Filmmaking / Directing : Long Time 1st AD, New Time Producer/Director by Xochi Blymyer

This is so great. Thank you in advance for your generous offering of time to this event. I bet there is a lot we can learn.

Happy first day of July Filmmakers Club, Xochi Blymyer! The Stage 32 community is gonna learn so much about indie filmmaking this month! If the director can't be on set for the day, does the Assistant Director take over directing?

Hi, Xochi :) Wow, what an amazing journey you've had! 1991 WOW! It's so cool to have someone with your experience and passion here.

Thanks for being open to sharing your knowledge—I'm sure we'll all learn a lot from you.

Good luck with your documentary—hope those funds come through soon! Looking forward to us all learning a lot this month.

Great to have you here, Xochi Blymyer! And on a personal note, I'm so glad to have met you this time last year at HollyShorts! It's been great to get to know you over the past year!

As for 1st AD work, I'm always looking for ways to engage with Heads of Dept. before pre-production starts to make the most of their expertise. How do YOU like to be brought on to a project? Do you prefer to do a script consultation as a contractor first (like a bid) or would you rather just be hired for a project?

Maurice Vaughan - It's not the normal route to have the Assistant Director take over, if it's a tv show, there may be another director prepping for the next episode and that person may be asked to step in or if one of the producers is also a director, another choice. It has happened that the AD moves up but many calls need to be made to the DGA to get permissions, really permission for anyone to take over due to the creative rights of the actual director.

Kay, in reality, a meeting and then hire for the show. If the director and I are a good fit. Reading the script and getting some details in the meeting so I know what I'm getting into is certainly helpful. Also, as a DGA member, we can only negotiate a little. Depending on the budget there are set rates that a production can't go less on so not any real bidding.

Ok, gotcha, Xochi Blymyer. Thanks. I'm learning a lot, and it's only the first day of July Filmmakers Club!

Xochi Blymyer, sounds great, thanks for the posting! So much going on, with progress in the industry, will appreciate following up on this!

Maurice Vaughan Off to a great start!

Awesome and I hope you get your funding to finish you project.

Great to meet you! That's so cool that you produced your own short film these last couple of years, what kind was it? I recently created a free unlimited no-signup no-ads film planning software, I hope you find it helpful for any new short films you make or for any folks you may know who need it :))

https://wixsite.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=237a1a39cec38eb438a2131c...

Maia Buljeta - Hi, it was called "Hey Alexa" - it actually won last year in the stage32.com short film contest which was very cool, the 7 winners got to screen with Hollyshorts at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Asmaa Jamil - Thank you!

Hi Xochi Blymyer - I see so many first time filmmakers struggle with completing their films if they have too many locations and company moves. As an AD, do you have advice for first time filmmakers on limited the locations of your early films? Thank you!

You're a rockstar, Xochi Blymyer! When making Hey Alexa, was there something that surprised you most about taking on the role of producer after so many years of working alongside them?

I loved, HEY ALEXA, Xochi Blymyer. Curious what you think about the current opportunities in the international space. I'm of the firm belief that the world is opening up and opportunities are greater than ever for those who invest the time to understand the international market from financing through distribution. What do you think?

Good luck with the documentary post Xochi Blymyer ! Thank you for offering of your expertise as AD - likely I will take you up on that :)

Great question Sam. I feel it's what can be accomplished in a day if there is more shooting time and less moving and changing. If there are specific places those conversation need to be had for the story, then plan around those locations. Something like, If the scene is in a car...does it really have to be moving or could it be a cool location out the window while the characters are talking to save on a process trailer and rigging cameras (if that's what would be needed to cover the scene). Does a scene have to be night - if it's an interior night, can it be shot during the day to save on keeping the crew up all night. I'd say all this not to let the story not "breathe" as they say but use wisely and if adding on additional locations for no real specific reason, don't push to do it. Hope that makes sense. Everyone wants to be rolling the camera more than moving the trucks!

Ashley, when making "Hey Alexa" was harder to judge only because I funded it myself. I certainly found out how expensive even what I thought was a very contained short. But putting on so many hats, definitely made me not want to spread myself so thin in the future but did feel very accomplished when the whole experience went smoothly and Hey Alexa turned out as good as it seemed like it could be on paper and in my head. I know producing is overseeing quite a lot of work at the same time and appreciate what it takes for sure.

Richard "RB" Botto - thank you for loving Hey Alexa! Would love to get my short to someone who could take it farther in some way...or me! I think you are totally correct. I don't know a lot about the international space except what I've learned with what's going on with our unions here. The amount of tv and movies shooting in the US keep lessening and more are being made overseas. My understanding is cost is much less for production. The more that is being shot in different countries, the more the crews there get experience and less need to bring crew from the US. Saving even more money. So it does seem there are more and more opportunities if we could learn more about how and where the funding comes from in other countries. Are they partnering with production companies here with incentives? Was interesting despite it being disappointing result, my Mexico contact thought he had gotten to someone who would want to fund my documentary last year and it turned out, they only wanted to fund Mexican movie makers, not someone like me from Hollywood even though my story shines a great light on the Mexican people. The money was there, just not for me being an American. All that being said, back to your statement, definitely, I agree, learning the international market has always seemed like something we should all know. . I learn best by doing, would love to figure out the financing part although I know it helps to have distribution future when a financing opportunity comes along.

Xochi Blymyer I wouldn't sleep on the domestic film market. It's heating up in a big way. But I agree, international has been surging the last 24-30 months and shows no sign of slowing down. Much to unpack from your post, but I'll focus on what happened with Mexico and your doc. There are literally dozens of programs internationally including co-country productions (something I expect to eventually infiltrate the U.S. when people stop being stubborn and prideful) to explore. Many will require some aspect of the cast and crew or other components to come from those countries. This is why so many film commissions are hiring us through Stage 32 Certification to train people in their areas to support these programs and their incentives and rebates.

So, what you experienced is not uncommon. But that's only one avenue. There is so much more out there. One avenue you might want to explore is bringing on an international producing partner. There are numerous other ways to take advantage of these programs as well if you know where to look.

Is the overall idea to make HEY ALEXA a feature? Or are you using that as a calling card for other projects?

Richard "RB" Botto - great news on domestic film market. So my documentary is in the post stage, I have a rough cut. All the fun post is what's needed. vimeo.com/xochi/reddogandbatestrailer for anyone who'd like to see trailer. It is definitely knowing where to look, I've looked but not in the right place yet. HEY ALEXA at first I was hoping it'd be a calling card to show my writing/producing - after winning and being exposed to many festivals, I just haven't gotten anywhere with it. I've also submitted my comedy script to many festivals, been selected and won some awards. I've got my basket of projects! Short, Documentary (needs post), Comedy Script, TV series w a 6 minute presentation, Rights to a book... So, perhaps I need a manager or a promoter! As a long time 1st AD, I am ready to get these other projects moving.

Xochi Blymyer LOVED. THE. TRAILER. - Congrats!

Xochi Blymyer couldn't agree with Sebastian Tudores more. What a fantastic trailer! I can't see how this wouldn't find a buyer/distributor. Universal themes, international appeal. It's completely compelling.

Richard "RB" Botto Sebastian Tudores - thank you. I thought so too! I just have not been able to get to the right place with this. Always up for suggestions, collaborations, etc. Thanks for watching.

Hi Xochi Blymyer! Congratulations on your fabulous accomplishments! Looking forward to learning from you and others during the July Filmmakers Club activities.

How do you pronounce your first name?

Wonderful trailer of RED DOG AND BATES! A super story and the footage shows the real Mexico. I'm reposting the link: vimeo.com/xochi/reddogandbatestrailer. Maybe you could add it to the top message so it's easier to find?

When you say "not the right place", where has the process stalled, Xochi Blymyer? Is the film completely locked?

Richard "RB" Botto - the doc needs funding to complete the post production. So I'm at a standstill with my rough cut. I've funded it up to this point but it now needs post beyond what I can do. I believe you are right that a buyer/distributor would be interested, but I have not met that person/company. From the moment I heard this story, I felt like you that it would be well received!