“How I Write” – Technique: Versioning
Creating boldly requires you to leave behind your anxiety and hesitation. I use a Technique called "Versioning"...
Filmmaker Bob Rafelson Passes Away…
I had worked with Bob on several projects. He was quite a character and, working with him on "Blood and Wine", I got to meet Jack Nicholson. He had a lot of stories and insights. One of them was how he wanted to just grab a few crew on "Mountains of the Moon" and get...
CreativeExplorer-MichaelMandaville-“How I Write” – ACIDS
An aspiring writer was not sure how to start writing so I created this video using ACIDS. Sorry to disappoint, but this is not about hallucinogenics. A Technique to jumpstart the brain and the scene. Good writing! https://youtu.be/JXA_65Q20RA
Creating the TV Pilot: “Breaking Bad”
Television Writing has become much more cinematic, daring and refined. "Breaking Bad" was not initially a popular show - and then it became a phenomenon. Check out this article: "How Netflix made Breaking Bad a hit - and why that won't happen again"...
Lupin – France’s Famed Gentleman Thief – Lives Many Lives…
“Lupin” – the literary character created in 1905 (sorry to tell you Netflix viewers!) has had numerous iterations of the last 115 years.
Film Production: Spain – Interview with Netflix Execs
Spain was always a natural jumping off point for filmmaking, particularly streaming as the mother country of Spanish into the Latin American market. Many territories have strong linguistic ties. For example, France with Senegal and West Africa. China with certain...
VIACOM CBS ouster of Gianopoulos to feed Paramount+ Streamer?
The changing of the Guard at the great Paramount studio signals another sea change. As Theatrical is dead right now, perhaps it's a near permanent shift. Why? Audience Behavior to some degree, weary of the high cost of theatrical films, their script manipulations...
Virtual Reality at Venice
Virtual Reality is an avenue of filmmaking which has been a bit elusive for me. The technology is there and flourishing in many ways - though talking with an associate who is deep into this world - the chaos of emerging new tech has made it an unpredictable future. ...
Great Films – “House of Bamboo” – on YouTube
Sam Fuller was an iconoclast director who was fearless in making his unique films in the Studio System and beyond. I met him in the late 1980's when he was chomping on his cigar and testy. A driven filmmaker for sure. As of today, his film "House of Bamboo" is on...
Film Production, COVID and Insurance
I have been reading articles, talking with insurance companies, bond companies and others about insurance industry for Indie Film Productions in the US. The challenge is that Indie Films need the required insurance to cover a film when it is funded through the Indie method of Banking-Minimum Guarantees-Equity-Distributor-Completion Bond.
CreativeExplorer-MichaelMandaville-“How I Write” – ACIDS
An aspiring writer was not sure how to start writing so I created this video using ACIDS. Sorry to disappoint, but this is not about hallucinogenics. A Technique to jumpstart the brain and the scene. Good writing! https://youtu.be/JXA_65Q20RA
Creating the TV Pilot: “Breaking Bad”
Television Writing has become much more cinematic, daring and refined. "Breaking Bad" was not initially a popular show - and then it became a phenomenon. Check out this article: "How Netflix made Breaking Bad a hit - and why that won't happen again"...
Film Production, COVID and Insurance
I have been reading articles, talking with insurance companies, bond companies and others about insurance industry for Indie Film Productions in the US. The challenge is that Indie Films need the required insurance to cover a film when it is funded through the Indie method of Banking-Minimum Guarantees-Equity-Distributor-Completion Bond.
Fight Scene Details
In the films that I’ve worked on like the ”Taken” series, ”American History X”, etc., the script conveyed action in a laconic manner – and was later fleshed out in relation to the actual location and shot lists. Shane Black was masterful in writing his action moments together with strong characterization.
Auto Draft
CREATIVE EXPLORERS! This is a Go To website for Production Incentives, especially overseas. 1. Pandemic Response for Productions: With the ongoing pandemic, I think that there are going to more and more productions going overseas. The protocols in other countries...
Great Japanese Film Director Kenji Mizoguchi
Great Film Directors: Kenji Mizoguchi. He was a highly influential Japanese director admired by Welles, Kurosawa, Godard and more. I remembering seeing his two part film "47 Ronin" (1941) in the old Fox Venice Theater in West Los Angeles. This great Japanese story is...
Creative Explorers! Film Tone Explained in Filmmaking Video
Creative Explorers! "Goldmarks" Worthwhile bookmarks for building your Filmmaking Resources, Inspiration and Personal Productivity. "Tone" is that Opening Moment in a film, TV show or streaming content when I know the style, genre and feeling of the upcoming visuals...
VIDCON is FREE and ONLINE NOW
VIDCON, the premiere online gathering for Online Video, is FREE. You merely have to register to get into their Virtual Gathering. I have gone for the last 7 years and it's an amazing place to learn about Online Video, connect with people and hear the stories about...
Indie No Budget Distribution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95XIREFJwo The Filmmakers made a very good trailer. They outline their experience in securing distribution for both theatrical and worldwide VOD in this article at NoFilmSchool.com....
Orson Welles Interview
Filmmaker Bob Rafelson Passes Away…
I had worked with Bob on several projects. He was quite a character and, working with him on "Blood and Wine", I got to meet Jack Nicholson. He had a lot of stories and insights. One of them was how he wanted to just grab a few crew on "Mountains of the Moon" and get...
American History X
American History X is a 1998 American crime drama film directed by Tony Kaye, written by David McKenna, and stars Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Stacy Keach, Elliott Gould, Avery Brooks, Ethan Suplee, and Beverly D'Angelo. The film was released in the...
Taken – The Original
Taken is a 2008 English-language French action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel, written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, and starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley,...