On this episode, I discuss how I sourced my props and costumes and the process for hiring cast and crew. I also speak with actor Berserker Lotus who played Shawna in Insanity in 5 Acts about what it’s like being on an indie film set from the actor’s POV, sequel potential, and being haunted by sexist ghosts. Have questions or feedback? Hit me up on Instagram!

Check out Lotus’s Instagram: @berserkerlotus

And her book of poetry, Cryptic Dreams in Verses: http://bit.ly/4tGt9Cv

Resources:

No Film School article about pre-production https://nofilmschool.com/pre-production-in-film

StudioBinder Script Breakdown article + template
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/free-script-breakdown-sheet/

Insanity in 5 Acts Script Breakdown https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Qb0OJZmomFjhk1BI3beqpIWIZX91zcmpZQTfIYOfX3g/edit?usp=sharing

Hiring Crew

Bill’s redacted contract https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EhlnI5dSAW1KwWEKTgxtpzNksUkW9D2J/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115664374527519287546&rtpof=true&sd=true

StudioBinder article with crew contract template https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mastering-the-crew-deal-memo-with-free-template/

StudioBinder article about hiring crew https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-find-film-crew/

Hiring Cast

Document with links to the casting resources because I’ve gone completely over on my character allowance for the show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IpPmrTHAFCeKHFwaD3PJZzZWOcdqmVDX7ougqPRVeH4/edit?usp=sharing

Find me on Instagram @theroguerogers

or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559951550977

Or email me at pod@bigcovenenergyfilms.com

Support us at Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/FZTSF/membership

Complete banger of a theme song created and performed by me, Betty P. Rogers.

Make art. Save lives.

Cheers!

Betty

On Episode 2 of From Zero to Short Film, we discuss the first steps of the pre-production process - forming an LLC, locking your script, breaking down your script, creating a budget, and hiring your department heads. I also speak to my producer and sound mixer Bill Daniilidis about what a producer can do for you on your film, how our film had the best cast and crew of all time, and what specific types of arseholes we can and cannot tolerate. Make Art. Save Lives!

Support the film and this podcast on our new Patreon! https://patreon.com/FZTSF?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Pre-Production Resources

StudioBinder article “What is Pre-Production in Film - A Blueprint for Success”https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-pre-production-definition/

StudioBinder YouTube Playlist “The Shot List” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEzQZpmbzckV0_a2QCO2qF9Yfe-LKSDha

Directing Actors by Judith Weston

https://www.amazon.com/Directing-Actors-Anniversary-Performances-Television-dp-1615933212/dp/1615933212/

More books:
https://bookauthority.org/books/best-movie-directing-books

Shooting Script Resources

StudioBinder Shooting Script Example https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/shooting-script-example/

Insanity in 5 Acts Shooting Script

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gvxi-YpOq7QMlb1_3RUGaRWtTEmT_kA8/view?usp=sharing

Script Breakdown Resources

StudioBinder Script Breakdown article + template
https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/free-script-breakdown-sheet/

Insanity in 5 Acts Script Breakdown

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Qb0OJZmomFjhk1BI3beqpIWIZX91zcmpZQTfIYOfX3g/edit?usp=sharing

Budgeting Resources

StudioBinder Film Budget Template https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/downloads/film-budget-template/

Insanity in 5 Acts Budget https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nBntEIYJPetbGX9AHfAJxGU-QsIc-fxUvgQY545bGuM/edit?usp=sharing

Hiring Department Heads Resources

StudioBinder Article “Department Head Hunting”https://www.studiobinder.com/making-it-s1e2/

Show Bill some love:

Bill’s Instagram: @bill_daniilidis

Find me on Instagram @theroguerogers

or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559951550977

Or email me at pod@bigcovenenergyfilms.com

Complete banger of a theme song created and performed by me, Betty P. Rogers.

Make art. Save lives.

Cheers!

Betty

On today’s show, I give you the rundown on step 1 of making your first short film, writing your screenplay, as well as the process I used to write my screenplay for Insanity in 5 Acts. As if that weren’t enough fun, I got to speak to actor Dominique Meyer about the joy of hitting me in the face with multiple pies, the allyship of male actors playing sexist characters in feminist films, and making authentic art versus content churning.

Places to read short film screenplays:
Shore Scripts Short Screenplay Collection https://www.shorescripts.com/short-screenplay-collection/

Simply Scripts https://www.simplyscripts.com/genre/short-scripts.html#google_vignette

BBC Script Library https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers/scripts/films

Places to watch short films:

Short of the Week https://www.shortoftheweek.com/

Klipist https://klipist.com/

Omeleto (on Youtube) https://www.youtube.com/@Omeleto

Screenwriting software:

Arc Studio Pro https://www.arcstudiopro.com/

Highland Pro https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-pro/

Final Draft https://www.finaldraft.com/

Writing resources:

Story by Robert McKee https://mckeestory.com/books/story/

The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script by Jim Mercurio https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-craft-of-scene-writing-beat-by-beat-to-a-better-script-jim-mercurio/fb2bea4c33f7c149?ean=9781610353304&next=t&

The Scriptnotes Podcast with John August and Craig Mazin https://johnaugust.com/podcast

The Screenwriting Life Podcast with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna https://www.thescreenwritinglife.co/

The No Film School Podcast & Blog https://nofilmschool.com/

The StudioBinder Scriptwriting Blog

https://www.studiobinder.com/category/scriptwriting/

My spitballing doc for scriptwriting:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/160okIqierIFz78M7dN-03J2Dm9gx9GrlDUlg2_21Qow/edit?usp=sharing

Check out the Dallas Screenwriters Association if you’re in DFW https://www.facebook.com/dallasscreenwriters/

Find Dominique Meyer on Instagram @the_blu_library …no guarantees he’ll add you.

Find me on Instagram @theroguerogers

or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559951550977

Or email me at pod@bigcovenenergyfilms.com

Complete banger of a theme song created and performed by me, Betty P. Rogers.

Make art. Save lives.

Cheers!

Betty