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The Lean Forward Moment: Create Compelling Stories for Film, TV, and the Web

The Lean Forward Moment: Create Compelling Stories for Film, TV, and the Web (Paperback)
By Norman Hollyn

 

In this groundbreaking book Norman Hollyn outlines his ‘Lean Forward Moment Method’ of storytelling that applies to all aspects of the film-making process and media production. Whether you are an editor, producer, director, cinematographer or visual effects pro, this book will provide the essential techniques you need to create engaging content that emotionally connects with your audience. The core storytelling techniques in this book, apply equally to all levels and types of film and media projects: feature films, television documentaries, fiction, web-based video games, commercials, event films and much more. As an Associate Professor at the School of Cinematic Arts at USC and having worked on movie projects with such Hollywood greats at Alan J Pakula, Sidney Lumet and Francis Ford Coppola, Norman Hollyn is uniquely qualified to provide you with the conceptual and practical tools to tell your story effectively. After the initial formative chapters, Norman examines the filmmaking process in its three main areas – preproduction, production and postproduction. Within each area he describes how the Lean Forward method can help with every step of the creative process (setup, scene description, the script, production design, direction, cinematography, editing, opticals and special effects, music and sound). He then brings together the concepts he discusses by providing real world examples from a drama, an action film, a documentary and a commercial.

“Norman Hollyn uses the ancient magic of alchemy to reveal the art of making a great film. Writing an outstanding primer on filmmaking, he provides an historical perspective from several iconic movies, revealing the innermost secrets of successful filmmakers. If you want to construct a film, you need this book!” – MARTIN COHEN, President of Post Production, Paramount Pictures.

“Norman Hollyn’s The Lean Forward Moment speaks volumes about the art and craft of filmmaking. His elegant explanations of editorial choices and creative decisions tell the full story. It is a serious work and it will be a resource for every emerging filmmaker” – IAN CALDERON, Director of Digital Initiatives, Sundance Institute.

“Only a film editor, with a career of experience in the cockpit of the cutting room, could so clearly and completely explain how some storytelling efforts succeed and others fail. Fortunately, Norman Hollyn is such an editor, and he has given us the gift of explanation in the richly illustrated The Lean Forward Moment.” – BILL KINDER, Editorial and Post Production Director.

 


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The Five C’s of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques

The Five C’s of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques (Paperback)
By Joseph V. Mascelli

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$ Film School 9

$30 Film School (Paperback)
By Michael W. Dean

What They Don’t Teach You at Film School: Strategies For Making Your Own Movies No Matter What 9

What They Don’t Teach You at Film School: 161 Strategies For Making Your Own Movies No Matter What (Paperback)
By Camille Landau

Audio Technica ATR- Condenser Shotgun Microphone (Electronics) 10

Audio Technica ATR-55 Condenser Shotgun Microphone (Electronics)
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Power Filmmaking Kit

Power Filmmaking Kit (Paperback)
By Jason J. Tomaric

Wrath of Gods

Wrath of Gods (DVD)
By Gerard Butler

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The Cutting Edge – The Magic of Movie Editing

The Cutting Edge – The Magic of Movie Editing (DVD)
By Kathy Bates

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Make Your Own Damn Movie!: Secrets of a Renegade Director

Before reading this book, I had never heard of Lloyd Kaufman, Tromaville or the Toxic Avenger. Now I feel like he and all his crazy characters are family. And why not? You’ve got to love a guy who in the acknowledgments writes, “No thanks to: Viacom, New Corp, Vivendi, AOL Time Warner, Sony and other devil-worshipping international media conglomerates.” He is a modern-day Don Quixote.

“Make Your Own Damn Movie,” sounds like a call to action but it really isn’t. For that reason, I gave this book four stars. Kaufman writes knowledgeably about how independent theaters, studios, and filmmakers are being squeezed out by consolidation – where Viacom owns Blockbuster, Paramount Pictures, Simon & Schuster Publishers, along with TV, cable and other media – basically all the channels of distribution and publicity in the marketplace. This book contains witty, subversive, smart and useful information, but to what purpose if the outlook is so bleak?

Kaufman closes his book with “sometimes lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.” That’s hardly the call to action I thought I’d be reading. He clearly sees himself and his work as being a dying breed. This is a horror director who has written a tragedy. Has it come down to that for this innovative, dynamic and vivacious film pioneer?

If you are an aspiring filmmaker, this is an excellent autobiography about a 25-year veteran of independent films. But if you’re looking for the nuts and bolts of filmmaking or a rah, rah you can do it tract, you may want to consider other material.

Make Your Own Damn Movie!: Secrets of a Renegade Director (Paperback)
By Lloyd Kaufman

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Edoardo Ballerini is an actor and a writer. He has appeared in over forty films and television series, including Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos and the indie hit Dinner Rush. He was last seen on Theater Row in New York in “Honey Brown Eyes.”You can reach Edoardo on Facebook or Twitter

Actors, What Kind of Success Do You Want?

success

In the span of two hours I was referred to as a “semi-celebrity,” and had a woman write me asking “Who are you?” (Why she bothered to write is entirely a mystery, but hey…) Still, it did illustrate the murky waters of notoriety actors can swim in. Somewhere circling amongst the “A-listers,” the “has beens,” and the “never should have beens” are the “aren’t you?… no, never minds.”

Between the Taping and the Viewing…

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In the acting life, there is also a falling shadow, and it comes between the gig and the screening. Between the filming and the airing… Theater is different, of course, but for now let’s stick to the world of screens. After you walk off set for the last day, there’s a good chance you won’t see your work for months, if not even years, or if ever.

Reviews: To Read or Not to Read (h/t to @edoballerini)

A friend just opened a play last week and he was very excited. Weeks of hard work had …

ACTORSandCREW is fully psyched to be featuring Sheri Moss Candler’s 411 for the PMD. PMD stands for Producer of Marketing and Distribution. Sheri is an expert inbound marketing strategist who helps independent filmmakers build identities for themselves and their films.

The Emerging Skills Needed by #Film Publicists

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The Mindset Change of Social Media

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I was recently interviewed for a blog and was asked about using social media for marketing a film. It really got me thinking about that question. Is that all most filmmakers see social media being used for? One big promotional effort only to be used when they are looking to sell something? I think within 10 years this will be a non issue as everyone will be adapted to social media. Those who have refused to start will be so left out it will be like the people who held out on rotary phones and terrestrial TV signals.

Using #Pinterest as a tool for your #Film #Marketing

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Speaking of Pinterest…I only recently started using it for the Joffrey project which is why all of my boards are devoted to that. Looking at them gives a good idea on the kind of thing you could use it for on your production. In my workshop presentations, I talk about posting regularly on your social channels and not just information directly about your film, but also about the interests of your audience; those who would be a fan of your film and of yourself as an artist. I am using the boards to show Joffrey history through pictures and videos. The ballets they created, the ballets they revived, their alumni dancers, Robert Joffrey through the years as well as photos of the merchandise available to buy through our site. It’s a balance of audience interest and promotion for the film.

resources

Hit The Ground Running The Smart Actor’s Guide

An Acrobat of the Heart: A Physical Approach to Acting Inspired by the Work of Jerzy Grotowski

Winged Migration

How to Get the Part… Without Falling Apart.

How to Get the Part… Without Falling Apart!: Featuring the Haber Phrase Technique for Actors …

The Intent to Live: Achieving Your True Potential as an Actor

The Intent to Live: Achieving Your True Potential as an Actor ( Paperback ) By Larry …

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