The Archive

Enjoy the collected wisdom of our guest columnists.

July 24, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Referencing branded products in a screenplay
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Dealing with criticism of your work
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Crediting a director alongside a DP

July 17, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding a writer for a modern adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Were there optical special effects in every film of the past?
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using cinematography to maximize suspense

July 3, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Avoiding cliches in your writing
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Allowing actors to watch the dailies
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving the look of Solaris

June 26, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - The proper format for sending scripts through e-mail
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of getting music clearances
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Testing the visual difference between film stocks

June 12, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Action leads -- easier to sell a male or female role?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How directors get final cut
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why streets are wet during night scenes

June 5, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Similarities and differences between TV and feature film script lengths
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Transitioning from an indie to studio director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Advice on becoming a location scout

May 22, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Adding occasional exposition text to a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The state of directing in the current film industry
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting on both sides of film

May 15, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - When your script turns into a bad film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with cinematographers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving the softness of the "Hamilton look"

May 8, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Injecting character depth into a short drama
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The relationship between editor and director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Finding cheap alternatives to neutral density gels

May 1, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - His use of "Confederated Products" in his scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Shooting a documentary on film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - A reader adds information to a past answer regarding optical printers

April 24, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Enlisting help for a pitch meeting
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with a composer while filming and editing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The importance of using the distance markings on a lens

April 17, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Differentiating between an homage and an unauthorized remake
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Challenges of getting the ball rolling for your finished film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The aesthetic consequences of raising the frame rate

April 10, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Technical movies can be a success
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Challenges of getting the ball rolling for your finished film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving the vibrant colors of a film like Blow Up

April 3, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Editing help for a deaf screenwriter
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Breaking down documentary profits
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Choosing which frame rate to shoot

March 27, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - The tasks of a writer's assistant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Using firearms and pyrotechnics safely
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The Digital Intermediate output to film process

March 20, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - The intricacies of public domain subjects
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Is it essential for directors to become proficient writers?
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting with a polarizer indoors

March 13, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Thoughts on digital filmmaking
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The tasks of various producers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The art of backlighting

March 6, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Presenting and refining your work through screenings
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The challenge and problem of color in cinematography

February 27, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Noting singing in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Balancing crowd-pleasing with necessary truths
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using the correct filters in a car scene

February 20, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Collaborating with multiple writers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ways to get started as a costume designer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting in a dark forest

February 13, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Previsualization of your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of a shot list
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The mechanics of a trombone shot

February 6, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - The effect of one person as writer and director of a film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - A
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Ways of shooting car scenes

January 30, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Reasons why some scripts never become movies
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Thoughts on screaming directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Defining shooting "day for night"

January 23, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - Theories on why remakes are popular
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making a name for yourself
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips on shooting 16mm in a room with a white walls

January 16, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of confidence, grammar and vocabulary
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Using rehearsal and pre-production time wisely
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The cinematographer as creator and translator

January 9, 2006
Ask a Writer - by John August - A rumor regarding page 17 in scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of ratings to box-office success
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why close-ups have become all the rage

December 26, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Securing rights to make a movie based on a concept album
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The possibility of being born creative
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filming a realistic fight sequence

December 19, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Thoughts on interpretations of Big Fish
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Signing a deal with a distribution company
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using one f-stop through an entire film

December 12, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Recognizing and dealing with hypergraphia
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - What inspired her to become a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How the process of back projection was perfected

December 5, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of signed releases
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making the most of your first film festival experience
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The elements that affect the look of an image

November 28, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Deciding whether to make British or American films
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making good movies, regardless of where you're located
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning to load 16mm film

November 21, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Deciding whether to make British or American films
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Keeping locations and shot ratio low while shooting a 35mm low budget film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The incentives and benefits of being a cinematographer

November 14, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Working with the line producer and assistant director to clarify your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Dealing with an over-controlling director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why film, TV and home video all look different from each other

November 7, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Dealing with the growing pains of building a writing career in L.A.
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Why film school will teach you more than DVD director's commentaries
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Revisiting his thoughts on digital filmmaking

October 31, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Looking back at how he applied for film school
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The "MTVization" of movies
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why cinematographers don't get more artistic recognition

October 24, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Making the best of a chance meeting to get a script read
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The director's role in casting a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Creating the varied lighting of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

October 3, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Whether or not to include a date on your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - General advice for aspiring filmmakers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inspiration from the work of still photographers

September 26, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The characterization of Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Producer input and involvement on set
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Finding an agent to help you move from indie films to big budget features

September 19, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Becoming a hyphenate in Hollywood
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of trust between actors and directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filters and costume selection when shooting black and white film

September 12, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - To option, or not to option?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Recording sound and re-recording dialogue
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The cinematography of The Marriage of Maria Braun

September 5, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difference between using O.S. (off screen) and O.C. (off camera) in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - What a director looks for in a PA
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Who makes the choice to shoot in black and white

August 29, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difference between using O.S. (off screen) and O.C. (off camera) in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Creative ways to garner an agent's attention
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - His thoughts on the cinematography of recent Academy Award-nominated films

August 22, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Do a the hero and the protaganist need to be one character?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Perceptions of directors, and whether or not to be forceful
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Determining the intensity of each lamp when lighting a set or a actor

August 15, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The benefits of incorporating into a film company
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Locking a script while still allowing improvements; Effectively working with friends
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Reasons why modern black and white films don't have the same look as older films

August 8, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Proper format for e-mailing a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The steps of the post-production sequence when using non-linear editing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Getting used to shooting on film

August 1, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing effective loglines
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - An update on the status of We Sold Our Souls For Rock and Roll
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The inventor of the Zolly shot

July 25, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing about characters with which you don't relate
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Becoming a filmmaker for the right reasons
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Contrast ratio between the highlights and shadows

July 18, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difficulty of communicating intangible ideas in a film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of working as a PA
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips for getting a later start in the world of film editing

July 11, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The ups and downs of rewriting
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Defining independent film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Planning the number of set-ups needed and length of each set-up

July 4, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The model of printer he uses
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of being critical of your own work
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inexpensive ways to light a no-budget feature

June 27, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - How he chooses the questions he answers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting clip and photo clearances for a documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The creation of the visual style of several Verhoeven films

June 20, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Submitting separate versions of a script to US and UK agencies
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How to become an assistant director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The "ideal" personality for a DP

June 13, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The tasks of a writer's assistant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding a filmmaker to make a documentary about a community service agency
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why frame rate standards haven't evolved

June 6, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Legal concerns surround a script based on major U.S. company
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Allotting time for pre-production
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips on day-for-night photography

May 30, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Balancing writing, relationships, and real life
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Casting "real" actors; the director/producer divide
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using pantyhose as a filter to soften images; the use of universal perspective

May 23, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - A writer's need for representation before pitching to a studio
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The impact of a degree on a career in film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Techniques used for creating "edgy" images

May 16, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing split screen scenes
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding promotion for independent films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Explains the phrase "editing in camera"

May 2, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The value of attending a pitch fest
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - On why using 30 seconds of a song is not free
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why 16mm film projected in 35mm looks better than the reverse

April 25, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The jobs of the assistant director and producer on set
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How rain is kept off of the lens

April 11, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing formats used in a script to communicate deafness
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Thoughts on homelessness and filming another documentary about it
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How the choice was made to shoot Ned Kelly in Super 35, instead of anamorphic

April 3, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Conserving paper while printing scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Filming a documentary on homelessness
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Making interesting lighting choices

March 28, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Injecting character depth into a short drama
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The chances of getting a first film into theaters
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The possibility of using different film formats in the same project

March 14, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Technical movies can be a success
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding a director to attach to a project
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How a director can communicate with a cinematographer

March 7, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Pros and cons of writing only what you know
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of auxiliary sound recording on a mini-DV film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Dolby Digital 5.1 sound in HD television programming

February 28, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Hobbies that inspire his writing
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Approaching filming and finding the shape of a documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Going for the WOW factor with a small DV film

February 21, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Injecting character depth into a short drama
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Approaching filming and finding the shape of a documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Selecting a DP for a project in an unfamiliar city

February 14, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Motivation to keep working on rewrites
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Scheduling set-ups to fit script and shoot length
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning how to shoot day-for-night

February 7, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Including artwork in scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The ability to write, and the impact it has on a director's career
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using double fog filters

January 31, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - The viability of making a film featuring a black screen
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The ability to write, and the impact it has on a director's career
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips on lighting a character for daylight inside a moving car on 16mm film

January 24, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Avoiding cliches in your writing
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of an actor attending Sundance
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Thoughts on the current state of digital vs. film

January 17, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Opportunities as a screenwriter after funding your first indie feature
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Securing a location and insurance to shoot there
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - On gaining experience, portfolios and the role of the cinematographer

January 10, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - On the "dramatic quadrilogy" and making works commercially viable
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Necessary rights for music in a not-for-profit film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Creating a digital film with a 1970's feel

January 3, 2005
Ask a Writer - by John August - Laughing at your own writing
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The relationship between director and cinematographer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Requirements for becoming a member of the B.S.C. or A.S.C.

December 27, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Good dialogue vs. exposition
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The relationship between director and cinematographer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting a documentary "fly-on-the-wall" style

December 20, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Mastering American lingo
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Things learned working with Albert Brooks
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Notable visual style in recent movies

December 13, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Rights needed to use a song in a short film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Things learned working with Albert Brooks
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Defining a "stretch" shot

December 6, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of physical appearance when pitching a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with non-actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Creating the invisibility illusion

November 29, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Quality of writing in agent-submitted scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Relationships between director and cinematographer, and cinematographer and editor

November 22, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Average option price for short stories
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of the depth of a director's technical knowledge
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Simpler alternatives to tape-to-tape editing

November 15, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting a short seen, and the possibility of making money as a writer's assistant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Paying off credit cards used to finance a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Pay rates for L.A. cinematographers, and how filmmakers shoot in black and white and keep the color red

November 8, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Investigating an over-the-phone mentoring program
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How she chooses projects
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Methods of determining focal length while setting up a shot

October 18, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Length of animation scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Shooting order of wide and close-up shots
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Film choices for achieving overexposure and saturated colors

October 11, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Defining what a script doctor does
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a producer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Camera suggestions; factors in creating a film's look

October 4, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing solid dialogue
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Differing attitudes toward female directors and male directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The impact of digital technology on lighting and cinematography

September 27, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Enlisting help for a pitch meeting
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Differing attitudes toward female directors and male directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using a flicker box to simulate a campfire

September 20, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of signed releases
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ideas for getting a volatile true story told
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The difficulty of one-shot videos; using Lomo anamorphic adapters

September 13, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - How nonfiction shows are scripted
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of a director's reel
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Choosing between steadicam and dolly shots

September 6, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - The writer's role in a film's post-production
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of a director's reel
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning about post-production lighting and image manipulation

August 30, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Regaining confidence in your writing
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ways to lessen the costs of shooting and how she started in film herself
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Working your way up the ladder vs. attending film school

August 23, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - His take on the fine line between artistic and crazy
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ways to lessen the costs of shooting and how she started in film herself
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Planning the number of set-ups needed and length of each set-up

August 16, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Pros and cons of asking a studio to option a story for you
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ideas for acquiring music rights for your film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting on film for a straight-to-video release

August 9, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - His use of "Confederated Products" in his scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Her progress on a box set of her Decline films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using stop frame animation to capture a whole day on film

August 2, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing a script based on an album
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Shares which of her movies has been most personally satisfying
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Advice on entering the world of international documentary filmmaking

July 26, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Thoughts on including images, drawings or maps in a screenplay
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Helping an independent producer with ways to find a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Advice on entering the world of international documentary filmmaking

July 19, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Differentiating between an homage and and unauthorized remake
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Licensing poster images for use in a movie
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Image manipulation and a false reality crisis

July 12, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Creative license vs. libel
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting the work of comedy done in an efficient, timely and funny manner
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The people and factors that play a part in choosing aspect ratio for a film

July 5, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Readers respond with feedback on Writers Boot Camp
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of a director's reel
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inexpensive ways of minimizing shake while shooting

June 28, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Thoughts on Writer's Boot Camp and other scriptwriting workshops
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of extensive pre-shoot rehearsal time
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Becoming knowledgeable about film stocks, lenses and lab processes

June 21, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Gaining confidence as a writer
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The choice between continuing school and learning while working for a studio
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The best and the most inexpensive ways to shoot a continuous motion sequence

June 7, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - The proper format for citing montages in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How not to go insane getting your directing career started
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Finding an agent to help make the jump from indie film to big budget feature cinematographer

April 26, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Working on multiple scripts simultaneously
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The most important skill a modern director should develop
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The difference between blue and green screens in the finished film

April 12, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Improving the ergonomics of your writing desk
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Release update on The Decline of Western Civilization: Part III
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - A cinematographer's role in editing

March 8, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Securing your place in a film's ongoing franchise
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Picking the right music for a scene
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Differentiating between 'cinematographer' and 'director of photography'

March 1, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Previsualization of your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Keeping your directorial vision intact
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving an '80s look on film

February 23, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - His thoughts on interpretations of Big Fish
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - What to look for in a film composer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filming puppets

February 16, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - His thoughts on interpretations of Big Fish
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Coverage and setting a film's tone
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The definition of telecine; The berry scene in Amélie

February 9, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Gaining the confidence to become a great writer
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Becoming a producer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The importance of using a DP

February 2, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - The end crawl of Elephant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of signed releases
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Transfer of a digital film to 16mm or 35mm

January 26, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding a writer for a modern adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How to become a member of SAG, and finding out about auditions
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Comparing Kodak and Fuji film stock

January 19, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting the opportunity to pitch an idea
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ways to get started as a costume designer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Becoming confident as a DP

January 12, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Thoughts on digital filmmaking
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding financing for feature films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Steadicam equipment and the choices directors and DPs make

January 5, 2004
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Advice on casting and retaining commited actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - A helpful resource for DV post-production tips

December 29, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Becoming a dialect coach
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The use of universal perspective

December 22, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How she chose directing as her career path
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Cinematographer salaries

December 15, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using a quote from a periodical
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Relying on imagination and enthusiasm to start your career
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips on day-for-night photography

December 8, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The intricacies of public domain subjects
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Becoming a casting director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filming very tall actors

December 1, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Developing a concept into a film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Timeframe for the making of a film; why film titles change
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - More on the politics of running a big crew

November 24, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - How to denote onscreen titles in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Her favorite and least favorite parts of the directing process
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Ideas for lighting actors with different skin tones

November 17, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Editing help for a deaf screenwriter
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding work as an editor; advice for an aspiring female director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Explains the phrase "editing in camera"

November 10, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Sharing first drafts of scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Casting friends in a directorial debut
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Approaching difficult or unusual camera shots

November 3, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Why ad-libbing shouldn't be written into scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The value of continuing work on a masters' degree
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inexpensive ways to achieve good lighting for an exterior night scene

October 27, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The connection between film and literature
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Learning to score films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lighting for dramatic reasons, not flattery

October 20, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Generating ideas that help get the story told
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Securing screening rights to a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Keeping cameras out of shots in multi-angle scenes

October 13, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Generating ideas that help get the story told
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ideas for working effectively with actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Insights on camera cranes, and famous crane shots

October 6, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing split screen scenes
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ideas for filming a low budget, high quality movie
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - On how his career got started, his first job, and how bad reviews affect him

September 29, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Whether or not it is better to be the last writer on a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The impact of a degree on a career in film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The marketability of a digitally shot film

September 22, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Securing rights to make a movie based on a concept album
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Corralling the on-set energy of comedic stars
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lighting and shooting an interior party scene

September 15, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - To option, or not to option?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - More on the working relationship between director and cinematographer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Making the transition from video/TV productions to feature films

September 8, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing a screenwriter bio
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a producer
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips on making a film with a basic camcorder

September 1, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The basics of scene transitions
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Moving from production assistant to director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving the best definition for a short on black and white 16mm film

August 25, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing is hard
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Starting down the path to steady directing work: the mailroom, festivals, or Starbucks?
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Factors in achieving a saturated color look

August 18, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Collaborating with multiple writers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The viability of HD shot films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Contrast ratios for shooting night time interiors

August 11, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Similarities and differences between TV and feature film script lengths
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making it as a director: work hard, or wait for a big break?
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving specific color tones outside with a mini DV

August 4, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The use of parentheticals
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Defining what makes a true 'indie' film; Helping actors avoid indicating; Re-recording dialogue
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving specific

July 28, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Action leads -- easier to sell a male or female role?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Securing permission to use a filmmaker's clips in a student documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting a scene in a photo darkroom

July 21, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Catering and craft service on a set
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of obtaining legal clearances to use someone's work before shooting
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Techniques used for creating "edgy" images

July 14, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difficulty of communicating intangible ideas in a film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Licensing clips for a documentary; the commitment required for becoming a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Breaking into the industry as a still photographer; shooting with the Canon XL-1

July 7, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - How to communicate cutaways in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Advice on becoming a stuntman; whether to shoot with one or two digital cameras
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Control over the process of creating an image, and why he chooses film over digital

June 30, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing to suggest dialects
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Reasonable reasons to become a filmmaker
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Capturing black light effects while shooting a film with DV and Super 8

June 23, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Becoming a hyphenate in Hollywood
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Knowing your strengths: The need to write and direct a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Getting the big-budget look by converting 16mm to DV, then to tape/DVD

June 16, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of a storyboard to a film
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Revelling in the process of achieving your film goals, as opposed to focusing solely on the goals themselves
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips for getting a later start in the world of film editing

June 9, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The meanings and proper use of INT., ENT. and EST. as script notations
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The process of watching dailies and selecting which shots to print; the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to film a features vs. a short
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Readers reply to Oliver's request for sites that are good resources for DV cameramen

June 2, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Incorporating real people into your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Updates on the upcoming re-release of her Decline trilogy of documentaries
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The importance of just getting your story to the screen

May 26, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Revisiting the issue of script length
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding an agent and submitting your script to them
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Trying to achieve film results on DV

May 12, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Notating a slow-motion sequence in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The next step after completing a low-budget film; camera placement when scene includes a mirror
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Film vs. DV: Shooting to the strengths of the medium you're using

May 12, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Comparing scripts and screenplays
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Compiling a reel and learning beyond film school
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why the visual quality on DVD outtakes differs from the film

May 5, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Comparing scripts and screenplays
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Eliciting usable responses from the subject of a documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How cameramen avoided capturing the 'rolling bar' on TV screens before recent technological advances

April 28, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Comparing scripts and screenplays
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The search for blanks and squibs vs. the larger picture
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inexpensive ways to light a no-budget feature

April 21, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The number of drafts each script goes through, and the effect on the end product
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning about cinematography through books

April 14, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The length of the average film script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lighting properly for a 360 degree shot

April 7, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of a compelling central idea for your script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Avoiding green tints from fluorescent lights on a DV shoot

March 31, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The proper protocol for casting calls
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How a specific director's style impacts a film; The job of a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving a film noir look using black and white Super 16 film

March 24, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The disclaimers at the end of films, and why they are there
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The job of a director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Experimenting with continous vs. discontinuous light sources

March 17, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing and directing a short to jumpstart your career
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Defeating "fear of finishing" syndrome
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Equipment loans from camera warehouses

March 10, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting co-producer credit
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Favorite directors and their bodies of work
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lighting ideas for shooting in a single room using mostly panning shots

March 3, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - More pointers for naming characters
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of trust between actors and directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lens choices to create unique shots involving size and angle distortion

February 24, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Naming conventions for characters that have two names
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Adapting a script to your directoral style
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Financial aid for film education; The difference between 35mm and Super 35

February 17, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding the copyright owner and securing rights to a translated novel and script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Why offering line readings to an actor is bad form
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The history and use of the ring light

February 11, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Nurturing a young filmmaker's talent and interests
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Acquiring music rights - clearing publishing and master use
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Transitioning to filming with a movie camera, and its similarities with an SLR camera

February 3, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Securing rights to remake an original screenplay
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Qualities of films used for application to film schools; where to start your film education
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The creation of the visual style of several Verhoeven films

January 27, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Becoming a filmmaker in your thirties
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Film: art or entertainment?; gaining familiarity with the audition process
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Cinematography schools in the UK and US

January 20, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difference between the terms "script", "story" and "screenplay"
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Pondering the appeal of straight-to-video directing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Insight on shooting a music video

January 13, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - The battle over screen credits for writers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How a director and cinematographer interact during a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Techniques for creating clean shadows

January 6, 2003
Ask a Writer - by John August - Tips for the process of developing your optioned script with a producer
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Insights on and personal examples of shooting a documentary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - How soap operas achieve their polished look

December 30, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Portraying endurance without monotony; registering a script with the WGA
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Update on release of We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n' Roll; blocking and pacing for a scene
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Where are the young DPs?

December 23, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting scripts written with specific actors in mind filmed
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with the right camera operators and crew
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Color saturation in the films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet

December 16, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Recreation of a film sequel with a different company
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - True filmmaking vs. packaging and marketing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Tips for lighting a low-budget digital feature

December 09, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing an existing joke into a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The legal process for naming your production company
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - What "doing a digital finish" really means

December 02, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Making changes to a copyrighted script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - How do you know if you're a good filmmaker?
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Editing methods in the early 1900's; Lens choices when shooting extreme slow motion

November 25, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Guidelines for overcoming insecurity while avoiding arrogance
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Is it ever too late to start directing?; whether an older, completed feature or newer scripts are best for finding an agent
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inspiration from the work of still photographers

November 18, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - What to do when someone beats you to the punch with a similar script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - True filmmaking vs. packaging and marketing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The relationship between a film's director and director of photography; estimating cost for transfer of digital video to 16mm film for screenings

November 11, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - His feelings on quoting screenwriters; the need for MPAA numbers on scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Theories on how scripts are chosen for production in Hollywood; finding funding for completing a saga
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Researches and gives his opinions on new film technology

November 4, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Advice for a producer of biographical movie
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Practical advice on becoming a commercial director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Techniques for achieving color degradation like Sven Nykvist's did in The Sacrifice

October 28, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - The importance of developing adequate plot environment for characters
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Advice for aspiring filmmakers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The specific movements in making trombone shots

October 21, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - The use of copyrighted footage; sharing first drafts of scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - What makes a great film and filmmaker; comments on stardom vs. acting
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Reveals how he created certain lighting effects while filming The Cider House Rules

October 14, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Script fonts; A screenwriter's need to live in L.A.
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ways for an ROTC student to gain film experience; ideas for scouting locations
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Reveals how he created certain lighting effects while filming The Cider House Rules

October 7, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Are permissions needed to use a song in a script?; scriptwriting software
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The growing trend of actors becoming directors; methods for compressing time in short films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The reasons anamorphic lenses are difficult to obtain

September 30, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Insights on formatting plot treatments
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The varying need for coaching actors on dialogue delivery
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Secrets behind the visual wonders of Losey's The Servant

September 23, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Ideal scene lengths
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Pointers for a music documentary shoot
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Characteristics of film stock and latitude transfer

September 13, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - The difficulty of courtroom dialogue
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - What she looks for in a film festival
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Hints on the transition from still photography to cinematography

September 6, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Do's and don'ts of writing shooting scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ideas for affordable and steady indie camera shots
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The job of a 2nd unit cinematographer

August 30, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Proper script notation, part II
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Tricks to getting great performances from kids
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting scenes in and around vehicles

August 23, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Ideas for getting your script read when you're outside of L.A.
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Finding the right festival for your film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Who invented the Zolly shot?

August 16, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Proper notation of secondary scene headings
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Pondering the mystery of David Lynch
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Ideas for achieving noir-like lighting on a black and white DV shoot

August 9, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - To capitalize, or not to capitalize character names?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The benefits of attending film school; the purpose of sound dissolves
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Options for shooting a scene in a mirrored room; the trend toward excessive camera movement

August 2, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Hints for finding selling prices of existing scripts online
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - A director's role in ensuring good sound quality
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Drawbacks of converting film to digital and back again

July 26, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Recalling his dreams of being a screenwriter
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The art of directing natural reaction shots
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Drawbacks of converting film to digital and back again

July 19, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Ruminations on the importance of a specific college major for future screenwriters
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of preparation for stunt sequences
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The exacting science of focus pulling in both movies and television

July 12, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - The challenges of getting a TV show idea produced
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Directors and their part in the editing process
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Transferring digital video to festival-friendly formats

July 5, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing practice scripts for television shows
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Establishing scene geography; submitting films to festivals
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The importance of polarizing filters; creating flashing neon sign effects

June 28, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Promoting your script via online sites; flashback notation in scripts
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Creating a natural style; photographic permissions
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Aspect ratios of different films

June 21, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Rewrites, credits, and the WGA
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Ad libbing dialogue; multiple credits on the same film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Long tracking shots; the grainy look of old stock

June 14, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Making time to write
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Producer input; the 'auteur' theory
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Will DPs survive the digital revolution?

June 7, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Avoiding clichés
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting the Wayne's World gig
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Who creates the "look"--Director or DP?

May 31, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Genre-hopping
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - What creates that made-for-TV feeling?

May 24, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Beginner blunders
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Shooting over-the-shoulder dialogue
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The challenge of working with technically-minded directors

May 17, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Translating literary insights into specific onscreen moments
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Nailing down the details in pre-production; the challenge of directing when English is a second language
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Back projection and fade-out tricks; shooting video at high speeds

May 10, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Timing a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Mid-life career changes
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The "skip bleach" process

May 3, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding structure as you write
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with a storyboard artist; forming a production company
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - "Choppy" action sequences; "trombone" shots

April 26, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Visiting the set
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Being assertive (not aggressive) on set
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The framing instinct

April 19, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Character research
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Pet projects vs. commercial fare
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Inviting agents to screenings; makeshift Kino lamps

April 12, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing action sequences
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The psychological significance of movie stars; casting "real" actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using camcorder shots in a film; replicating TV light

April 5, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - The logistics of taking over someone else's screenplay
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting the rights to news clips
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filming into a mirror; impossibly continuous camera shots

March 29, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - What to do before signing agency papers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Budgetary differences between theatrical features and made-for-TV fare
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting ratios and the distribution of funds

March 22, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Music and the writing process
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - From shorts to 3-picture studio deals
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Adventurous color work and the uniqueness of tone

March 15, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Working foreign languages into a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Sending music demos to directors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Saving time with a pre-light crew; ASC/BSC membership

March 8, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding inspiration in a post-Sept. 11 world
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Faking locations; the disappearance of viewfinders

March 1, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - How Academy/WGA members vote for writing awards
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Keep it legal (for the sake of your film)
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Making adjustments for Super 35mm

February 22, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding a job as a writer's assistant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Breaking into the commercial business
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning balance through Tai Chi

February 15, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding projects that fit your skills and temperament
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Independent distribution options
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Simple lighting tips for suspense/horror

February 8, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Balancing original projects and rewrites
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Working with writers to adjust the script
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, film beats digital

February 1, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Is an MFA worth the investment?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Directors' salaries
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why frame rate standards haven't evolved

January 25, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Tailoring scripts to specific actors
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting low-cost clearance from guilds and music publishing companies
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Switching speeds mid-shot; simple stop-frame animation

January 11, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Leveraging a sold script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Gauging screen time
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The grainy look; moving from theater light design to film

January 4, 2002
Ask a Writer - by John August - Is Sept. 11 movie material?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Film school on a tight budget
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Infiltrating the British film industry

December 28, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The index card method
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Double your setups with a second camera
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filming photo montages

December 21, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The truth about God
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Shooting DV for film conversions
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - What a video cameraperson needs to learn to become a cinematographer

December 14, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Script-reading software
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Keeping an eye on the monitor
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The "Super" distinction; music video lighting techniques

December 7, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding the right story for your characters (and vice-versa)
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Manufacturing mood
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Opportunities for British film school grads

November 30, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - I've got a short script--now what?
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Tools for filming real people
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Amateur demo reels

November 23, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding treatments (and "scriptments") online
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Used DV equipment
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - What makes something a "Hollywood" film?

November 16, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Presenting a well-groomed script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - 2nd unit duties; crying babies
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Smooth slow motion; the romance of back-lighting

November 9, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The rules of CAPITALIZATION
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The director/producer divide
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why cameras can't compete with the human eye

November 2, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Keeping scenes (and scripts) tight
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Starting out in documentaries
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Trying to make video look like film; the practical limitations of wide format

October 26, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Balancing descriptive information and narrative speed
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The social responsibilities of filmmakers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Recruiting "Western" DPs; visual gimmickry

October 19, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Adapting a short story (Minority Report) for the screen
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Actor training; costume jobs
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Female DPs; definition of ASC

October 12, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using parentheticals to communicate with actors
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Measuring for focus; "checking the gate"
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Color reversal stock

October 5, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Everyday writing rituals
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Casting for chemistry
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Differences in image condition

September 28, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Salary ranges for writers
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Dealing with divas
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Pre-production film testing (lens, emulsion, scenic, and wardrobe)

September 21, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - An Alice in Wonderland horror movie, and industry urban legends
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Planning a budget
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Digital color correction; definition of "timing"

September 14, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Working on two scripts at once
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Scoring a film
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The "ideal" personality for a DP

September 7, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Competing projects from different studios
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The commercialization of rock 'n' roll

August 31, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The elusive "edge" factor
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The well-rounded director
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - 70mm projection

August 24, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Decoding WGA credits ("story by" vs. "screenplay by" vs. "written by")
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making the most of film school's perks
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why video footage of film sets looks overlit; observing natural light

August 17, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The three-act structure
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Nabbing locations by any means necessary
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Stanley Kubrick's visual style

August 10, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Distinguishing between tweaks, polishes and rewrites; writing dialogue for nonfictional characters
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Getting strong performances from actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Why US cinematographers don't operate the camera; who chooses the equipment for a shoot

August 3, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Big-budget remakes; a perspective on Lars von Trier
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The "MTV influence" in modern cinematography

July 27, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Last-minute script changes; referring to other movies in a script
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Assembling soundtracks
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Filters, gels, timing, and tracking shots

July 20, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Borrowing ideas and dialogue from real life
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Direct for yourself, not for money; getting experience before film school
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The pros and cons of storyboards

July 13, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Dealing with rejection; writing "off-the-page"
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Letting credit and blame fall where they may; the perils of co-directing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Working with stars on the set

July 6, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Learning from bad screenplays
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Sticking to DV for low-budget projects; finding an internship
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Must-see films for aspiring DP's; grad school options in the UK

June 29, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - To write camera angles, or not to write camera angles
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Making trailers; why DGA rules rock
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using smoke to play up light/contrast

June 22, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Juggling non-linear timelines
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Cast/crew payment terms; raising money the old-fashioned way
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Big-budget cameras; the "grainy" look of 16mm

June 15, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Innovation in the "post-Tarantino" era
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Keeping up with the gutterpunks from DWC Part III
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Split-screen shots; using pantyhose to soften the image

June 8, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Starting out in the British film industry
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - The importance of on-set experience
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Cinematography as collaboration

June 1, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Referencing brands, songs, etc. in a script; connecting with indie directors
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - Planning coverage; working on mainstream projects
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using soft focus on faces; experimenting with home movies

May 25, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The life of a writer's assistant
Ask a Director - by Penelope Spheeris - DV vs. SVHS; getting started at 25
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning the science behind cinematography; DV vs. 8MM; slowing down video

May 18, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Using the "based on a true story" tag; proper screenplay formatting
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Light metering options

May 11, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The challenges of bio-pics
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Finishing touches and personal style

May 4, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The Agent Game: Part III
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Determining aspect ratio; replacing backgrounds without a blue screen

April 27, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The Agent Game: Part II
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Committing to a director; registering movie titles
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Lighting for DV; the "look" of TV movies

April 20, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The Agent Game: Part I
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Attaching "name" actors; levels of producer input
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The internship route; getting started as a 30-something

April 13, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The three strains of writer's block
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - The post-partum experience
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting in hot climates

April 6, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The pros and cons of using voice-overs
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca & Allison Anders- Women's contributions to film history
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Technicians' agents and industry contacts

March 30, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Computer game adaptations; approaching the new Barbarella
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Directing with limited tech savvy
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Anticipating the digital future; starting out in still photography

March 23, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Keeping pitches simple; finding characters' voices
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Landing a PA gig; watching your vision become a reality
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Interacting with other DP's

March 16, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - When to stop tweaking
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Judging good direction; making contacts in the biz
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Leaving finished footage to the editors

March 9, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Charlie's Angels rewrites and rumors
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - The importance of casting
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Pre-production decision making; creating suspense

March 2, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The effect of budget size on script salability
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca & Richard Guay - How a film makes money
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Earning your stripes through constant work

February 23, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Formatting/spelling errors in a script
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Directing for TV; film school vs. "grunt work"
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Working through conflicts with the director

February 16, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Choosing college courses; the road to racial diversity
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Balancing focus and open-mindedness; looking for collaborative actors
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Making the most of a small room; using slow-motion and time-lapse

February 9, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - "One man's masterpiece is another man's McHale's Navy"
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Deciding on visual themes

February 2, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - 3 ways of working: "on spec," "on assignment," and "on weekly"
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Favorite "coming of age" movies
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Using color as an expressive element

January 26, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Disagreements between writers and directors
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Maintaining discipline on set
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Achieving a stylistic "look"; filming with fog

January 19, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Showing agents scripts vs. finished films; reading reviews
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Finding good producers
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Compensating for sudden changes in light

January 12, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting your script evaluated
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Juggling technical and performance issues
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - The limitations of shooting digital

January 5, 2001
Ask a Writer - by John August - The twin project phenomenon; copyrighting titles
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Idols of the directing world
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Making cinematography invisible to the viewer

December 29, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Applying to graduate film school
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Shooting with one camera; making your first movie filmable
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Learning on film vs. digital; lighting for HI-8

December 22, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Script pricing
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - The benefits of film school; books about directing
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Shooting a variety of projects; apprenticing vs. film school

December 15, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - The research process
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Committing to a first script; dissecting films
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Variables when shooting outdoors

December 8, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - The legal implications of spoofs/references; censorship as a marketing strategy
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Digital as versatile tool
Ask a Cinematographer - by Oliver Stapleton - Working with production designers

December 1, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - The perks of co-producing
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Shooting in city streets

November 24, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing for film vs. writing for TV
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Short film distribution; making a living as an indie director

November 17, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Publishing a book vs. selling a script
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - A typical shooting day

November 10, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writer's strike protocol
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Paths to the director's chair; indie "it" girls

November 3, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Music selections; noticing good dialogue

October 27, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Finding screenplays of existing films

October 20, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - The process of optioning rights
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Financing woes; shooting low-budget

October 13, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Writing within genres
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Shooting out-of-sequence

October 6, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Adapting stories and novels for the screen
Ask a Director - by Nancy Savoca - Building up to your first feature

September 29, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Pleasing the masses

September 22, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Stock Hollywood plots
Ask a Director - by Martin Hynes - Finding an internship

September 15, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Keeping track of multiple story lines
Ask a Director - by Martin Hynes - Getting agents' attention

September 8, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Copyrighting your screenplay
Ask a Director - by Martin Hynes - Defining your strengths

September 1, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Definitions: Spec scripts, treatments, outlines, and pitches

August 25, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Screenplay contests; evoking visual style through words

August 18, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Screenwriting how-to books

August 11, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - The advantages of living in L.A.

August 4, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Legal concerns surrounding true-story adaptations

July 28, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Working with themes

July 21, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Projects with multiple writers
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - Storyboards and shot lists

July 14, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Getting an agent; liberal arts vs. undergraduate film school
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - Choosing equipment for a first film

July 7, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Battling self-doubt; the importance of pre-planning
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - Shooting in New York City

June 30, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Advice for young aspiring filmmakers; a writer's schedule
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - Raising money for indie films

June 23, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Editing essentials; selling story ideas
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - What to do when festivals reject

June 16, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - Final Draft, and other script-writing programs
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - The benefits of film school and hands-on experience

June 9, 2000
Ask a Writer - by John August - What film school can and can't do for you
Ask a Director - by Peter M. Cohen - Producing your own film