Prep Show

Accent Coach Sarah Valentine works with US actor Zach Meiser to learn a Scottish accent for a scene. How hard can it be?   We’re doing more of these accent coaching episodes. If you’re an actor and want to learn a particular accent, get in touch and we’ll do it on the show! https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   SHOW LINKS   Sarah Valentine: https://actorsaccentcoach.com/ Sarah Valentine IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1208516/ Zach Meiser (Helen Wells Agency): http://www.helenwellsagency.com/ Zach Meiser IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10010297/ Zach Meiser Actors Access: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/Zacharythomasmeiser Zach Meiser Backstage: https://www.backstage.com/tal/zachary-meiser/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:   Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa   CONNECT:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

On this episode of Prep Show, we help Director Ari Golan with the camera blocking on a Hallmark-type Christmas movie he’s in the middle of directing. Guests Ari Golan and Nigel Levy (Netflix, BBC, National Geographic).   Do you need help with camera blocking and want to be on the show? Get in touch! https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   SHOW LINKS   Ari Golan / Atomic Imaging Studios: https://www.atomicimaging.com Nigel Levy IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1383080/ The Doc Fix: http://www.thedocfix.com/ Leviathan Films: http://www.leviathan-films.co.uk/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:   Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa   CONNECT:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

On this episode of Prep Show, William Shatner and a director get into a kerfuffle. Is Shatner being a primadonna? Is the director clueless? So much to unpack! Guests Nigel Levy and Webb Pickersgill.   SHOW LINKS Nigel Levy IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1383080/ Webb Pickersgill IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2167546/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Doc Fix: http://www.thedocfix.com/ Leviathan Films: http://www.leviathan-films.co.uk/ Deck Nine Games: http://deckninegames.com/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com

We try to fix the acting/directing in an interrogation scene from a film competition. It shows all the signs of being shot too quickly. The characters are unclear, and there’s some weird logic in the scene where the characters are having private conversations for all to hear. Joining us are actor Robert Riechel and director Rika Yasul Hammen. Full Episode: https://youtu.be/M3qBFc5b6dY   SHOW LINKS "Just Cops" Short Film: https://youtu.be/wkwJXaFZ-_0?t=156 "Just Cops" transcript of scene: https://www.dropbox.com/s/toj9jzvnq5obk41/Just%20Cops.pdf?dl=0 Robert Riechel IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5830123/ Rika Yasui Hammen IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4064380/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/M3qBFc5b6dY Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2h4hsz/Prep_Show_Fixing_Interrogation_Scene_Acting_-_Robert_Riechel_-_Rika_Hammen_19kca2.mp3   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Welcome Robert and Rika 2:07 - Watching the scene 3:16 - Robert's first thoughts 7:34 - Rika's first thoughts 9:12 - The suspect's choice 10:29 - Weird blocking 14:31 - Framing the cops 16:15 - Direction for the older cop 17:53 - Shooting quickly 18:17 - Summarizing so far 18:59 - Too open and available 20:18 - Relationship between the cops 24:23 - Conversation with suspect 28:24 - Letting it breathe 30:57 - Power on screen 34:17 - Criticizing without shame 37:57 - When it's not working 44:25 - Self-control as a director 48:13 - Production affecting the acting 54:27 - Doing the exercise 55:28 - Experimental attitude 57:30 - Pressure on a TV show 59:09 - Different location? 1:00:43 - This is difficult 1:01:18 - Bombing as a actor? 1:02:18 - Not trusting the director 1:04:28 - Wrapping up

NCIS Executive Producer/Director Mark Horowitz help us with the camera blocking on a dramatic scene by Nikhil Kamkolkar. Mark shows how to properly understand the characters before designing the camera work, resulting in deeper and more meaningful camera angles. Nikhil Kamkolkar is a New York-based Director behind films such as Leaving Priyanka and Indian Cowboy. Mark previously produced Doogie Howser, M.D. and JAG.   Full Episode: https://youtu.be/j96FsbvepmQ   EPISODE LINKS   Download Script PDF: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mswgpyj9kjz9hab/Holden-SceneBlocking-Extract.pdf?dl=0 Download Initial Storyboards: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4gjww6e5u62o6tw/HOLDEN%20-%20Blocking%20and%20Framing%20Ideas.pdf?dl=0 Mark Horowitz IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0395317/ Nikhil Kamkolkar IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004667/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN:   Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/j96FsbvepmQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ywe4u4/prep_show_camera_blocking_with_ncis_director_mark_horowitz_nikhil_kamkolkar9l08c.mp3   CONNECT:   Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE:   0:00 - Intro 2:11 - Hello Mark and Nikhil 3:06 - Mark's approach 4:46 - Explaining the scene 5:37 - Reveal the big reveal? 7:37 - Mark's process 11:29 - What character can be physically expressed? 13:17 - Character movement 17:40 - Jane's journey 20:01 - Framing the characters 22:24 - Jane's motivation/emotion 25:48 - Holden's motivation/emotion 27:33 - Something major happens 29:21 - High or low ambition? 35:44 - Quick geography 40:55 - Scene opening 51:05 - How do they face each other? 53:42 - Line crosses 56:00 - First cameras 1:00:12 - When do they face each other? 1:03:34 - Returning to the kitchen? 1:07:33 - New angles on the characters 1:11:42 - The confrontation 1:19:53 - Change the side of the line 1:23:39 - Cross-cutting monologue? 1:27:27 - Ending reveal 1:29:58 - Putting in all cameras 1:50:20 - NCIS question 1:54:22 - Wrapping up 1:58:38 - Final thoughts

Amazing directing exercise where we figure out what to say to the actors in a scene that isn’t quite working. The scariest feeling for a film director is dead air in a scene. Everyone can feel it isn’t working, and you don’t know what the problem is or even what to say to the actors. We’re joined by director Brendan Hughes and actor Brandon Galatz as we work through a scene that has promise, but that currently isn’t working. The scene is from a short “Just Cops” from a 168 hour film project. Full YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/Z3RugS1IVpU EPISODE LINKS Original scene from Just Cops (starts at 1:42): https://youtu.be/wkwJXaFZ-_0?t=102 Scene Transcript: https://www.dropbox.com/s/toj9jzvnq5obk41/Just%20Cops.pdf?dl=0 Brendan Hughes Dad Jeans Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-jeans/id896300180 Brandon Galatz IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3761258/ Brandon Galatz Website: http://s.bl-1.com/h/cVlc3fjN?url=https://brandonkgalatz.wixsite.com/bgalatz OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z3RugS1IVpU Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://prepshow.podbean.com/mf/play/oi5712/Prep_Show_Fixing_The_Acting_In_Cop_Drama_-_Brendan_Hughes_-_Brandon_Galatz_9l6yr.mp3 CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - Hello Brandon / Brendan 4:23 - Explaining the exercise 6:30 - Watching the scene 7:25 - First thoughts 11:35 - Where are the beats? 14:33 - Stressed production 18:52 - Subtle acting 21:03 - How to dial back acting 21:48 - Holding back 23:16 - Stronger back stories 25:00 - Why now? 29:04 - Better beats 33:47 - Captain's motivation 34:58 - Too many words, too fast 38:36 - Handling interruptions 40:01 - Better listening 42:51 - Word images 46:58 - Legitimate obstacles 51:09 - Slowing the scene down 55:53 - Captain's logic 1:00:36 - Marking beats 1:03:27 - Getting the scene to breathe 1:16:34 - Balancing camera work and acting 1:22:59 - Creating silence 1:28:28 - Wrapping up

Story guru Tom Vaughan helps outline a story based on a prison dream. The short story (by Per Holmes) is a decent idea, but it has unclear motivations and very little character evolution. On this episode of Prep Show, we try to turn this into a well-rounded story. Tristan Ofield joins us to help pitch in ideas.   SHOW LINKS Tom Vaughan IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1129343/ Tom Vaughan’s Website: http://www.storyandplot.com Tristan Ofield IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3138635/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/zSQeoikpnjU Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://prepshow.podbean.com/mf/play/5d0g3u/Prep_Show_Outlining_Prison_Dream_Story_-_Tom_Vaughan_-_Tristan_Ofield_67zp1.mp3   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Introducing the story 7:26 - What is the story about? 9:12 - How long would the short film be? 11:03 - What is the dramatic question? 14:03 - Where are the stakes? 14:38 - A completely different take 18:55 - Is the beginning needed? 21:58 - The other characters 24:45 - Withhold that it's a dream? 31:09 - What defines the main character? 40:39 - Putting in some beats 43:45 - The big character change 51:31 - Are other character aspects of himself? 1:00:29 - Owning the character's sensitivity 1:07:55 - Does he know who he is? 1:12:22 - Picking an angle 1:23:37 - Story questions 1:24:58 - Antagonist 1:36:29 - Wrapping up 1:44:48 - Final thoughts

TV director Marcus Stokes helps us do the camera blocking on an episode of a web series developed by UK director Tristan Ofield. This is a 4 page scene, so we need to find a way to make the camera work interesting, or the scene could feel excruciatingly slow. We also discuss how shooting multiple cameras keeps the actors from burning out, and how to make the acting more interesting.   SHOW LINKS Marcus Stokes IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1684548/ Tristan Ofield IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3138635/   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/DQsKDaVI1EY Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://prepshow.podbean.com/mf/play/sjv5qk/Prep_Show_Blocking_A_War_Comedy_Scene_Tristan_Ofield_Marcus_Stokes_1_b671c.mp3   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 1:19 - About The Project 10:47 - The original blocking 23:59 - The new blocking 1:05:05 - Concluding the scene 1:07:31 - Making acting interesting 1:19:36 - Final thoughts

Legendary director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Wargames, Supernatural) talks with Per Holmes about directing movie stars. How are stars different from “normal” actors? Do they need more direction? Less? How do you handle disagreements? What are you allowed to say or don’t say? How do you handle the power imbalance between an up-and-coming director and a very experienced actor? This episode answers these questions and countless more in this amazing episode.   SHOW LINKS John Badham IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000824/ John is also the author of one of the best and most brutally honest books on filmmaking ever written, “I’ll Be In My Trailer”, about the relationship between actors and directors. https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Be-My-Trailer-Directors/dp/1932907149 His new book “On Directing 2”, is dropping in the fall of 2020. Check it out on his website: https://www.johnbadham.com/ Directing Actors Course: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com/directing-actors.html   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/mcY-ROX951c Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/nc7dh4/Prep_Show_John_Badham_Directing_Stars_8ud2q.mp3   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 2:37 - Welcome to John 4:56 - Differences between "normal" actors and stars? 7:53 - How does conversation with a star sound differently? 10:47 - What does the first conversation with an actor sound like? 12:55 - Directors direct too much? 13:39 - Directing in actions 15:08 - Different actor results in different performance 15:49 - Directing a regular on a TV show 19:30 - Making the scenes work 20:46 - Making an actor not do something 23:27 - Criticizing actors 24:43 - Retakes for the heck of it 25:28 - Every take doesn't need direction 27:50 - Shaking up the scene 29:39 - Directing Jack Nicholson 34:17 - Marlon Brando testing his director 37:06 - What if actor won't discuss character? 40:38 - Gaining an actor's trust 44:32 - Calming an actor's nerves 47:38 - Super-confident actors 50:02 - How much to direct 52:51 - Taking bad direction back 53:33 - Giving actors attention after a take 56:02 - Being there for actors 57:01 - Directors should try a bit of acting 58:23 - Actors can see through a director 59:12 - Gaining the trust of actors 1:02:38 - How much freedom should actors have? 1:12:36 - Does a director need to be certain? 1:15:21 - Getting everybody invested in it 1:18:48 - How much or how little to direct? 1:25:51 - Imaginary directing situation: Joe Pesci 1:28:15 - Giving actors obstacles instead of directing them 1:35:48 - Working with strong-willed actors 1:40:25 - Strong-willed actors testing the director 1:46:49 - Summary of insights 1:53:07 - John's new book On Directing 1:56:07 - Wrap up

Katie Mancuso, Zach Meiser and Per Holmes workshop a scene from the pilot of The Orville. We work with a bunch of acting and directing techniques to make the backstory real, and create more active listening.   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/FuRWypTFTaY Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/toe453/Prep_Show_Acting_A_Scene_From_The_Orville_bolva.mp3   EPISODE LINKS: Script PDF: https://bit.ly/3f9KayF Zach Meiser IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10010297/ Katie Mancuso IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5694932/   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 2:24 - Welcome Katie & Zach 3:43 - Read-through 8:14 - Katie's Motivation 8:40 - Scene Background 9:10 - Katie's Motivation 11:18 - Zach's Motivation 15:15 - Extreme Choices 16:20 - Take 2 20:55 - Going back to being reconciliatory 22:09 - Believing the back-story 24:05 - Rationalizations 24:32 - Role-playing the break-up 30:30 - Take 3 34:12 - How they're listening 35:47 - Take 4 41:34 - Where the scene is from 44:13 - What worked? 47:25 - Wrap

Alex Ferrari and Per Holmes discuss how to turn Alex’s spectacular autobiography Shooting For The Mob into a movie. We talk about how an abusive relationship actually has perfect story structure, about turning narration into “show, don’t tell”, and how to deal with the high number of movie stars in the story.   OTHER WAYS TO WATCH/LISTEN: Show Website: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/TEpXC6NMyTM Indie Film Hustle TV: https://www.indiefilmhustle.tv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-show/id1516200606 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/421oliun8XF0NKJulo7UEa Download MP3 Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/download/hwwihg/Prep_Show_Directing_A_Movie_At_Gunpoint_Alex_Ferrari_90hqv.mp3   EPISODE LINKS: Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com   CONNECT: Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodCameraWork Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HollywoodCamera Web: https://www.hollywoodcamerawork.com   EPISODE OUTLINE: 0:00 - Intro 1:53 - About the book 4:19 - Summarizing the book 5:32 - Narcissistic Abuse 8:00 - Jimmy's character 11:37 - Do victims deserve sympathy? 16:08 - How narcissistic abuse works 22:20 - A universal story 22:44 - Meeting Batman 23:27 - Maybe the abuse is worth it? 24:13 - Should it be narrated? 26:46 - Getting movie stars in the movie 28:54 - Budget? 31:07 - Story about filmmaking or abuse? 32:50 - Boris the DP 36:00 - Showing instead of telling 43:46 - Dealing with the back-story 50:45 - Good just because it's real? 56:51 - About the audio book 1:06:34 - Getting movie stars to play themselves 1:12:59 - Reworking the ending 1:16:06 - Brutal honesty 1:26:25 - Wrap up