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iHeartRadioFilmmaking is a commitment. There are hard truths to contend with. The industry is famously hard to break into and while making a short film is an achievement, creating an independent feature film which is profitable, is an extraordinary feat.
Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull has done exactly that, and in a genre which normally requires phenomenal budgets and high end tech – science fiction.
In this interview loaded with advice for aspiring filmmakers, HaZ breaks down how his start in a video games company led him to venture into movie VFX for films like The Dark Knight and ultimately go it alone with a carefully planned vision to make his first sci-fi feature film.
HaZ used every trick in the ‘thinking outside the box’ book to go from compositor to eventual movie director.
Here, he takes us through the journey of his career, his unique casting process, how he built up a wealth of contacts in the film industry, working with an investor, finding sponsorship to fund projects and so much more valuable wisdom.
He found that he learned so much during the process that it was worth putting that information into an affordable online course.
Here he touches of some of that hard to find advice.
There are two parts to this interview – this is due to the the shear volume of great advice HaZ shares. You can jump to sections which are most relevant to you.
You'll Discover
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Why you should bring sound design and music into the process early
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How independent film sales companies can help you define your next film subject
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How to shape your movie into a commercially viable film
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How he created his fly-on-the-wall online course with behind the scenes and b-roll footage
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How Hasraf binge-watched behind the scenes documentaries to teach himself
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The best bit of advice he’s ever been given
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How to finish a project
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Why going for a run / exercise can clear you mind so you can see things in a fresh light.
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Why you can’t always fix it in post
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Why you should always have a plan – whether a meeting or a film shoot.
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Why it’s okay to throw away the plan – but you need one first.
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How to get through an animation block
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How HaZ made an animated film using gaming tech Unreal Engine
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Why virtual production is the major buzzword of the moment
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How reaching out to podcasts and filmmaking websites can accelerate you marketing
resources & links
Connect
Instagram @Hazdazzle
Twitter HaZ_Dulull
Website hazfilm.com
Haz’s Filmmaking Course
SCIENCE FICTION FILMMAKING 101
Watch Battlesuit + Making of on its official site
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PART 1 | Jump to…
- 04:46 Haz’s career journey
- 10:19 Short film Project Kronos goes viral
- 12:40 Developing & making his first feature The Beyond
- 18:06 Marketing & the success of his debut feature
- 24:26 Marketing tips for filmmakers
- 27:00 The importance of audio in your films
- 29:12 Making 2036: Origin Unknown
- 32:05 Casting actors
- 40:02 Early influences and education
- 46:25 The best bit of advice he’s been given
- 48:12 Essential habits for productivity
PART 2 | Jump to…
- 01:36 Reaching out to sales companies
- 05:25 Shaping your movie commercially
- 08:31 Finding sales companies
- 11:06 Scrub Forward Round (quick fire questions)
– Video Nasty – worst habits you see
– VR / AR / Mixed ‘R’?
– Techniques + software
– Play Pause Stop
– Secret animation tip - 17:55 Haz explains the origins behind his filmmaking course
- 24:19 Recent pilot Battlesuit created in Unreal Engine
- 32:10 Latest unreleased project in development
- 34:34 Virtual production and the future of film
- 37:46 Haz’s vision for his future career
