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Truly Free Film

10 Lessons I’ve Learned About Making An Independent Erotic Art Film

By Alexia Anastasio

In January, 2014, The Wrap’s Tim Molloy asked a panel including Lena Dunham, HBO’s Girls executive producers Jenni Konner and Judd Apatow why there was so much nudity on the show. Yes, 2014.

“It’s because it’s a realistic expression of what it’s like to be alive,” explained Dunham. For many indie filmmakers, especially females who also star in their projects, it can be a trap.

While it may seem bizarre to keep having this conversation of why nudity is used, we should really be talking about when nudity is used and how it can be an effective storytelling tool.

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Let's Make Better Films

Learn How Your Actors Think

As a director or producer, you need to be able to understand how your actors think.  As a director, it doesn’t hurt to know how your producer thinks either, so you might want to read this blog.  Both directors and producers, need to know how their crew thinks.  And these days all should know how investors and distributors think, and those involved in the infrastructure elsewhere, like agents. Then there is the audience; let’s check that box too. Heck we need to know about critics too. And Festivals.  The list never ends!

So where do we begin?

Fortunately for us, ActorsAndCrew.com put together this nice list of their recommendations on the Top Ten Books on acting. Perhaps some one can put together the same on:

  • Producing
  • Crew: Casting Directors, Cinematographers, Editors, Production Assistants, Production Designers
  • Film Financing Now
  • Distribution
  • Agents, Managers, Publicists
  • Film Fans
  • Festivals
  • Critics

If we build these lists, I do think it will all get better, albeit not quite at the pace we may so desire.