Movie in a Box offers one-day, comprehensive seminars for filmmakers and documentarians to learn their craft directly from hit independent filmmakers and the vendors needed to get that film made! We are proud to share the passionately attendee testimonials from this outstanding filmmaking seminar.

 

After several years of standing-room-only Saturdays at the Beverly Hills Country Club, we currently are reorganizing Movie in a Box into an online series to more effectively reach the filmmakers who can benefit from our popular one-day immersions. More information on each level of our series is below, and please join our mailing list to be updated as new seminars begin in 2009!

 

One against-all-odds filmmaker. Five industry reps. One dreammaking day.

 

“Movie in a Box” is Hollywood’s only half-day, comprehensive filmmaking intensive. First, we bring you together with hit indie filmmakers to case study their film’s dramatic trek from script to screen. Then you meet The Resource Room, our panel of the key industry vendors you need to know to make your movie! In just half a day at “Movie in a Box,” we present:

• Writing: The 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple System
• Directing: Building a Team and Shooting Your Vision
• Producing: Staffing, Funding and Overseeing your Project
• The “Resource Room”: a top panel of vendors for camera companies, lighting equipment, film stock, legal services and more.

Remember, we keep classes small for intimacy, impact and maximum contact!
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One against-all-odds filmmaker. Five industry reps. One deal-driven day.

 

“Movie in a Box:Platinum” takes Hollywood’s only half-day, comprehensive filmmaking course to a new level - how to make a deal! First, we bring you together with hit indie filmmakers to case study their films. Then you meet The Resource Room, our panel of the key industry vendors you need to know to get your movie made, marketed and distributed! In just one day at “Movie in a Box: Platinum,” we present:

• The Magic: The Art of Writing, Directing and Producing a Hit
• The Money: Financing Your Feature
• The Machine: Marketing and Distributing Your Film
• The “Resource Room”:Film fest directors, publicists, bond company reps, entertainment attorneys and more

 

Remember, we keep classes small for intimacy, impact and maximum contact!

 

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One against-all-odds filmmaker. Five industry reps. One doc-making day.

 

“Docs in a Box” is Hollywood’s only half-day, comprehensive, documentary filmmaking course. First, we bring you together with hit indie documentary filmmakers to case study their films. Then you meet The Resource Room, our panel of the key industry vendors you need to know to make your movie! In just one day at “Docs in a Box,” we present:

• Funding: Financing and Grants
• Producing: Pre- through Post
• Promoting: Marketing and Distribution
• The “Resource Room”:Camera, equipment and stock vendors, location reps, attorneys, film fest directors and more

 

Remember, we keep classes small for intimacy, impact and maximum contact!

MOVIE IN A BOX attendees have included the ABC/Disney Special Talent Program honorees, actress Vanessa Williams and participants in FIND’s “Project Involve” and Workplace Hollywood. Here’s what our students and instructors have to say:

 

 

Screenwriting    Directing    Producing    Resource Room    Location

 

“TWO THUMBS UP. TOTALLY RECOMMEND THIS SEMINAR (stuff I didn’t learn in a 5-year MFA in Directing at UCLA).”
—Shonali B., Student

 

“Covers the ‘nuts and bolts’ of independent filmmaking. A great guide through the maze of independent financing, production and distribution for the serious independent filmmaker.”
—Steven Friedlander (Instructor), former Exec VP of Distribution, Fine Line Features

 

“This was the best seminar event I’ve been to. Concise, convenient and efficient.”
—Vicky S., Student

 

“Everything was excellent. I will spend the rest of my career digesting all of the information and advice I received here… I am happily overwhelmed.”
—Daron M., Student

 

“I have been to Sundance and found this infinitely more helpful with the handouts, cards, etc. This is such a necessity in this industry - keep it up!”
—Maurice J., Student

 

“I was so impressed with the way you ran the seminar - a wealth of information clearly disseminated, yet moved along quite nicely at a perfect pace!”
—Tracy B., Student

 

“The information about the business of production was so important. I know very little about this, and it helped a lot.”
—Mary D., Student

 

“Other filmmaking seminars better meet your high standard.”
—Tonis Thomas, Student

 

“Movie in a Box offers a window into the craft of filmmaking that is comprehensive, provoking and most importantly, inspiring.”
—Lisanne Skyler (Instructor), Director, Getting to Know You, Dreamland, etc.

 

“Save your time and money and ignore the hype of other crash courses in town. Movie in a Box will be the definitive class for an aspiring filmmaker.”
—Kevin Undergaro, Writer/Director/Producer, George’s Auto

 

“This rocks!”
—Anne P., Student

 

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SCREENWRITING SESSION

 

“The key to great storytelling begins with the script. You must have passion for storytelling or study with someone who has that passion. Anderson is just that, an insightful teacher who loves story, structure and detail.”
—Robert Townsend, Producer/Director/Writer/Actor, Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, B*A*P*S, etc.

 

“One of the clearest explanations of the main tension, midpoint, 3rd act tension concepts ever (including USC film school!)… I smell another rewrite. Damn you…”
—Tyler O., Student

 

“I’m a writer and have taken a lot of screenwriting structure lectures and read every book, so I didn’t expect to hear anything new that day.
I don’t know whether it was what you said or the passion with which you presented it, but I really did come away with some fresh insights that I’m using in my rewrite RIGHT NOW!”
—Lisa R., Student

 

“The 1-3-5 method is so simple and effective. After hearing the steps, I was able to visualize the positive effects it will have on my screenplay.”
—Lucy W., Student

 

“This course is a MUST for the writer-director-producer. Anderson outduels McKee, Fields, and the rest with this one day event. I received so much insight from this invaluable course.”
—Jon S., Student

 

“I can hardly imagine a better source to turn to for understanding how a great screenplay works, how a middling screenplay can be fixed or for learning more about writing, rewriting or analyzing a screenplay.”
—Clyde Derrick, Development Executive/Writer, formerly of Kennedy/Marshall Productions

 

“To the point, simple and right on! It helped in rethinking my rewrite.”
—Effie Brown (Instructor), Producer, In the Cut, Real Women Have Curves, etc.

 

“1-3-5. What a revelation.”
—Robert A., Student

 

“I feel like I could actually write the idea I have had in my head (and only ATTEMPTED once) and now feel supported in doing it.”
—Student (anonymous)

 

“You won’t find a more passionate, energetic screenplay structure expert. Step-by-step, Anderson will guide you from simple idea to tightly structured screenplay.”
—Charlie Jordan, Director, Something to Sing About, One Red Rose

 

“I found the class stimulating and Anderson brilliant at story structure.”
—Larry C., Writer

 

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DIRECTING SESSION

 

“Patricia Cardozo was very inspirational. The freedom and trust she has in her cast and crew reflected in her amazing film.”
—Lucy W., Student

 

“Patricia [Cardozo] gave a warm and heartfelt presentation that it helped inspire the director in me. She is incredibly inviting and encouraging.”
—Maurice J., Student

 

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PRODUCING SESSION

 

“Effie [Brown] was incredible - an extraordinary (and candid) wealth of information, and a true inspiration.”
—Summer W., Student

 

“[Rosenfelt and Skyler] took what they knew, their mistakes, and shared them… Seeing vision to completion but also not getting distribution [was] bittersweet. Want to see the movie!”
—Student (anonymous)

 

“Out of all of the teaching and seminars that I have done, this one stands out as one that distills information in a way that is easy to understand, informative, and never boring. I enjoyed the format and the chance to give back to the community what I have learned. The atmosphere was condusive to people being attentive and for real interaction. I hope they continue.”
—Scott Rosenfelt (Instructor), Producer, Smoke Signals, Home Alone, etc.

 

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THE RESOURCE ROOM

 

“I hope to begin a short film in the upcoming months and will take full advantage of the programs that I learned about at Movie in a Box. I would have never known that such opportunities were available had I not attended!”
—Rex S., Student

 

“Blown away by the ability to network with the profession and get quality advice from folks with experience… It makes the various steps of completing your dream a lot more understandable.”
—Gerald W., Student

 

“Excellent. Great networking. Worth the $ for this alone!”
—Tyler O., Student

 

“A reassuring reinforcement of the community effort involved in filmmaking, and a knowledge of where to go for help (and how much help is available).”
—Summer W., Student

 

“The greatest attribute about this panel is their ability and knowledge on every level, the wonderful interaction between themselves and the participants.”
—Maureen M., Student

 

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And final words on our site, the Beverly Hills Country Club:

 

“[The] most organized and comfortable setting I’ve been to.”

 

“GREAT. GREAT.”

 

“Beautiful facility and great lunch. Class size was intimate.”

 

“Location was very comfortable, and the food service was great.”

 

“Lunch was great. Accommodations were lovely.”

 

“Top shelf. No minuses.”