This presentation was given at FilmCAMp 2013. Many more details are discussed during the lecture, and interactive exercises were done with audience participation.

1. What you need to know
BEFORE you make your
movie!
by
Ms. Mariam Arthur
CEO, Kmy Films
Chairman, Cambodia Oscar Selection Committee

2. Audience / Market
Story
Preproduction

3. WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?
Youtube – why?
Local Cinemas – why?
Film Festivals – why?
Sales to other countries – why?

4. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Youtube – keep it short – tell a good story – free to experiment –
practice skills
Local Cinemas – must appeal to local audiences – a higher
standard is needed now, comedy is a good genre – but make
sure it IS funny! Be prepared to help promote it!
Film Festivals – international recognition as a filmmaker, helps to
raise more money for your next film
Sales to other countries – can make more money than in
Cambodia alone, but stricter on the genre and story

5. WHAT ABOUT THE OSCARS?
Can you make your audience FEEL
something?
The production quality doesn’t need to
be like Hollywood!
Great acting is a must!

6. Beasts of the Southern Wild –
City of God – Brazil
USA – Louisiana
Smoke Signals –
Native American
Pieces of April – USA
New York City

7. WHAT DOES YOUR STORY NEED?
A main character who must make a choice
that all people can relate to
The circumstances or setting is unique
Something happens that makes the
character face the choice they don’t want to
make
The character must overcome obstacles

8. HOW DO YOU WRITE A GOOD STORY?
Who is the main character and what do they want?
Who wants something that stops
character from getting what they want?
the
main
Start the character in their normal day, and then
something happens that changes their life.
The rest of the story is what they DO. What
obstacles keep them from getting what they want –
how do they face each challenge?

9. EXAMPLE: Pieces of April
It’s a normal start of the day for April, waking up with her
boyfriend.
What happens on this day? Her family is coming for
Thanksgiving dinner (what does she want? – to impress them
and have them like her boyfriend)
Everything that can go wrong does go wrong!
In the end, her family rejects her and she realizes her life can be
ok because she has a boyfriend and neighbors that love her. –
but a final twist has the family realize they love April no matter
what, and coming back for a happy Thanksgiving.

10. WHY DO I NEED PREPRODUCTION?
Every movie will have a few problems happen on the
set. Preproduction will help prevent problems that can
cost you money or damage relationships.
IT DOESN’T COST ANY MONEY!
IT SAVES TIME DURING PRODUCTION!
If you want to become an internationally recognized
filmmaker, you NEED to understand preproduction.
What are some of the problems you have had on set?

11. WHAT IS PREPRODUCTION?
DETAILS... DETAILS... DETAILS!
You must start with a script breakdown
A storyboard is good – to communicate the
director’s vision, and to prepare a shot list. If there
is no storyboard, then the director must prepare a
shot list – or you WILL run out of time on the set!
Locations, cast, craft service, costumes, props...
(see handouts)

12. Final note: PRACTICE!
Make short films!
Be clear to tell your STORY
Improve technical skills
THANK YOU!
presentation by
Ms. Mariam Arthur
theroadgypsy@gmail.com 012 54 30 74