From Blueprints to Screenplays: The Journey of a Filmmaker Engineer
What happens when an engineer decides to make his first film?
From Blueprints to Screenplays is a no-fluff, behind-the-scenes chronicle of how I turned an idea into Yellow Ticket, a short film that went from scribbled notes to international festival recognition and an endorsement from the International Dostoevsky Society.
It’s part memoir, part filmmaking manual, and part creative manifesto. I share everything I learned: the wins, the mistakes, and the surprises along the way.
Inside, you’ll discover:
🎬 How I crowdfunded the budget without a big following
👥 What worked (and what didn’t) when casting actors
📽️ How I handled first-day chaos on set and stayed on schedule
✂️ How I approached editing to fix scenes that didn’t quite work
📮 How I submitted to festivals, with a real sample cover letter
You’ll also get:
✅ PDF version (38 pages)
✅ Audiobook version (1h 30 min, narrated by yours truly)
✅ A shot list template to plan your own shoot
✅ A festival cover letter template you can adapt
But From Blueprints to Screenplays is more than a filmmaking guide. It’s a story about creative reinvention — how I went from designing bridges to building stories, from solving equations to directing actors. It’s about fear transformed into purpose, and how every obstacle can become part of your narrative.
Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a creative professional stuck in a technical career, or simply someone chasing a long-postponed dream, this book offers both practical lessons and emotional fuel for your journey.
Featuring insights from my YouTube channel Cut to the Point, known for interviews with Walter Murch, Eddie Hamilton, Alex Gibney, and Jim Cummings, this book is for anyone who believes cinema isn’t just an art form, but a calling.
About the Author
Piotr Toczynski is a Polish filmmaker, editor, and educator. His short film Yellow Ticket, a scene from his upcoming feature Touched by God, earned multiple awards for Best Performance and Best Drama Short. He’s the creator of Cut to the Point, a YouTube channel helping thousands of editors and filmmakers master their craft and storytelling process.