The Working Director

How do I get money for my own projects? I get asked that question more than any other. The problem is there's no rule book or guide that works 100 percent of the time. You could raise 700k for one, be a success financially, and still struggle to do the next. That's why we are going to bring you several interviews this year from filmmakers who have done it. We'll ask them how they did it and get some new tactics to try.

First up is filmmaker Alexandra Boylan. She's raised money for 8 feature films, and all have made their money back. How did she do it? We ask her in today's episode.

(Episode 35)

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

More on Alexandra:

Alexandra Boylan

Alexandra Boylan an award winning filmmaker was born and raised in Georgetown, Massachusetts, where she first began her exploration into acting, which led her to relocate to Los Angeles. Utilizing the skills obtained on dozens of movie sets and harnessing the passion that fuels her, she formed her own production company “The Boylan Sisters”. “Catching Faith” had a two year run on Netflix and was on the shelves of Wal-Mart, and is currently streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime. The sequel Catching Faith 2 released in 2019. Her film “Wish For Christmas” sold to Pure Flix Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Her script “Switched” was awarded the winner of the Kiaros Pro MovieGuide award for best screenplay, the film released Sept, 4th 2020 receiving rave reviews.

“The Greatest Inheritance” released in March of 2022. And her new teen girl film “Identity Crisis” which shot on location at Grand Canyon University will release in 2023.

She is an active member of Woman in Film Los Angeles. Where she served on the WIF PSA Board.

Website: https://theboylansisters.com/

Her films, including At Your Own Risk, are available on Tubi, Amazon Freevee, Roku Channel, and on store shelves.

Her book "Create Your own Career in Hollywood" on amazon.

What is script coverage and why is it so important? When should you even send your script for coverage? How do you build out character breakdowns or break out your script's story? We'll get into all that on this episode with writer Heather Ostrove.

(Episode 34)

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

More on Heather:

Screenwriter Heather Ostrove has written projects for numerous  production companies and studios, including Crypt TV, Netflix, and  Cre8tive Consortium. Specializing in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror.  Heather focuses on female protagonists who deal with real-life struggles  while facing out-of-this-world situations! Her scripts have received multiple 8s on the Black List and won/placed in the Austin Film  Festival, the Creative World Awards, and the PAGE Awards. Originally  from Silver Spring, Maryland, Heather moved to Los Angeles to earn her  MFA in filmmaking. After graduating, she gained experience in  post-production, coordinating and editing EPK packages and marketing  featurettes for feature films, including the Academy Award winning “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Anna Karenina,” and “Moonrise Kingdom.” As a writer at Breakdown Services, Heather read countless scripts and wrote detailed character breakdowns for the project’s Casting Director. With an innate understanding of structure, tone, and character, Heather  provides detailed and invaluable coverage services to both production  companies and writers!

Coverfly Profile

Website - Click here to hire Heather for Coverage

How do you shot list? How do you breakdown character arcs? How do you prep with your DP and department heads? Those questions and more will be answered on this episode with filmmaker Soma Helmi as we talk all things director prep!

(Episode 33)

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

More on Soma:

She worked frequently with Catherine Hardwicke as a creative consultant. Soma most recently consulted for Ms. Hardwicke on her feature Mafia Mamma (2022) for Bleecker Street and as a creative consultant on her Quibi Series Don’t Look Deeper. Soma’s work has screened at Sundance, Hollyshorts, Outfest and Amazon’s New Voices Film Festival among many others.

Soma began her career working as an Art Director for J. Walter Thompson in Jakarta, where her clients were Unilever and Pfizer. She would go on to direct commercial spots for Google, Klondike, Nike, Chevrolet, and Campbell’s.

She is a 2021 Paramount Viewfinder Directors Program fellow and was named one of the “8 directors to watch” by Alliance of Women Directors. Soma is on the 2021 CAPE List x Blacklist and created Blackmagic Collective’s Breakthrough Initiative for BIPOC TV writers and directors.

Instagram: @SomaHelmi

Website: somahelmi.com

How do you get your first feature film? How do you nurture relationships to get the first (and the second...and third...and fourth...)? How does social media come in to play for all of it? And so much more! Filmmaker Kristin Fairweather is fresh off her 5th feature and we are going to share how she got her films so you can start getting yours!

(Episode 32)

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

More on Kristin:

Kristin Fairweather is an award-winning, independent filmmaker whose experience in politics, advocacy, and women’s empowerment creates a unique lens for her critically-acclaimed work.

Kristin holds a Master’s degree in Politics from University of Pennsylvania and served as a senior campaign strategist and Gubernatorial appointee.  She is an avid supporter of the nationally recognized Girls on the Run program and other initiatives promoting equity and inclusivity. This background informs Kristin’s cinematic perspective as an accomplished director, writer, and producer of successful film, television, and commercial work.

Kristin is currently in development on a documentary feature “Breathing Underwater: America’s Invisible Women”, which was a finalist for the ScreenCraft Film Fellowship.  She has directed five features, most recently “Infamously in Love”, now playing on UPtv. In addition to her directing work, Kristin produced three critically-acclaimed independent films.

Kristin was selected by Sony Pictures as one of the first filmmakers in their Sony Alpha Female Creative Residency. She was also a shadowing director on Fox’s “911” during her fellowship in Ryan Murphy’s HALF directing program. Additionally, Kristin has directed several short films and high-profile commercials. Kristin's award-winning short film “Grace” premiered at HollyShorts and went on to play at film festivals across the country. Her work has been supported by Tribeca, Film Independent, IFP, Sony and Netflix Find Your Voice.

Overwhelm and burnout can make you quit things you love, have full mental breakdowns on those you love, and even make you literally sick. How can you avoid it and be more productive?

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

What is a music supervisor and how would working with one level up your film? How do you know a music supervisor would be helpful for your project? How do you know WHICH supervisor is right for your project?

We learn that and SO much more in this episode of The Working Director with music supervisor Jennifer Smith.

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

Petition to help Music Supervisors go union: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-amptp-to-recognize-music-supervisors-union/

Jennifer Smith is a Los Angeles-based music supervisor who has worked in the film / tv / media industry for over a decade. She started her career as part of the music teams for major network shows such as Dancing With The Stars (ABC), The Ellen Degeneres Show (WB), and America’s Best Dance Crew (MTV). Her love of music and the exploding media landscape guided her to join the Kobalt Music synchronization team to creatively pitch and clear music with networks, studios, music supervisors, production companies, and new media companies. Her time at Kobalt gave her extensive and broad experience in the synchronization world, dealing with all stakeholders in the creative and business process including record labels, songwriters, producers, musicians, managers, and marketing teams. After seven years at Kobalt, Jennifer went back to her first love of content and storytelling and joined the music team on ABC’s reboot of American Idol. After that show’s first season, she was inspired in 2018 to launch her own music supervision company, “Rat Dance Party.” Rat Dance Party specializes in Film, TV (scripted and non-scripted), and new media (especially podcasts). With Rat Dance Party Jennifer has worked on projects produced by Showtime, Netflix, Viacom, Shorts TV, Amazon, Pluto TV, NBC, Voltage Pictures, Indican Productions, and many more. She recently worked on Season 2 of “Why Women Kill” (CBS), MTV Cribs (Paramount+), Netflix’s “Deadly Illusions” and is currently working on the documentary “Proud In A Pandemic,” “Behind The Music”, “Hollow’s Bend: The Radio Play” and many other upcoming projects. Recently elected to the Board of the Guild of Music Supervisors (GMS), Jennifer is also a member of the Television Academy, Women In Film, Women In Media, Women In Music, and the Recording Academy. She is also one of the organizing members of the union efforts.

This is not our typical deep dive into the craft or biz of directing, but it just might help you be more successful in both! 

How can knowing about your birth chart and all that goes with it help your film career? How can you take a little more control in circumstances that you usually have little control? Open your mind and you might get something really cool from this episode.

Author and Coach Bonnie Gillespie tells us about her new company Chart Harmony and how it's been helping creatives like you thrive in Hollywood. We'll also dig into my chart a bit so I'm keeping on my promises about getting more personal in the podcast.

Hosted by Director/Producer Jenn Page.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

Check out everything Bonnie has to offer to help you succeed in this biz by visiting: bonniegillespie.com

Is it your dream to direct on an LED stage (like The Mandalorian)? 

How do you choose between LED wall and green screen? 

How do you know what to prep before you go to set? 

How do you decide the shots you can lose to save money on VFX later? 

What about using the tech for your driving scenes so you don’t have to take it to the streets? 

Can all of this help you shoot your low budget sci-fi or make it harder? 

Let’s talk VFX tech and what you need to know before you get to set. Filmmaker Marco Ragozzino shares his experience working in VFX and how you can make your film happen, even if you don’t have a big budget. More importantly, he’ll share what you need to know to be hired to direct these  VFX shows.

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

Marco  Ragozzino

His  interest in creating wild and whimsical worlds, in addition to needing a  regular paycheck, led him down the path of Visual Effects production.  He has produced visual effects for sequences in films and TV shows such  as Ready Player One, Men in Black: International, IT: Chapter 2, the  Mandalorian and the upcoming "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" (Warner /  DC) and Slumberland (Netflix). His filmmaking heroes include DIY  mavericks such as Roger Corman, Lloyd Kaufman, and George Lucas.

Links:

Website: marcovisionstudios.com

IG: @marcovisionstudios

How do you make a compelling series without any moving images?

To join our private FB group for directors, or to learn about The Working Director accelerator that helps emerging filmmakers become working directors faster, visit TheWorkingDirector.Pro.

She is a company member/Media director with the immersive theater company, The Speakeasy Society. With the company has performed in “The Johnny Cycle”, “The Johnny Cycle: The Living”, “Wild Party”, “Ebenezer: An Immersive Internet Spectacular 2021”.

Trained with a BFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Jenny is a SAG/AFTRA actress who has appeared in TV and film such as: Modern Family, Any Bullet Will Do opposite Bruce Davison, and Postpartum opposite Danielle Harris (taking home “Best Actress” from The International Horror Hotel Festival). Additionally, Jenny has worked behind the scenes in film, digital, music videos, commercials, animation, theater, and casting.

Website: Solarthepodcast.com/listen

Solar Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @solarthepodcast

Jenny Twitter/Instagram: @thejennycurtis

How do you ditch the horrible feeling of waiting for the phone to ring to be told you've been hired? The best way is to go get your own clients, create your own work, and start getting paid now. Director/Actor Stacy Singh shares how she's been getting clients for herself since she's been Los Angeles.