[Guest Post by Grampaw, indie filmmaker.]

Youngsters, this is Grampaw, here, the old storyteller. I been making motion picture stories now for some time now and let me tell you it ain't easy, at all. My friend Len, here asked me to share with you some of my storytelling secrets, well there are 5 WATCHWORDS For Storytellers that I have learned and I'll share 'em with you, right now.

With each Watchword, I'll give ya an example, too, I reckon, that's just the kinda storyteller Grampaw is, y'see. I'll just be your mirror. Don't pay too close attention, cuz Mister DeMille hasn't come calling me, yet. But if you want to do it, then by all means go right ahead, and end up in the gutter, like me. At least you'll have a smile on your lips, and that is the most important.

Grampaw's Top 5 Filmmaking Tips

5. WRITE

I didn't learn how to read n' write until I was nearly 33 years of age, but oh when I did, you better believe I started writing all the time! Napkins, tabletops, and brick walls. Write on everything, youngsters, and write all the time. Tell the world your ideas by inscribing black marks on dead wood! For example I wrote this motion picture of mine at a Winky's diner late at night.

4. STUDY

Read them books. I don't care what! I like tabloid magazines and Tarzan comic books. I like looking at the jungle girls. The only way you know how to make a motion picture is by looking at the Silver Screen and seeing it for what it is-- study it-- study it-- study hard! Now this motion picture I only made because I seen it done somewhere else. Do you understand?

3. PLAN

You stories ain't just gonna jump out yer head onto YouTube. You make a plan. You steal your camera and bribe your actors. You write something out as a plan and figger what it's going to take to get that young lady to do her thing! We had to plan this one out, far in advance. You will have to plan, too--

2. EXPERIMENT

Once you got a plan, DON'T STICK TO IT- do something new-- a whittle a risk! A risk a whittle! All the plans went to Heck on this one, and still it LIVES, because we risked.

1. SHOOT

Some people call me a bum and I make stories for the Internet. People come to me from all over God's great earth trying to steal my dreams. WHY? Because I shoot! I shoot! and I shoot! I take it this way and that! I shoot I don't talk about shooting. I shoot I don't just write, I don't just study, I don't just plan, and I don't just take chances-- I shoot the movie I want to see! And if you are serious, youngster about making movies-- YOU SHOOT IT TOO. This one we shot all the way in Disneyland. It didn't matter. We shoot anywhere we want, because that's what we do. If you have a dream, make it so:

I thank you, youngsters for watching, learning, and my friend Len, for inviting me to his blog. If you are interested in more filmmaking lessons, please watch this short video for my Films School, and contact me for more details. I am always seeking new students.