Today my guest Leanna and I will be discussing how she and her team produce meaningful stories and take filmmakers’ scripts to the next level. This includes how to research your characters, bring them to life and edit fluff from your script.

Leanna is the founder and CEO of Billings Productions. Starting out as an actress, she became familiar with the business side of filmmaking. After earning her doctorate in clinical psychology, she understands the parallels of her academics and the film industry. The main missions for Billings Productions are to tell stories highlighting mental health and social injustices while moving away from how filmmakers present stories from a white narrative and to include diverse characters and topics.

• Remember: When selecting cast and crew, it's important to not overemphasize a resume to the point of overlooking attitude and ability to collaborate. In order to create a fun, close-knit and effective set, interview everyone for character traits to make sure they’re a great fit.
• Research: What scenes, details, plot lines, or conversations, within your script truly add to the story? What ones don’t? Continually ask yourself what each element contributes to the story arc as you write and edit, then take out or adjust anything that could be seen as filler content.
• Challenge: Starting with your main characters, document all of your characters’ personalities. This can be done through personality tests like the Myers-Briggs tests. Then keep track of their storyline and for each major decision or reaction, compare it for accuracy against the test. This will help you stay true to the character or intentionally make an out-of-character choice.

http://www.victoriaruke.com

To learn more about Leanna and her work: https://www.billingsproductionsinc.com/

Follow her on social media: @BillingsProductionsinc