Course Introduction
What to Expect
About Josh Litman
What's the Point?
Short vs. Feature
New Lessons Every Time
Finding Your Voice
BEHIND THE CUT: "Andy Asperger" - Having a Voice
Turning Ideas into Action
From Talker to Doer
Taking Control
Generating Ideas
BEHIND THE CUT: "After Rachel" - Tapping into Emotional Experience
Defining a Clear Starting Idea (“Make Sure You Tell a Story You’re Passionate About”)
Nailing Scope
BEHIND THE CUT: "Red Light" - Strategic Filmmaking
Crafting a Logline
BEHIND THE CUT: "Isaac's shoes" - Working Within Limitations
Embracing Constraints ("Be Selectively Ambitous")
BEHIND THE CUT: "Psychopath for a Day" - Limitations Breed Creativity
Overcoming Perfectionism ("Perfect is the Enemy of Good")
BEHIND THE CUT: "The Suit" - Your Film Doesn't Have to Do It All
BEHIND THE CUT: "Balls Deep" - Freedom to Go Wild
Moving On
Filmmaking on a Budget
Commitment Through Investment
BEHIND THE CUT: "Psychopath for a Day" - Work With Your Friends
BEHIND THE CUT: "Free Choice" - Letting Go to Get it Made
Learn by Doing
First Film Focus
BEHIND THE CUT: "Elevator" - Visual Storytelling (No Dialogue)
BEHIND THE CUT: "Red Light" - Dialogue-Driven Storytelling
"Better than the Film You Didn't Make"
Pre-Production: Building the Blueprint
What is Pre-Production?
Have a Plan
Outlining & Beatboarding
Writing Compelling Stories
BEHIND THE CUT "A Case of Pyrophilia" - Inspired by Family
BEHIND THE CUT: "Beef Jelly" - Embracing Absurdity
Screenwriting Tools
BEHIND THE CUT: "Milk and Ammonia" - Writing for Others to Direct
Writing Your Script
The Importance of Endings
BEHIND THE CUT: "Point and Dream" - Shooting for Social Change
Trick Yourself into Working
When is Your Script Ready?
Assembling a Team
BEHIND THE CUT: "The Sound of a Painting" - Combining Voices
What’s a Producer — And Do You Need One?
BEHIND THE CUT: "All Alone_Together" - Helping Others Achieve Their Vision
Casting Your Film
BEHIND THE CUT: "The Cookie Monster" - Cast Memorable
Union vs. Non-Union Productions
BEHIND THE CUT: "Free Choice" - Casting Eugene Lazarev
Location & Set Design ("Be Clever")
Location Scouting
Copyright Compliance
Securing Locations
BEHIND THE CUT: "Death by Hot Wings" - First Short Film & 'Cheating'
Storyboarding
Learning from your Peers
Choosing a Camera
BEHIND THE CUT: "Therapists" - Shooting on Film
Equipment Essentials
Invest in Sound
Lighting Equipment
Budget & Scheduling
BEHIND THE CUT: "Borderline Bill" - Maximizing Time and Resources
Contracts & Legal Protection
Crowdfunding
BEHIND THE CUT: "Last Dance" - Kickstarter Campaign & Scaling Up
Production: Turning Vision Into Reality
Stress is Inevitable
Call Sheets
Food, Breaks, & Work Hours
Director as Decider
Directing Essentials & Techniques
BEHIND THE CUT: "Genovese" - Helping Others Achieve Their Vision
Cinematography & Working with Your DP
BEHIND THE CUT: "Attention Whore" - High Tech, Low Budget
On-Set Lighting
BEHIND THE CUT: "Sweet Girls" - Creative Lighting
Sound Recording
Production Design
BEHIND THE CUT: "Beijing Blues" - Co-Directing in China
Wardrobe & Costuming
Hair & Makeup
Power of Color
BEHIND THE CUT: "Three Point Convergence" - Visual Expression
Practical Effects (Blood, Squibs, and DIY Magic)
Mastering Contrast
Priorities First
Working With Non-Professional Actors
BEHIND THE CUT: "F Minor" - Rockstar for a Day
Working With Professional Actors
Long Takes ("Oners")
BEHIND THE CUT: "The Birthday Girl" - 3 Long Takes
On-Set Challenges: Navigating the Unexpected
Conflict & Collaboration
BEHIND THE CUT: "After Rachel" - Solving Creative Disagreements
Unpredictable Weather
BEHIND THE CUT: "Borderline Bill" - Happy Accidents
Losing Daylight
Location Problems
BEHIND THE CUT: "A Case of Pyrophilia" - Prioritize What Counts
Last-Minute Cast/Crew Changes
BEHIND THE CUT: "The Priest, the Whore, and the Man at the Door" - When Everything Goes Wrong
BEHIND THE CUT: "Father Knows Best" - Differing Sensibilities
Technical Difficulties
BEHIND THE CUT: "Breaking Up with Celia" - Disappointment
Actor Performance Issues
Continuity Errors
Running Out of Time
BEHIND THE CUT: "Last Dance" - Child Actors
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No More Excuses
