ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXSICK OF DEADLINES!!
6 months ago - Tina Walker
Mini rant incoming.
Look, I’m grateful film funds exist - really, I am. But why do they all insist on giving us about five minutes to apply? BFI Short Film Fund? One month. Doc Society Climate Story? One month. FLAMIN? Also one month. Is there some kind of industry-wide agreement that filmmakers should exist in a constant state of panic?
Is this just bureaucracy at work? Do other people not struggle with this? Because for me, applications take forever. First, I have to find the fund (already a challenge but thanks SP for keeping the database around), then wrestle with the application, get my ducks in a row, track down collaborators, and somehow still meet a deadline that was probably announced while I was making a cup of tea.
I don’t see why it has to be like this. It’s just… exhausting.
RANT OVER. LOL.
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6 months ago - Linda M James
Hi Tina
At least you haven't lost your sense of humour. I love you writing ' a deadline was probably announced while I was making a cup of tea!' Got to have humour to be a creative as it's a nutty way of life. But it's also fascinating, frustrating, depressing, exciting, annoying, nail-biting, fulfilling, stomach-churning with moments of madness and morbidity. [I could go on but brevity is always better, isn't it?]
Response from 6 months ago - Linda M James SHOW
6 months ago - Niki Jones
Me, every time a new fund drops:
- Finds out about it halfway through.
- Frantically reads the criteria and second-guesses everything.
- Tries to ‘attach’ collaborators (aka, messages everyone I know with ‘Hey, you free for a quick call?’).
- Swears I’ll never apply last minute again.
- Submits at 11:59 PM anyway.
Why are we like this? Why is the industry like this?! We need a support group honestly.
Response from 6 months ago - Niki Jones SHOW
6 months ago - Solomon Watkins
When i find a fun a put a little warning in my calendar the following year a month before the previous one started advising me to check if its gonna run again
Response from 6 months ago - Solomon Watkins SHOW
5 months, 3 weeks ago - John Lubran
Whilst the odds of winning the prize are better than the Lottery, they're not good.
Years back we entered into a government funded committee's request for Thorough details, at the level of production ready. This was for a feature length theatrical and broadcast drama. The prize was enough to make the film. Our project was a social comedy.
In order to qualify for entry we were required to provide copies of our health and safety policy and a preposterous amount of other statutory and non statutory stuff. Even though we were an established limited company doing this stuff.
We were required to submit the entire bundle, including the script, shooting plan, cast and crew positions. In triplicate on paper.
Three 24" high document boxes, we had to courier to them. It was a job of work.
Our project was comedy gold within a challenging social environment. We felt positive, but only the one prize.
Turned out there were thirty odd other entrants also capable of sending in hundreds of pages of fully box ticked treasure.
We came second.
Response from 5 months, 3 weeks ago - John Lubran SHOW
5 months, 3 weeks ago - Yen Rickeard
Is that better or worse than coming lower? So near and yet so far. Money seems to make money, but when you don't have enough yet to even get started...
Response from 5 months, 3 weeks ago - Yen Rickeard SHOW