Hellbender Media

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #141

by scrappy Jun 26, 2023

Nobody likes a Chatty-Cathy

Storytelling and dialogue are not the same thing. If no one gets the story, it’s not because there isn’t enough dialogue — it’s because the story doesn’t make sense. In fact, if you think you might need more dialogue, you probably need less.

Development, Preproduction, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #131

by scrappy Jun 26, 2023

Your mom always loves your work.

It’s okay to run a script by a buddy or two, but don’t go overboard.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #127

by scrappy Feb 20, 2023

No one likes feeling dumb.

Never underestimate the audience — they are smarter than you think, and they will get the joke.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #103

by scrappy Oct 25, 2022

“…This one’s eating my popcorn!”

Punchlines work best at the end of the joke. This goes for a verbal punchline, a visual punchline, a story punchline, whatever. Set it up with the audience, let them build up a little interest in the Anticipation Bank, and then deliver the punchline.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #98

by scrappy Oct 6, 2021

Or buy a typewriter, ya pansy!

You don’t need fancy software to write a script — any word processor will do. The thing to remember is that no matter how much you spend on software and learning curve time, you’re basically producing a document that’s supposed to look like it came out of a 1920’s typewriter.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #79

by scrappy Jul 8, 2021

Bingo! A spiny pee fish!

Please don’t ever have a character say “We’ve got company” to announce the arrival of monsters, bad guys, or other undesirables. You can do better. Likewise, “Bingo!” should probably never be used outside of the actual bingo parlor context.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #72

by scrappy Jul 8, 2021

Don’t Blow It!

If you’ve got scene cards, but you haven’t written the script yet, please number the scene cards.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #63

by scrappy Jul 8, 2021

Not to be confused with “hobo glue,” which is something completely different.

The same technique that will help you write a script will help you complete a movie: bum glue.

AandM, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #58

by scrappy Jul 4, 2021

Win This One!

It’s that time of year. If you’re a screenwriter, you can do a lot worse than winning or even placing in the Nicholl Fellowship.

Production, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #47

by scrappy Jul 2, 2021

When’s the last time you read the script?

Your Script Supervisor is supposed to get in your face and interfere — their job is to make sure you aren’t screwing anything up. Listen to what’s being said.

Development, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #43

by scrappy Jul 2, 2021

After he destroys the Ring, of course.

You can’t just eject the warp core and hope a matter/antimatter explosion will produce a shock wave that let’s you surf out of the event horizon. That’s stupid. Find a more down-to-Earth solution to problems for your story.

Production, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #12

by scrappy Jun 28, 2021

Preparation is the antonym of frustration

Get the script to the actors as soon as possible. Give them time to learn their lines. If they ask about their characters, talk with them and make sure they have all the character notes from the writer. The more they know, the better their performance will be.

Development, Preproduction, Tip

Low-Budget Filmmaking Tip #4

by scrappy Jun 28, 2021

Sand makes for a terrible foundation

Make sure the story makes sense and the script makes sense before you start. Cause and effect should make sense. Motivations should be pretty clear. What happens at different times and places should be obvious. The script is the blueprint, and everybody uses it. Where it’s weak, everything else is weak.