With this week’s Filmmaking Tips column falling on the Fourth of July, I figure it has to focus on someone associated with America. The best choice, of course, is Frank Capra, director of many movies involving Americana and the American Dream and what it means to be an American. His most iconic works take us across this country or to the nation’s capital or to Anytown, USA. They star all-American actors, such as James Stewart and Gary Cooper, and America’s sweetheart actresses, including Jean Arthur and Claudette Colbert.

Capra wasn’t born in America — he emigrated here from Italy at age 5 — but he will always be one of the most significant filmmakers in American cinema. In honor of the country’s birthday, I’d also like to honor the man who offered these six great filmmaking tips: One of the quotes attributed to Capra without a source is: “My advice to young filmmakers is this: don’t follow trends, start them.”