Daniel L. White Bio

Daniel L. White is an award winning filmmaker who has worked in the film and television industry for nearly 20 years. Starting his career in film and television post production, he has since worked on dozens of network television shows, including Frasier, Seinfeld, Reba, CSI: Miami and Heroes as well as hundreds of films from studios such as Paramount, MGM, Sony, Warner Bros. and Disney.

He has written and directed several short films since 2004 as well as a feature length film which was made for only $600. The film titled The Middle of the Middle premiered in New York City and Los Angeles in 2010 and was nominated for several awards including best cinematography and best feature, which it won in Los Angeles.

Mr. White has taught several film classes at Columbia College of Hollywood and has lectured on many film related subjects, including film finance and distribution, theatrical film production and post production for film and television. He has also written several books and dozens of articles on the subject of acting. His unique expertise in both the creative aspects of production as well as the practical requirements of industry gives his students a genuine "behind the scenes" view of the industry as a whole.

About Film School Online

A Simple Purpose

Film School Online was founded with one simple purpose: to give aspiring filmmaker's the skills to create professional quality theatrical films, regardless of experience, location or means. As technology continually refines filmmaking in general, Film School Online is first and foremost a resource to further the craft of filmmaking in its most elegant state. As modern film production is a refinement of over 100 years of practice and execution, I want very much to create a robust source of information and a concrete focal point for the emerging filmmakers of the world, that is based solidly on those lessons learned through antiquity through to our modern age.

Filmmaking encompasses an incredible range of disciplines, skill sets, aptitudes and abilities. I would say that as a general rule it will take a fairly exceptional person to distinguish themselves in this hyper-competitive industry. However, I selfishly take great delight in the works of those distinguished people, even as I aspire to those realms myself. I would say without hesitation that the journey of the filmmaker, though sometimes fraught with anxiety and peril, is perhaps one of the most rewarding risks a person might take upon themselves, supposing of course that their passions lie in that particular direction.

The Game is Changing

As any creative person has probably experienced in their lives, the act of forging ahead with their chosen form of expression in the face of criticism from both peers and loved ones can often be daunting to say the least. Neverminding the bureaucratic corporate forces that drive most modern entertainment industries such as film, televison and music, there is no shortage of blockades to those of us inspired to express ourselves creatively, regardless of medium.

The beauty, as I see it, with the continuing advance of technology, is the reduction of the barrier of entry to a nominal state. Or, more plainly, just about anyone can play this filmmaking game now. 

The only real question left is, "do you have what it takes?"

The Film Industry Shift

The purpose of Film School Online is to give the aspiring filmmaking adventurer the benefit of not having to start at zero and reinvent as they go along. As I said before, there is a rich film history and lineage that dates back over 100 years now. Because film production has largely been an exclusive endeavor due to costs that weren't readily or easily negated, filmmaking has been severely limited by the simple fact that, even if a person were a creative filmmaking genius, that wouldn't necessarily translate into a ready ability to negotiate and navigate the traditional corporate film hierarchy.

However, this is no longer necessarily true of filmmaking. Just as in the music industry, technology has at once freed the creative spirit and cleaned house of most of the unnecessary, bloated bureaucracy that was the common structure of the popular music industry. So too is true of the film industry today and as such, filmmaking in general will be allowed to be so much more of a meritocracy than before. While the housecleaning might yet stll be forthcoming in the film industry, the writing is definitely on the wall for all those legions of middle managers and redundant executives. The important element for the new and aspiring filmmaker to maintain in my view, is that we not allow the 100+ years of film production knowledge to go to waste simply for a lack of its common availability.

Building A Filmmaking Community

I feel blessed to not only be in possession of such a rich foundational knowledge of the filmmaking process, but I am also keenly appreciative of my natural inclination to share it, teach it and welcome any and all that would like to participate. Much as musicians have a sense of kindred spirit, so too I find filmmakers in the same camp. My recent experiences have only bolstered this notion and reinforced my belief that one of the best ways I can further the culture of theatrical filmmaking is to quantify it, explain it as best I can and make that information readily available, as is feasible for me to do so.

I want ultimately to give back to the industry that has not only rewarded me most handsomely financially, but has really served as a foundation to explore myself, my place in the world and the universe in general. I don't think there is any other medium on the planet that has had more impact on the world in a deeply human sense than the preponderance of the flickering images on the silver screen through the last century.

The Power of Film

Politicians, bureaucrats and theolgians through the ages could only dream for the power of a simple human truth displayed with quiet purpose through the lens of a cinema projector. That simple truth that cuts through all boundaries, be they social, racial, economic or otherwise is a wonderful thing, and we all know it well. It has made us laugh, cry or even cringe in fear, all the while not bothering for a second to reflect on how much raw emotion we shared with 300 complete strangers in the dark. Never once occasioning a thought of whether they be black, white, poor or rich. Even as we walk back into the rather mundane light of our socially regimented world, we just know instinctively that we have all shared an experience on a visceral level. It's really quite remarkable when you stop to think about it.

Giving Back

So, what is Film School Online about?

It's about making films for films sake. It's about caring for and offering the summation of 100 years of film production knowledge as best as I have the ability to the next generation of filmmakers. It's about putting forth a very selfish desire to see the works that will culminate from this knowledge and getting lost in the magic of cinema that has been such a tremendous and transformational part of my life.

It's about giving you, the aspiring filmmaker, the tools to maybe change the world. Or, at the very least to make a film that you are proud of. Believe me, that's no small feat in and of itself. You're here because you want to make films. I'm here to show you how and at the end of the day, that is what Film School Online is all about.

Sincerely,

Daniel L. White
www.Film-School-Online.com