Featuring The Script Is Not Enough by Jamison LoCascio
The Script is not Enough takes a unique look at the making of four different independent feature films. The author takes you through every stage in development from writing, to financing, and to distribution and marketing. Find out how you can learn from the hard experiences and challenges that face the filmmaker along the way.
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Excerpt from The Script Is Not Enough
LICENCE TO SELL (MOVIES):
I won’t tell you the names, places, and legal entities, but I’ll tell you the truth…this was simply one dark moment in a full schedule of (intentionally?) disheartening Film Lab events on my schedule for the day. I was realizing how dark this hole was, and I needed to climb out of it, but first I had more to mine here. I was already in the hole, so I had to keep looking around. It was giving me a sort of courage too, as I realized I also had nothing much to lose in a place where there was little or nothing to gain, it was a place that was only designed to remind you that “no one cares.” It was the beginning of a positive feeling in me though, the feeling of needing to chart my own course and not rely on others to give the secret map to success. It did not exist anyway.
I had bought a pass to a prestigious event, a sort of convention for both new and established filmmakers alike (I will not name it as I do not know that they are directly to blame for this negative atmosphere, though many of their guests are). Major studios, distributors, actors, filmmakers. Interviews, panel discussions, audience questions, stages filled with people giving both bad and good advice alike, sometimes at the same time. This was all happening around me. It was very impressive looking, but once you saw behind the curtain the magic was lost. You name a distribution company (out of Hollywood), they had something happening here but what that something was, was not really much value to the individual filmmaker who could attend. Tickets were also expensive.
Now, in a very funny turn of events, we wound up with the very distribution company that had laughed in my face. What a coincidence. If only quality producing was the barometer for success and doors opening. It truly is not. So, I went home that day without a “deal” but instead, gained a much better understanding of the wall that existed. It needed to be gotten around, to distribute. There was always another, hopefully less insane, way.
In many chapters I have listed each film we have made thus far, and explained how each process went per the film given. For this chapter I will instead tell how it happened in sequence and the reader will hopefully piece together their own take away, their own “lesson” if applicable to them.
About Jamison LoCascio
Jamison LoCascio is an award-winning feature film director. In 2012, Jamison LoCascio began to write the screenplay for his first union short, “Midnight Catch,” which garnished much acclaim at the New Jersey International Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival. LoCascio decided to form his production company, Halcyon Valor Productions Incorporated. Graduated from Montclair State University with honors winning the “Excellence in Filmmaking” award for his numerous successful productions which premiered in film festivals around the world. LoCasio’s short films have since been honored by the Screen Actors Guild and screened at such festivals as the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers New York. LoCascio’s shorts “Track 3,” “A Stranger’s Confession,” and “Powerless” were all official selections of the Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. His films have been anthologized in the prestigious Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan, distributed worldwide on DVD, picked up for online distribution by Film Bay. DIRECTV & AT&T distributed 6 of LoCascio’s short films on their new International short film platform. LoCascio’s first feature film, “The Depths,” starring Michael Rispoli and Patch Darragh won Best Feature Film at the 2017 Manhattan Film Festival and had a strong critical reception. The film also won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Awards and received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard releasing on all major platforms including Amazon, Itunes, DVD and more. LoCascio’s second feature film “Sunset” starring acclaimed actor Austin Pendleton received rave reviews and won multiple awards including Best Dramatic Feature Film at the 2018 Manhattan Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Leading Actor (David Johnson) International Independent Film Awards. “Sunset” also received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio have recently launched their latest initiative by filmmakers for filmmakers called Film Valor, a youtube channel with over 3,000 worldwide followers and over 250,000 views, a behind the scenes look at their filmmaking process. “Know Fear,” his latest feature film, received critical acclaim and stars Amy Carlson. The film had a limited theatrical release. His next feature film “How Dark They Prey,” a unique horror anthology, has been released on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Plex, Udu, Mometu and many more with critics hailing the film as “Horror at its best”. His latest feature film release “7×7” is a collection of many of LoCascio’s award-winning short films brought together for one viewing experience on major platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime.
Jamison LoCascio’s Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/filmvalor
Giveaway
Jamison LoCascio will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for stopping by Kit ‘n Kabookle! Let’s connect on Goodreads for more book things. Lately, I’ve read…
Thanks for hosting today.
Do you have a favorite space to do your writing?
Thanks for hosting my book! Hello Tracie – to your question, I enjoy wiritng it in my office at my standing desk. I get much done in my space alone!
This book sounds incredible!
The book sounds intriguing. Great cover.
What was the first movie you remember seeing as a child?
The cover is very creative. I like the images.