Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - payhip.com/b/kCZGd
Blake Ridder is a filmmaker, writer, director and actor, born in Shanghai and raised in the United Kingdom from the age of nine. He began acting in 2017, then wrote and directed his first short a year later. His feature debut, Help (2021), picked up multiple festival prizes and marked him as a fresh voice in contained psychological thrillers.
Ridder's horror follow-up, Manor of Darkness, was released in December 2025, while his third feature, the California-set suspense thriller Spill, is completed and heading for festivals/distribution.
Across more than 70 shorts he has written, directed, and appeared in award winners such as The English Teacher (2020). He founded Ridder Films, an independent production company operating in Los Angeles and London, and launched the Ridder Film Festival in 2024 to spotlight emerging genre filmmakers. His behind-the-scenes filmmaking content has attracted an online audience of over half a million followers. Ridder speaks English and Mandarin fluently.
CONNECT WITH BLAKE RIDDER
masterclass.ridderfilms.com
imdb.com/name/nm8484697
instagram.com/blake.ridder
youtube.com/@BlakeRidder
tiktok.com/@blake.ridder
MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS
3 Biggest Keys To Writing A Great Short Film - youtu.be/2UgAZNBwbyY
Should Filmmakers Make Short Films or Features? - youtu.be/ki6_ckQllyI
First Steps To Making A Short Film - youtu.be/ArxEMxJNhXQ
18 Lessons From Making An $8000 Feature Film - youtu.be/-LN4s-q7JDE
Best Advice For A Filmmaker Preparing To Make Their First Feature Film - youtu.be/qckz_SyJjqc
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
FilmCourage.com
twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
facebook.com/filmcourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
ko-fi.com/filmcourage
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SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
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LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
amzn.to/2h6W3va
THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING - Lajos Egri
amzn.to/3jh3b5f
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - amzn.to/3XEMK6F
►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – buff.ly/3rWqrra
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#filmmaking #shortfilms #filmcommunity
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - payhip.com/b/kCZGd
Blake Ridder is a filmmaker, writer, director and actor, born in Shanghai and raised in the United Kingdom from the age of nine. He began acting in 2017, then wrote and directed his first short a year later. His feature debut, Help (2021), picked up multiple festival prizes and marked him as a fresh voice in contained psychological thrillers.
Ridder's horror follow-up, Manor of Darkness, was released in December 2025, while his third feature, the California-set suspense thriller Spill, is completed and heading for festivals/distribution.
Across more than 70 shorts he has written, directed, and appeared in award winners such as The English Teacher (2020). He founded Ridder Films, an independent production company operating in Los Angeles and London, and launched the Ridder Film Festival in 2024 to spotlight emerging genre filmmakers. His behind-the-scenes filmmaking content has attracted an online audience of over half a million followers. Ridder speaks English and Mandarin fluently.
CONNECT WITH BLAKE RIDDER
masterclass.ridderfilms.com
imdb.com/name/nm8484697
instagram.com/blake.ridder
youtube.com/@BlakeRidder
tiktok.com/@blake.ridder
MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS
3 Biggest Keys To Writing A Great Short Film - youtu.be/2UgAZNBwbyY
Should Filmmakers Make Short Films or Features? - youtu.be/ki6_ckQllyI
First Steps To Making A Short Film - youtu.be/ArxEMxJNhXQ
18 Lessons From Making An $8000 Feature Film - youtu.be/-LN4s-q7JDE
Best Advice For A Filmmaker Preparing To Make Their First Feature Film - youtu.be/qckz_SyJjqc
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
FilmCourage.com
twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
facebook.com/filmcourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
patreon.com/filmcourage
LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
amzn.to/2h6W3va
THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING - Lajos Egri
amzn.to/3jh3b5f
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - amzn.to/3XEMK6F
►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – buff.ly/3rWqrra
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#filmmaking #shortfilms #filmcommunity
![How To Create An Authentic Acting Performance - Lynda Goodfriend [FULL INTERVIEW]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v40VtSQS5QI/mqdefault.jpg "How To Create An Authentic Acting Performance - Lynda Goodfriend [FULL INTERVIEW]
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd
0:00 - What A Famous Director Said To Me About My Acting
8:13 - How Robin Williams Got His Start In Hollywood
18:01 - If You Want A Better Acting Performance Focus On These Two Things
29:19 - Acting Is 99% Text Analysis
40:47 - What Do Managers Look For In An Actor?
53:17 - What Actors Should Know About Agents
Our gratitude to Anthony Leone for crafting this set! And a special thanks to Christopher Pettoni for his work behind the scenes to make this possible!
Lynda Goodfriend is the Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles
Lynda Goodfriend received her BFA from Southern Methodist University and did her acting study with legendary masters Lee Strasburg and Sandy Meisner. She has appeared in numerous shows on and Off-Broadway, including Good News, West Side Story, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Boyfriend. For eight seasons, she played Richie’s (Ron Howard) girlfriend, Lori Beth, on the legendary sitcom Happy Days and guest-starred on shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Vega$. Onscreen, she’s appeared in Pretty Woman, Taxi Driver, The Front, Nothing in Common, and Beaches. She founded the award-winning Actors Workout Theater in NoHo as well as the Actors Workout School. Behind the scenes, she has also worked in talent management, even opening her own firm, and has directed several television projects.
CONNECT WITH LYNDA GOODFRIEND
https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/nyfa-acting-for-film-faculty-lynda-goodfriend
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0328898
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFAs global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
https://www.nyfa.edu
https://www.nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
RELATED VIDEOS
Acting Is Not Pretending, Here’s What It Is - https://youtu.be/pybuVrCzl7o
What Does Conflict In Every Scene REALLY Mean? - https://youtu.be/BrrBWgI8cec
9 Truths About The Movie Business - https://youtu.be/RrmKkDlprnI
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
http://www.FilmCourage.com
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
http://bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
https://ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
https://www.patreon.com/filmcourage
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time
https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting https://amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
http://amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting Youll Ever Need
https://amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
http://amzn.to/2h6W3va
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - https://amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - https://amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - https://amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - https://amzn.to/3XEMK6F
►Stuff we use:
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - http://amzn.to/2u5UnHv
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#actors #actorslife #acting")
![Why 99% Of Stories Are Meaningless - Alan Watt [Founder of L.A. Writers Lab]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v4wkx8LBH_s/mqdefault.jpg "Why 99% Of Stories Are Meaningless - Alan Watt [Founder of L.A. Writers Lab]
Why 99% Of Stories Are Meaningless - Alan Watt [Founder of L.A. Writers Lab]")
