Steven Spielberg's TOP 5 TIPS to become a film director, Part 3 of 3

I know I said I would finish off this 3 part article series about Steven Spielberg last week but I've been very busy working on my upcoming movie Bend & Break and a few other personal projects.

However, I'm back and I'd like to discuss Steven Spielberg's last two tips on becoming a film director.

4. Push Your Limits

“Human beings have a need to get close to the edge, and when filmmakers or writers can take them to the edge, it feels like a dream where you're falling, but you wake up just before you hit the ground,” says Spielberg.

Until 1993, Spielberg's palette of film work was mostly rooted in the world of make-believe. From a monstrous man eating shark to a lovable alien, Spielberg had not really ventured into any film projects that tackled tough, provocative, real life issues. Like a serious real life drama.

All the changed when Spielberg decided to push his personal and professional limits and direct Schindler's List.

“Schindler’s List changed my life completely,” said Spielberg

Steven Spielberg had the personal conviction and courage to tackle the difficult issue of Jewish concentration camps in Nazi Germany World War II. Stretching himself beyond his limits earn him a Best Director Oscar for his work on Schindler's List and respect from his filmmaking friends and peers.

5. Follow Your Passion

“The only time I’m totally happy is when I’m watching films or making them,” says Spielberg.

What else can I say. When you think Steven Spielberg,you automatically think movies. More than any other determining factor: talent, contacts, money or resources. Your passion is paramount.

All great human achievements on this earth both past,present and future are born from passion. Those who have a passion for something are willing to do whatever it takes. When you are willing to do whatever it takes...you can be,do or have anything you want.

“I’d love to build a company that will continue to make movies well beyond me someday,” says Spielberg.

Discover the 4 Habits of Successful Filmmakers

What separates successful filmmakers from others who continue to struggle along, wishing and hope that fate will give them an opportunity?

I like what Elliot Grove the founder of Raindance Film Festival & Raindance.tv had to say about this topic.

Elliot has produced 150 short films, 5 feature films and teaches screenwriters and film producers in the UK, Europe, Japan and America.

He is a filmmaker's filmmaker and practices what he preaches...4 habits of Successful Filmmakers:

1. Goal Setting

"If you want to make a film in one year's time, target to
increase your work rate and break down your goal into manageable steps." - Elliot Grove

Setting goal is something I talk about often on my blog and I know from firsthand experience the powerful results it can produce in your life and for your film career. I wouldn't get all Dr. Phil on you about the importance of having clear, written goals with deadlines but I really like this quote from the late J.C. Penny.

"Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk." - J.C. Penny

2. Investing in Learning

"Invest in learning and discovering new filmmaking techniques is the next keystone to success. Film is changing rapidly right now. The last big change was the introduction of sound. This time around it is movies on th internet and mobile telephones." - Elliot Grove

Continuous learning is so important for those who want to be in the top of the chosen profession. I usually spent at least 30 minutes each day reading books, articles and websites to build specific knowledge about the art and business of moviemaking. I'm sure you've heard the saying "knowledge is power" and usually the most successful filmmakers are experts (extremely knowledgeable) in at least one area of filmmaking.

For example, James Cameron has become an expert on the topic of using 3D film cameras to make movies. After Titanic he just didn't go off, get fat and count his money...ok...maybe he did? Haha. But seriously, he as been spending the past 5 to 6 years researching, learning and developing state-of-the-art 3D filmmaking. Avatar becoming December 2009, I'm excited.

He didn't just rest on his laurels but continued to learn, grow and educate himself.

3. Investing in Good Tools

"Treat your career as a business. Invest your earnings into good tools that can enhance your business. Film businesses are the same as non-film businesses. Ploughing part of your earnings back into your filmmaking business would grow career exponentially." - Elliot Grove

This is so important and I'd like to even take it a step further. Invest in great people. Successful filmmakers treat filmmaking like a business and the best investment you can make is the people you chosen to hire to work on your film. I know that as indie filmmakers sometimes we're working with a micro budget for our movies but spending a few extra hundred dollars here or there for the services of professional,experience people i.e. cast and crew will pay off long term dividends to the success of their films and your career.

4. Apply What You Learn

"The most successful filmmakers are not always the most knowledgeable ones. They are the ones who put action to what they learnt. They do, not talk about doing." - Elliot Grove

Earlier in this article I mentioned that knowledge was power. Well, knowledge is only half power. The other half comes from taking consistent, determined action until you've reached your goal.

Just keep in mind that you shouldn't compete or compare yourself to other filmmakers to measure your success. You define your own success through your individual goals. It can be something simple like wanting to make a 5 minute short film with some friends to making socially conscious documentaries to the desire to win an Oscar.

"Anyone who is on course towards a worthy goal is successful." - Earl Nightingale

Well, enough talk. I have to go now and work on my next movie.

Steven Spielberg's TOP 5 TIPS to become a film director, Part 2 of 3

I'm continuing where I left off last about Steven Spielberg's TOP 5 TIPS to become a film director. Let's jump right into in.

2. Know Where to Draw the Line

“You can’t dictate creativity to someone else, and if you do, the project fails,” says Robert Zemeckis, director of such hits as Back to the Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. “Steven understands that, which is why we all want to work with him.”

Steven Spielberg is known throughout Hollywood as a man who knows what he wants and that usually means doing things his way.

Well, who could blame him?

With countless blockbuster hits and a few Oscars mounted in his trophy case, doing it the Spielberg way is almost guaranteed money in the bank.

Despite the amount of control that Spielberg likes to have over all aspects of his film, he also knows where to draw the line. When directing actors, he gives the experienced ones the room they need to manoeuver and the freedom to do so, typically only stepping in if he is working with less proven talent.

It takes a strong person to not overuse and abuse their power. Even successful people like Spielberg must know their limits.

3. Find Inspiration Around You

“My mom and dad gave me free reign at expressing myself, up to and including torturing all of my sisters,” he said. “They were my first audience.”

From an early age, Steven Spielberg took every opportunity to turn simple everyday situations into something more fascinating and imaginative for his own amusement.

“It was like, wow, great affirmation, you know, that I had told a story that had somehow succeeded.”

The genius to Spielberg's work lies deep within himself. He's a man who never wanted to let go of his childlike imagination and curious nature for telling stories that appeal to the kid in all of us.

"When I grow up, I still want to be a director" - Steven Spielberg.

How many times have you ever had an idea for a movie or flash of creative inspiration? Only to let your inner critic quickly convince you that your hunches were silly and frivolous.

Steven Spielberg claims people don't daydream enough.

I once saw Steven Spielberg being interviewed on the Oprah Winfrey show (promoting his movie Amistad) and he boldly told the audience that constantly following your intuition is the seed to greatness.

I will finish off this three part article about Spielberg's tips for becoming a film director, later this week.

Steven Spielberg's TOP 5 TIPS to become a film director, Part 1 of 3

Steven Spielberg is an American film director, screenwriter and film producer. Forbes magazine places Spielberg's net worth at $3.1 billion. In 2006, the magazine Premiere listed him as the most powerful and influential figure in the motion picture industry. Time listed him as one of the 100 Most Important People of the Century.

Hate him or love him, Spielberg is truly a Hollywood icon and superstar who is a shining example of success. Over the next few days I will discuss the five tips that Steven Spielberg suggestions you embrace in order to maximize your full potential as both a filmmaker and a human being.

1. Overcome your fears.

“He was scared of just about everything,” recalls Leah Adler, Spielberg’s mother. “When trees brushed against the house, he would head into my bed.”

Fear is something we all must deal with as human beings. Some people remain in your comfort zones and never venture into the unknown. You might want to become a writer or director but you're afraid what others might say about your new ambitions. The naysayers might plant doubt and fear in your mind. "Working in film is too unstable" or "It's all about luck and who you know". Maybe the thought of giving your filmmaker dream a shot and not becoming successful will leave you looking like a fool.

Spielberg also had to learn to conquer his fear of failure. After being rejected by the extremely prestigious film school at UCLA, upon which he had pinned his hopes and dreams, Spielberg was unsure what the future held in store for him. While he knew film was his passion, he began to wonder whether or not he would be able to succeed at it. Unwilling to give up his dream, he enrolled in California State University and continued on his path. But, again, after getting a C in his television production course, Spielberg had to wonder whether he would ever amount to anything in this industry. He then took the even riskier decision to drop out of school and pursue his passion on his own.

Spielberg is a living example of the success that is possible when you move beyond your fears, when you put away those nagging worries in your head and focus instead on your goal

Watch out for the next time when I reveal 2 more tips from the master of cinema Steven Spielberg.

How to be a film screenwriter: 2 Quick and Powerful Tips

Are you interested in making a living as a movie screenwriter?

If so, this article is for you. Back in 2000, I watched a video interview with Oscar-award winning screenwriter Ron Bass (Rain Man, My Best Friend's Wedding, Entrapment) discussing how in order to become a successful screenwriter you just need to do two things. The simplicity of his advice has still stuck with me today and I'd like to share it with you.

1. Write everyday.

Ron Bass highly recommended that anyone who is serious about screenplay writing (or writing in general) must invest some quality time working everyday on your script. Ron Bass himself said he has a daily routine where he writes for 1 hour everyday from 6am to 7am. 7 days a week.

2. As soon as you finish writing one screenplay, start writing a new script that same day.

Bass said the biggest mistake novice screenplay writers make is that they'll finish writing a certain film script and immediately fall in love with it...thinking it will become the next great spec screenplay sold. They will begin to fixate on how original and clever their story is and start looking for ways to sell it and get it produced. (I'll admit, I'm guilty of this)

Bass mentions that your screenwriting ability will only get better from writing not deal making. Also, that the first couple of screenplays from newbie writers usually lack what it takes to become a produced film.

So, say today you just finished writing a screenplay...don't fall head over heels in love with it just yet. Start on another new script that same day, even if it means just doing some research about your proposed story line or main character. The faster you write a few bad screenplays, learn from the experience and keeping writing. The faster you'll be able to become a professional screenplay writer.

After 20+ years of following these two simple tips, Ron Bass has had 25 screenplays produced into movies and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

ATTENTION: Discover how to Stop Waiting and Make your MOVIE

"The Most Helpful and Inexpensive guide booklet you Could Possibly Get"

Are you planning on making a feature film?

Tired of being stuck in the same old rut...you have a film script you're excited about but have no money?

I know how that feels. Being an independent filmmaker myself, I know how disheartening it can sometimes feel when you're so passionate about your film project (the creative side) but the thought of securing the necessary funds (the business side) may leave you flustered and bitter.

I believe I can help change all that for you today.

Imagine if you could finally get some simple, useful, practical information that you can apply and get $5,000 to $500,000 to make your film.

STOP WAITING and MAKE YOUR MOVIE is a feature film financing guide with 32 information-packed pages of valuable tips and strategies used by both established and emerging filmmakers to secure money for their film productions. Within this e-booklet you'll get:

• 9 knowledge-packed lessons on how to raise money for your film budget
• Learn the film financing techniques that helped launch the careers of Hollywood directors of such movies as The Wrestler, Fast and Furious and Sin City
• Both traditional and uncommon film financing tactics
• Contains 119 helpful links and resources that will allow you to learn BOTH the art and business of moviemaking
• 378 KB of information that is immediately downloadable
• Discover the powerful KEY that will free you from struggling and speed up the feature film financing process

It took me over 80 hours to create this guide and you won't see this anywhere else. It's unlike any other. Here's what others are saying:

"Very well written. I'm impressed!"

- Merle, Cambridge,ON

"Good easy read"

-Marianne,Toronto,Canada

"It's very good. Pretty straight forward and clearly written"

-Garett, Scarborough,ON

Okay, so what's the cost for this Beneficial Resource?

PROMOTIONAL PRICE ONLY $12.99 U.S.

SECURE ONLINE ORDERING

(Payment accepted via all major credit cards & Paypal)

"Can be instantly downloaded!"

I personally guarantee that this ebooklet is jargon free, written in everyday language with real world examples.

30 Day Free Look

You have 30 days (more than enough time to

go through the entire guide) to see if "Stop

Waiting and Make Your Movie" is the

"real deal" or not. If you ever feel that it wasn't

worth your money,please let me know and

I will issue you a full, NO HASSEL refund for

your investment.

There is no risk whatsoever on your part. The burden to deliver is entirely on me.

For a novice or expert. If you are an indie filmmaker who needs $5,000 to $500,000 to make your feature film, then you should buy my ebooklet right now.

PROMOTIONAL PRICE ONLY $12.99 U.S.

SECURE ONLINE ORDERING

(Payment accepted via all major credit cards & Paypal)

"Download it in minutes!"

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I wish you the best of luck on making your film.

Sincerely,

Ian Agard

Film Producer

VIDEO: Alfred Hitchcock was a film genius

After watching Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Rope" I have become inspired to shoot my upcoming feature film "Bend & Break" in real time. You can watch Hitchcock's movie Rope on youtube...and enjoy the work of one of the greatest film directors of all-time.

VIDEO: Robert Rodriguez: 10 Minute Film School

Before Dov S-S Simens created the 3 minute film school (which is hilarious) and worth watching after this video. Film director Robert Rodriguez coined the phrase "10 minute film school." Learn from one of the masters of DIY filmmaking.

Most influential film director of the 21st century?

I was thinking the other day, who has been the most influential film director of the 21st century?

After from research I came up with some candidates:

1) Ang Lee

2) Darren Aronofsky

3) Paul Greengrass

4) The Coen Brothers

5) The Wachowski Brothers

6) Peter Jackson

7) Christopher Nolan

8) Martin Scorsese

9) Steven Soderbergh

10) Andrew Stanton

11) Quentin Tarantino (thanks for the suggestion Garett)

I’d say Peter Jackson has been the most influential simply because the vast majority of young people I know who are passionate filmmakers tell me that the LOTR trilogy inspired them to make movies.

Well, just some food for thought.