Selling the Movie Biz

Part 1: General Overview
You have an idea for a short film. Or, you may be currently stalled on the story in progress for a short film that should be underway. This class will cover the soup to nuts overview of the questions you need to ask yourself as a filmmaker to ensure the idea for your short film is worthwhile, and the essential steps you need to take to move into the planning and production phase of your short film. For more information on Part 1 click here.
Part 2: Screenwriting
The screenwriter is the specific person responsible for putting the words to the page that will tell the story. However, all of the lead creative roles on the short film – including the director and producer – are essential to the storytelling process. For more information on Part 2 click here.
Part 3: Producing
The vast majority of short films are independent productions, with many of the key creative team members holding more than one designated role on the project. If you’re a writer with sound organizational skills – you should seek out the opportunity to learn and lead and be one of the producers on the film as well. If you’re a lead actor or director whose name and reputation are riding on the film – you should definitely be involved in a key producing capacity on the film. If you’re strictly a well-organized, go-getter of a producer looking to deliver an amazing short film – partnering with talented writers, actors and directors is the key way to landing future positions and projects. For more information on Part 3 click here.
Part 4: Directing
This class will give guidance not only to those interested in directing their own short films, but also to writers, producers, actors, directors of photography and camera crew on how to effectively work with a film’s director in a collaborative effort by gaining a better understanding for the role the director plays; and how to be selective about the projects they work on depending on the director’s attitude, openness to total team involvement and commitment to completing a high-quality film in a set period of time. For more information on Part 4 click here.

About the Instructor: 
Kathy Cabrera is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television’s MFA in Screenwriting program. In addition to penning eight feature-length screenplays and a drama television pilot, Cabrera has also written and produced several award-winning short films with budgets ranging from less than $2,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars with the support of well-known industry sponsors such as the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), Kodak, Technicolor and Panavision. Cabrera has one screenplay optioned and was a finalist for the 2007 NAACP & NBC Screenwriting Fellowship and awarded the 2008 Young and the Restless Fellowship in Television. Cabrera currently resides in Atlanta, where she makes short films for a living with Red Clip Video, a production company specializing in affordable videos for businesses.