Why you should support and acknowledge the fans!
Fans work hard. They have to rotate fast and quick to provide an constant air-fluid stream, in order to help us by providing thermal comfort or cooling a vehicle engine. They are always standing guard, ready to spin hard and fast at the turn of a switch. Let’s take a moment to thank these hard workers for all they do, errrr, um, wait a second. I got confused, I think I am talking about the wrong type of fan.
Michael Fredianelli and Wild Dogs Productions, the Filmmaker who does not quit.
Today I want to highlight one of the sources of my inspiration by taking a look at Michael Fredianelli, the bay area filmmaker who had managed to make 59 feature films and counting. It’s a remarkable level of production and dedication to the craft, demonstrating a work ethic that can only be admired.
My Midnight Panic Attack
Do I just need to give them more time? Did I not make a good enough film? Are the actors embarrassed to be in my film? Racing thoughts and paranoia fill the mind. I feel my heart rate pulsing.
Date With Waifu = Free Lunch
To celebrate the launch of Scorned Waifu, we’re bringing back this sweet promo baby. Lunch dates are a great way to connect and unwind, and Yua Nijjima is here to help. You see, we need feedback for our newest film and would love to hear your thoughts.
How to get investors to invest in your indie film.
From the props to feeding the cast and crew, these small costs can add up quick. If you plan to pay your entire cast and crew as well, then your budget can add up to $4000 per shooting day. So now you are seeking investors to help you see your vision through, but how do you convince them to put their money down?
The Impact of California’s AB 5 Bill on Indie Filmmaking
California’s AB 5 is a bill that was signed into law in September 2019 addressing employment status. It requires the application of a “ABC test” to determine if workers in California are employees or independent contractors. This is important, as in the world of filmmaking, it’s a freelance world. You may get a gig that lasts only one day, or maybe a whole month. Due to the status of film production, finding anything consistent is a challenge. But now are you payed as a independent contractor or a employee?
Magical Hammer Productions Update 2024
Michael here. Thought I would take the time to update you all. I know it has been a while as the blog and the podcast hadn’t seen any action in a bit. But things are moving behind the scenes here at Magical Hammer
Blood Covered Chocolate Review (2023) American Courtyard Productions
Here we have a film directed by Monte Light entitled Blood Covered Chocolate, being described as a homage to the one-hundred-year-old F.W. Murnau classic Nosferatu. So when a recovering drug-addict named Massimo is bitten by an ancient, shapeshifting monster, he must fight to save his girlfriend Tien from the same bloody fate. Overall the film plays with the usual vampire tropes that we all know with a few spins.
Shopping for Props: The Weird Stuff Filmmakers Buy
You know, as a filmmaker, we tend to buy some pretty weird stuff. This all depends on the needs of the film and story you are trying to tell of course. But I am pretty sure I confuse the amazon algorithm on a weekly basis. Anyway, today, let's talk about props. A prop is any inanimate object that an actor interacts with in a film.
How to crowdfund your movie and be successful at securing money.
So you want to make an epic film, but the only problem is that you are lacking the funds to successful see it off the ground. Now crowdfunding sounds like an easy plan on paper, but it's actually on of the more tricky routes to be successful at it.
Michael reacts to your Letterboxd Reviews for Sophie and the Serial Killers
I just wanted to take a moment and thank anyone who has left a review for my film over at Letterboxd. I read every review and comment on the film, and I greatly appreciate these people who took the time to not only watch the film, but leave some thoughts on it. Now here is my chance to react to your reviews. Let’s a start.
Filmmakers: Here's why you need a website!
One thing that kinda surprises me in the indie film scene is that a lot of filmmakers don't have their own websites. One filmmaker I spoke with said that he didn't need a website, since he would just let IMDb, Letterboxd, and Google do the the work for him. "People can see my films there." he said. But, I would strongly disagree with this approach. Having a website dedicated to your work can be a great advantage in your filmmaking quest to conquer the world!
The Guard Room Diaries
In exciting news, production on our third film begins later this week. Entitled "The Guard Room", this film was inspired by my time in security work. I am excited to start work on my 3rd feature film, and hopefully the start of production goes well.
Indie Film Soundtracks: Why does your music suck?
The Indie film scene does have its strengths, but I would say that one element that gets often overlooked is the musical score and soundtrack for most indie films. You often notice how must indie films out there tend to have forgettable soundtracks? But why does the soundtrack get ignored like a cheeseburger being served at a Mexican restaurant? Let's a break, break, break it down!
Short Film VS Feature Film: How long should your film be?
So which format to choose, it depends on your story, strategy and what you wish to accomplish. A short film should be kinda like poetry. It's short, sweet, and every single moment needs to count. A feature film is a narrative that is still relatively encapsulated but has more room to explore ideas and issues in greater depth.
The Perfect Hand 2023 (Wild Dogs Productions) Review
Here we are with Wild Dogs Productions 53rd feature film, The Perfect Hand. In this film, Michael Fredianelli returns to his comfort zone of the western genre. The film centers around a sharp-shooting sheriff who tracks down a con artist and his henchmen that took his hand in a rigged poker game.
The Franchise Killed the Director Star
As the franchise and sequel machine has taken over Hollywood, Film Directors find themselves ever more increasingly interchangeable in the corporate filmmaking world. No longer does the directors creative vision take priority, as the executives want to protect the brand and franchise.
Why is Pizza the most common Filmmaking Crafty Food Meal you find on Set?
You arrive for your fifth day on set, and there you are greeted with boxes of pizza, again! You ask yourself, what is the filmmaking gods' obsession with pizza? Can't we have a little variety in our short lived lives, or shall I be forced to dance with the ZA till the day I part. Well my friends, let's dive into why pizza became the popular on set movie star.
What Casting Directors look for in a Actors Self Tape and how to avoid Audition Common Mistakes
If you avoid these common mistakes, you'll be on your way to mastering the art, that is the self tape. Of course, the more you do it, the better you'll become. You'll get to the point where if you didn't get the role, it was just because you weren't the right fit, and not because you had goofy pitch shifted voices haunting you in your kitchen while you were wearing a bathrobe.
Are Film Festivals a Scam or Worth the Investment? Beware the fake festivals.
Filmmakers are asked to pay hundreds of dollars for submission fees and if they make it into the festival, they’ll receive a special prize. The prize being a PDF-file with a laurel which you can use for distribution of your film, which is in reality, pretty pointless due to the amount of laurels they hand out nowadays.