How To Produce Movies
By Leslie
Talking about making movies and the challenges (and fun) of being in the entertainment industry.
How To Produce MoviesMar 29, 2021
00:00
27:28
Eps 31: Entertainment Careers, Stuck Energy and Synchronicity
After a 2 week hiatus, we return to discuss the connection between career and synchronicity, as recent learnings have had unexpected repercussions that seem oddly aligned in their timing.
Mar 29, 202127:28
3/15/21 ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
I am doing technical work on HowToProduceMovies.com and will not be putting out a show this week (and maybe next week depending on how things go with the tech stuff). Be back soon!
Mar 15, 202100:52
Eps 30: 6 Tips That Will Improve Your Documentary Filmmaking
In this episode I talk about The Civil War documentary series by Ken Burns and break it down to show 6 ways to improve your documentary filmmaking so that the material you are presenting is clear to the audience and keeps them enthralled by your movie.
Mar 08, 202129:42
Eps 29: Best Android Movie Editor Like iMovie
Today I talk about my favorite Android Movie Editor like iMovie which I have been using since 2014. Even if you only need a video editing app for YouTube, you will find that this Android app will offer you a lot of features that will make your videos look gorgeous, even with the free version. There is a Premium version with some pretty awesome perks, too.
Mar 01, 202117:27
Eps 28: Simple Sketch Comedy Shooting Techniques From The Ben Stiller Show
I recently watched a sketch from The Ben Stiller Show to post with a previous podcast and got drawn into watching the whole brilliant single (award winning) season of The Ben Stiller Show. After I got through most of it I realized how many sketches could have been shot today, even under the restrictions of the pandemic, and decided to share that awareness on this podcast episode with the intention of helping fellow filmmakers get creative with how to shoot the movie ideas they are having right now, even if they think they do not have access to the locations they need.
Feb 22, 202111:27
Eps 27: Managing Cash Flow Highs And Lows As A Freelance Filmmaker
There is an ebb and flow to money that comes in as a freelancer or gig workers and it really can be challenging deciding when to purchase thing that are needed for business or for life and how to manage the money coming in. In this episode we discuss some techniques to manage the erratic income and outflow of money as a freelance filmmaker.
Feb 15, 202134:33
Eps 26: 7 Reasons Why You Need A Good Tripod
TRIPOD DRAMA! Today's podcast discusses the importance of having a good Tripod and the drama that can ensue when your tripod fails at the wrong time, as it did one time when Leslie was shooting footage for a client. Born out of that experience was the strong realization of why some key pieces of film and video equipment (like tripods) should be a top priority for filmmakers and videographers, and she shares 7 of those revelations on this podcast.
Feb 08, 202155:41
Eps 25: 2 Ways to Generate Ideas For Your Next Screenplay
During the pandemic and all of this home time, it makes sense to shift focus to screenwriting. In this episode, we will talk about generating ideas and expanding creative thinking and creative writing while staying home.
Feb 01, 202126:26
Eps 24: Risk vs. Career Opportunity - Should You Leap Right Now?
Sometimes opportunities come at the wrong time. Have you been offered a great opportunity during the pandemic? Did you take it? Was it worth it? Today's podcast it a discussion about whether it is worth it to move forward with opportunities if they put your health at risk.
Jan 25, 202119:24
Eps. 23: Who is Your Favorite Actor and Why?
Sometimes we are drawn to certain actors and we cannot explain why. In this podcast, I answer a question that I received from one of my students. She was asked, "Who is your favorite actor is and why?" and she she was required to answer from an academic point of view. She found that question challenging to answer in an analytical way, so I decided it would make a good topic for this episode (because it often is a difficult question to answer in an analytical way).
Jan 19, 202122:26
Eps 22: Documentary Filmmaking and Media Theory
Inspired by a paper I recently read about media and communication theory, this podcast explores the power of story, perspective motivation, and ideas on how to consume and present media and documentary movies ethically in the modern age. LINK TO PAPER: bit.ly/3oLNDrm
Jan 11, 202116:49
Eps 21: Planning for Success in 2021
The dynamics of 2020 made planning 2021 in a traditional way a little challenging. In this podcast Leslie discusses those challenges in my own process to help you with your own planning, and the value of habits in relation to long term goals.
Jan 04, 202114:45
Eps 20: Wrapping Up 2020 and Embracing the New Year
This is the time when there are a lot of coaches helping others to wrap up the previous year and prep mentally for the next year. This podcast is about my own process, and how it has evolved over the years. So if you are new to this practice it may help you as you move into the next year.
Dec 21, 202012:41
Eps 19: The Benefit of Film Productions to Communities and Small Business
States gives tax incentives to productions to encourage them to shoot in their state or country because these states and countries know that small businesses and communities will ultimately reap the benefits of the production. today I will be talking about the benefits of film Production on communities and small business.
Dec 14, 202019:23
Eps. 18: Gratitude For Early Exposure To Theater 🎭
I created a gratitude list that I prepared to broadcast on Thanksgiving but I didn't publish the recording so I am going to do each item of gratitude as a show. Today I talk about my early exposure to Broadway theater and how that fed my acting bug later in life. I also talk about the gift of the uplifting Christmas movie genre, even if it is super cheesy. Couldn't we all use that right now? 😏
Dec 06, 202021:09
Eps 17: Podcast Self Review
It is always good to reflect after engaging in a creative project for a while and this podcast is considering what is and is not working for the podcast.
Dec 05, 202013:14
Eps 16: Creative Work-Arounds When You Need Equipment Fast
In this episode we will be talking about building equipment when you need it fast and/or cheap. I recount a recent event when I needed a piece of equipment that I didn't have on hand and figured out how to make something that fit the same role as the piece of audio equipment that I needed.
Dec 03, 202015:14
Eps 15: Networking in the Age of the Pandemic
There is a hunger for socializing and networking during the pandemic, and today's episode talks about that need, both from a business point of view and from an emotional point of view. We talk about how that "itch" to network can (and should) be scratched right now, how to do it safely during the pandemic and what to do if you can't find a group creating the networking space you desire.
Dec 01, 202017:18
Eps 14: Transferring In-Person Movie Production Skills to Remote Work
In this episode I talk about the start of the lockdown and what that meant for the in-person work I was doing at the time, and advice for brainstorming a transition to remote work.
Nov 29, 202014:01
Eps 13: Review of Virtual Thanksgiving Setup
This is a follow up to an earlier podcast (Eps 10) about producing a virtual event like a virtual Thanksgiving. In this podcast I will be reviewing my own set up, and what worked and did not work, so that I can improve upon it for next time. The important takeaway is not necessarily the information about my setup but the idea of reviewing whatever you are doing with regularity so that you can improve your methods.
Nov 27, 202011:22
Eps 12: Origin of my Producing Book and Online Courses
The building of my online courses occured over a decade of focus on my own process. In this podcast I specifically go into the beginning formats and how everything evolved over time.
Nov 24, 202018:32
Eps 11: Career Decernment From My Dog
In this episode I discuss the three 'currencies' or values I consider when deciding whether to take or pass a gig, and how those values have been weighed in on those decisions over the years.
Nov 23, 202016:54
Eps 10: How to Produce A Virtual Thanksgiving
Help Others Set Up A Virtual Thanksgiving by using your movie production skills and your abilities with media and technology to organize and get your friends and family set up. This podcast is meant to help you overly the abilities you already have to help people feel connected this holiday season while also staying safe in their homes. If you know how to set up online meetings, definitely reach out and find out if others need help setting up.
Nov 22, 202025:48
Eps 9: My Thoughts On the New On-Set Covid Safety Regulations
The union (SAG-AFTRA and other unions) set regulations are very strong and will keep cast and crew safe, for me there are other factors that play into deciding whether to go on set during the pandemic. I hope that the discussion today helps to clarify the factors in your own decision to be on set right now. SAG-AFTRA: youtu.be/xX0zthsnIWw Kevin Bacon: youtu.be/UTexAdSYFEw #IStayHomeFor
Nov 21, 202011:57
Eps 8: Ebb and Flow. Riding the Tides of a Life in Entertainment
Today's episode talks about putting this year of 2020 and lockdowns in perspective of the larger picture of your creative and career endeavors.
Nov 20, 202015:40
Eps 7: Showing My Old Tribe My Big Win
I didn't realize it until recently but being able to show my work to the community I grew up in was a big driving factor for the achievements I have had in the entertainment industry. So what is your why? Why do you do what you do?
Nov 19, 202012:21
Eps. 6: Flexing Your Creativity to Fit Your Current Circumstances
2020 has been a year of unprecedented circumstances that has forced us to live in ways that are completely new. This has especially changed collaborative creative endeavors, like filmmaking. In this episode I talk about how to use your creativity to come up with ways to still do your art.
Nov 18, 202017:46
Eps. 5: Ready. Fire. Aim. Steps to Expanding Your Creativity
In this episode I talk about some of the roadblocks I hit when I decided to leave the terrible acting class I was in. I was shaken and delete alone and was unsure what to do next, but luckily some new friends shook me up enough to give me new direction and my entertainment career some new life.
Nov 17, 202023:43
Eps. 4: The Cost Of Doing Nothing
The cost of the traditional way an acting career is pursued vs. adding director or producer to your abilities. It's not just a monetary thing...
Nov 16, 202021:18
Eps. 3: Who Is In Your "Graduating Class"?
This episode is about the 3 questions that you get when you meet people in Los Angeles and why it is good to find your "graduating class" and stick with them.
Nov 15, 202013:45
Eps. 02: The "Catch 22" of Being an Actor
This episode expands on topics from the previous episode, like getting the SAG roles that you need to get I to SAG that you can only get from being in SAG or slipping through a loophole.
Nov 13, 202018:33
Eps. 01: How I Got Started Directing And Producing (Origin Story)
This is how I got started Directing and Producing movies.l, and the awesome transformative experience I had when I chose to go for it.
Nov 12, 202019:23