooks) where the is much industry discussion, announcements, and I’ve seen free book giveaways now and then.

Might “see” you there!

Cheers & happy industry browsing to you,
Deb

Oct232009

Link to Free Templates

Gosh you gotta love free document templates!

First of all, I have to say that I’m in the process of writing an updated edition of my book “Film Production Management 101“, and therefore also updating the free downloadable forms (http://shop.mwp.com/pages/film-making-resources), making them available in a more interactive format. The new edition – and links – won’t be on the market until sometime in 2010, so I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, I found this great site with template documents like call sheets, release forms, location agreement, DPR, and so on. So surf by and enjoy: http://www.vancouverfilmproduction.com/contracts.html

Remember, of course, that template contracts, releases and agreements do not replace the need for a lawyer, but they can help you to draft an excellent first draft for your lawyer’s final pass – thereby minimizing legal fees.

Cheers,
Deb

May152009

Writing Budgets Voluntarily

As a P.M. at some point in your career you will be asked to write a budget on spec, or simply on a voluntary basis. Sometimes this is a great opportunity, whereas other times not. Do you know when to say “yes” and when to say “no”? I wrote an article for the MWP Virtual Film School about just this issue. Surf by and have a look:

http://shop.mwp.com/blogs/screenwriting-articles/870152-to-volunteer-or-not-to-volunteer-as-a-production-manager-by-deborah-s-patz

Cheers,

Deb

Apr82009

Downloadable Forms at MWP

MWP Productions (my publisher) has somewhat recently revamped the MWP website. It looks great! There are articles, musings, and other good stuff worth perusing – even a Virtual Film School. I recommend you sign up for Michael’s newsletter – good info, and no flood of email. The new catalogue is up and posted too, so you can be tempted by even more excellent books.

Of course, the new website also means the link to the downloadable forms for Surviving Production and Film Production Management 101 has changed. You could surf around and find it yourself, but let me gift you some time, here it is: http://shop.mwp.com/pages/film-making-resources

Cheers,
Deb

Apr72009

Writing Budgets from Template vs from Scratch

You’ll collect budgets you’ve written over time to use as a starting point for writing new budgets – but what happens when you’re starting out and don’t have a drawer full of old budgets? Spend the time and slog it through, or grab someone else’s template? The answer is not clearly black and white. I wrote an article for the MWP Virtual Film School looking at the factors to help you make the decision that’s right for you. Surf by and look it over:

http://shop.mwp.com/blogs/screenwriting-articles/870142-budgets-use-a-template-or-write-from-scratch-by-deborah-s-patz

Not to push you one way or the other, but to keep you informed… on the MWP resource page, Deke Simon provides you with some great sample budgets:

http://shop.mwp.com/pages/film-making-resources

Enjoy,
Deb