Dedi Felman

@TheJoeMenendez @EricDeanSeaton Yes, looking forward to luxury days! I also wonder how much of Spielberg's process was shaped by doing film as much as TV, esp film in that era, when many auteurs designed & storyboarded even non-stunt shots in advance. Does his hybrid approach stem from coming from TV+Film?

@dediaf @EricDeanSeaton Yes, on a low-budget -- especially non-union -- show, second team typically becomes an unaffordable luxury. You have to improvise when lighting and setting up with whoever, once the cast goes off to hair and make up.

Steven Spielberg recently said this about blocking. Very few directors can get away with blocking a scene with Second Team. He certainly can. But actors do NOT (generally) like it. It DOES explain why his blocking and staging feel so singular and distinctive. The notion that he has to see the FIRST PASS of blocking exactly as he imagined is fascinating. He adjusts later on, if need be, obviously, but mannnnn, this explains a lot. Here's the quote: "... I'll do a whole blocking with second team first. The actors are still in hair and makeup. And I'm blocking the entire shot with second team. So the actors come out, having worked with me before, or having known my process, they'll know to stand where I've asked them to move, and when to move and why the camera's moving with them. And then later, as we're lighting it, I'll sit down and say: 'okay, here's why I want you to do something that you weren't preparing for when you were memorizing your lines the night before. But this is why I need it to be this way.' And every once in a while, more than every once in a while, and say: 'Here's why I think I need to sit here, for at least these five lines without getting up.' And they'll convince me that they were right and they'll be able to do it their way. But I need to be able to... do the first pass of the blocking. Because blocking is so important on movies and television shows."

@TheJoeMenendez @EricDeanSeaton True, but also if you're low-budget there's no second team. You have to get blocking ideas even on your scout. (And use pix from the scout & blocking software to prep.) It's a luxury to wait for shoot-day rehearsal. We go in w/ideas & adjust on the fly & per actor feedback.

Yes, absolutely. From a process standpoint, he has trust from his actors who indulge him blocking with second team, but feel comfortable enough to push back if something doesn’t work for them. For directors like you and I, we’re pretty much OBLIGATED to block with first team while second team watches. The “normal process” way. That means, that often times, that interesting blocking idea we had remains forever in our heads, unrealized. Not so for Spielberg. And this may be key to his distinct blocking.

Some days you can’t love social media enough. This is one of those days. It began like this. Someone stole 12 tons of KitKats. And then the replies started coming in. Scroll down.

A few years ago, my wife I endowed a scholarship for book sellers hoping to write their first book. Applications for the 2026 awards - totaling $50,000 - are now open! You can apply at bit.ly/3NNOr0G

On point. #screenwriting #adaptation #books #theme #getpersonal #characterfirst

2 more days til spring, 91 days to the 🌹🌹🌹🐎!

Ryan Coogler telling his cast to stand up during his acceptance speech, signing I love you, running to grab that baby so he could see his mama win the first Oscar for a woman in her category, hugging Chloe Zhao when Jessie Buckley won. A good man, a beautiful human being.

Thrilling, thrilling, thrilling!! YAAS AUTUMN!!

NYT: “Is it not the foremost duty of thoughtful people to clarify the accountable deeds of the past & keep knowledge of them alive?" He was attacked by the postmodern left, who couldn't abide his belief in universal truths &the neocon right mistrusted his insistence on compromise

The timing of all this....I'm not crying....

I'm looking forward to the Short Drama Forum. Scott Brown's talk last time was an eye opener. If you're interested in learning more about what's actually going on in verticals, highly recommend. forum.shortdramaalliance.com

Of interest. Noticeable at Ralph's on Super Bowl Sunday (prices were all inflated), ride share apps during the holidays (no surprise), and, of course, the airlines do it consistently to frequent flyers who sign in.

What a sad day. John Shirreffs was a beacon of kindness, dignity and good humor -- backside or front side. Godspeed. You were a joy to be around, every single time. 📷@JayHovdey

🤣🤣🤣 This solution to a production dilemma was also just genius. #productionappreciationmoment

Everyone in LA during the Bad Bunny half-time show:

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance required 9,852 theatrical pyrotechnics, nearly 400 costumed extras, and a lot of ingenuity. And yes, that was a real couple featured in the wedding. wired.com/story/bad-bunn…

Ok here’s the secret to getting films made. Never give up. All the no’s are just fuel to me to prove those that said no were wrong. I say no often because I can’t do them all. But I hope I’m wrong because I want everyone to succeed. The more movies that are made the better for the business as some will surely be hits.

The easter eggs in those costumes tho! ;) youtube.com/watch?v=kBYH2k…

Whoa. variety.com/2025/digital/n…

@Todd_Spence The holidays are coming. Treat yo self!

Confession: I’ve never seen Terry Gilliam’s BRAZIL.