Advice — tony levelle

15 DIY Book Promotion Tools You Need to Know | WritersStore.com

Posted by Tony Levelle on

You're not a New York Times bestselling author. You don't have a publicist. And your Amazon sales numbers are awful. Should you quit writing books?Absolutely not.No matter what kind of book you've written (or plan to write) there are many ways to reach your audience. Each of the DIY tools listed here are low or no-cost, and each of them works in its own way. One or more may be perfect for you.Fifteen ideas might seem overwhelming, but remember that you only need to do one thing at a time. As one clicks and then another, you'll soon be reaching...

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How to Plan an Unscripted Documentary

Posted by Tony Levelle on

How do you make a documentary when you have no script? I was faced with this problem when I shot my first unscripted documentary for a class in documentary filmmaking. We had the assignment of making an 8–12 minute unscripted documentary. I started by visiting a friend's farm and shooting some footage. I quickly filled up 3 one-hour tapes. Wanting to make extra sure that I had enough footage, I shot more, and more, and more. I ended up with 30 hours of tape.Unfortunately I had a day job, and no time to log, much less edit all of it....

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Choosing the Right Idea for a Film or Book

Posted by Tony Levelle on

When Dorothy Fadiman agreed to be a poll watcher in the U.S. presidential elections of 2004, she thought she was only volunteering to work on Election Day. She had no idea that what she saw would trigger the idea of making a movie about U.S. elections. Her documentary, Stealing America: Vote by Vote, has consumed three years of her life and many thousands of dollars. It will soon go into national theatrical release. Whether you are writing a book or making a movie, choosing the right idea for your project is crucial. Only an idea that truly inspires you will...

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15 DIY Book Promotion Tools You Need to Know | WritersStore.com

Posted by Tony Levelle on

You're not a New York Times bestselling author. You don't have a publicist. And your Amazon sales numbers are awful. Should you quit writing books? Absolutely not. No matter what kind of book you've written (or plan to write) there are many ways to reach your audience. Each of the DIY tools listed here are low or no-cost, and each of them works in its own way. One or more may be perfect for you. Fifteen ideas might seem overwhelming, but remember that you only need to do one thing at a time. As one clicks and then another, you'll...

Read more →

How to Plan an Unscripted Documentary

Posted by Tony Levelle on

How do you make a documentary when you have no script? I was faced with this problem when I shot my first unscripted documentary for a class in documentary filmmaking. We had the assignment of making an 8–12 minute unscripted documentary. I started by visiting a friend's farm and shooting some footage. I quickly filled up 3 one-hour tapes. Wanting to make extra sure that I had enough footage, I shot more, and more, and more. I ended up with 30 hours of tape.Unfortunately I had a day job, and no time to log, much less edit all of it....

Read more →