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Filmmaking Tips for the Independent Filmmaker

by on July 7, 2026

Hi, I’m Peter D. Marshall and I’ve worked (and survived) in the Film/TV industry for over 50 years: as a Film Director, TV Producer, First AD, Creative Consultant and Directing Coach. (See IMDb Credits.)

In 1999, I started ActionCutPrint as a film directing resource for Independent Filmmakers featuring online movie making courses, film directing articles, film and television books and filmmaking workshops.

“Take 3: My Notes on Directing Actors“
 https://filmdirectingcoach.substack.com

“Take 3: My Notes on Directing Actors” is a working filmmaker’s creative notebook. Not just for me, but for YOU as well. It’s a creative space for practical observations, hard-earned lessons, and honest conversations about the craft of directing actors for Short Films, Indie Films, Studio Features, TV Series, Vertical Dramas, and Commercials.
https://filmdirectingcoach.substack.com

I have developed several filmmaking workshops that I have presented over the past 20 years (Singapore, Auckland, Shanghai, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Haiti, Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Regina.) I was also the directing instructor at the Shanghai Vancouver Film School from 2015-2023

I offer Film Directing Coaching services via Zoom. So why hire me as your film directing coach? Along with my international teaching experiences and my 50 years of professional filmmaking experience (as a TV Director and Feature 1st AD), I feel I have the necessary qualifications to help you achieve your dreams of being a creative and successful independent film director.

Please Download(pdf) my Complete Film and Educational Resume

I am also the author of the film directing book, Making the Magic Happen: The Art and Craft of Film Directing published by Michael Wiese Productions. You can preview the book on Amazon.com.

 

 

 

 

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My film directing book was named one of the best Movie Directing books!

by on May 5, 2026

Wow, so honored! I just found out that my book “MAKING THE MAGIC HAPPEN” was named one of the best Movie Directing books of all time by BookAuthority! https://bookauthority.org/books/best-movie-directing-books

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Directing the Film Actor Online Coaching Program

by on April 30, 2026
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MASTERING THE ART AND CRAFT OF DIRECTING

April 20, 2026
MASTERING THE ART AND CRAFT OF DIRECTING A Masterclass Series of Film Directing Tips, Tools and Trade Secrets For Anyone Sitting in the Directors Chair The information in this series of 25 (e)books is based on my 20 years of experience as a television drama series Director and feature film First Assistant Director, as well […] Read the full article →

The Classic 3 Act Story Structure

July 9, 2026
The Classic 3 Act Story Structure Whenever I begin my script analysis process as a director, I use the three-act story structure model because it’s the simplest and most common film narrative story structure there is. This is because no matter what your story is about, or your visual style in shooting the film, or […] Read the full article →

Character Analysis – Part One

June 25, 2026
Character Breakdown List After reading the script, making notes about the story structure and doing your scene-by-scene analysis, the next part of the Director’s preproduction homework is figuring out the development and objectives of the characters through detailed Character Analysis. To find the “heartbeat” of any script, a director needs to understand the “subworld” of […] Read the full article →

Character Analysis – Part Two

June 21, 2026
Character Archetypes and Their Functions Psychiatrist Carl Jung believed that universal, mythic characters called Archetypes reside within the collective unconscious of people all over the world (no matter which culture or time period they were born into) and that these Archetypes represent the basic themes of our experience which result in deep emotional responses. In […] Read the full article →

Text, Subtext and Context

June 12, 2026
Text, Subtext and Context Contributed by Michael Bruce Adams “Text means the sensory surface of a work of art. In film, it’s the images onscreen and the soundtrack of dialogue, music, and sound effects. What we see. What we hear. What people say. What people do. Subtext is the life under that surface – thoughts […] Read the full article →

Detailed Scene Analysis (Part 2)

May 30, 2026
Once you understand the story, who the characters are and what happens to them, you now need to analyze each individual scene by digging deeper into the story and its structure. (NOTE: You will use many of the same story analysis points I mentioned above but now they are specifically designed for each scene.) What […] Read the full article →

Privacy Policy per the New GDPR Guidelines

May 26, 2026
IMPORTANT: I have updated my internet Privacy Policy to comply with the new European Union (EU) GDPR rules that came into effect on May 25, 2018. These Policies explain your rights under the new GDPR Guidelines. If you continue to visit this website and/or stay as a subscriber to any of my email lists after […] Read the full article →

General Story Analysis

May 24, 2026
(A) Your First Impressions of the Story When you first get your script, read it through once so you can quickly discover what the story is about, where it takes place, who the characters are and what happens to them. This quick reading is very important because it’s when you form your first impressions of […] Read the full article →

Detailed Scene Analysis (Part 1)

May 9, 2026
Once you understand the story, who the characters are and what happens to them, you now need to analyze each individual scene by digging deeper into the story and its structure. (NOTE: You will use many of the same story analysis points I mentioned above but now they are specifically designed for each scene. STAGE […] Read the full article →
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FILM DIRECTING COACH – Peter D. Marshall

Actors & Athletes Have Private Coaches. So Why Not Directors?

CONTACT EMAIL

Peter D. Marshall

PETER'S FILM CREDITS

IMDb Director/AD Credits

Film and TV Directing Credits

First Assistant Director Credits

Biography for Peter D. Marshall

PDF Download: Peter’s Complete Film and Educational Resume

CONTACT

Peter D. Marshall

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