Considering that the good news this year was getting directing work with the opportunity of maybe getting more for commercials and music videos, I'm taking a new look at what the plan will be.
Instead of rushing in and "shooting just anything" this year just to keep my word, I'm thinking now that my energies might be best spent taking what I've learned from everything this year and applying that to a new project.
The problems I've run into this year with indie projects have been:
- locations too expensive, whether they be specific or not, I need something where I can actually access the locations.
- horror films seem to not really be what I want to define myself with or, frankly, would be willing to deliver the way they need to be delivered in order to be salable (which would be the point of a horror film).
- small, personal dramas with no stars simply are not money well spent and beyond that will have a hard time exciting people. People weren't even READING the damn thing. People who were meant to be involved. People who did liked it, but it obviously shows that the idea is a tough pitch.
- Something totally unique really touched people's interest an imagination.
- Trying to get celebrities without making an offer was a slow and lousy experience.
Anyway - so adding all this up I am thinking of doing two things at once.
1. I will try to get one of my scripts I really love indie financed PRE-actor but with the agreement that the investment can be cancelled without one of the approved actors.
2. I will start writing something which is very "out there" - the kind of thing you just don't see often. Touching and beautiful - the kind of movie I would want to see. I might adjust one of my scripts to be this story, not sure. But it will need locations I can actually access. But costumes and extras I think I could motivate and afford.
The RED camera comes out by May 1. So, that should be when I go into production. Why not? Plenty of time to write and prepare.
In the meantime I am pursuing short form work as well - making demo reel - improving my (real) website.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Facing Reality
It's nearing the end of the year and it does not look like a feature is going to happen. Again. Obviously this is sad news. The good news is that I've been working professionally as a director pretty much as my primary job this year. So, I don't want to downplay the significance of that; it's a big step forward.
Lately I've been feeling like my approach to getting a film made might be becoming too rushed and intended mostly just to have kept my promise to myself. I am right now analyzing a couple other pathways which might prove more logical.
One major problem I'm finding is that all the projects I'm really passionate about AND I think have a solid return potential are simply more expensive than I can afford to make myself. And the ones I can afford are either still expensive considering they have little sales return potential or I just don't feel passionately about them.
As a result, I am thinking of going back to investors with an alternate method. I would go to them with a script and a list of potential actors. They would invest based on the ability to attach one of the actors. But they would invest first. If no actors were attached, they lose nothing. The advantage here is that we are able to make OFFERS to actors rather than beg on spec. I'm talking to various industry people trying to set this up.
The best news I have is that I'm very proud of the last project I directed and I've been hired for another one next month. I'm trying to focus on the wins here.
If I could package something with investors, by the end of the year, I think I would feel accomplished on this goal of stepping into features. I am still considering a micro-budget, self financed movie - but I am tempted until the brand new camera comes out because at least that would be one facet I would not have to worry about (since I'm already paying for it).
Lately I've been feeling like my approach to getting a film made might be becoming too rushed and intended mostly just to have kept my promise to myself. I am right now analyzing a couple other pathways which might prove more logical.
One major problem I'm finding is that all the projects I'm really passionate about AND I think have a solid return potential are simply more expensive than I can afford to make myself. And the ones I can afford are either still expensive considering they have little sales return potential or I just don't feel passionately about them.
As a result, I am thinking of going back to investors with an alternate method. I would go to them with a script and a list of potential actors. They would invest based on the ability to attach one of the actors. But they would invest first. If no actors were attached, they lose nothing. The advantage here is that we are able to make OFFERS to actors rather than beg on spec. I'm talking to various industry people trying to set this up.
The best news I have is that I'm very proud of the last project I directed and I've been hired for another one next month. I'm trying to focus on the wins here.
If I could package something with investors, by the end of the year, I think I would feel accomplished on this goal of stepping into features. I am still considering a micro-budget, self financed movie - but I am tempted until the brand new camera comes out because at least that would be one facet I would not have to worry about (since I'm already paying for it).
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