Filmmaking - BraveMaker

Film Fest Panels DO’s and DON’TS

by Tony Gapastione | Apr 9, 2024 | Blog, Film Fest, Filmmaking, Producing

I just came back from screening one of our new shorts in Los Angeles for the Pasadena International Film Festival, (PIFF), ironically not held in Pasadena but in North Hollywood at the NoHo 7 Laemmle Theater. It was a great night but not without its awkward moments,...

Producers get the job done

by Tony Gapastione | Mar 30, 2024 | Blog, Filmmaking, Producing

What do producers do again? EVERY.THING. I recently finished producing a new short film with our BraveMaker Academy. It was so fun. I started a producer workshop and had a great crew of people working on INFECTIOUS THEATRE, a mockumentary I wrote that will be out some...

We need time to NOT create.

by Tony Gapastione | Feb 29, 2024 | Blog, Acting, Directing, Filmmaking

I don't like it. I don't like NOT creating. I don't like not doing stuff. It's somehow ingrained in me to work and work too much. That's NOT HEALTHY. Captain obvious, I know. This challenge is common for many. It comes from being a creative freelancer, an indie...

Why I started a nonprofit organization, and why you shouldn’t, unless you’re ready to put in the work. (My longest blog ever).

by Tony Gapastione | Jan 16, 2024 | Blog, Filmmaking, News, Producing, Production

This blog has been something I’ve wanted to write for a while. I may have been procrastinating… or avoiding it because it brings up just a few (read: all) of my insecurities and fears. But what better way to confront those issues than by addressing them publicly...

Speed Date Me

by Tony Gapastione | Dec 23, 2023 | Acting, Blog, Directing, Filmmaking, Producing, Production, Screenwriting

Looking for love? I wrote a script about it and it became one of our last short films of the year. Our most recent BraveMaker Academy short film is in the can! Which means we made it through production and editing, (post-production), has commenced. All of our...

Sundance Film Fest Survival Tips

by Tony Gapastione | Dec 18, 2023 | Blog, Filmmaking, Sundance

Sundance. Since 2013 I’ve been attending this life changing festival. It might be cliche to say it’s magical but being in person in the snow, with some of the best artistic cinema in the world and the ones who make it is something special. It’s been eleven...

Without conflict there is no creativity.

by Tony Gapastione | Nov 25, 2023 | Blog, Directing, Filmmaking, Production, Screenwriting

Dare I say it? There is no real creativity… without conflict. Not my favorite thing, conflict, but it’s a necessary and important part of creativity…and life itself. Life is full of conflict. Just go on X, formally known as Twitter for five minutes and see...

3 tips for creating a writing schedule

by Jessica Cohen | Oct 18, 2023 | Blog, Filmmaking, Screenwriting

Writing can be hard.Really hard. Even the best, most experienced writers can sympathize with this sentiment. I am far from the best or most experienced writer, but I can personally vouch for this. It can be amazing, don’t get me wrong; the feeling of having a creative...

4 Qualities of a great collaborator

by Tony Gapastione | Sep 30, 2023 | Blog, Directing, Filmmaking

I'll admit there are some people I'm extremely attracted to and others in which I'm very turned off. Get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about creative attraction. That "it" quality. Of course talent is huge, but I'm talking more than talent. Yep, this is a...