Posted by: Scott Westby
Those who read about screenwriting often bump up against the same group of tips/rules time and time again. This time around, as we wrap up phase 2 of our NSI Features First program, I’ve punched out a new draft of Synapse and I’d like to share some things I’ve learned that AREN’T those same old boring (but of course important!) rules.
Nerds unite! The time is drawing near for the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo. Every year, we’re honoured to speak on a panel or two about filmmaking and new media. This year, however, Matt and Scott will be on four panels throughout the weekend. We invite everyone who wants to pick our brains to join us! Here’s the schedule, still marked as “tentative”:
Our final day of Phase 1 for the NSI Features First program consisted of a full-morning mock pitch session. We were lucky to meet four Producers from some of Canada’s top production companies, who came in for some one-on-one 20-minute pitches.
We welcomed Elise Cousineau from Sienna Films; Sonya Di Rienzo from Whizbang Films; Mark Montefiore from Montefiore Films and Kevin Krikst from Rhombus Media.
So what’s the best way to pitch your film?
Wow. Day 4 was enlightening in vastly different ways than our previous days at NSI Features First. Today we met with Broadcasters, Distributors, Telefilm and Marketing Strategists. It was definitely a day for the Producers, though Screenwriters should absolutely be paying attention to these lessons.
Ahhh Alberta Filmmaking Grants… what polarizing, frustrating, wonderful beasts. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em (or both), you can’t deny that a grant can make the difference between a screenplay and a finished film.
Full Swing has had modest success with our grant applications over the years, and as we find ourselves in the middle of the early-year grant application season, we wanted to share a few grant-writing tips we’ve learned along the way.
Posted by: Scott Westby
Confession: I’m not a stylish dude. I often rely on my better half to “consult” on what I’m wearing, and when we film narrative content, I always try to collaborate with a Wardrobe Stylist to make the cast look their best.
But when we shoot a corporate video or an interview, having a Stylist on set is rarely practical. As such, we often get asked “What should I wear on camera?”. It’s an excellent question, as the wrong wardrobe can distract the audience from the subject matter, and can even end up ruining a great video!
If you’re appearing on camera any time soon, check out the handy guide below. And don’t worry, this comes from experience, not my fashion-sense.