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How To Maintain A Healthy Mental State As A Filmmaker

Over the last 8 years in LA as a director and producer, I feel like I've seen so many sides of the filmmaking world. I've done backyard shorts with friends and family with guerilla shooting, I've done features for over a million dollars, I've directed a big studio episodic for TV, and I’ve even funded my own short docs. As everyone in the industry knows, this work can be intense. We often have long hours. We give 120% of our brain power dissecting scripts, making shot lists, and s…

5 Tips for Writing a Screenplay for the Screen

*This blog is co-written by Elizabeth Blake-Thomas and Isabella Blake-Thomas. Embarking on the journey of screenwriting demands more than just creativity—it requires foresight into what makes a script not only compelling on paper but also viable for the silver screen. At Mother and Daughter Entertainment, we understand the intricacies of transforming a script from concept to production-ready material. Whether you're driven by passion, personal exploration, or the ambition to …

What Kind Of Filmmaker Am I & Why Does It Matter?

As a filmmaker, I have been led to believe that the be-all and end-all is winning an Oscar. Don’t get me wrong, I have definitely practiced my speech; “I’d like to thank my daughter and my dog, etc”, we all have, but what I’ve learned is that we don’t need accolades from peers and audiences in order to say that we are good filmmakers. I have been a director for seven years, but even before being in the film industry, I knew that winning an Oscar…

How To Run Efficient And Effective Sets

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ~ Arthur Ashe “What happens when we go over time?” The room went quiet. The new sound operator repeated himself, “What happens when we go into overtime?” My crew smiled at me as I turned and replied, “We don’t.” I then continued answering and discussing other questions in the pre-pro meeting. Let me preface this by saying this was not a studio film. This was an indie featu…

How To Maintain A Healthy Mental State As A Filmmaker

Over the last 7 years in LA as a director and producer, I feel like I've seen so many sides of the filmmaking world. I've done backyard shorts with friends and family with guerilla shooting, I've done features for over a million dollars, I've directed a big studio episodic for TV, and I’ve even funded my own short docs. As everyone in the industry knows, this work can be intense. We often have long hours. We give 120% of our brain power dissecting scripts, making shot lists, and s…

How I Made 6 Feature Films In 2 Years

In 2016, I began the crazy notion of directing and writing my feature films. In my first two years, I wrote a book that’s been published that I turned into a movie and I completed 6 feature films. All totally different genres. I met an incredible mentor who supports me in ways I never thought possible. I spoke on a director panel at the Cannes Film Festival and I have won various awards at various film festivals. The reason I’m telling you this is not to brag. It’s be…

What Road Tripping In My 1969 VW Bus Taught Me About Filmmaking

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” ~ William Shakespeare “Luna” is my 1969 VW bus. She was a well-thought-out, long-time purchase. A transformative place that serves as a traveling home, an office workspace, a holiday destination, and right now at this very minute, my own coffee shop! Luna gives me so much love and joy t…

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How to Run Efficient and Effective Sets

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” ~ Arthur Ashe “What happens when we go over time?” The room went quiet. The new sound operator repeated himself, “What happens when we go into overtime?” My crew smiled at me as I turned and replied, “We don’t.” I then continued answering and discussing other questions in the pre-pro meeting. Let me preface this by saying this was not a studio film. This was an indie featu…

From England to LA: 3 Simple Rules for Filmmakers

Every day in this crazy LA film world I learn something new. I have been here for over 7 years now and have been able to go from a position of not knowing anyone to being able to produce a film that is doing the festival circuit all for a budget of $1,000. I also made 6 feature films in just two years.    Being British has also made things harder.   How do you even start when you need to get a social security number a home address and a cell?   It can seem daunt…

How I Made 6 Feature Films In 2 Years

In 2016, I began the crazy notion of directing and writing my feature films. In my first two years, I wrote a book that’s been published that I turned into a movie and I completed 6 feature films. All totally different genres. I met an incredible mentor who supports me in ways I never thought possible. I spoke on a directors panel at Cannes Film Festival and I have won various awards at various film festivals. The reason I’m telling you this is not to brag. It’s becau…

What Road Tripping in my 1969 VW Bus Taught Me About Filmmaking

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” ~ William Shakespeare “Luna” is my 1969 VW bus. She was a well-thought-out, long-time purchase. A transformative place that serves as a traveling home, an office workspace, a holiday destination, and right now at this very minute, my own coffee shop! Luna gives me so much love and joy t…

How I (Safely) Shot a Feature Rom-Com During the Pandemic

“I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” Paulo Coelho Before I dive into the making of my latest rom-com “Will You Be My Quarantine?”, we have to rewind a few months to… April 2020: The Idea My hair needed washing, I needed a shower and I had no idea what to wear! Lucky for me this wasn’t a date in person, it was a zoom date. So on went a cute hat to cover any visible grease. I positioned myself sitting strategically …

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