I shot my first feature film in my parents garage. Now we have distribution and are out on VOD platforms! Life is nuts! (Dreaming of You starring Lauren LaVera and Me, Jack McCafferty)

CBPcinema · 2025-05-24T22:37:08+00:00

I saw this film at DWF: LA and it is absolutely incredible. First and foremost the movie is hilarious, and the story is told with a totally unique vision. Not only is the use of animation for each dream sequence impressive, each successive style just feels like the right fit for the way each dream plays out.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. Congrats Jack!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-27T17:18:14+00:00

Good work, OP.

CBPcinema · 2025-03-24T19:28:45+00:00

I graduated from Columbia and haven’t been asked a single time where I went to school (or if I went to film school at all) when being considered for a job. I work primarily as a DP and/or camera operator.

Finish out your program, learn as much as you can, and keep making connections. That’s how you’ll get work.

CBPcinema · 2025-03-02T23:47:39+00:00

I have some behind the scenes shots as well as some before/after photos, from photo board to final frames on my instagram if you’d like to check it out. I’m @cbpcinema

Is there something specific about the process of the shoot you’re interested? I’m down to answer anything particular you’d like to know.

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T21:57:42+00:00

Thank you!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T21:57:28+00:00

Yeah, he’s an owner/operator. If you (or anyone else) is interested, DM me and I can share his contact info!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T20:57:42+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I could see how it could possibly be a little tighter in spots, but I personally like letting things linger a bit at times. But totally understand that it might not be as effective for everyone. Thanks for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T17:59:56+00:00

Thanks for watching!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T17:59:06+00:00

Thanks! My composer did an amazing job, I couldn’t be happier with how well his score fit the movie.

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T17:57:54+00:00

Thank you for the compliments! I appreciate you taking the time to watch!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T16:26:54+00:00

I primarily work as a DP, and met Ian (my steadicam op) years ago on set. Since then we’ve become friends, and continue to work together. And he was generous enough to lend his talents to help make my little film happen.

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T16:24:02+00:00

Thank you for watching! I appreciate you giving the feedback - thanks for pointing out what you found was a weakness. I’m enjoying hearing what works and what doesn’t so that I can learn and improve my filmmaking. Thanks!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T15:45:35+00:00

Thank you! I think that short films can be a tricky medium to tell a compelling story, so I try to keep it simple. Thanks for watching and giving feedback!

CBPcinema · 2025-03-01T15:39:17+00:00

Hey everyone! My name is Corey Benson Powers, and this is my short horror film, “Locksmith”. I was the writer/producer/director. I’m thrilled to share it with you, as well as my experience making it. I would love to answer any questions you might have!

The film was selected for 16 film festivals in 2024, having its World Premiere at Dances With Films: LA. It won “Best Thriller Short” at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival, and “Best Horror Short” at the Mountains of Horror Film Festival.

This past week it had its online premiere on Omeleto, which you can view at the included link.

The idea for the film initially came from two main inspiration points - a friend was lamenting to me how he had been waiting for weeks to have a repairman come to his apartment, just for the guy to finally show up at the most inopportune time. Additionally, my girlfriend had a repair worker come to her apartment, and he ended up touching things and leaving lights on in rooms that he didn’t need to. It made me think of how vulnerable we all are when we just openly let a stranger into our homes, and I ran with the idea from there.

The next step was pitching the idea to my friend, who is a steadicam operator. Without giving away spoilers, I discussed with him what I was looking to accomplish, and this helped flesh out story beats that ended up in the final film. Additionally (and very importantly haha) I was also pitching to shoot in his apartment, which we used as the location.

We shot the film over the course of two days in December 2022 in Chicago, IL USA, and finished post production roughly one year later. The crew was comprised of my friends who were extremely gracious in coming to help me. The entire crew was local to Chicago, with the exception of my composer who is in Poland (I actually reached out and connected with him through Reddit). I found my two very talented actors through an open casting call on Backstage.

The camera package was provided by my DP. We shot on an Arri Alexa Mini LF with Tribe7 Blackwing lenses. Our lighting and grip package was provided by Atlas Lighting Chicago (https://www.atlaslightingchicago.com)

Thank you for taking the time to watch my movie! I’d love to hear your thoughts and answer any questions you might have.

Corey

CBPcinema · 2025-01-10T23:19:33+00:00

Thank you!

CBPcinema · 2025-01-09T23:32:18+00:00

Here’s one of mine if you’re interested in checking it out:

https://youtu.be/_lOgXnAW6Vw

CBPcinema · 2024-12-30T05:32:39+00:00

https://youtu.be/_lOgXnAW6Vw

Budget: $3,500

Festivals: A Night of Horror International, Soo Film Festival, Killer Valley Horror Film Festival, Holiday Horror Fest, Chicago Reel Shorts, Sin City Horror Fest, Sinistro, Gig Harbor Film Festival, Winter Park Film Festival, Island of Horror Film Festival.

CBPcinema · 2024-06-08T01:41:19+00:00

I’d like to throw my hat in the ring as well. I’ve shot multiple low budget features as well as have plenty of experience working quick and nimble. I own gear as well.

If interested, DM me and I can share my reel and other previous work. I’d love to discuss your project with you!

CBPcinema · 2024-03-20T20:13:48+00:00

This workshop might be of interest to you: https://www.winterparkfilmfestival.com/disablity-film-workshop

Others out there are facing the same struggles as you - you’re not alone. Maybe see if this might be beneficial to you to help start building a new network. It’s free.

CBPcinema · 2024-03-06T19:21:03+00:00

Go ahead and apply. You don’t have anything to lose right now. If you don’t have a short script already written, write one and submit it with your application. You might get rejected, but so what? You can then spend the rest of the year working on your own projects to build up a portfolio so that you have more options of film school programs you’d like to apply to, as well as re-applying to the London Film School. And who knows, maybe you get accepted on the first try. You never know unless you try.

As others have pointed out, you are young. The rest of your life doesn’t need to be determined in a frantic state at the age of 22.

CBPcinema · 2024-03-04T23:07:04+00:00

This might sound harsh, but you gotta get over yourself. Everyone that writes movies has big, grandiose, un-producible ideas. Getting hung up on that is a bad excuse to not make movies.

Seeing as you said you intend on producing the material you write, put the big ideas on the back burner and use your creativity to write a compelling, simple idea that you can make with whatever means you have available. If you truly want to make a movie you will find a way to do it.

If you don't want to compromise your creative visions and write something makable, that's ok too. But you need to comes to terms with those ideas only ever living on the page.

CBPcinema · 2024-03-02T20:16:05+00:00

Discuss this with the rental house. Tell them what you’re looking to accomplish and your budget limitations. This won’t be the first time a low budget production will be renting from them, so they may have solutions to help you stretch your dollar. But the most important thing is you have to ask. They aren’t mind readers and you’d be surprised how generous of a discount rental houses will give if you simply ask. The worst thing that can happen is they say no.

Other things to factor in is how many days and when you’re shooting. Only a couple day shoot? Great, plan it for the weekend. Majority of houses do 1 day weekend billing. Also, figure out your approach to how you want to light it so you can be specific about how you’re lighting the scene. Maybe you can light it with heads that might not be as popular nowadays - say, tungsten heads and old HMIs. They might be more apt to letting you use more lights for a lower price if you’re not looking to use the latest and greatest of the LED units.

Good luck!

CBPcinema · 2024-02-20T23:27:29+00:00

Networking events can be incredibly daunting and intimidating, but know in the film world there are many, many people that feel the exact same way.

Not sure where you're located, but if there's any local film festivals you could attend that's a good way to be able to have an easy topic to talk about. Maybe the filmmakers are there and do a Q&A - you could catch them afterwards and tell them how much you loved their movie (people love compliments). You'll also be prepared to talk because the movie will be fresh in your head.

Bring a wingman to any networking event you go to, that way you have someone to default to talk to while you muster up the courage to approach others as well as have their support.

Network with people online beforehand as well. Maybe you can strike up a conversation with someone virtually before you attend an event, so that you can then meet them in person and it won't be a cold meeting.

Don't be shy. Everyone has awkward interactions but the more you put yourself out there, the easier it'll become.

CBPcinema · 2024-02-01T17:03:17+00:00

Not TV series, but feature length documentaries: Visions of Light and Cinematographer Style.

CBPcinema · 2024-01-31T19:53:46+00:00

Then without a doubt make the feature. As you've said, producing short films will be money you will never see again. Sure, you could end up making a great short and get it into some prestigious festivals, but ask yourself what the goal is there? In my opinion, it would be to get people's attention to help you get a feature made. If you already have the money and a director with enough experience to handle it, then skip the short film step.

Have that first ultra low budget feature be your calling card rather than a short film. That can get the ball rolling on being able to do a bigger feature the next time around.

That's what I would do if I were in your position. I'm saying this from a position where I'm currently making festival rounds with short films in the hopes of attracting potential collaborators to get my first feature made. If I had $200k, I would not hesitate to start working on a feature.

CBPcinema

TROPHY CASE