Some highlights from upcoming No Budget Film School classes in LA (5/30-31)

For more info., go here.

The highlights:

- Peter Broderick, considered the leading authority on alternative distribution strategy, will give an empowering presentation on maximizing distribution with new, innovative techniques. Broderick has been one of low-budget filmmaking's leading experts since the early 90's. He wrote a series of articles for Filmmaker back then that helped drive the micro-budget filmmaking movement. In 1997 he founded Next Wave Films, which helped launch the careers of filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Joe Carnahan and many others. Now, as the President of Paradigm Consulting, he is a sought-after consultant, speaker, and producers rep. He will be coming straight from Cannes, where is on the panel "New Platforms for Filmmakers: Are They Working Yet?" with other indie film notables like John Sloss.

- Director Alex Holdridge will discuss the making of his award-winning feature "In Search Of A Midnight Kiss". Shot for $15,000 with a two-man crew all over LA, "Kiss" played several prestigious festivals and was released theatrically by IFC Films, and has been a hit overseas in places like the UK and Greece. It was also the winner of the coveted Cassavetes Award at the 2009 Spirit Awards, given to the best film made for under $500k.

- Jay Duplass, one half of the filmmaking duo The Duplass Brothers, will discuss the making of his two no-budget features and compare that experience to his most recent project, a $10 million Fox Searchlight film starring John C. Reilly, Marissa Tomei, Jonah Hill, and Catherine Keener. The $15k "Puffy Chair" was a cult hit, premiering at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and getting distribution from Roadside Attractions. The no-budget "Baghead" premiered at the 2008 Sundance and was sold to Sony Classics, which released the film in July 2008. Duplass is currently adapting another Fox Searchlight feature, "Sleep Toward Heaven," with Sandra Bullock attached to star.

- Matt Radecki, co-director of "TV Junkie" (Sundance 2006) and producer of numerous award-winning features, will discuss Post Production for no-budget features. Radecki is the co-founder of Different By Design, a production company and post-production house catering to the independent filmmaker.

- FSI: Film Scene Investigation - One of the most popular parts of the day and an example of the numerous problem solving components of the class. We analyze a scene from an award-winning no-budget movie, from script to screen. Students hear the scene read, get the opportunity to identify and solve production problems, learn how those problems were solved in the movie, see behind-the-scenes footage of the scene's set-up, and then see the filmed scene in it's finished form."

More at No Budget Film School site.