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Following is a list of books, articles, screenplay
software, Websites, conferences, training materials, fundraising
sites, and film festivals for shorts you may find helpful. Because
of the dynamic nature of the Internet, many of these sources
are continually changing and this section will be updated from
time to time. I welcome your suggestions for other resources
to include.
On Writing, Producing, and Directing
Adelman, Kim.
Making It Big in Shorts: The Ultimate Filmmakers Guide to Short Films, 2nd
Edition
. Michael Wiese Productions, 2009.
Brown, Robert Latham.
Planning the Low-Budget Film
. Chalk Hill Books, 2006.
Dean, Michael W.
$30 Film School
. Course Technology PTR, 2003.
Garvy, Helen.
Before You Shoot: A Guide to Low-Budget Film and Video Production
. Shire Press, 2007.
Gaspard, John.
Fast, Cheap & Under Control: Lessons from the Greatest Low-Budget Movies
of All Time
. Michael Wiese Productions, 2006.
Gaspard, John.
Fast, Cheap & Written That Way: Top Screenwriters on Writing for Low-Budget
Movies
. CreateSpace, 2009.
Gilles, D.B.
The Portable Film School: Everything You’d Learn in Film School (Without
Ever Going to Class)
. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2005.
Kenworthy, Christopher.
Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on
Your Low-Budget Movie
. Michael Wiese Productions, 2009.
Levy, Frederick.
Short Films 101: How to Make a Short Film and Launch Your Filmmaking Career
. Perigee Trade, 2004.
Newton, Dale and John Gaspard.
Digital Filmmaking 101: An Essential Guide to Producing Low-Budget Movies
. Michael Wiese Productions, 2007.
Rea, Peter W. and David K. Irving.
Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video
.
4th Edition
. Focal Press, 2010.
Ryan, Maureen.
Producer to Producer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low Budgets Independent Film
Producing
. Michael Wiese Productions, 2010.
Schmidt, Rick.
Extreme DV at Used-Car Prices: How to Write, Direct, Shoot, Edit, and Produce
a Digital Video Feature for Less Than $3,000
. Penguin, 2004.
Tomaric, Jason.
The Power Filmmaking Kit: Make Your Professional Movie on a Next-to-Nothing
Budget
. Focal Press, 2007.
Thurlow, Clifford.
Making Short Films: The Complete Guide from Script to Screen, 2nd Edition
. Berg Publishers, 2008.
Wales, Lorene.
The People and Process of Film and Video Production: From Low Budget to High
Budget
. Allyn & Bacon, 2004.
On Writing the Short Film
Cooper, Patricia and Ken Dancyger.
Writing the Short Film, 3rd Edition.
Focal Press 2004.
Cowgill, Linda J.
Writing Short Films: Structure and Content for Screenwriters, 2nd Edition.
Lone Eagle, 2005.
Johnson, Claudia H.
Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect, 3rd Edition
. Focal Press 2009.
Phillips, William H.
Writing Short Scripts
. Syracuse University Press 1999.
Snyder, Blake:
Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need
, Michael Wiese Productions 2005.
Brunton, Colin. “Tip Sheet for Low-Budget
Film Scripts.”
The Online Communicator Website
. Rich Wilson Creative Services, 1996-2009. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. http://www.online-communicator.com/scriptip.html.
Kolber, Jerry. “The Right Way to Raise Money for a No-Budget
Film”
MovieMaker Magazine
. 2 Apr. 2003. Web. 20 Sept. 2010 http://www.moviemaker.com/directing/article/the_right_way_to_raise_money_for_a_nobudget_film_3212.
Final Draft
. Screenwriting Software. From Final Draft, Inc. http://www.finaldraft.com/products/final-draft. Software
that automatically formats scripts to meet industry standards. About
$250; $80 for an upgrade.
Movie Magic Screenwriter 6
. Screenwriting Software. From Write Brothers, Inc. http://www.screenplay.com/p-29-movie-magic-screenwriter-6.aspx. Screenwriting
software that helps to create script outlines with acts, sequences,
and scenes. About $180.
Hollywood
Screenplay
. Screenwriting Software and instructional CDs. From
Hollywood Screenplay. http://www.hollywoodscreenplay.com. About
$50.
Celtx.
Screenplay Writing and Editing Software and Other Media Packages. From
Celtx. http://www.celtx.com. Free
to download.
Save the Cat!
The Last Story Structure Software You’ll Ever Need, Version
2.0
. Software program for outlining screenplays. http://www.blakesnyder.com. About
$80.
Writers Store, 3510
West Magnolia Blvd. Burbank CA, 91505. Phone: 800-272-8927
or 310-441-5151; Fax: 818-566-8644. http://www.writersstore.com. Has
books, software, training programs, and film industry directories,
available online or at the store.
Hollywood Creative Directory, publishes both print and online
directories: the Hollywood Creative Directory of producers and
production companies, the Hollywood Representation Directory
of agents and managers, the Hollywood Distribution Directory
of distributors and sales reps, the Hollywood Music Industry
Director of record labels, music publishers, music agents and
managers, the Blu-Book Production Directory, which is available
as a free PDF download, plus you can get a free subscription
for online access to a week to all of the other directories. The
print cost for each directory which are published one to three
times a year is $65-80; an online subscription is about $20 a
month; $200 a year. http://www.hcdonline.com
Film and TV Connection, provides an e-mail
query service to contacts in all areas of the film industry, including producers,
agents, managers, distributors, sales reps, casting directors, entertainment
attorneys, film festivals, and music industry pros. http://www.filmandtvconnection.com.
Creative Handbook,
10152 Riverside Dr. Toluca Lake, CA 91602, Fax: (818) 752-3220/
A production
directory offered for free to anyone working in production in the Southern
California area; just pay about $10 for delivery.
http://www.creativehandbook.com
Reel Directory, P. O. Box 1910,
Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95416. (415) 531-9760
The number one source for Film, Video and Multimedia in Northern
California, which features working industry professionals. Advertise
for $50. Copies are $45 or distributed free through various
venues, such as through the Northern California Film Commission
offices and at many conventions and trade shows. Advertisers
also get a free copy.
http://www.reeldirectory.com
Bay
Area Casting News, P.O. box 1624, El Granada, CA 94018-1624. (650)
726-5424. http://bayareacasting.com/directorportal.html
Casting Networks SF, 84 First
Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. (415) 896-2228 http://www.sfcasting.com
Casting Networks LA, 3250
Wilshire, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90010. (323) 462-8200
http://www.lacasting.com
Backstage, 5055 Wilshire Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90036. (323) 525-2356; 770 Broadway, 7th floor; New York,
NY 10003. (646) 654-5700
http://www.backstage.com/bso/index.jsp
Now Casting, 2210 W. Olive
Avenue, Suite 320, Burbank, CA 91506 (818) 841-7165.
http://www.nowcasting.com
Direct Cast, http://www.directcast.com
And check for other online casting services in other areas.
D.A.W.N. (Digital Audio Worldwide Network) Music – Thousands
for tracks for $16-27.
http://www.dawnmusic.com
Freeplay Music – Various types of uses from $25 for
student use to a few hundred for commercial use.
http://www.freeplaymusic.com
Jamendo – Over
270,000 tracks of all genres, download for free or a small payment depend on
how you want to use the music.
http://www.jamendo.com/en
MP34U – Download any song; all songs are legal with the
artist’s permission.
http://www.mp34u.fm
Music Loops – Thousands of tracks in different genres,
most $25-40, some a little higher.
http://www.musicloops.com
Musopen – Mainly classical instrumental music; sign in
to download MP3 files.
http://www.musopen.org
Pond5 – Over 5000 tracks; just move your cursor over a
track to hear it; individually priced at $10 up; most tracks
$10-25.
http://www.pond5.com
Public Domain 4U – A
mix of public domain and free music with the artist’s permission.
http://www.publicdomain4u.com
Public Domain Information Project - Music2Use – Thousands
of tracks for download at $19 each, or get all tracks in a category
for about $25 to $50.
http://www.pdinfo.com/Music-Production-Video.php
Royalty Free Music – Over 12,000 tracks for download at
$59 each, and subscriptions available.
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com
Stock Music.Net – Thousands of tracks, about $30 per track,
plus complete collections from about $50 up.
http://www.stockmusic.net
Stock Music Site – About 400,000 tracks, $39.00
http://www.stockmusic.com
Stock Music Store – Over 10,000 tracks in different genres,
about $30 per download, plus subscriptions available.
http://www.stockmusicstore.com
TheBeatSuite – About 4000 tracks, $60 per download.
http://www.beatsuite.com
For other sources, put in “public domain
music” or “royalty free music” in a search
engine.
Kickstarter. Create
a profile and list projects for which you are seeking funding,
including shorts and feature films. http://www.kickstarter.com.
IndieGoGo. Create a profile
and list a variety of creative projects for funding in various categories,
including video/webseires, films, writing, the performing arts, music, art,
education, technology, transmedia. http://www.indiegogo.com.
Berkeley Community Media. Offers classes
to members on digital filmmaking, and has a community access
TV station for first showing your film. http://www.betv.org
Digital Media Academy in Emeryville, California. Offers
a variety of programs on professional computer training, including
digital film production and post-production video and audio editing. Also
classes on digital photography, art, and animation http://www.digitalmediaacademy.org.
From NoBudgetFilmMaking.com.
No Budget FilmMaking Ultra-Pack: The Ultimate Film Training
Kit
. Training pack that includes screenplay software
and guidebooks to make a film on a low or no-budget. About
$50. http://www.nobudgetfilmmaking.com
From FilmSchools4u.com.
The Starter Course in Filmmaking
. Set of 5 DVDs for directors, actors, cinematographers,
and writers that provide information to become a better filmmaker. About
$350. http://www.filmschools4u.com/index.htm
Hollywood Film Institute’s
DVD Film School with Dov S-S Simens
. Freshman year focuses on screenwriting, independent filmmaking,
low budget agreements, and preproduction. Sophomore year
deals with directing and hooting your movie. Junior year on marketing
and selling your moving. Senior year on financing and distributing
your movie. Set includes 16 1-hour tapes and workbooks. About
$300-400. Also, 2-day classes in major cities including
Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and London. http://www.webfilmschool.com
Los Angeles
Film School
. Offers intensive training in film in the heart of Hollywood. Has
an Associate of Science in Film degree. http://www.lafilm.edu
Mark & Jeanne Simon’s.
TV Pitch School: The TV Show Creators Complete Toolkit.
Course 1: TV Development; Course 2: TV Packaging; Course 3: TV Power
Pitches. http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com. About
$400.
No Budget Film School. The school offers 4 weekend
classes on micro-budget filmmaking in Los Angeles held at Raleigh
Studios' Chaplin Theater. http://www.nobudgetfilmschool.com
San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking. Workshops
on writing, producing, directing, shooting, and editing indie
and short films. http://www.sfdigifilm.com/home.html
San Francisco Film Society.
Film Craft and Film Studies
. Offers classes on screenwriting, business skills,
documentary, production, and film studies. Also, has screenings
and sponsors the SF International Film Festival. http://www.sffs.org.
School of Motion Picture and Television,
Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Offers BFAs
and MFAs in film. http://www.academyart.edu/film-school/index.html
For other film schools and classes, do an online
search in your area.
Film and TV Organizations List
List of major film organizations worldwide
http://www.masterguide.com/globalmedia/
Planet Indie: Independent Film Directory
Lists over 800 indie Websites
http://www.planetindie.com/organizations
American Film Institute
2021 N. Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1657
323.856.7600
323.467.4578 Fax
AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen education
and the recognition and celebration of excellence in the art
of film, television and digital media.
http://www.afi.com
Bay Area Women in Film and Media
3288 – 21st Street, #72
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-273-9820
www.bawifm.org
Berkeley Community Media
2239 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 510-848-2288
http://www.betv.org
California Film Institute
1001 Lootens Place, Suite 220
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.383.5256 Main Office
415.383.8606 Main Office Fax
Sponsors the Mill Valley Film Festival, and has filmmaking workshops
and screenings.
http://www.cafilm.org
Film Independent
9911 West Pico Blvd. 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 310-432-1200
http://www.FilmIndependent.org
Filmmakers Alliance
Los Angeles, CA
Has assorted screenings, events, partnerships with others in
the film industry. Assistance with financing and fundraising,
distribution and marketing, competitions, etc. for members.
http://www.filmmakersalliance.org/Home.html
The Independent
Independent Media Publications
PO Box 391620
Cambridge, MA 02139
877-513-7400
A publication focused on independent film
http://www.aivf.org
Independent Film and Television Alliance
Members in 22 countries, which includes independent production
and distribution companies, sales agents, TV companies, studio-affiliated
companies, and film financing organizations. Puts on the
largest motion picture trade show in the world: the American
Film Market.
http://www.ifta-online.org
1201 West 5th Street, Suite M270
Los Angeles, CA 90017 USA
213-534.3600
http://www.documentary.org
International Movie Database
A major source for film credentials and resumes in the film industry. Includes
boards for sharing information, discussions of films, messages. Also
industry news, lists, ratings, and more.
http://www.imdb.com
Movie Making Throughout the Bay
An organization that has monthly events that bring together writers,
producers, directors, actors, and others to create a film in
one day. Also has occasional networking events, producer
challenges, and other activities. Primarily promotes activities
through Facebook.
http://www.moviemakingbayarea.com
United Filmmakers Association
An organization that has monthly mixers, producer meetings, and
other activities in the Bay Area, Sacramento, and other cities. Promotes
many activities through Facebook.
http://www.ufa.metahelion.com
Without a Box: The World’s Largest Independent
Film Community
Features over 5000 film festivals and offers online submittals
for over 800 festivals, assistance with promoting your films
in IMDB, selling DVDs and Video on Demand through AMAZON.
https://www.withoutabox.com
Women in Film
6100 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 710
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-935-2211
http://www.wif.org
Writers Guild of America, West
An organization of over 12,000 produced screenwriters, who have
at least 24 units of film industry credits, and a registry service
to register scripts for 5 years for $20.
7000 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-4000,
(800) 548-4532
http://www.wga.org
Film Conferences, Trade Shows, and Festivals around
the World
A directory of events, including 48 in the United States
http://www.world-design-directory.com/events/film.wdd
American Film Market
10850 Wilshire Bvd, 9th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 248 6105
An annual event in Santa Monica with over 350 exhibitors from
around the world, primarily distributors and sales reps, held
in early November. Showings of new films. Great for networking
and making contacts. About $700 for full event; $300 last four
days; plus day passes.
http://www.afma.com
Documentary Films.Net
846 New York Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Provides a listing of festivals and events featuring documentary
films, and has a directory of documentary films.
http://festivals.documentaryfilms.net
Future of Film Summit
Produced by Digital Wire and Variety, and held at the London
West Hollywood
310-855-0033
http://www.lafilmconference.com
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
9911 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 937 7770
Held each June for about a week in Westwood. Features newly
released independent films, networking events.
www.lafilmfest.com
LA Shorts Fest
Los Angeles, CA
Held in July at the Laemmele Theater on Sunset. Features
shorts from all over the world.
http://lashortsfest.com
Creative Screenwriting Expo
6404 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 415
,
Los Angeles
CA 90028
(888) 556-6274 or (323) 957-1405
Sponsored by Creative Screenwriting Magazine, the expo features
speakers, workshops, networking events, film pitches, screenings,
competitions, and more. Held in late October in LA.
http://www.screenwritingexpo.com
Great American Pitchfest and Screenwriting Conference
Twilight Pictures Inc.
12400 Ventura Blvd. #735
Studio City, CA 91604
877-255-2528
Features pitches of TV shows and movie scripts to producers and
agents, development executives, managers, and other industry
professionals. Held in June in Burbank. Prices range
from about $250-650 for the whole event.
http://www.pitchfest.com
WESTDOC Conference
West Coast Documentary and Reality Conference
3000 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 616-5084
Features speakers, networking, and pitching. Held
in September in Santa Monica.
http://www.thewestdoc.com
For other conferences, check online for film events
in your area.
Following are some major short films festivals.
For details, look up each festival and others in Without a Box
(www.withoutabox.com). In
some cases, you can enter online. Many big film festival
also include short films. Besides the big festivals listed,
many other film festivals include a division for shorts.
Major Film Festivals with Short Films
AFI Fest (Los Angeles, California) (includes a division for short
films)
Austin Film Festival (Austin, Texas) (includes a division for
short films)
Cannes Independent Film Festival (Cannes, France)(includes a
division for short films)
Festival de Cannes (Paris, France) (includes a division for short
films)
Los Angeles Film Festival (includes a division for narrative
shorts)
Marche du Film, Festival of Cannes (Paris France)
Mill Valley Film Festival (includes a division for short films)
New York City International Film Festival (includes a division
for short films)
San Francisco International Film Festival (includes a division
for short films)\
Short Film Corner – Festival de Cannes (Paris, France)
Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah (includes a division
for short films)
Tribeca Film Festival, New York, NY (includes a division for
short films)
Festivals for Short Films
Action/Cut Short Films Festival (Studio City, California)
Aspen Shorts Fest
Atlantic City Short Film Festival
Best Shorts Festival (La Jolla, California)
Beverly Hills Shorts Festival
Carnival of Darkness Short Film Festival (Toluca Lake, California)
Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival
Chicago Short Film Brigade
Dam Short Film Festival (Boulder City, Nevada)
Directors Circle Festival of Shorts (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Edgemar Short Film Festival (Santa Monica, California)
FirstGlance Feature and Short Film Competition (Tarzana, California)
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival (New South Wales,
Australia)
Gangrene Film Festival of Comedy Shorts (Kaysville, Utah)
GIAA Festival of Short Films and Videos (New York, NY)
Giggleshorts International Comedy Short Film Festival (Ontario,
Canada)
Hero Fest – My Hero Short Film Festival (Laguna Beach,
California)
High Deserts Shorts International Film Festival (Pahrump, Nevada)
HollyShorts Film Festival (Marina Del Rey, California)
In The Bin Short Film Festival (Currumbin, Australia)
Indie Short Film Festival (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
IndieProducer Short Film Festival (Sherman Oaks, California)
International Narrative Shorts Film Festival (Chico, California)
KaleidoShorts Film Festival (London, UK)
KINOFILM, Manchester International Short Film Festival (Manchester,
UK)
LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition (Santa
Monica, California)
Lakeshorts International Short Film Festival (Ontario, Canada)
Light Up Earth Short Film Competition (Bruce, Australia)
London Short Film Festival
Miami Short Film Festival
Movie Script Short Contest: The Golden Brad Awards (Burbank,
California)
NBC Universal Short Cuts Film Festival (University City, California)
New York City Short Film Festival
NexTV Web Series and Short Film Competition (Culver City, California)
NYC Downtown Short Film Festival
Open APPerture Short Film Festival (Boone, North Carolina)
Palm Springs International ShortFest (Palm Springs, California)
SF Shorts: San Francisco International Festival of Short Films
San Jose Short Film Festival (San Jose, California)
Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Film Festival (Seattle, Washington)
Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival (San Luis Obispo,
California)
Short Toronto Indie Film Festival (STIFF) (Toronto, Canada)
Shorts Film Festival (South Australia, Australia)
SHORTSNONSTOP Online Film Festival (Toronto, Canada)
Sunnyside Shorts Film Festival (Sunnyside, New York)
Super Shorts International Film Festival (London, UK)
Taos Shortz Film Fest (Taos, New Mexico)
The Iron Mule Short Comedy Screening Series (New York, NY)
Very Short Movies Festival (Winter Park, Florida)
West Chester International Short Film Festival (West Chester,
Pennsylvania)
Women’s Film Institute Shorts Tour (San Francisco, California)
Yourindiefilm.com Online Short Film Festival (Vancouver, BC)
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