101 Things I Learned® in Film School

An illustrated, accessible introduction to filmmaking from an award-winning Hollywood producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studios

Anyone with a cellphone can shoot video, but creating a memorable feature-length film requires knowledge and mastery of a wide range of skills, including screenwriting, storytelling, directing, visual composition, and production logistics. This book points the aspiring filmmaker down this complex learning path with such critical lessons as:

how to structure a story and pitch it to a studio

ways to reveal a story’s unseen aspects, such as backstory and character psychology

the difference between plot, story, and theme

why some films drag in Act 2, and what to do about it

how to visually compose a frame to best tell a story

how to manage finances, schedules, and the practical demands of production

Written by an award-winning producer, screenwriter, film school professor, and script consultant to major movie studios, 101 Things I Learned® in Film School is an indispensable resource for students, screenwriters, filmmakers, animators, and anyone else interested in the moviemaking profession.