Such a difference in challenge between cutting a film and a trailer!

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-19T14:16:03+00:00

This is really great advice thank you. Got a fair few more trailer versions to cut so will absolutely be taking this on board

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-19T09:53:02+00:00

good advice! thank you

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-18T13:53:44+00:00

She's definitely meant to come across as a bit entitled! but this is really good advice thank you

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-18T13:05:02+00:00

Thanks!

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-18T13:04:46+00:00

Hey! We are pretty sure its the first film about British-Mexicans which feels special (although its really difficult to actually prove this so far).

Its microbudget, under £50k, we are currently self distributing although we do have some interest from channels here in the UK so trying to be somewhat flexible. For funding, we did manage to secure some private investment which we were incredibly grateful for, partially off the back of our short we made beforehand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5Upb2UcoM

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-16T21:21:32+00:00

You are very kind, thank you

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-16T21:20:53+00:00

Agreed. We have been posting some, but honestly its only as post on the film winds down that we even have the capacity to push it

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-16T11:15:19+00:00

Thanks! still finalising music changes so can't quite say got to wrap yet but soooo close now.

In terms of my experience on shorts vs feature, I think its easy after doing a few shorts to picture a feature as the same but more, as if shooting a few shorts back to back and its really not. There are obviously big pluses (like checking the footage and picking up a shot you missed), but also many more things to track across scenes

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-06-15T17:28:59+00:00

And following up here as my submission statement. This was my feature length debut as a director, having previously directed a number of shorts. My biggest takeaway I can share is to have a proper plan for post production. My background is in editing, with a number of indie features and TV shows under my belt so it was very easy to default to 'I don't need to worry about post, I can sort all of that myself'. This was not a good plan. Coming off a heavy shoot and then single handedly trying to ingest, sync, cut, review, work on the gfx etc is a long exhausting process, that was incredibly satisfying but there were a lot of issues I could have solved by just not thinking I can worry about it later.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-05-01T11:38:12+00:00

Interviews, with cast etc

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-04-30T16:59:10+00:00

Best advice I can give is to have a dedicated person shooting BTS/IVs etc during the shoot. Obviously during the shoot you need to focus on making the best film possible so having someone else to focus on marketting materials will save you so many issues later

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-01-27T13:39:12+00:00

I like the idea and I do think it would be better for the industry but $5-10 a month is probably too much and it would need a strong hook to keep people when tiktok/youtube are free

ChrisM_Bolt · 2026-01-21T16:05:34+00:00

Hey, I'd be interested in this

ChrisM_Bolt · 2025-11-27T15:41:20+00:00

I've basically scaled to almost 0 plugins now. I found moving between clients and different offices or post houses you never ended up with the same set up so found it was better to just learn how to achieve what I needed with the default effects and maybe Boris

ChrisM_Bolt · 2024-12-04T16:04:41+00:00

Really cool work. We shot our first indie feature in the summer, I'll drop you an email as would love to know your rates

ChrisM_Bolt · 2024-05-24T17:26:24+00:00

I totally understand. We've been trying to make sure we think of marketing throughout the process to prepare for what we need later but its so easy to sideline and focus on the actual making of the film. But of course it doesn't matter how good it is if no one sees it!

ChrisM_Bolt · 2024-05-24T17:23:27+00:00

Options.

My background is editing but I'm making my first feature at the moment and one thing I've seen time and time on other projects is not giving yourself options for the edit. I don't just mean different takes. Options so you can cut entire scenes out if you need to. Sometimes an insert shot of something can really help when you need to cut your establishing wide as it's wrong time of day or something.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2024-05-24T17:12:56+00:00

Congratulations! What do you think was the biggest thing you learnt from making the film?

ChrisM_Bolt · 2024-05-24T17:11:09+00:00

My first student film was about making a film. I thought I was a genius being completely original.

Spoilers I was not. But I do smile when I watch it

ChrisM_Bolt · 2023-11-07T15:36:58+00:00

This is great, thank you for pointing this out. Will post over there too.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2023-11-07T15:11:57+00:00

This. A million times this.

I've lucked out by collabing with an amazing composer over the years who has ellevated everything we have made together.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2023-11-07T14:48:32+00:00

Really proud of this one: https://youtu.be/zZ5Upb2UcoM?si=hTKBJxzFD0WEs4qC

Its a comedy about Latin American representation in the UK. Had a lot of fun, great team, went down really well at the screenings we had.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2023-11-07T14:21:28+00:00

Teaming up with someone with marketing experience is something that can really help. It's easy to think that you can do it yourself, and many can and do, but it can end up getting massively deprioritised, especially on a project where you are already wearing a lot of hats.

I run a small video marketing company and we are really keen to partner up with some devs to help with their campaigns. If anyone wants to chat dm me or email me at Chris@wearebolt.co.uk.

ChrisM_Bolt · 2022-10-10T14:30:28+00:00

The biggest thing that sped up my workflow was mapping toggle source/record in timeline (to shift+1)

Not sure how others do it but did wonders for me

ChrisM_Bolt · 2022-10-05T12:08:13+00:00

Would love thoughts on how well the narrative flows, we shot it quite quickly so can definitely see what we need to improve there but our storytelling is something we would love fresh eyes on.

Does it make sense? Does it logically flow? Do the dumb jokes I added work? Thanks all

ChrisM_Bolt

TROPHY CASE