Hammad Zaidi

One of the best lessons I ever learned about knowing my international territories came in Budapest, Hungary at DISCOP; a Film and TV content market “for growing world regions.” I was at dinner with Edward Stencel, (a dear friend who …

One of the most important abilities to learn and master in the motion picture and television industry is to know what someone is saying about your project without them actually having to say it. Since much of this industry runs …

The first draft of the first screenplay I ever wrote left a lot to be desired. It was a family drama I wrote with a friend of mine in the fall of ’94, just months after I graduated UCLA Film …

Today I’d like to discuss a handful of thoughts on co-production protocol, with regards to partially financing your feature films overseas. So, without further ado, here are five tactics designed to assist you in your journey. Don’t Give Anyone A …

Today we’re focusing on International Co-Productions as a way to finance your cinematic genius in waiting. Now, unless you already have direct relationships with government-run cinema finance boards all across the globe, the best way to crack the door open …

Welcome to Going Bionic.  Last week’s article, “Just Say No,” discussed five things to say “no” to, when it comes to advancing your career or increasing the salability of your film. Thus, today we’re going over five things to say …

Happy Hump Day, everyone. I hope your Valentines Day was joyful and fun . Getting back to reality, today we’re exploring three quick ways on how to field horrific notes on your scripts or feature films, without jumping off a …

Hey everyone. Today we’re going to explore a few key “Copyright Strategies” that can sharply increase the value of your cinematic property. However, before we start strategizing, let’s walk through a few basics first. The Basics: Copyright Protection in Years …

Hi everyone. I hope you had a magical week. Welcome to “What To Expect When You Are Expecting (A Sale). Today’s article is written for filmmakers who are selling their recently completed motion picture. With Sundance and Slamdance coming up …

Happy Monday, everyone. I hope your weekend treated you well. Now the workweek is once again interrupting our Sunday afternoon happiness, I thought it’s be a good time to infuse a bit of )useful information. Today we’re going to discuss …

Happy Hump-Day, friends. I hope your week (and year) is off to a roaring start, but if it isn’t, this article may help to get you in motion. In our ever tangled world of entertainment and technology, advancements happen as fast …

Welcome to Monday. Before we get rolling into what surely will be a hectic week, let’s first enjoy The Boomtown Rats, classic, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” With 2016 clearly  in our rear view mirror, today is the perfect time to …

Welcome to Going Bionic, coming to you live from the Marche du Film, otherwise known as the Cannes Film Market. By the Numbers The 2016 edition of the Cannes Film Market had already registered a record, 11,900 registered professionals, which …

Welcome to Going Bionic, and say hello to our first of many articles focusing on the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival. I’ve attended Cannes every year since 2002, (minus 2011, when I stayed home to make sure I witnessed the …

This time next week I’ll be struggling with jetlag as I attend  the Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes Film Market. However, regardless of how painfully hectic it gets down in the trenches, I’ll remind myself “the trenches” are perched …