ICYMI: The Best of August 2017 on MovieMaker.com

Remember Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? 

Unless a traumatic romance left you running to the mind-altering surgeons of Lacuna Inc., it’s an indie that’s hard to forget. Moviemaker.com is equally concerned for your memory, compiling our best of August 2017 for your memorable pleasure.

Accompanying the celebration of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the success of Focus Features at “Meet Me in Montauk,” Moviemaker welcomed a variety of stories covering different movies and moviemakers from all walks of life in August. Ever wondered how to write historical fiction? Open a healthy dialogue for mental illness , or explore the punk movement through D.I.Y. filmmaking? How about premiering a short film on HBO with a budget of $500? Find these stories and more below.

“Meet Me in Montauk”: Alamo Drafthouse and Focus Features Memorably Celebrate Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (by Paul Leow) 

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Focus Features put on a lavish celebration of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in—where else?—Montauk.

Distribute and Conquer: How the Director of “2500km” Landed Her $500 Short Film an HBO Premiere (by Daniela Arguello)

The director, writer and cinematographer of the $500 short film “2500km” walks us through her journey from shoestring production to HBO distribution.

The Conviction of a Misguided Visionary: These Three Prison Inmates Are Looking To Moviemaking As Their Salvation (by Max Weinstein)

Prison is an unlikely launching pad for a film career, but these aspiring moviemakers are making it work.

Things I’ve Learned as a Moviemaker: Toni Collette (by Toni Collette) 

“If you’re on the fence about a project, do not do it. It’s a resounding ‘yes’ or nothing.” Words of wisdom, Toni Collette edition.

How They Did It: Shooting a Flashlight Prison Horror Movie, Against the Night, on the Sony a7S (by Brian Cavallaro)

This director wanted something “not only cost-effective, but something a studio movie wouldn’t let you get away with: shooting with only flashlights.”

Do Things, Don’t Just Say Things: Six D.I.Y. Tips From the Director of Turn it Around: The Story of East Bay Punk  (by Corbett Redford)

“90 percent of the crew had never been involved in making a film before,” says Corbett Redford, director of the Green Day-produced Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk. “Luckily, our producers allowed us to make mistakes.”

Making a Living by Mixing Media: How to Make the Leap From Directing Features to Directing Television (by Jeff Meyers) 

Most of the time when a first-timer gets hired, it’s a fluke – so make sure you’re never far from the thoughts of people who might hire you.

The Creative Distribution Fellowship: How Sundance Institute is Working to Build Moviemakers From the Ground Up (by Liz Manashil)

“Grow your audience! Learn data analytics! Take control of your distribution!” For years, Sundance Institute has been screaming these things from the rooftops. Now they’ve created a fellowship to help you make them happen.

Elizabeth Blue: Using the Power of Film to Rewrite the Dialogue Surrounding Mental Illness (by Vincent Sabella)

Elizabeth Blue was directly inspired by writer-director Vincent Sabella’s own experiences, but he refuses to be reduced to the label “mentally ill filmmaker.”

Matter of Fact: Seven Keys to Writing Historical Fiction From the Screenwriter of Pilgrimage (by Jamie Hannigan)

If writing historical fiction “sounds like preparing for a thesis… Well, that’s exactly what it is,” says the screenwriter of Pilgrimage. Read on for seven things that helped his script get medieval on your ass. MM