ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 1 month ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Sorry, let me expand on length, but from the other side...

Unless you have money, you're going to be asking for favours to get the film made. Favours last two days/a weekend before becoming a bind. 2 days of shooting drama, allowing 3 pages/day is a 6 page script. Add a little for being in a single location, but you're unlikely to cover 11 pages a day with anything like enough quality for the film to be watchable! Actors have to run lines, cameras and lights change positions, people get tired and need to eat, costume, makeup, unpacking and repacking, lens changes, sets need dressing, etc. You'll be surprised just how slow filming is!

10 years, 1 month ago - Holly Jacobson

Hi Jonathan,

I don't completely agree with all the comments. I think that directors often choose to produce and fund and really take on as their own project other people's short film scripts - after all they want to make shorts too often and not all directors are writers.

I agree that the best way is to go and meet people. Shooters in the pub is great and try and find maybe a weekly filmmaking group. Here is the bad news though: I'm only 12 and I've made one film - and yet still people write to me unsolicited asking me to make their scripts. Here's the good news: most of them are dreadful! I'm going to assume that you're very talented at this (or else what is the point), so it can be fairly easy for you to get a great director interested in your script if you can just get them to read it.

I agree that 22 minutes is a concern. I wouldn't plan to make a short beyond 10 minutes unless there was a compelling reason to do so. Film festivals want to show lots of films and they can show a lot of 2 x 1minute films plus 2 x 10 minute films in the time it takes to show yours. More than that though - most short stories just don't need that long to tell and I personally hate long indulgent editing with shorts.

Also, whilst as a director I don't really want a script to need full on period costume, several mansions, horse and carriage and a functioning space ship - I do want to have more ambition that a video store. As soon as I hear that in a script, it feels like it was done just to be easy and it sounds a bit uninspiring. I'm sorry to be negative. Locations can be easily changed and so on though - but I wouldn't lead with the logistics. Have a story that you are passionate to tell - write something amazing and people will fight over it.

Holly x

10 years, 1 month ago - Marlom Tander

Dziko, admirable, though in the UK holding a house party and charging entry* is illegal and you would also find yourself uninsured in the event of any mishap.

*Because the cost clearly exceeds the cost of the food and drink.

10 years, 1 month ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Heh heh, I'm not so down on video stores except for having no idea where you'd even find one these days. Maybe the downstairs section of HMV is as close as you'll get?! That sounds like it might a set, and that means more money.

Shooting People has a 'Script Pitch' bulletin which interested parties read, maybe your short (and it is VERY long for a short BTW, especially for a single location) will catch somebody's interest :)

Either way, put it aside and start working on your next one - make it shorter (maybe 7 pages?) to give you sine writing challenges and more discipline. Festivals rarely programme 22' films when they could programme three 7' films in that time. 22' is the content length of a half-hour commercial network drama - and that'll have multiple storylines and locations to keep it visually interesting.

Not that it can't be done - 'Locke' deliberately constrained locations and cast, and is a great film (it's like Marion and Geoff in feature form!), but it is the exception as opposed to the rule.

10 years, 1 month ago - Marlom Tander

Video Store? So it's a period piece? :-)

Ok, so lets look at the business case. Why would a Director or Producer want to get involved with this short?

1) To make money.

It's a short, it will cost money, not make money. So right now assume that YOU will pay the bills.

2) To win prizes at important IMDB qualifying festivals.

Good aim, is it good enough? If so then you might get the core team to share costs, but you should still forget about third party investors.

If you can't tick those boxes then decide, right now, that you're the Producer and will pay most of the bills. This allows you to get a Director on board. One who will be brand new, or whose previous shorts have had less budget/ambition than yours. They might pay some costs if they love the project and can afford it.

Find them by contacting people here and attending film maker events like Shooting People in the Pub.

Cast and Crew will come on board later once you have a clear plan of action and the project looks like it will add value to their CV's.

Final Comment - I really really don't ever want to see another film of any length whose premise includes the term Video Store, UNLESS said store is the transdimensional portal at the centre of a Terry Gilliam or Jeunet masterpeice.

Cheers

10 years ago - Julian Bushell

Ah, this is the direct link to Showcase Live
http://www.nonmultiplexcinema.com/?p=1305

We expect about 80+ people attending.

Cheers,
Julian

10 years, 1 month ago - dziko kazembe

Hi Jonathan,

This is a great event to meet directors and producers if you are London based.

http://afewbravemenproductions.com/first-sunday-film-nights/

The most important thing is don't listen to too many people. Most people can't or are unwilling to think outside the box. I've made 2 short films by not listening to the prevailing advice of the day. Be inventive... throw a house party and charge people to come in --- in a way to support your film. Then charge for drinks. If you're clever about it you should make a £1,000. Get everyone involved to contribute £50 towards the project including actors.... after all everyone benefits from the project.... another £1,000. You should have enough money to make your film!

Good luck!

10 years ago - Shenine Rajakarunanayake

Someone recently posted about looking for a short film to direct, you might wish to contact them!

10 years, 1 month ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Good grief - another long short ;)

How many scripts have you written before? How many have been produced/optioned? Are you producing? Have you had any professional feedback on the script?

What are you ambitions with this script and beyond?

Wozy

10 years ago - Julian Bushell

Hi Jonathan,

Dare I mention my own event Showcase Live on Thursday 30th July in London. Link here:
http://www.meetup.com/Non-Multiplex-Cinemagoers-Group/events/223829451/

There will be plenty of directors and producers attending. All the films we are screening will have their directors plus others attending.

Drop me an email to showcaselive*at*nonmultiplexcinema.com and I'll get you in for free.

Best,
Julian