In the corporate and educational fields, film consultants must have a knowledge of Internet technologies, not just the filmmaking process. Educators, students and individuals working on various projects within a company typically know their own field, but also need to relay that knowledge into video content for distribution within a classroom, at a presentation or online. The film consultant guides the content creator in the best use of equipment and software in order to create an interesting message for a media-savvy public.
The oldest form of film consulting is the technical adviser. This is an individual with specific areas of expertise who guides filmmakers for accuracy with regard to specialized fields, such as martial arts, law enforcement, law, medicine, psychology, firearms or other areas critical to the film project. Author and actor Dale Dye is a highly decorated U.S. marine who first served in Vietnam in 1965. Twenty years later, he took his expertise to Hollywood, where, as of June 2011, he has served as a technical adviser on 48 video game, television and film projects, including "Platoon" and "Saving Private Ryan." Dye operates Warriors, Inc., which provides technical services to the entertainment industry for performer training, research, staging and on-set advice.
Now that independent filmmaking is open to anybody with a digital camera and a story to tell, film consultants provide expertise on film projects. In this situation, film consultants can be an individual specializing in one or more tasks, such as pre-production, funding, distribution or marketing. Some existing production companies, such as Greentrees Films, provide a full range of consulting services. Experienced "line producers" or "unit production managers" have the working knowledge to keep a film on schedule and on budget. Their experience can help filmmakers obtain the highest production value using the lowest cost methods. Experienced crew members who serve as film consultants further enhance projects through their personal network of contacts, making it easier for filmmakers to locate exceptional talent and crew members.
Intelligent Television, a producer of film, television and video content, notes that whether the project is a film production or corporate video, the economic calculations behind the production and public consumption can change rapidly in today's environment. Jennifer Warren is an independent film consultant with studio-system experience and specializes in strategic planning within this changing environment. Warren assists filmmakers from the business planning stage to developing the right blend of marketing and distribution strategies.