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At Indie Empire, we believe filmmaking is for everyone, and access to education shouldn’t be a barrier to success. It's a core principle of all of our community and live classes, but it's also why we work to keep our blog free and packed with resources to help filmmakers of all levels improve their craft, build confidence, and turn dreams into achievable goals. Together, we’re building a community where learning is affordable, progress is celebrated, and stories come to life.

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This week in mindfulness: The hurricane really too

Writers block getting in your way? ⬇️ It can

Writers block getting in your way? ⬇️

It can feel impossible to get something on the page, and it can last for sooooo long! But repeat after me: writers block is no biggie.

I know that doesn’t feel true, I barely even feel like it’s true, but it is. All the best writers I know get stuck sometimes. Truthfully it happens to everyone.

I have a LOT of thoughts about this, but honestly, even the best of us can’t be writing ALL the time! We need rest periods. We need time to relax, and romanticize our ideas, without the pressure of turning them into a product yet. But also?

I always try to ask myself what the root cause of my block is. Check out my threads for a more in depth explanation of this theory, and some common root issues. For now? Take some time for yourself. Hope some of the tips in this video help!

If not? Let me know. Leave me a comment, and I can tell you more about our writers groups if you want more peer support! ❤️

You’ve got this. Your ideas are important, and beautiful, and you will get them expressed fully when the time is right.

#IndieFilm #womeninfilm #IndieCinema #FilmFestival #supportindiefilm #FemaleFilmmakers#FilmCommunity #IndieMovie #IndieDirector #IndieActress #FilmLovers #IndieProduction #FilmIndustry #WomenDirectors #ShortFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmCreators #FilmArtist #nofilmschool #filmtips #lgbtqcreators

Screenshot below: ⬇️ Making a feature is har

Screenshot below: ⬇️

Making a feature is hard, but not impossible. My feature took me 2 years to film, and like fully crazy person: I filmed it myself. I won’t lie: I was lucky to have a pretty solid budget, but I still wanted to be strategic and conservative to stretch it as far as possible. It was exhausting, high stress…and the most amazing experience of my life. Now we’ve got a movie we love so much! Are you thinking about starting your own film?

Here’s 6 lessons to help you make your own feature:

1) Save money wherever you can, but invest in your batteries, lens, and your team.

2) When people tell you that you can’t do something, it says nothing about you, and everything about them.

3) Taking care of yourself IS essential to the movie

4) Let “no‘s” roll off your back. Conserve your emotional energy.

5) The right people to work with are also easy to work with, because they value you as much as you value them.

6) Take a break, mix it up, change the plan, just don’t stop till it’s done.

Happy filmmaking!! 🎥✨

#IndieFilm #womeninfilm #IndieCinema #FilmFestival #supportindiefilm #FemaleFilmmakers#FilmCommunity #IndieMovie #IndieDirector #IndieActress #FilmLovers #IndieProduction #FilmIndustry #WomenDirectors #ShortFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmCreators #FilmArtist #nofilmschool #filmtips #lgbtqcreators

Dates below and details below: Hard to believe it

Dates below and details below:

Hard to believe it’s that time again! But for something that happens every year, it sure is easy to forget how quickly those dates move towards you! If you’re reading this the day I posted, it’s last call for early deadline TODAY, but you still have almost a month to work on your application for regular submission!

The deadlines for submitting feature films for 2025 are as follows:

🎥 Early Deadline: August 9, 2024
🎥 Official Deadline: September 6, 2024
🎥 Late Deadline: September 23, 2024

Not done with your film? You ✨CAN✨ in some cases submit a work in progress, but you’ll want to refer to their guidelines directly to see what they’ll consider. In some cases, things like color, temp music, audio mix in the works, can sometimes still be submitted for consideration with the understanding that you’ll have it completed if selected. You’ll also have to explain which parts of your project are a work in progress and what’s completed! But just because you might not make that September 23rd cut off, doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t still submit! So check their rule book!

Just put yourself out there! Even getting a rejection letter from Sundance is a great milestone! 😂

#IndieFilm #womeninfilm #IndieCinema #FilmFestival #supportindiefilm #FemaleFilmmakers#FilmCommunity #IndieMovie #IndieDirector #IndieActress #FilmLovers #IndieProduction #FilmIndustry #WomenDirectors #ShortFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmCreators #FilmArtist #nofilmschool #filmtips #lgbtqcreators

Screenshot below: AUGUST FILM FINANCING 👇🏻

Screenshot below: AUGUST FILM FINANCING 👇🏻

The eternal struggle for artists: funding. It is a constant battle, but one that gets easier with time!

One of the ways we grow and support our company is grant applications…constant grant applications. But it’s not all that daunting once you get the hang of it! We have a running list of programs and application deadlines, and once you get in the swing of filling them out you’ll find that most of them aren’t too bad! (Pro-tip: make a google doc, and write out your FAQs, you’ll find a lot of the forms ask very similar questions and it’s totally okay to recycle and re-fit your answers!!) 🎥💕

Once of the hardest parts of grants is keeping up with the applications, so this month I thought I’d make it easy on you! If you’re looking for funding in August, here’s some applications to start TODAY:

🎥 Wavelength’s WAVE (Women At the Very Edge) Grant: For emerging female and gender non-conforming BIPOC filmmakers. Provides a $5,000 seed grant and a year-long mentorship program, (short narrative films, with production to be completed in 2025)

🎥 U.S. in Progress: Aimed at American independent filmmakers seeking finishing funds for narrative projects. Submissions are open until September 8, 2024! Get writing babe 😉

🎥 Film Impact Georgia Filmmaker Grant:
This is for my GA based filmmakers! Supports Georgia-based filmmakers in producing short films. This is a short film grant, offering a $5,000 grant and mentorship! Fall 2024 cycle opens in August!

🎥 Mountainfilm Commitment Grants: documentary filmmakers in production or post-production, these grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. Applications are open from August 14 to September 5, 2024

🎥 Sundance Institute Grants & Opportunities: Sundance is one of my go-to spots, because they have so many offerings I can’t even outline them here, and they run many programs throughout the year! This includes various grants, labs, and fellowships supporting independent filmmakers. Always check Sundance lab 💕

Happy filming! 🎥✨

#indiefilm #womeninfilm #filmgrants #filmfinance #filmtips #filmschool #filmcommunity #indiefilmsupport #shortfilms #filmfestival

Actors: I am BEGGING you, please stop 👇🏻 Le

Actors: I am BEGGING you, please stop 👇🏻

Let me start by saying that I am first and foremost an actor, so I get it. I understand how badly we all want parts, and how much we are willing to bend over backwards to make that happen. But every time we run auditions THIS thing keeps happening, and we just gotta talk about it!

First you need to know: if you’re auditioning, producers (good ones at least) want you to succeed! We WANT you to be the perfect fit! I am genuinely rooting for you! You have no idea how much time I spend crafting our character descriptions and instructions because I WANT you to have your absolute best shot at nailing it, and you can only do that if I support you!

But as much of a joy as connecting with actors is, before you get cast, the character is just an item in a budget. Before a person is assigned to a role, a producer has calculated how much they can budget for that part, and made plans accordingly, but there’s one thing it seems actors always misunderstand:

We recently ran call backs, and saw 8 actors for a role. They were all talented, delightful, and sweet. Any one of them could have played the role beautifully. HOWEVER…when we asked where they were based, they were ALL in different states and said they would HAVE to have travel covered despite this role being listed as: LOCAL ONLY.

I think actors misunderstand the point of the term “local hire only” because more and more actors are completely disregarding it. It doesn’t mean we want people from our community, it means ✨our budget can’t cover travel✨

That role was listed at $250 per day. That was what we could afford. Now imagine a single night in a hotel: easily another $250, plane ticket easily upwards of $500, none of that includes travel insurance or expenses, and you’ve just asked us to change our budget from $250 per day to over $1,000 per day. For most indie productions that’s just not possible.

So what happened? I think we were ALL heartbroken. We WANTED to cast those actors and couldn’t, they WANTED that part and spent time on their tapes. It was (unintentionally) a waste of everyone’s time.

When submitting for a part-(continued in comments)

Haven’t been caught yet, and it ALWAYS works: 👇🏻

I came up with this sneaky little trick a few years ago, and it hasn’t failed me once.

I am schedule girlie through and through. On set and off. I need an outline, I need a plan. However, as much as I believe in that, I also know that film sets have 8,000 possibilities, unexpected things go wrong, and there must also be room for flexibility and spontaneity. So how do we marry these two opposites?

1) You do your best with your schedule, and you do your best to poke holes in your plan and find potential flaws before you get to set.

2) You start using my sneaky little trick.

Here’s what you’re gonna do: you’re gonna make your shot list and storyboards, you’re gonna make your schedule and estimate how long you think everything will take, and then? ✨You’re going to add 1-2 NON-ESSENTIAL shots to each scene.✨

Make sure they’re pretty, and important, and shots that you genuinely want and would make your film better, but NOT shots that are essential to the mechanics or storytelling.

It’s a little pre-production gift to yourself! If you get short on time, you automatically know which shots to cut to get your crew back on track! If you’re don’t great on time you get pretty little bonus shots! ✨

People have often commented on my ability to stay calm when we have to cut things from the day, but it’s because I know something they don’t know: I designed the shots to be cut. It was always my plan to sacrifice them if needed. 🤫

As for bonus material? You’re going to enjoy your time on set more if some shots are just for fun, and your editor is always going to thank you for giving them options and extra material. It’s a win win.

Now you know. Happy filming! 💕

#IndieFilm #womeninfilm #IndieCinema #FilmFestival #supportindiefilm #FemaleFilmmakers#FilmCommunity #IndieMovie #IndieDirector #IndieActress #FilmLovers #IndieProduction #FilmIndustry #WomenDirectors #ShortFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmCreators #FilmArtist #nofilmschool #filmtips #lgbtqcreators

It’s not about wrinkles, it’s COLOR 👇🏻🎨

I’m not in the set/art department, I’m usually the DP. But you are not going to catch me on set without my steamer.

If there’s one thing that never fails to make an indie film feel expensive, it’s attention to detail.

When you’re low budget, small crew, do it yourself filmmaking, you’re gonna have to step outside the realm of what would normally be your job on set. You’re not gonna see a director or a DP on a paramount lot lugging around a steamer!

You might be filming with a small crew, or even alone, but one of the easiest ways to make your film look polished is to take a few extra minutes with the overall effect of your shot.

What does fabric do to your shot? It adds texture, color, maybe even movement. One thing I’m always trying to pay attention to behind the lens is not only what my actors are wearing, but what is in the room?

If I don’t have a lot of time or money to dress a set, my hand dandy box of fabrics is my best friend. It’s a great way to ensure a consistent color palette throughout the world of your film, or just bring that special something to your shots.

I often change (or add) curtains to a location because they’re one of the most low budget ways to bring color, character, and control light. Table clothes can have a similar effect! Draping something over the back of a couch or arm chair can go a LONG way towards shifting the color pallet of a room that doesn’t quite fit your aesthetic!

No matter what though, whether is costumes or background accessories, taking a few minutes to steam everything first has a surprising impact on the overall quality of your shot, and perhaps even fooling people into thinking you had a whole art department behind you! I won’t tell if you don’t 🤫

Wanna talk more about color in film? If so comment below, I’m hoping to get enough interest to do a color class soon! 🤞

#IndieFilm #womeninfilm #IndieCinema #FilmFestival #supportindiefilm #FemaleFilmmakers#FilmCommunity #IndieMovie #IndieDirector #IndieActress #FilmLovers #IndieProduction #FilmIndustry #WomenDirectors #ShortFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmCreators #FilmArtist #nofilmschool #filmtips #lgbtqcreators

Sit with me for a minute. This was a surreal momen

Sit with me for a minute. This was a surreal moment, that I’ve been imaging for years. I wasn’t sure what it would feel like, but often as I was working on this film THIS was the moment I was imaging. Surrounded by the community who made this movie, seated beside my friends and collaborators, thousands of questions running through my mind: “Will they like it?” “Will they laugh?” “Will they understand what I’m trying to say?” “Will they think it looks good?” On and on and on. I knew I wanted to capture this moment but I have to say even now, I’m not sure I could quite articulate what it felt like.

That night will be one that takes me a while to process, and if I’m honest I think the level of nerves and anxiety I was feeling have greatly impacted my ability to remember everything as well as I wish I could. But here we are. It’s not something I have conclusions about yet, just something to reflect on, something to sit with.

Thank you again to the people who joined us that night, who surrounded us with love and laughter. You were a part of what I will always remember as being one of the biggest nights of my career…and my life in general. I hope you had an amazing time, I hope that if you spoke to me I didn’t seem like a deer in headlights, and I hope you left with optimism and a Bernard bop stuck in your head.

(I don’t know about you, but for me it’s Goldilocks all the way.) 🎶🐻

Thank you again. Here’s to crossing paths again soon as Bernard begins his journey!! 💕

You thought it was JUST a screening?? Then you mus

You thought it was JUST a screening?? Then you must not know the New 32 girlies as well as you thought!! We are always down to put frosting on top of frosting on top of frosting…the sprinkles and cherries, of course!! 🍒

What else do we have to look forward to that evening?

🎟️ Bernard PRIZE raffle
🥳 Photoback drop, and event photography
👕 Limited edition merch
🎈 Balloon arch
🚌 The New 32 School bus
🎁 Keepsake Bernard passes
😭 Raven crying SO much
✨ AND 3x SPECIAL Announcements

So yeah. Safe to say the New 32 girlies are working hard to make sure that you have a good time at this screening. We will see you all soon!! 💕

FRIDAY, JULY 19th 2024
Limited tickets still available at Bernardgetsfamous@gmail.com

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