This is going to be relatively short and sweet. I am filming today at approximately 5:45 pm a 30 second short film entitled "Epic Writer". It's basically about a guy sitting at a coffee shop who has writers block and sees a attractive woman crossing the street and begins to write her actions. The ironic part is that everything he writes she does, right up until the end when he thinks she is going to kiss him and she asks him to plug in her phone.
The top ten finalists will be judged by Michael Bay to see who is the Grand PRIZE winner of $25,000.00! More importantly if your in the top 20 MB gets to see your project. Considering the personal experience I just had with a certain famous director I think this would be most fortunate if MB then saw something I directed.
More about this later, am still fighting a cold, and still have not heard anything back from the studio about the pitch.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
In the mean time....
"What do I do in the mean time?" Right, all of us at one point or another are waiting for something. Either a call back, a meeting, a script to be written, or and executive to care(snowball and a hot place). So what do you do while you wait for the inevitable "no" that you've been waiting for to shut the door on this project so you can emotionally detach yourself and move on to the next one. The answer I am afraid is not simple or easy.
Like so many things in this industry there are copious layers to getting things done. So, if you have a pitch that is supposedly "out" and your waiting for Monday so you can harass the PA at the production office some more. What do you do with the intervening hours? By the way this is not just for the weekends it more often than not speaks to months of dead time in which you have no major projects and no major money(if you had the money you could "play" like the people who do do. I think I just typed dodo.)
Moving on, staying busy with some sort of Entertainment Industry anything is usually the first best option. If it is in the industry and will not threaten your current project obligations I say it's a "must". The only cure for being "on-the-set" is being ON THE SET!
It does not matter which set, just being on one usually does the trick for me.
The real problem comes when being on a set is not an option. Now what...this is the tricky part.
If you have vices, like you drink too much, or you smoke pot a little more than a little, or you go clubbing 3x per-week not including weekends. For me I have done most of these at one time or another and none of it fills the void. Some people are fortunate enough to be able to figure out how to manage a family and/or a serious relationship in the middle of the career chasing and can occupy them selves with that.
If that is not the case, or if you've done that already and your freaking out waiting.....then this next part is for you.
There is no perfect answer because every person is just enough different even though we got bit by the same but that this is VERY subjective.
The best thing that I have found, is to exercise(like running, nocturnal activities with another person don't count) something that gets your cardio up and allows you to be in your own head.
Then, I work on pre-production or the grand finale write.
Writing is the real answer, or taking some sort of writing class(which kind of is in the industry work category, that is part of any education which usually takes some time and money so I count it as industry work for this example).
But really, writing, story-boarding an existing script, working on a new pitch for a project. These are all things that keep your juices flowing and help keep your mind off of "THE project" of the moment.
Keep in mind that I am writing right now.....yes this is keeping me sane.
Like so many things in this industry there are copious layers to getting things done. So, if you have a pitch that is supposedly "out" and your waiting for Monday so you can harass the PA at the production office some more. What do you do with the intervening hours? By the way this is not just for the weekends it more often than not speaks to months of dead time in which you have no major projects and no major money(if you had the money you could "play" like the people who do do. I think I just typed dodo.)
Moving on, staying busy with some sort of Entertainment Industry anything is usually the first best option. If it is in the industry and will not threaten your current project obligations I say it's a "must". The only cure for being "on-the-set" is being ON THE SET!
It does not matter which set, just being on one usually does the trick for me.
The real problem comes when being on a set is not an option. Now what...this is the tricky part.
If you have vices, like you drink too much, or you smoke pot a little more than a little, or you go clubbing 3x per-week not including weekends. For me I have done most of these at one time or another and none of it fills the void. Some people are fortunate enough to be able to figure out how to manage a family and/or a serious relationship in the middle of the career chasing and can occupy them selves with that.
If that is not the case, or if you've done that already and your freaking out waiting.....then this next part is for you.
There is no perfect answer because every person is just enough different even though we got bit by the same but that this is VERY subjective.
The best thing that I have found, is to exercise(like running, nocturnal activities with another person don't count) something that gets your cardio up and allows you to be in your own head.
Then, I work on pre-production or the grand finale write.
Writing is the real answer, or taking some sort of writing class(which kind of is in the industry work category, that is part of any education which usually takes some time and money so I count it as industry work for this example).
But really, writing, story-boarding an existing script, working on a new pitch for a project. These are all things that keep your juices flowing and help keep your mind off of "THE project" of the moment.
Keep in mind that I am writing right now.....yes this is keeping me sane.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Transitions: Part 1
This is just a quick note to start off the segment but it's important. As a filmmaker you life is in a constant state of flux. Especially it would seem when your attempting to make your way in the early stages. Part of this is because of a couple of different things:
One: What ever baggage you have from any other part of your life has to be either contained or eliminated. Film is not an escape, it's a magnifying glass.
Two: Everybody else. That means, your family and friends that you have know forever but are not part of the film world. They will do anything and everything that you don't want/need either separately or as a group. The bottom line is you get one, maybe two people in your whole family who will really get it, keep in mind some people don't even get that. EVERYONE else will diminish, belittle, dismiss, belittle, or outright laugh at what your doing. Even if your getting paid, it does not matter unless your driving an Italian sports car or something they WILL NOT treat any of it like a real job or career.
Some thoughts on the subject. As far as I can tell it is a temporary illness on the part of our families. By the way families is including everyone who is part of your "important people" circle. Anyway, it believe that our families have two choices, accept us as some sort of "artist" and always look at us with a mild kind of distaste, or come around two what is really happening.
Here is the other part, this is for all of you and myself the hard part. "What if our families are right?"
They aren't, it's not possible to be right about your opinion of something that you don't understand. Keep in mind, if your working in the industry your winning. If you have a game plan and your working it your winning.
The last part, you have to cut them out. If ANYBODY, girlfriend, wife, mom, dad, cousin, or even your own children(obviously I mean grown children). You have to decide two things one, if they are on board or not. If they are not they WILL sabotage your work. If your undecided about whether or not they are on-board then give it time and your career will get in the way of their agenda eventually and you will know.
Then if they are in the way you have to get the out of your life, as cleanly as possible. Not forever necessarily but they cannot be apart of the decision making process for you in anything that you do. If you have little one's and are in film adjust this accordingly, because I can't say, I don't have kids but I believe while they are still young you don't have a life except for them. Your dreams will have to wait(that is my opinion, unless you can do both. If for instance the child is in the industry but that is another topic all together.)
Eventually they can come back, eventually they will see you on TV, or something you've done. Maybe enough time will have passed in which you did not call them asking for some kind of help and they will begin to believe by default.
At the end of the day, we the filmmakers hold all of the cards. When we make it and how we make it is up to us. WE are the one's who define how all of this plays out, we just HAVE to define it. We have to make a jump. Ultimately it is all up to whether or not we believe that we have what it take's to do this or not.
Now I have to go rake leaves, or my "family" is gonna get pissed.
One: What ever baggage you have from any other part of your life has to be either contained or eliminated. Film is not an escape, it's a magnifying glass.
Two: Everybody else. That means, your family and friends that you have know forever but are not part of the film world. They will do anything and everything that you don't want/need either separately or as a group. The bottom line is you get one, maybe two people in your whole family who will really get it, keep in mind some people don't even get that. EVERYONE else will diminish, belittle, dismiss, belittle, or outright laugh at what your doing. Even if your getting paid, it does not matter unless your driving an Italian sports car or something they WILL NOT treat any of it like a real job or career.
Some thoughts on the subject. As far as I can tell it is a temporary illness on the part of our families. By the way families is including everyone who is part of your "important people" circle. Anyway, it believe that our families have two choices, accept us as some sort of "artist" and always look at us with a mild kind of distaste, or come around two what is really happening.
Here is the other part, this is for all of you and myself the hard part. "What if our families are right?"
They aren't, it's not possible to be right about your opinion of something that you don't understand. Keep in mind, if your working in the industry your winning. If you have a game plan and your working it your winning.
The last part, you have to cut them out. If ANYBODY, girlfriend, wife, mom, dad, cousin, or even your own children(obviously I mean grown children). You have to decide two things one, if they are on board or not. If they are not they WILL sabotage your work. If your undecided about whether or not they are on-board then give it time and your career will get in the way of their agenda eventually and you will know.
Then if they are in the way you have to get the out of your life, as cleanly as possible. Not forever necessarily but they cannot be apart of the decision making process for you in anything that you do. If you have little one's and are in film adjust this accordingly, because I can't say, I don't have kids but I believe while they are still young you don't have a life except for them. Your dreams will have to wait(that is my opinion, unless you can do both. If for instance the child is in the industry but that is another topic all together.)
Eventually they can come back, eventually they will see you on TV, or something you've done. Maybe enough time will have passed in which you did not call them asking for some kind of help and they will begin to believe by default.
At the end of the day, we the filmmakers hold all of the cards. When we make it and how we make it is up to us. WE are the one's who define how all of this plays out, we just HAVE to define it. We have to make a jump. Ultimately it is all up to whether or not we believe that we have what it take's to do this or not.
Now I have to go rake leaves, or my "family" is gonna get pissed.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Casting Issues Part II
So I just pushed production back on my sort film "picket fence". Why, you ask, well casting. The production has had many bumps along the way first; we lost our DP(Director of Photography, the guy who makes the movie look like a movie and not a home video), and then we lost our Editor( the gal in this case who helps the move flow and make sense) the second week of official production. Neither one of those catastrophic changes caused any movement in the production schedule. We have had several financial issues' when it comes to our locations, again did not cause any change in the schedule.
I have now rescheduled production 3 times, and every-time it is the same reason, casting.
I have my leads hand picked, so that is a blessing, what I don't have are the characters that those leads interact with. I have seven speaking roles to fill and about nine-twelve extra's to cast. So I need twenty people. If you just want your friends and family and whom ever to be in your film then that is fine. If you want real life "I-want-to-do-this-because-I-love-it" actors, then you had better get really prepared.
Nuts and Bolts:
Rates vary from place to place, but check out between $50.00 to $100.00 dollers for the first hour with an additional $10.00 every additional hour.
As you can see not cheep. So try to find something through a friend or relative.
The location should have:
On a final not I will say that it has been my biggest struggle to give the actors/casting persons, enough lead time before the audition.
You can kind of procrastinate on many things, but casting is not one of them. Give the people time ,and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your casting response.
I have now rescheduled production 3 times, and every-time it is the same reason, casting.
I have my leads hand picked, so that is a blessing, what I don't have are the characters that those leads interact with. I have seven speaking roles to fill and about nine-twelve extra's to cast. So I need twenty people. If you just want your friends and family and whom ever to be in your film then that is fine. If you want real life "I-want-to-do-this-because-I-love-it" actors, then you had better get really prepared.
Nuts and Bolts:
- Cast through your local SAG office.(Screen Actors Guild)
- Find a casting location for your non-union auditions
Rates vary from place to place, but check out between $50.00 to $100.00 dollers for the first hour with an additional $10.00 every additional hour.
As you can see not cheep. So try to find something through a friend or relative.
The location should have:
- Men and Women bathrooms separately(no one bathroom situations that is usually bad)
- A place for the next audition to wait while your casting if your doing a large call(usually for extras and not for main roles. Be sure to buffer your auditions for primary roles by 15 so the person doing the audition does not run into their competition on the way in or way out of the audition. That can lead to all sorts of problems.
- Room, for:
- A camera and tripod
- Some one to read with the actor
- enough room for the actor to move around comfortably
On a final not I will say that it has been my biggest struggle to give the actors/casting persons, enough lead time before the audition.
You can kind of procrastinate on many things, but casting is not one of them. Give the people time ,and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your casting response.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I just have to say something....the pitch
I today, just sent the email. The person that is supposed to have the pitch now has it in her email in-box. For sure, my short film is suffering because I am so distracted by this pitch. It's 7:46 pm and I am exhausted like I just ran a marathon.
If this happens, it will not be a small thing. I will begin the work that will change the rest of my life, my families lives(yes that is plural un-purpose), and the lives of every friend/person in my life.
So many stories to tell, so much film that needs to worked on. It's like, if I can just become the person I need to be, if I can just get to the position to make these things in my mind happen then I truly have a hope for a great tomorrow.
Ha, ha, maybe I am more tired than I think.
It's ironic, I am sitting here with only pennies to my name, waiting on an email or phone call that could begin the journey that I have been waiting to take my whole life. I am not sure what the right thing is to even say. No one is reading this but I feel like, ya know someday somebody will. To that person I don't know what to say, this feeling is like nothing else. It's not like love, it's a dull ache but in a good way. It's like I am drunk but happy and scared at the same time. It's way harder then I though it would be. If your like me then what you want to know is nuts and bolts, "how do I". To that I say...
What I did right:
Learn how to talk on the phone
There, hope some of that is useful, now I am going to bed....hahaha its 8:01
If this happens, it will not be a small thing. I will begin the work that will change the rest of my life, my families lives(yes that is plural un-purpose), and the lives of every friend/person in my life.
So many stories to tell, so much film that needs to worked on. It's like, if I can just become the person I need to be, if I can just get to the position to make these things in my mind happen then I truly have a hope for a great tomorrow.
Ha, ha, maybe I am more tired than I think.
It's ironic, I am sitting here with only pennies to my name, waiting on an email or phone call that could begin the journey that I have been waiting to take my whole life. I am not sure what the right thing is to even say. No one is reading this but I feel like, ya know someday somebody will. To that person I don't know what to say, this feeling is like nothing else. It's not like love, it's a dull ache but in a good way. It's like I am drunk but happy and scared at the same time. It's way harder then I though it would be. If your like me then what you want to know is nuts and bolts, "how do I". To that I say...
What I did right:
Learn how to talk on the phone
- Don't hang up till the person on the other end gives you something you can use
- When you hang up leave on a pleasant not
- When something pisses you off make yourself smile on the phone.
- ALWAYS call back right away if you missed something, never "do it later"
- ALWAYS call back, and ALWAYS keep calling
- Learn how to watch what is going on around the production and time your calls
There, hope some of that is useful, now I am going to bed....hahaha its 8:01
Casting....
It's amazing to me how all of the little parts of film that it takes to make a film don't mean anything to me until I imagine the film with out them.
For example: A casting director
This part of the business is a huge pain in the production binder. I mean this job is normally an entire department of it's own, that is usually sub-contracted by the film. Also this person, will sub-contract another company to take care of getting extra's needed for the film.
On an independent/short/student film with no money it falls to the director/producer/casting director/film student to do all of this and not suck at it.
First you have to have an idea of what roles you need to cast in three separate catagories.
One: Main Cast- usually should be the best talent you can get your hands on.
Two: Supporting Cast- same rule for main cast, but if that does not happen, it won't destroy your film.
Three: Extras-anybody who has a pulse, can stay quiet and do what they are told.(but be nice to them, if you don't have them your film will look stupid.)
More later, is now a thunderstorm and huge risk of a power failer so more later, maybe....
For example: A casting director
This part of the business is a huge pain in the production binder. I mean this job is normally an entire department of it's own, that is usually sub-contracted by the film. Also this person, will sub-contract another company to take care of getting extra's needed for the film.
On an independent/short/student film with no money it falls to the director/producer/casting director/film student to do all of this and not suck at it.
First you have to have an idea of what roles you need to cast in three separate catagories.
One: Main Cast- usually should be the best talent you can get your hands on.
Two: Supporting Cast- same rule for main cast, but if that does not happen, it won't destroy your film.
Three: Extras-anybody who has a pulse, can stay quiet and do what they are told.(but be nice to them, if you don't have them your film will look stupid.)
More later, is now a thunderstorm and huge risk of a power failer so more later, maybe....
Oh NO....somebody stole my pitch, er maybe not.
It's another stormy day in Chicagoland and I awoke with a mild sense of urgency to be about the things that I needed to get done today. I turn on my computer as I often do in the morning, and what do I see on www.youtube.com in the ad banner? An ad for a contest that is part of (or was part of) the pitch I had discussed with certain person at a certain production office.
My first reaction: Blind RAGE! Second reaction: I must share my pain with Rob! Third Reaction:(hmm maybe I should look at this thing more, and so I do) Next reaction: Oh wait this is the part what I was talking about with the woman that was kind of her idea.
Final Reaction:No worries, if anything this augments what I want to do.
My first reaction: Blind RAGE! Second reaction: I must share my pain with Rob! Third Reaction:(hmm maybe I should look at this thing more, and so I do) Next reaction: Oh wait this is the part what I was talking about with the woman that was kind of her idea.
Final Reaction:No worries, if anything this augments what I want to do.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Prelude to a Pitch
It's funny how it actually happens, when you get the "green-light" to pitch someone you should always be prepared. Of course that is actually impossible if you've never done it before. It's exactly what happened to me, and yes I had asked people who have pitched what it was and it still was not enough to prepare me.
So the set-up for this was that I had reason to call a certain production office about an interview that a certain community college wanted to interview yours truly. So I called them and asked about that, while I was on-the-phone with the Public Relations person I told them very casually about a project I wanted to do that would be an addition to the project that said office was currently involved with.
The PR person then said, "Hmmm, that could work. Send me a written pitch and I will send it to the studio", I of course then began freaking out. She then went on to list some things that we should mention in our pitch. Internally it was some thing like "A studio?!?! Did she just drop the name of one of the executive prod-oh wait she's dropping it again like for sure some one with the power to do something about it right away is going to see it." Rambled like that internally for about 3 hours. Of course all of that energy I have built up inside, which is what it will stay like until I know they have the pitch and it's been decided one way or the other(so in other words forever)
I had of course mentioned I was a student, along with my buddy Rob(When I say we in this post I am talking about Rob and myself). She gave me some final tips and we then talked pleasantly about trying to make it in the industry and we hung up. Me with out an email and her forgetting me swiftly I am sure(not malicious thing she is just a very very busy person)
So that was approximately a 11 days ago.
BEAT
And time is still standing still. I wish I could fill in the details of the who and the what but if I do that I will for sure have to hit the "Epic Fail" button with both hands. That is of course after I am sued a ton(for what money I don't know, but my career would be over). Everyday that has passed since then I have been getting progressively more insane. I am in the middle of pre-production on this short and don't have all of the pieces that I need to complete the film. That on top of the fact that I have the biggest pitch of my life(so far) curled up in the back of my head going all the way through my heart and spine every minute of every day.
Then Finally,
last night I sent to several people that I trust a copy of what I think is a really good pitch. I've yet to hear back from anyone.
Oh I should mention that before I hung up with the PR person I did not get her email. Also the office moves every time the project moves. So I am consistently playing catch up. The last couple of times that I have caught up with the office I am given the run around by the office PA who answers the phone.
Something to the sound of "oh yeah SIR, I will give this message to her right away and make sure she gets it"
Emotionally this whole thing has been insane, I am not sure what more to tell you except to tell you that this blog is not enough to contain everything. The constant mild pressure the every day of letting yourself believe that it will happen and what that would mean to your life. Imagining working on the project you pitched and what that would look like. All I know is that I have to keep going.
Where things stand at the moment I am not sure if too much time has passed. Yeah, I know I should have asked for the email and emailed something that night. Ideally that is what I would have done and what I will do in the future(if possible). This is strange to say and I hope that it does not come off too smug but, I think that it is not going to matter. I think that the timing on this thing is going to be exactly what it needs to be. It's just a, I dunno, call it a gut feeling. I just think that when ever this pitch is seen it is going to be then put into action, I just feel like it's going to work out.
I dunno, maybe I have been watching too many episodes of "Entourage". I am very Vincent Chase about the whole thing. It just has to work.
So the set-up for this was that I had reason to call a certain production office about an interview that a certain community college wanted to interview yours truly. So I called them and asked about that, while I was on-the-phone with the Public Relations person I told them very casually about a project I wanted to do that would be an addition to the project that said office was currently involved with.
The PR person then said, "Hmmm, that could work. Send me a written pitch and I will send it to the studio", I of course then began freaking out. She then went on to list some things that we should mention in our pitch. Internally it was some thing like "A studio?!?! Did she just drop the name of one of the executive prod-oh wait she's dropping it again like for sure some one with the power to do something about it right away is going to see it." Rambled like that internally for about 3 hours. Of course all of that energy I have built up inside, which is what it will stay like until I know they have the pitch and it's been decided one way or the other(so in other words forever)
I had of course mentioned I was a student, along with my buddy Rob(When I say we in this post I am talking about Rob and myself). She gave me some final tips and we then talked pleasantly about trying to make it in the industry and we hung up. Me with out an email and her forgetting me swiftly I am sure(not malicious thing she is just a very very busy person)
So that was approximately a 11 days ago.
BEAT
And time is still standing still. I wish I could fill in the details of the who and the what but if I do that I will for sure have to hit the "Epic Fail" button with both hands. That is of course after I am sued a ton(for what money I don't know, but my career would be over). Everyday that has passed since then I have been getting progressively more insane. I am in the middle of pre-production on this short and don't have all of the pieces that I need to complete the film. That on top of the fact that I have the biggest pitch of my life(so far) curled up in the back of my head going all the way through my heart and spine every minute of every day.
Then Finally,
last night I sent to several people that I trust a copy of what I think is a really good pitch. I've yet to hear back from anyone.
Oh I should mention that before I hung up with the PR person I did not get her email. Also the office moves every time the project moves. So I am consistently playing catch up. The last couple of times that I have caught up with the office I am given the run around by the office PA who answers the phone.
Something to the sound of "oh yeah SIR, I will give this message to her right away and make sure she gets it"
Emotionally this whole thing has been insane, I am not sure what more to tell you except to tell you that this blog is not enough to contain everything. The constant mild pressure the every day of letting yourself believe that it will happen and what that would mean to your life. Imagining working on the project you pitched and what that would look like. All I know is that I have to keep going.
Where things stand at the moment I am not sure if too much time has passed. Yeah, I know I should have asked for the email and emailed something that night. Ideally that is what I would have done and what I will do in the future(if possible). This is strange to say and I hope that it does not come off too smug but, I think that it is not going to matter. I think that the timing on this thing is going to be exactly what it needs to be. It's just a, I dunno, call it a gut feeling. I just think that when ever this pitch is seen it is going to be then put into action, I just feel like it's going to work out.
I dunno, maybe I have been watching too many episodes of "Entourage". I am very Vincent Chase about the whole thing. It just has to work.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Finally some honest answers
So I am finally looking at going to school to fill in the area's that I am missing and the first thing that I have to do is see what is available. I always start something like this at the top. The best most expensive schools is where I go first, that way if I give the myself the chance at least to "get lucky" and maybe somebody at one of the huge college's out here will give me a break. Not-a-chance, did not even come close. Although I had a nice visit with the department head at North Western, I could not even afford the trip to go out to the campus a second time let along take one class there. Also at the time the economy was horrendous.
That leaves community college, and that is ok with me. I've been to other community colleges before, for the most part they where a pleasant experience. So I set out to check out the campus that was closest to me and ended up at College of Dupage.
Unfortunately for me I was too late in the term to start taking classes, but I registered as a student and got all the information that I could.
Then I thought to myself that it would be a good idea to goto the film department and see what kind of resources I was going to have to work with. Now at this time I was still working on "Dead Thursday" but things where not looking good. So, when I went to the department I started asking questions and I was eventually sent to a professor named John Rangel. I have to say that from the first time I met Professor Rangel he did nothing but inspire me to be confident in my ability as a film maker. Professor Rangel is a film maker himself and at the time was in post production on an independent feature himself. He is only a few years older then me so we are able to discuss things that where relevant to each other experience in the industry.
Ok now that all of the set up is done here is the really exciting stuff.
Professor Rangel introduced me to several resources that have since changed how I do business.
1. Celtx the program that I use right now that is free and is some of the most intuitive film relevant software I have ever used. It is mostly for script writing but can be used to do break-downs and story boarding, and shot blocking and the best part is that it is all free.
www.celtx.com download it NOW!
2. IMDBPro, this has become an invaluable resource for me in gathering information about what is going on in the industry and for building my resume'. It stands for "Internet Movie Data Base"Professional.
www.imdbpro.com
3. This is one I would never have guess but it has been and continues to be the best networking tool I have ever had. Signing up to be an "extra" on the different films that have come to the area. Really this is a no brainer, get paid $65.00/8 hours plus overtime and be on a "Studio" feature film set. Which of course is going to shoot longer than 8 hours.
The people that you meet on set you bond with and for the most part if you keep doing it what you discover is this entire sub-culture of film people that are in and around the industry at every single level you can imagine.
After the first meeting with Prof. Rangel I felt like I had another great resource. I also did everything he said to the best of my ability. Over the next 6 weeks he traded emails with me, put up with my insane phone messages, and gave me the time-of-day at his office. All of this and I had yet to take one class.
During this time "Dead Thursday" ended, not how anyone wanted but it did. The last I heard the Director/Writer Joshua Kulic is still attempting to sell the script as far as I know. Also as far as I know it is still a great project for anyone out there looking for a "dark comedy". I wish Josh and anybody associated with that project the best of luck.
After that happened I had only one thing left on my mind "What do I do now, and what difference will community college film school be able to make?"
That leaves community college, and that is ok with me. I've been to other community colleges before, for the most part they where a pleasant experience. So I set out to check out the campus that was closest to me and ended up at College of Dupage.
Unfortunately for me I was too late in the term to start taking classes, but I registered as a student and got all the information that I could.
Then I thought to myself that it would be a good idea to goto the film department and see what kind of resources I was going to have to work with. Now at this time I was still working on "Dead Thursday" but things where not looking good. So, when I went to the department I started asking questions and I was eventually sent to a professor named John Rangel. I have to say that from the first time I met Professor Rangel he did nothing but inspire me to be confident in my ability as a film maker. Professor Rangel is a film maker himself and at the time was in post production on an independent feature himself. He is only a few years older then me so we are able to discuss things that where relevant to each other experience in the industry.
Ok now that all of the set up is done here is the really exciting stuff.
Professor Rangel introduced me to several resources that have since changed how I do business.
1. Celtx the program that I use right now that is free and is some of the most intuitive film relevant software I have ever used. It is mostly for script writing but can be used to do break-downs and story boarding, and shot blocking and the best part is that it is all free.
www.celtx.com download it NOW!
2. IMDBPro, this has become an invaluable resource for me in gathering information about what is going on in the industry and for building my resume'. It stands for "Internet Movie Data Base"Professional.
www.imdbpro.com
3. This is one I would never have guess but it has been and continues to be the best networking tool I have ever had. Signing up to be an "extra" on the different films that have come to the area. Really this is a no brainer, get paid $65.00/8 hours plus overtime and be on a "Studio" feature film set. Which of course is going to shoot longer than 8 hours.
The people that you meet on set you bond with and for the most part if you keep doing it what you discover is this entire sub-culture of film people that are in and around the industry at every single level you can imagine.
After the first meeting with Prof. Rangel I felt like I had another great resource. I also did everything he said to the best of my ability. Over the next 6 weeks he traded emails with me, put up with my insane phone messages, and gave me the time-of-day at his office. All of this and I had yet to take one class.
During this time "Dead Thursday" ended, not how anyone wanted but it did. The last I heard the Director/Writer Joshua Kulic is still attempting to sell the script as far as I know. Also as far as I know it is still a great project for anyone out there looking for a "dark comedy". I wish Josh and anybody associated with that project the best of luck.
After that happened I had only one thing left on my mind "What do I do now, and what difference will community college film school be able to make?"
After "Dead Thursday" died...
Basically after that whole thing happened I had to rethink my approach. I knew that their where a lot of things that I did not know so I had to start over. I had to find a way to learn the things I did not know.
Oh God, that means I probably have to go back to school.
Which I did, but not all the way. Initially I was off in my timing so the semester had already started when I ran into a professor and took a class that would change everything.
I will get more into that on the next blog. For now thought I wantevd to talk briefly about a couple things.
One: Giving myself the Right Too...
Two: People who Sacrifice for a project, and people who don't
One: Giving myself the right too. What this means is that sometimes we limit ourselves in what we do because we don't think it is something that we have the right to even consider. I mean, I can't direct. I could not possibly, just look at all the movies that all of the director's I know have to know and all the stuff they had to learn.
The problem with the above statement is that is does not even consider the possibility that people who "talk a good game" are still terrible directors.
In the words of my current mentor "why am I watching this?", if you can't answer that question right, then it does not matter how many shot's you can design in an hour or if you have memorized every line in Magnolia and Adaptation.
Really what it came down two is that I was comfortable not trying, and now that is something that had to change. I had seen what other directors where doing(had done) wrong and I know how to do it right. So, now I am. In four days official production begins on my first short film that I will be directing/writing/producing. The best part of that statement is that the first thing that comes to mind is all of the other people that are becoming a part of the "the team".
Two: People who Sacrifice for a project, and people who don't. This, dynamic is a matter of life and death when it comes to independent film ANYTHING! A short, a feature, a web episode, or a doc. It does not matter what your doing if somebody in your organization is not willing to sacrifice for the project that is always going to be a weak point. This, is also true in reverse. The more someone is willing to sacrifice for the project, the stronger that person's department/job are will be and the better your project will be. This is true from the best producer to the worst extra. If they won't sacrifice for it, at the end of the day, they do not really, and I mean REALLY want it.
Oh God, that means I probably have to go back to school.
Which I did, but not all the way. Initially I was off in my timing so the semester had already started when I ran into a professor and took a class that would change everything.
I will get more into that on the next blog. For now thought I wantevd to talk briefly about a couple things.
One: Giving myself the Right Too...
Two: People who Sacrifice for a project, and people who don't
One: Giving myself the right too. What this means is that sometimes we limit ourselves in what we do because we don't think it is something that we have the right to even consider. I mean, I can't direct. I could not possibly, just look at all the movies that all of the director's I know have to know and all the stuff they had to learn.
The problem with the above statement is that is does not even consider the possibility that people who "talk a good game" are still terrible directors.
In the words of my current mentor "why am I watching this?", if you can't answer that question right, then it does not matter how many shot's you can design in an hour or if you have memorized every line in Magnolia and Adaptation.
Really what it came down two is that I was comfortable not trying, and now that is something that had to change. I had seen what other directors where doing(had done) wrong and I know how to do it right. So, now I am. In four days official production begins on my first short film that I will be directing/writing/producing. The best part of that statement is that the first thing that comes to mind is all of the other people that are becoming a part of the "the team".
Two: People who Sacrifice for a project, and people who don't. This, dynamic is a matter of life and death when it comes to independent film ANYTHING! A short, a feature, a web episode, or a doc. It does not matter what your doing if somebody in your organization is not willing to sacrifice for the project that is always going to be a weak point. This, is also true in reverse. The more someone is willing to sacrifice for the project, the stronger that person's department/job are will be and the better your project will be. This is true from the best producer to the worst extra. If they won't sacrifice for it, at the end of the day, they do not really, and I mean REALLY want it.
The Feature Film that was "Dead Thursday"
So seven months have passed since I started this thing. A lot has happened. I will attempt a brief summary and then out-line the current plan.
"Dead Thursday" an independent feature film.
-Attempted to find funding for a movie that Joshua Kulic wrote and was going to Direct and that he and I had hoped to attach David Duchovony too. That fell apart, basically I could not find anybody to give us any funding. In my mind it came down to three things.
1. Not enough of the right people involved in pre-production.
2. A good business plan.
3. Personal Resources Management.
4. Time table
5. Proximity
Items two and tree could be applied to multiple people involved but which I mostly blame myself for. I just did not know enough about writing business plans to do one in the time frame which we had. Not being able to sit down with the director and discuss the project was also a huge hinderence. Had I had additional people to help with all of the little things that I needed help with to get the big things done it may have worked. I just don't have all the answers to all of why that did not happen. Good script, good director, needed a better producer.
In Summary the last 7 months:
Right now the plan is to get the pitch ready to present(can't say about what) and then getting the short film "picket fence" ready for me to Direct. Shooting dates are the 14th through the 24th of
October. Oh, yeah and I have no money and quit my job too soon. That is before I found out for sure about the PA job on the next movie, I basically hosed myself.
"Dead Thursday" an independent feature film.
-Attempted to find funding for a movie that Joshua Kulic wrote and was going to Direct and that he and I had hoped to attach David Duchovony too. That fell apart, basically I could not find anybody to give us any funding. In my mind it came down to three things.
1. Not enough of the right people involved in pre-production.
2. A good business plan.
3. Personal Resources Management.
4. Time table
5. Proximity
Items two and tree could be applied to multiple people involved but which I mostly blame myself for. I just did not know enough about writing business plans to do one in the time frame which we had. Not being able to sit down with the director and discuss the project was also a huge hinderence. Had I had additional people to help with all of the little things that I needed help with to get the big things done it may have worked. I just don't have all the answers to all of why that did not happen. Good script, good director, needed a better producer.
In Summary the last 7 months:
- Cancelled Indie Film
- Went back to college
- Got on a large studio project as an extra
- Worked on 5 student films in one week
- Met a famous director
- Met a famous producer
- Got a job on a big budget film
- Had the best 11days of my life working on a film
- Amazing at the wrap party the director knew who I was still
- Re-shooting my short for school
- Getting a pitch ready for an opportunity of a life time
- Waiting to find out if I got work on the next big film that is in town.
Right now the plan is to get the pitch ready to present(can't say about what) and then getting the short film "picket fence" ready for me to Direct. Shooting dates are the 14th through the 24th of
October. Oh, yeah and I have no money and quit my job too soon. That is before I found out for sure about the PA job on the next movie, I basically hosed myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)