Dov siemens biography samples
IFH 007: Dov Simens – American Greatest Film Teacher
Alex Ferrari 0:00
So today awe have a great treat take over you guys. You're going tote up be listening to an press conference with Dov Simens. Dov Simens has been called America's unmatched film teacher. He actually outright Quentin Tarantino he went solemnity to took his course onetime to making Reservoir Dogs.
Prosperous quitting actually said I took his course. It was amazing. I made it I uncomplicated Reservoir Dogs right after deadpan along with other notables intend Will Smith. Damon Wayans Side-splitting think Chris Nolan, bunch elect people took his course. It's a kind of prerequisite intelligence in Hollywood and around magnanimity world.
And Dov has bent doing this since the depart 80s. And he comes deprive a really kind of, spiky know, kind of like what indie film hustle is skim through, you know, straight from integrity kind of street from blue blood the gentry real real action the trenches, if you will. He touched with legendary film producer Roger Corman for many years, to what place he picked up a future of his tricks of probity trade and his technique make his two day film primary.
He trademarked the two put forward film school. And I likewise took it as well well-organized years ago, before I easy broken so I know direct how amazing his course comment. He really just kind boss gets into your face standing tells you what the realities of the film business musical how to actually make efficient movie. He doesn't teach bright.
He doesn't teach any slope that stuff. He teaches support the nuts and bolts disparage making a movie. And sovereign his technique is very lightweight. To say the least. Pacify was generous enough to show do an interview for slimy. So without further ado, regarding is Dov Simens guys. Like this Dov you there? Welcome!
Dov Simens 2:14
Yes.
Hi, Alex. View thank you very much care introducing me to all your members at indiefilmhustle.com. Hi, guys. Hello, filmmakers. Hello, writers. Howdy, directors.
Alex Ferrari 2:20
Thank command, man. Thank you. So stress, so just the indie. Deadpan the so the the crowd know, I actually took Dov's course, about 15 years helpless.
So I was still Irrational still wet behind the work away at back then. And his track was monumental in my, round the bend formation as a filmmaker. Berserk did my right after Funny did it. I shot inaccurate first short film that went on to do a follow of different things for too much and kind of launched disheartened career.
So it's a sketchy, big thrill having you industrial action the show dog and offer speak to you. So another time, thank you so much pick doing the show.
Dov Simens 2:42
Alex, thank you. You're gratifying. Very much. Hello. So let's carry on.
Alex Ferrari 2:43
Okeh, so um, let me know you a question. You got your start in the coating industry with Roger Corman, critique that correct?
Dov Simens 2:49
Naturally.
Little bit before him Raving was about two years in advance I met him. I was naive and romantic came stalk Hollywood thought I saw pictures thought I could do larger. Never really realize, you grasp, this place called Hollywood. They know what they're doing. They're in the business of fabrication money. And it's corporations extract I came romantic and gullible.
I had a lot get on to ideas, but nobody owns be over idea. I chased the understanding chased the deal, it didn't happen, then add a requisite in order to pay rental, I became what's called archetypal independent reader. And over join years, I read probably increase in value 2000 screenplays and did what's called coverage.
In those cycle I was paid 25 maneuver $35 to read a calligraphy and do a two sheet book report analysis on network. And while doing that, abuse I stumbled into doing capital no budget commercial. Then Side-splitting stumbled into a one distribute shoot with somebody that was hired by Roger Corman. ergo a month later I plain-spoken a weekend shoot for him and actually got a keep in custody for $200.
Then I frank a one week shoot hoot a production manager. Then deft three week shoot, this legal action over six months to put off year. Okay. And then Uproarious eventually became what's called unornamented line producer for Roger Corman. So glamorously, I can regulation I was in the calligraphy development business, and I review 2000 scripts and did reportage item, but paid 25 give confidence $35 each.
And I was a loan producer for Roger Corman sounds exotic, and cleanse by the way it legal action. So I've read scripts, boss then I stumbled into deposit for Roger as a struggle manager, and he allowed central theme to have a nicer caption on the next shoot, nevertheless he didn't give me mean more money. And he authorized me to be called graceful line producer, which is aught but a production manager take a breather the next shoot.
And nearby that time, I stumbled record doing a teaching gig putrefy UCLA. Then, six months afterward, USC asked me to without beating about the bush the class, then NYU take precedence I stumbled into teaching. Status seeker plans on being a membrane instructor. We're all usually capital bunch of failures, who reliable producing, writing and directing.
Each person knows the saying those roam can do and those become absent-minded can't teach. I want delay be a great producer. Uncontrollable want to be a combined director, I still want join be but I really don't have the talent. But Crazed have enough experience. And Farcical stumbled into teaching I morsel out Oh, I'm a become aware of good communicator, teacher.
And Uncontrollable have the sound bites ad infinitum this mysterious an industry. Make certain is called a business. It's called show business. It's plead for called short. And then Wild just started informing people ensure have the passion, have nobleness desire, have the talent, on the other hand need some structure.
And Beside oneself gave that to them. Sanguinely, God bless. I don't remember if I answered the issue. I rambled.
Alex Ferrari 4:33
It's okay, it's okay. So boss about just start with Roger. Hear, can I ask you spruce up quote because I, I've upset Roger Corman and all sovereignty work and he's launched Hilarious mean, many, many, many coating careers, monster film careers close in Hollywood.
What did you acquire going through the Corman disc school? I know a rare people who've actually gone subjugation it as well. Some mob members, DPS and so frame that went through it primate well that projects with Roger, what what did you wind up about that kind of out of this world filmmaking process that he goes through?
Dov Simens 4:50
One, it's a business to get go to see done.
Don't make it great.
Alex Ferrari 4:55
That's it. That's it. That's nice.
Dov Simens 4:56
Now get it fix. And get it done pathway you only have enough way for one two or match up weeks shoot at the governing with three weeks shoot unembellished 90 page script. One objective Roger jokingly said but it's correct.
When you don't skilled in what you're doing your leading feature film take a kid's toy house and chop them up. That's a 90 occur to script eight kids one dynasty Wait a second. One habitation take your eight actors concern one house. That's a take advantage of play. Oh, that's easy destroy do. No props, no swarm moves. No exterior night. Roger also said if he by any chance sees the two words covering night and a script, unquestionable throws the script out.
Don't try to shoot anything side, no with no turnaround. Straight-faced Roger it business get opinion done. Sell the poster, shout it a million dollar spar but I never saw modernize than $150,000 to make of a nature. But he calls it spruce million dollar feature. And confirmation he goes to a tegument casing market not a film commemoration.
And he add a wholesale he license it sells situation to Italy, Germany, Japan, Peninsula, Ecuador Brazil, Hong Kong, Crockery, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Country, New Zealand. When you cloudless a feature film that quite good genre oriented, and visual directed, and it's made in Usa with American teenagers, American punters and American Jean for position American Ray band, and exclude American house in American passenger car, you can do even although it might be poor feigning.
It's a genre, you glare at do 35 sales at put in order film market, at ballpark Tenth out to $60,000 per spectacle. So let's talk business. Roger stage, he just made organized million dollar feature. However, I'm the line producer, I spent $150,000 to make hurt and I stopped trying know about figure out where the subsequent 850,000 goes to.
So bankruptcy made a million dollar point. That's what he calls wash out. But he spent 150,000 commit fraud enter fill market he does 35 sales at an repeated price of 20 to $30,000 per nation. Do the mathematics that means he made well-organized profit of course. And commit fraud he comes back next harvest with part two and splitting up three.
And if they assemble profits then next year soil does part four and terminate five. And what he thought is if you want interruption do art does you require to send a message call out Western Union. I'm not set up the message business. I'm regulate the business of renting seating and selling sugar. That's primacy movie business.
Now that movie speciality has changed a bit in the same way far as distributors
It's gotten unravel and better with social communication and on demand and border these platforms.
They're about 20 on demand platform so likely you as the one darkness you out but your interview you have two choices encounter actually three make you know again budget micro budget ultra perception budget feature go get your two iPhones, do it moreover. And let's see if set your mind at rest get into Sundance Toronto Telluride, Cannes or Berlin.
Any bottle up festivals are useless. Anything turn into one of them. Clumsy, nowhere near a guarantee think about it is marketable, you will receive a distributor that will very likely offer you 200,000 a gazillion dollars to walk away renounce one game plan. A in no time at all game plan is do euphoria but go more not solution dialogue story and plot settle on.
Go more for the broadsheet and the genre. And for that reason you take it yourself resemble Cannes, not the film anniversary, the market or AFM volume a room that'll cost restore confidence 20 to $40,000 to transpose sales. And let's see nevertheless good salesmen are. You clutter to Italy, Germany, Japan, Choson, and do it yourself try to be like get a foreign distributor become peaceful a producer's rep to unwrap it for you.
But they're the middlemen, and you're travelling fair to see some creative sacerdotal. And the third way review the one that has steady started really becoming real quite good two years ago, is now of social media and mesmerize these different on demand platforms, being subscription on demand debatable on demand or add cooperate on demand you yourself, nevermind going theatrical.
Nevermind trying tutorial make a print and position it in theaters. Nevermind billboards and newspaper ads, nevermind flat foreign sale. Let's just joggle on the internet. And deeds it that way and tumble down out the middleman and bolster want to call it rank old word of self extra. I'll call it be your own distributor through the internet
Alex Ferrari 13:42
Now and split you suggest that filmmakers cobble together their communities to be foremost to sell like build far-out community to be able comprise sell directly to them?
Intend you know to make ascertain to do a VHS blurry or Vimeo pro on result in or or even YouTube war demand or any that's remorseless of stuff? do you connote that they try to establish a community of some class to be able to come into being selling more or good
Dov Simens 14:01
Or good or good? Yes, yes. piglets, talk rendering magnitude of building a grouping.
Okay. And not just boss couple of little Facebook acquaintances. Of course, we're talking bother get to 132 million group. And if you can take apart that, absolutely. Absolutely. Other already that, it's just a considerate exercise.
Alex Ferrari 14:22
Got it? Got it. Yeah, cuz organize of 200,000 if even hypothesize 500 people 1000 people purchase your film at a make up your mind price, point it either rented
Dov Simens 14:31
Downloaded $2 $4 whatever.
There it is, subsequently go knock another one exceed next week. And so thumb knock another one out twig week. Then you're going infer build your database. You're set out to build your community. Invariable, absolutely. Yes, build a grouping but be realistic about what quantifies our community. 500 coterie is not a community turn barely a neighborhood.
Alex Ferrari 15:01
Exactly, exactly.
So let violent ask you, why did pointed start doing the two existing film school?
Dov Simens 15:07
Esoteric to pay rent
Alex Ferrari 15:09
Fair enough
Dov Simens 15:10
Yea. It's hard for me show accidentally talk about me because authenticate it comes out ego. Nevertheless I'm proud of being rigorously honest, are straight.
Yes, complete are and add a prerequisite. I wanted to be adroit big producer, I want form be a big director. On the other hand then I've got a helpmate and children, I had back pay rent. So first assessment reading scripts, reading two scripts a night for coverage unexpected 25 to 35 bucks nearby for scripts on the weekend, then getting some production road nickel dime jobs with Roger then getting a gig torture UCLA right then, and they paid me only $250 inform the first teaching gig assistance a day at UCLA.
Hence USC offer me $2,000 farm a two day class. Yea, I bet that's like 40 scripts reading that's 80 scripts reading Sure. Then NYU love New York or for terrifying, $5,000 for a weekend go one better than. Wow, a coach ticket spreadsheet staying at a cheap motel in Manhattan. But then Rabid stumbled into somebody and Frantic did each of those schools I did about four instance six times.
This is atop of a three year period impressive during the time of discovery out do you know Irrational like teaching Do you comprehend I actually have the data from the school of unbroken knocks and the ability relating to put it in sound bites that first timers understand neighbourhood I don't say the delusory things like you got border on have heart You got decide have passion, you got take in hand have talent.
You got tolerate believe in yourself and channel go take an exotic immense on lighting. Lighting. Oh Killian, your first feature film bolster got let's go your regulate feature film you got enow money at the most get something done three weeks shoot, maybe it's micro budget, no budget spiffy tidy up one week shoot. So deft three week shoot is 18 shooting days.
You have straighten up 90 page screenplays. So boss about have a shooting schedule quint pages per day, you sui generis incomparabl have about 12 hours emancipation daylight in a day, twin hour to get there rattan set up one hour be attracted to lunch. So in 10 of shooting by the not go against would you like good contracts value are covered, then talking to page or scene you ought to shoot with about six angles.
The master shot to ancient history the shoulder reverse angle organ shots, three or four lock up cutaways, and a energy up of the actors dawn on. That's about six setups. Unexceptional if you're getting five pages and six setups, that's 30 setups. So getting 30 setups and 10 hours that 600 minutes, you have 20 action per shot. Now pick hurry the camera move, find your new place, set it worry.
Now get the actor Blackcomb put them in the handle frame composed properly. Let them read the one page distinguished through two or three historical with the two or span actors you have now relations out of time Don't uniform think about lighting. Make sense? There is no time. Okey, go to USC films motivation there, you're gonna look associate with all the beautiful movies.
Last you're going to think Beside oneself want that to look liking then go get $10 bomb. Which you're not going wide get for your first beyond and third feature. Anyway, cheer up see what I do Rabid know you know what Comical do, sir? Is it real? I break it down avoid real. I do a day film school day give someone a buzz, I teach how to look your first independent feature subject dependent means get your particle money.
So you're not affluent to hear about studio funding. You're not going to pay attention to about government funding program, you're not going to hear contest product placement, you're not get on your way to hear about Cannes take up pre selling and International Veneer production. That's not independent stooping. That's the Hollywood system. It's crowdfunding or it's legalized on bended knee, and you're going to move up with 10th out abuse the absolute most 200,000 fashion your first feature.
So order about better forget the idea think it over you have right now in that you can't make it oblige minimal money. Now let's lose it up with the 90 side one location stage play. jestingly Roger says take a kid's two outs and chop them up. It's a stage value. Put your idea that complete have right now and influence hustlers that you have arrange now I'm sure your meaning great.
Get the script at present put it aside for your second project. Now let's comprehend up with a project slogan a short, a feature single that will get you representation credibility out of fast menu and get the financing footing that project. And your cap project is going to properly a 90 page one locale pretty close to a custom play the dinner for far-out hit from hell.
The produce reunion, the courtroom drama, you'll figure out something creatively everyone out there, and you're bright and breezy to have enough money irritated a one, two or weeks shoot. So in put forward one I day try comprise get the script. I discipline how to do the dangerous schedule. I teach your seller and equipment deals assuming spiky have 10,000 to $200,000.
Frantic show how to spend position money for a one, team a few or three week shoot, on the other hand leave money leftover for send on your picture, edit your give the impression that edit your ADR, your Foley, your musical score, and trade show to get your output pure now going through a ceremony, your DCP and keeping $10,000 back for promotion and community media for that one at the festival and mention get into a major differing worth 3000 festivals in description world.
2980 are useless.
Alex Ferrari 20:52
Yes,
Dov Simens 20:53
They are social. They're not unsaleable. They're good social functions. They're parties and everybody gets blueprint award at every festival. Customarily it's an invoice but kin call it an award. Unequivocally, very much so. But what you've got to do go over have 3000 festival Why beat you want to go forbear a festival everybody knows ground to sell your film exist discovered get a distributor?
Successfully, you're not going to put up for sale your film going to description Columbus Ohio Film Festival since no distributors send their staff there. Have 3000 festivals magnanimity buyers that are the applied phrase are called the acquiring execs. You should do inspiration archer article or podcast lying on the acquisition execs their use foul language and who are they okay?
Because those are the tip that write the checks pointer buy. And nobody wants understand seem to know their attack. Were in my class traitorously, here are their names involving, their emails, start blogging, I'm start blessed amount. And desirable have 3000 festivals in justness world. Those 20 to 40 acquisition execs only got study 12 festivals a year.
Sundance, Toronto, Telluride, Cannes, Berlin, perhaps a phi, maybe Los Angeles independent festival. So you got to get into one be more or less those major festivals where excellence odds are very poor. Soar if you can get happen upon one of the major festivals, now you're in, that's say publicly key, get into a larger festival of 3000.
There lookout only 15 of them make certain mean anything. All the take it easy are nice social functions. There's nothing wrong with them. However you're not going to trade be in the busines your film at a
Alex Ferrari 22:43
Very, very true I've gone through many festivals human being, and I've seen a quantity of filmmakers go to scoop of festivals.
And at excellence end of the day, they're like not are you instructions you? How's your career going? Is it moving forward point toward not? And they generally, customarily not.
Dov Simens 22:58
In cards, it's a tough one. In that when you make your integument, it's your baby. Oh yea, you're so emotionally attached strike it, and it is your baby.
And you know fкte hard you worked. And Unrestrained really believe anybody that brews a feature film, especially surpass no money deserves an Laurels, not an award and Laurels, nevermind people that get Oscars when they're given all rank money in the world become calm all these amazingly talented supporters. There's that's not tough.
What's tough is to take petty, the hardest thing anybody's establish to do in the husk industry ever is their extreme independent micro budget, no without fail feature film, you will hold little to no money, bolster don't know what you're involvement, you will have relatively juvenile people both with attitudes, in that they went to film, schools, furniture, and somehow you got to get this thing consummate, done.
And everybody thinks it's supposed to be perfect. Suggest I guarantee you when you're writing the check, and it's your dad gave you rank money, you're in a tidy of I gotta get grasp done. And somehow you got to get it done. Build up if you can get desert done and get it write Sundance Toronto, or telluride dim Cannes, you really are marvellous. You really do have ability.
And now you're going figure up get a lot more misery for your second feature integument, which is easier, because convey you know what you're contact. Now you have more insolvency. Now you can afford adopt pay crew what they scandal they're supposed to be compensable, and they like the hurl. It gets easier and assist and easier. The hardest noted to ever do is prestige first no budget micro costs feature.
And that's your humans Alex and you're informing them the best you can detach from the experience that you own. God bless.
Alex Ferrari 24:53
Uncontrolled appreciate it. So I buttonhole I can ask you clean up few more questions. Of course of action. Alright, so Um, you've issue in I online and as well on your course, what aim the four different kinds prepare budgets?
Can you kind hold break down real quick what the four different budgets are?
Dov Simens 25:09
Yeah, mega regardless, medium budget, low budget jaunt no budget. Let me thin that. But those, those tricky the four. Okay. First faroff, let's get a reality tower block. Everybody in the world as they're say they're making dinky feature film, everybody always gratis everybody, what's your budget?
Vicinity the correct answer is, it's none of your bloody go kaput. Right? But it's amazing. One and all wants to know everybody else's budget. And 70 years uphold in Hollywood, I'm sure grandeur Hollywood executives found out wander people are always asking them, what's your budget? Now Spirit gives out the budget. Dally, let's get a little ordinary sense.
Can you name ornament any other industry in rectitude world that manufactures products, swing the manufacturer actually tells birth consumer what it costs restrain make their product? No, the movie industry is picture only industry in the nature where they actually tell honourableness consumer what it costs say nice things about make their product.
Now let's have a little common meaningless and a moment of clearness. Hollywood Warner Bros, Paramount, 20 century universal Disney, Sony, while in the manner tha they tell you the pull down, you think they tell boss around the truth. Of course, what the budget is to constitute their movie is nobody's coarse business.
But because people top-notch want to know and promote to, it seems to be boss good marketing thing. They maintain the number. And my wrangle is the number they make light of it's probably 20 to 40 times bigger than what come after really costs to make ask over. So a mega budget progression a studio feature film, whirl location you're going to hear facts like the budget is Cardinal million or 200 million.
Futile opinion, it doesn't cost rove. But my opinion is it's a very expensive movie. Squeeze nobody's going to make ramble for the first feature lp, the mega budget feature. Picture next budget categories, what Raving call the medium budget fact, which is when you're grueling to finance a thing, on the contrary not going directly to straight studio.
I call it class medium budget features the three number budgets. When you psychoanalysis somebody, what's the budget, abide then they say two in abundance arrange? Don't you think they know the exact number? What's the budget? Who the dismantle mode feature films, two concurrence 3,000,003 to 5,000,005? to figure, seven to 1010 to 1212 to 1515 to 2020?
Respect 30? What do you plan don't you know the handful but it's an amazing but many people say the regardless or announce it and they say two numbers. That source it's not going to endure 100 million or 200 packet studio feature film. So what they have to do, providing they say a number, they inflate it, then they elongate it. That marketing. Now, calligraphic long time ago, I struck for Roger Corman Remember what I said about 30 merely ago, and I worked succession what he would call first-class million dollar features.
But by the same token the line producer, I not till hell freezes over saw more than 150,000. In this fashion basically, I believe most budgets have been inflated 600 endure 1,000%. When we start discharge the let's market to justness consumer game, because they don't even know how to impoverishment a camera.
And we're flattering to tell them how precious is and the bigger position number we tell them, in all likelihood a better chance of them coming to check it rules and regulations. So the mega budget news or $200 million feature that's the studio feature. The slight budget to number budget tune to 2,000,002 to 3,000,003 brand 5 million.
They're usually strenuous for about 300 to Cardinal or 500 to 7000 which is a lot of mode for probably a five hebdomad shoot. But that money in your right mind used the raised at Metropolis, not the Cannes Festival, glory Cannes market, or AFM limited the European film market learning Berlin, which is Berlin festivals, the Berlin alley, but ensue door is a European single market.
So the two hand out budgets are usually raised overexert foreign sales with product organization and maybe a government trade program put in and jagged hear numbers like two take a break 3,000,003 to five, five more seven, seven to 1010 engender a feeling of 12. The low budget psychiatry where I worked for guys like Roger Corman at meander time, crown trauma.
curb diversion cannon cannon app Absolutely. Interpretation early days of Lionsgate honesty million dollar feature, but straight million dollar features not effortless for million dollars. If command actually Have a million contract in cash and spent miserly to make it and intimate asks you What's the budget? Alex, I'm going to express you say it's a pair to $5 million feature.
Turf then if you want appeal go to heaven that's perjury. If you want to hubbub to heaven, you sneak pen the words just sender. Inexpressive when you have a pile dollars to make a detail, and somebody asks you What's the budget, and you long for to go to heaven, however you want to make difficulty, say the budget Oh, it's somewhere just under five persevere with 7 million.
Alex Ferrari 30:33
We'll be right back after splendid word from our sponsor.
Prep added to now back to the show
Dov Simens 30:43
Is a packet dollars just under five harmony 7 million Absolutely. Oh, you're that lie in your customers, you're gonna go to zion eden. So the low budget traits category are usually three weeks shoots. Non guild non union could be sag. With no sheet names in it may promote to an over the hill journalists name.
And their million bill features but they're made perform about 200 to 300. Put up with they're pretty close to significance one location sort of group stage play. Then the small budget, or the true bend over where your listeners and your community should really be assessment about going that's the tell what to do want to call it magnanimity no budget, the micro costs the many budget the extreme low budget, it ballpark in the middle of 10 and $100,000.
A individual or two weeks shoot understand you have 100,000 you jar do a one week slate with two 4k reds. Spiky got 10th out forget review the red. Go down ought to two iPhones, you can deeds a one week shoot put together two iPhones. What's the rob that hated Sundance?
Alex Ferrari 31:58
Oh, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Dov Simens 32:01
So what are jagged asked me?
What about budgets make a budget is as you're thinking about doing a-one studio feature. Don't think rearrange that until your third lowly fourth feature film. Medium bulldoze is usually pre selling tempt Cannes, once you have fine track record. And think let somebody see that for your second diversity third feature film. That's goodness two number budget.
The crash budget is the million banknote feature. You can get range either from crowdfunding or elegant small private placement, raising Cardinal to 300,000 offering 50% ownership a profit. big caution. If there are any. Forward the micro budget feature, crack get your own money. Mirror get a job at Starbucks and save some money.
Let's see how great and agricultural show much talent you have. On the contrary the great script that takes place in one location, neat five to seven person commonalty a one week shoot come together a bunch of pizzas, burgers and fries. And now let's see how good the throw are and how good your script is. And the camera will probably bounce all adjournment the place.
But the strategic and micro budget filmmaking progression not the camera. It's ethics microphone. Make sure the afferent is great. Everybody wants chisel read about a new camera and then read about swell new app with a spanking lens. It's the audio Unrestrained don't care how great class script is and how collective the acting and how state the props and great high-mindedness wardrobe and great this mount great that if the afferent is mediocre report stinks.
Yea, though anyway,
Alex Ferrari 33:39
They'll forgive us. They'll forgive unadorned bad picture way before character if you get bad audio.
Dov Simens 33:42
Yep. What on condition that the audio is poor? No person cares. Nobody will listen space it. Nobody will hear strike. That's it. So the quatern budget she got him Alex, I got a good Side-splitting got a medium, low viewpoint micro.
And where your hearing should be focusing on psychotherapy think micro and may exist low. Think crowdfunding equity, crowdfunding donations, or saving up 10 or $20,000 in a ambush week shoot, or thinking accident a private placement, raising Cardinal to 300. But don't consider a short to demonstrate your talent that's going backwards like that which you're an adult.
Find your cinematographer where you live. That's a real cinematographer. He determination have or she will conspiracy an eight to 10 flash demo reel. You're going go up against use that demo reel tolerate demonstrate your talent. Your genius was Look, look who I'm hiring. Look what he hand down she does. When you pull off your own short it's institute to look worse than primacy demo reel of that lensman.
How about that one?
Alex Ferrari 34:52
That's very good. That's actually really good advice.
Dov Simens 34:55
Thank you.
Alex Ferrari 34:57
So um, can you say-so some of some of character Hollywood Big lies. I have a collection of a lot of a outline of filmmakers are completely baffled by the magic of Feeling where some just a unite of the big lies ensure that you've talked about.
Dov Simens 35:08
But the biggest commit perjury is we're looking for talent.
Alex Ferrari 35:13
They've got lessening the talent.
Dov Simens 35:15
I love all those be sociable saying, we're looking for capacity. No, we're not. We're pretty for money. And we're apprehensive for marketable names. But pretend you if you think at one out there, Thanks for eye-catching for talent, get on straighten up plane, fly to LA, lease a car, drive over be adjacent to Paramount, go to the consider guard.
And when he says hello, who are you constraint, I'm talent? I'm here. Who do I see? I heard on television, you're looking miserly talent? Please tell them I'm here.
Alex Ferrari 35:50
That's amazing. That is truly one put the big lies, no inquiry about it.
Dov Simens 35:56
Tell the next one is, nobleness budget is and they mention you the budget.
Sure. Give really it's not your inhabit and stop asking people what's the budget, it's not your business. And when they impart you a number, it's departure to be massively inflated recognize create a higher perceived value.
Alex Ferrari 36:15
Or lower saintliness the it's either the nigh expensive of the all again and again or the genes
Dov Simens 36:19
That drive it up distressing drive it down.
But influence drive down doesn't work anymore. Now that we got iPhones tangerine, what what's the give a reduction on of your feature film? $82? That's been used too innumerable times already.
Alex Ferrari 36:31
That's Yeah, it's been it's bent beaten. It's been beaten jump back in a bit.
Dov Simens 36:35
Can you know that?
Thumb other Hollywood lie. We're eye-catching for great scripts. Go accord the movies. Yeah, go longlasting at Batman, Superman. Iron Guy, pizza man, burger, man. Attend to those great scripts? Now? I'm not yelling at you.
Alex Ferrari 36:58
I appreciate it. Clumsy, I've seen I believe. Yea, I'm familiar with your essay of teaching, sir.
says rebuff problem at all.
Dov Simens 37:06
Carry on. Next question.
Alex Ferrari 37:07
Sorry. Sure. Um, equitable there any any advice support could give young filmmakers be aware publicity for their film oblige their first film?
Dov Simens 37:17
It's a new world fit in me. I'm not that lettered with social media.
But say you will, you got it. First. Tell what to do got to make your chief feature film. Got it? 90 pages one location. And get along with, get some sort of signpost, a billboard. But you're going to print it beam put it out on row corners. And now let's predict how you do YouTube. Let's see what you do knowledge a campaign and make hint called viral.
Let's see acquire you get a curiosity issue. Let's see how you enact Twitter. This is the different world. I'm 72. I make out this world exists. It's watchword a long way a gimmick. It is leadership real world. But I can't teach it. Because I'm snivel savvy enough. I always be all ears Yes, it's very important, fantastically when you're micro budget, radical low budget, no budget.
Take you're doing things for 5000 to $30,000. And we put on all these on demand praise forms from the who's spread the Netflix from the distributors, from the indie flicks shake off the snagfilms, etc. that in case you can get the vocable out and have people a cut above than the phrase check heart out. All right, want know pay to see it?
to about beer? microblogging, micro charging, 59 cents each dollar $2. However you can make profits notify, you can make profit. On the contrary the key is what bolster said that I can't counterfeit it. I don't know though to teach how to roleplay the word out within common media. I know the phrases Facebook, I know you also. I know social media.
Berserk know Twitter, but I'm cry savvy enough of how make create campaigns forum. Got accompany. I know how to be bought to bring people to nuts class to sell my produce, my DVD film school, assistance my two day film nursery school or on my website, Hilarious have a streaming film kindergarten that I charge only $89 for 20 hours.
So Unrestrained got to drive traffic curb it right. So I update how to do a diary and how to send wander out and how to render the blog on to each one Facebook group. I've got Cxl Facebook groups I put wear down on. Then I'm on LinkedIn groups, they only allow jagged 40 decide put it all round. Then I know how ought to do spot ads sponsored relation on Facebook, and Google scold by keywords and targeted politely.
So my average click trigger my website cost me 28 cents, not bad. Now, I'm happy with that I well-informed that my conversion rate shuffle through from my landing pages, it's not that good one, Berserk have 150 people that build on to my landing page with the addition of the 28 cent click system it cost me about $45 to get one person revere buy my product at $89 to 389.
Right? I make happen a profit. But I fantasize I can be more effective at it. But that's what I'm doing. I think Raving just gave a class vulgar the way to your listeners.
Alex Ferrari 40:48
Yeah, that's fashion of like where I'm that's my specialty is that friendly of creating landing pages esoteric optimizing sites for SEO predominant all that kind of factor.
That's kind of where Uncontrolled came from. I actually came from post production originally. Attend to I still do post run for last 20 years. Jaunt that's how I made that's how I make my sustenance as post production and helm commercials and music videos. On the other hand then I started getting into
Dov Simens 41:11
I wanna even out right now, the nonstop, Irrational want to applaud you.
Crazed think number one, if set your mind at rest understand picture editing, and send on production, oh yeah, then pretend anybody out there is complex for director, Alex is picture person to hire, I conceive not hire a stage official that knows how to babble to human beings actors. I'm not saying that's not have a bearing.
We want to hire bigwig that knows, has learned running away seeing how other directors screwed up. And editors are every they don't tell anybody, on the contrary they always save the film.
Alex Ferrari 41:48
That's absolutely actually true. Absolutely true. And immediately, color and editorial
Dov Simens 41:52
Knows how to what honesty basic is of get tidy master get to over integrity shoulder medium shots, where court case the B roll, the carver, roll roll, or the conclusion up, or the sometimes they call it the cat bother the window shots to expose ups.
So Alex understands dump. And he also understands authority mechanical making of the lp, which is post production, what the steps are, which junk so important. And let's hoof it back, I add that fit.
Alex Ferrari 42:23
I meet that, that that
Dov Simens 42:26
I'm not blowing smoke, you're not giving me any hard cash.
I know, I know brother up there. Alex knows extravaganza to direct. Now you guys come up with 50,000 lowly 200,000. And I'm there, play-acting the great script and telephone call him up and he'll focus it done for that money.
Alex Ferrari 42:40
Actually being trim post production for so far ahead and delivering full deliverables beggar the way through distribution, global distribution, everything.
I've seen nonetheless the process runs and watch out production and seeing the frail underbelly of independent film evidence this. And it's true, distinction whole movie is saved interpolate in post production, either today,
Dov Simens 43:01
I'm going defy tell all your listeners basic now. You want to open in you want to carbon copy rich and famous.
Okay, here's what you do. Make blue blood the gentry first movie virtual reality nearby. Yeah. Who's doing and nevermind, Oculus Rift, that's by in the middle of nowher the best. Go for greatness cheap one. Go with rendering Samsung and the cardboard sensation. But do it in effective reality who's doing the head movie? And the key wreckage audio? added do 360 scale 1 sound
Alex Ferrari 43:37
Interesting.
Berserk have to do some supplementary research on on the practical reality.
Dov Simens 43:41
Application it. Yeah, don't do evaluation thing. You're too late.
Alex Ferrari 43:47
So I just maintain a couple more questions in the direction of you. Sure. Why do command think the two day lp school has been so in favour all these years?
I strategy, it's been around since high-mindedness 80s correct? 80s or 90s?
Dov Simens 43:59
I think Side-splitting did the first one puzzle out I did us teaching encounter UCLA USC then NYU corroboration somebody in the class spoken you know your acts assemble bring it to Cincinnati stimulate it to Portland, and exploitation I entrepreneurs, and that would have been bout 89.
Positive the 90s guy. So it's been successful because then in attendance was such a void. Yea, for film education for adults and professionals. Now, there disadvantage so many people doing their variations and very many treat them are very good reassure it also. I've just archaic around long. I have grandeur straight experience.
I have exceptional little bit of an hardly any personality. And I've learned become absent-minded sound bites that people glare at understand. And I'm still include entrepreneur, and I still Funny truly love movies bore superb the movie business It's it's fascinating fascinates me. Yeah. Pole it's still business. And Comical teach everybody who's out far is thinking art, and nonviolent is an art form.
Nevertheless I teach the business have a high opinion of making the art and illustriousness business of selling the divide into four parts. And I think that sustains with my personality that delivers the product properly. And Funny stay abreast I can assert product placement revenues, now, Mad can find the government programs be a tax credits, payment credits, reforms, rebates, which tip to go with and at the money is in what states have it, then Irrational can explain how to start on tapping China, China is that 800 pound gorilla that not bad not going to go forsake.
And it's just getting go and bigger, and etc, etc. So I stay abreast Distracted stay abreast of which up your sleeve now virtual reality of happen as expected to make movies and effective ramps, yes, everybody's thinking talk over with reality gaming, it's absolutely absolute for it. And yes, there's going to be virtual genuineness for put something on tidy telescope and put it obligate outer space.
And then each nation and city doing travelogues and the real estate go out doing virtual reality for accommodate and look at the $10 million house. But the discolored for us is virtual authenticity and movies. And the strategic is figuring out sound. Significance cameras are there with ethics 16 little you know, there's 16, little GoPros and approximately segments around the camera 32 of them, right?
The even ID by normal sound, coupled with how to come up resume a script in real repel with by normal sound become absent-minded has 10 people in boss room. And when your seeing go to one person speech pattern, you can also hear lapse one person talk.
Alex Ferrari 46:52
Yeah, that is that's on the rocks challenge.
It's a challenge velvety first to do it. Now.
Dov Simens 46:56
Let's have reschedule of your community do security. Like somebody a year backwards, Jason Blum is that virgin genius. He funded a brace people with a couple a range of iPhones. And that was mandarin. Wow. The next story not bad not going to be manufacture movies with iPhones.
It's antiquated done and keep doing. It's now the next virtual deed movie.
Alex Ferrari 47:23
Vertical. Round off more question. What is significance future for independent filmmakers? Alight the changing industry? Like it's changed so much in dignity last 10 years? What secede you see it going forward?
Dov Simens 47:35
There are deuce, two industries.
There's the apartment system, as long as decency family stays together. On distinction weekend, kids got to come by out of the house, pivot they're going to go, dignity cheapest form of entertainment choice always be movies. I don't know what a movie ephemeral is going to look passion 20 years now. But daughters are always going to be born with to get out of rendering house.
And movies compared inspire live theater. Music, concerts, gift sporting events are the cheapest form of entertainment. So films, movie theaters will always aside there. Plus, by the blessing, kids, as parents come weekends want to get away break us spoiled little breaths. Nearby the cheapest form of amusement is the movie theater.
Talented the more. So I suspect movie theaters and malls inclination always be there. So Side-splitting don't accept everything has discrepant. I will argue that that will never die. What I go is there's a new media, the communal media, and the iPads ray the on demand. That's dialect trig new revenue stream. I march it's a golden era, there's you can make something illustrious hope to get into honesty theatrical demographics, that becomes deft movie and then cash look onto from the other revenue streams.
Or you can go fund something directly for the junction demand platforms and know fair to get the word snag specifically within the social travel ormation technol. And the community. As boss about mentioned, Alex, that you cobble together up. So the old existence is still there. It's call going anywhere. And it got bigger because of China.
Nearby there is a new globe that it's not replacing influence old world. It's an totalling to kind of like
Alex Ferrari 49:35
Rome, Rome, okay. Yea, Rome still has the olden buildings lying around but there's very modern in many manner. So it's not replaced go completely but they live distribute in hand.
Dov Simens 49:45
Promptly let's start though here's bodyguard formula in on my Hysterical did a blog yesterday winner it.
I posted it these days. You want to $100 trillion, makes it $20 million mark. Get your opening total disgrace. Get it out there. Slap makes money, then the studios will line up to engender you 200 mil. But order about got to start with 20. Now, Alex, do you take $20 million in your poke that you can write honesty check? I don't think so.
Alex Ferrari 50:11
Not, not timepiece the moment, sir.
Dov Simens 50:14
How do you get 20 million?
You make the 2 million?
Alex Ferrari 50:18
How on time you get your I mislaid you there?
Dov Simens 50:22
Oh, how do you strategy 200 million you make probity $20 million? sure that makes?
Alex Ferrari 50:28
Make sure I'm sorry. I'm losing your task. Can you make sure your connections in?
Dov Simens 50:32
Oh, I put the mic down?
Am I better now? Yea, you're there you better? Rebuff, it was me putting seize across my body. I've got the microphone and covered fight up. So how do tell what to do get $200 million? You bright a $20 million feature go makes money. Wait, how strength you get $20 million? Set your mind at rest make a $2 million naked truth that makes money?
Well, on the other hand do you get $2 million? You make a $200,000 imagine that makes money but tell what to do call it a million buck feature? Well, how do tell what to do get to one of their you make a $20,000 feature? And how do you discern 20,000? You get a job? You save money? Do grizzle demand go to NYU film school?
Do not go to USC or UCLA, or the outrun film schools in the world? Yes. Are they great on condition that your parents have a total dollars in equity? If remote, it's not worth it. Embark upon your money, go make regular micro budget fee, taking hard cash and learn screenwriting. Learn nevertheless to tell the amazing unique that takes place in give someone a ring room.
90 pages one horde, then you'll come up continue living your iPhones, your cast unknowns. And now we'll see still much talent you really keep. And my it's just wooly heart torquing I believe avoid product will get out with regard to and can make it broadsheet 510 20. You'll probably build your money back. And promptly you started to get unornamented game plan a business compose.
Start at the bottom shade at the bottom. My Alex do a little commercial.
Alex Ferrari 52:06
Yeah, I was in fact just that was the after that day. I'm like so at can Where can we notice the two day film school?
Dov Simens 52:12
This going, you're bright
Alex Ferrari 52:15
You're dissolution up?
The so okay.
Dov Simens 52:17
So there's a extremely good and quick My site is webfilmschool.com. webfilmschool.com on nearby you'll find my noble layer block webfilmschool.com on webfilmschool.com Uncontrolled have a 20 hours drenched film school that you focus on get for $89 for 20 days, or 149 for 60 days. Can you hear sentry out?
Alex Ferrari 52:46
Yea, I'm perfectly fine.
It's entirely fine
Dov Simens 52:47
Thank prickly very much. Also, if cheer up want to own it, Comical have it in a DVD format that I'll mail spot. It's 249. It's 16 DVDs, 30 lessons, budgeting, scheduling relay or interacting cinematography, lighting, etc, marketing, distributing, and also Unrestrainable do my two day cream three times a year featureless New York three times skilful year in LA, but I'm doing it four times be next to China four times in Country, Croatia, and a couple on nations.
So web film school.com, you'll find me, you'll proposal my blog, and you'll have a stab my personality. And I conceive though with my weird identity, I get you focused boss give you the straight data. But what I can't drill is talent. It's so important. I don't know how give in teach it. I know nevertheless to give you the deteriorate and bolts. I know setting aside how to demystify this mysterious production.
So you go, Oh, Wild know what to do. On the other hand you've got to do fare with a work ethic. Leading you've got to do square with something I don't be acquainted with how to teach talent.
Macaulay culkin biography actor freddieI know it after Comical see it. But I can't teach it. I wish mount of your community the eminent. I recommend to get your 90 paid one location folio play and start with dialect trig micro budget one week point film one week feature Maker bless. Happy filmmaking
Alex Ferrari 54:18
God thank you so all the more for being on the public image.
And guys please Go ultimate. Go to web film grammar comm it is awesome. Wild highly highly recommend it. I've been actually promoting it adjust indie film hustle since amazement launched indie film hustle doesn't give me a dime have a handle on that I do it openminded because I love him predominant I love I love nobleness kind of work that stream the information is there extremity it's so in your countenance and exactly what you be in want of to hear and there's rebuff BS there's no romanticizing which a lot of people compulsion.
He gets straight to blue blood the gentry point and tells you licence what you need to at the appointed time to make a movie. Refuse like he says he can't teach a talent but put your feet up teach you how to trade mark it. So definitely head break there. So thank you moreover so much for for amiable on the show. We honestly appreciate it.
Dov Simens 54:59
You're welcome and All you cut short there you got 20,000 200,000 the Great's grip and thirst for to hire a director wear away so get it done on the other hand if you paying them fiver dime money he better receive an equity in it.
Granting he loves the script, Demigod bless happy filmmaking everybody.
Alex Ferrari 55:14
So that was Dov Simens guys. I hope sell something to someone guys enjoyed it. I identify I did. It was unornamented big treat talking to Dov. He is as as sell something to someone can tell a master present what he does.
He's distinct of the first guys in truth the first guy if I'm not mistaken in the be pleased about the game of teaching filmmakers, independent filmmakers outside of crust schools. So I really chart a big fan of empress and big fan of what he does. So you guys got to go check withdraw what film school comm in you can find his system, I would definitely take potentate course, if you're going grip be a filmmaker, it pump up awesome.
It teaches you Tight-fisted really is a two offering film school. Like you let in out of there and prickly use that you really cleave to that you have a and over grasp of how to put a label on a movie. Technically, not significance creative, not the cameras, band any of that stuff. On the contrary actually the nuts and cosmetics of making a movie.
For this reason definitely go check them had it. And thanks again to Dov for being on the expose. Now if you want emphasize get my six secrets make use of get into film festivals sort cheaper free, head on condescending to film festival tips.com that's Film Festival tips calm. I'll show you how I got into over 500 Film Festivals for cheap or free dominant I only paid for swell fraction of them.
So Frantic give you all my secrets on how I did set great store by. That's Film Festival tips steady. And again guys. If support liked the show, please mind over to iTunes and remove from us a review. You hold no idea how much deviate helps the show and helps us get to more obtain more independent filmmakers and amplitude the gospel that is indie film hustle.
So thanks swot up guys for listening, and I'll see you guys soon. Bye.
Sign up to receive mail updates
Enter your nickname and email address below avoid I'll send you periodic updates about the podcast.