ASK & DISCUSS

INDEX

What am I (and we) doing wrong?

8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince

Well, the fourth Meetup/Facebook group for local filmmakers I tried to run failed and I don't really know what to do next. The lack of enthusiasm in members was appalling!

I have screenwriting concepts, outlines, short film ideas bursting out of my brain and no one to work with!

Is it because of my lack of professional experience, hard cash or top contacts?

I have plenty of time as I'm unemployed, but limited in money so I can't sign up to any more courses and seminars (not that I'd want to anymore - £300 for the LSF? Madness!) and health reasons mean travelling across London or the UK is arduous.

What would it take to find the filmmakers in my home town of Croydon? I know they make films here, I've read about them!

The only thing left I can think about is trying to put together a smartphone filmmaking kit and contact my local college's drama dept to see if the students want to make shorts. Otherwise...?

I would love to hear others' comments, especially experienced independent filmmakers on SP.

Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN

Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE

Answers older then 1 month have been hidden - you can SHOW all answers or select them individually
Answers older then 1 month are visible - you can HIDE older answers.

8 years, 5 months ago - Adam Ethan Crow

I think in general to get a filmmaker away from making, or thinking about working on their films there has to be a reason to attend your meet-up. Get some actors to read one of their screenplay scenes, get a writer who has broken through to give a talk, screen a great movie for you all to watch then discuss. We all already have groups of mates who work in the same field to drink and chat with - you need to give a reason for people to come along. Hey, it's just my option _ I could wrong. Ads

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Adam Ethan Crow SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - simon drake

There are a lot of networking events in Brighton, which isn't far from Brighton so maybe try rocking up at others event to save you the hassle? Also people are busy and often very flaky which is frustrating (especially the flakes, but they aren't worth anyone's time), so keep trying at your end. Or what about just embark on making a short?? Post on SP to get a few people to help. Keep it simple and shoot at a weekend. If your short costs nothing, it won't really matter if it doesn't really work. That's probably a better way to network. That's what i did when i didn't know anyone in my area. Then the more people i met who i worked well with (and knew who to avoid for future projects!) and i kept going. I've since made two feature films (all from people i met from getting involved in zero budget shorts) So start small, but commit to a short with whoever you can get from posting online or seek out college students/local filmschools (if you're unemployed you can research loads online as it's free) then do another, and another. And so on... (p.s save your money for those courses/seminars. You can find so much indie filmmaking stuff/interviews on youtube! Put your £50 into a short film instead)

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - simon drake SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - simon drake

Btw, meant to write *Brighton is not far from Croydon...

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - simon drake SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Claudette FLINT

I don't have a solution but a very possible explanation. These days people have understood that to make a film is almost useless. Who's risking a lot of money knowing that their films have such a thin chance to be screened? Making a film demands a life of sacrifices and you need more luck than talent. Just look at some of the great short films showed on Shooting People. What happened to them? Do they end up in draw?
You have to be pretty sure that you have the passion, the time and the patience. In the meantime one needs to eat.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Claudette FLINT SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Give them something to turn up for... an incentive maybe?

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Glyn Carter

I was going to write what Simon wrote. The best networking comes from working. The best learning comes from working. Choose or write a short script that is easiest to do in production terms. Find some locals via college and SP who'll work for nothing/expenses, and who own equipment. Keep it minimal.

But you have to lead. If you hang around waiting for something to happen, it probably won't. Are you a writer or a director or what? It doesn't matter, you can ask for scripts and find directors on SP. What you have to be is a producer, stepping up to the plate to organise and manage the whole thing.

Or offer to be a 2nd best boy or runner, or whatever skill you have, on someone else's project. Plenty of opportunities in London!

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Glyn Carter SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Angela Peters

Hi Matthew, I think keep on trying to connect because eventually you will find some like-minded filmmakers local to you. Does Shooting People run a Shooters in the Pub there at all? Those events are always great.

I must say I agree with you on the price of LSF. Ouch! Seems a tad unnecessary to be so expensive doesn't it.

And my last suggestion is check out Outward Film Network. They're in the Midlands and London (so not local) but they're doing some great stuff in helping filmmakers in the low/no budget space. They might be able to offer some ideas.

Good luck :) Just keep on trying!

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Angela Peters SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Work as a Runner for free on shorts. That's how I started. All went downhill from there... :)

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins

You'll find, as I did, that on every shoot you do you will meet someone who will lead you to another shoot to work on. Thus, your network will grow.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

I'm in Brighton and as the founder of Brighton Film School and a BAFTA mentor I'm always happy to advise on most aspects of film production. I went to the LFS too.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

PS I'm at franz@imperialfilmproductions.com

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince

Thank you so much for the constructive comments, especially Flynn Carter and Simon Drake, keep them coming! This thread is generating great ideas!

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

If you have the time on your hands - grab your phone and a script and make a short film. The only thing stopping you is you. Make 5 or 10 like that, even if they start off looking shit. Learn to make the next one better. Make mistakes. You WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES. LOTS OF THEM. Learn from them. Make more. Keep learning. Once you have a number of films under your belt, you'll then be someone with 'experience', which you noted above you lack.

"The artist who never made mistakes, never made anything!"
Wozy, 2017

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince

Like a fool, I'm still thinking of setting up ANOTHER group to make short films for fun and use SP, Stage 32, FB, Twitter, Hiive (?) and other websites/forums that could be useful. Recommend any others?

I did mention before approaching my local college to ask if I can get drama students to work on my short films. Has anyone here done this before? What is the right way to go about this?

Some have recommended I join local short films, believe me, I've looked for them. Can't find any, so I have to do it myself.

Now let's say we choose to shoot on a smartphone what is the additional equipment we would need with an iPhone?

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Nothing, necessarily. The most important thing is a script. Any script. Stop looking for groups and just go make a damn film already! I get the sense that you are waiting for other people to come and make it happen for you. You've got to just get out there and make films any way you can - with or without anyone else's help.
How many films have you made or been part of in the last 21 months? Ask yourself that and answer it honestly. If the answer is none, or one or two! then the route you're taking is not working. Change tactics. Analyse what worked and what didnt. Then stop doing the stuff that didnt work.
Only you can make this happen.
Do it now.
Go. Be. Epic!

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Tristram Anyiam

@Lee 'Wozy' Warren i wish you had given me this type of positive supportive comment on my thread.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Tristram Anyiam SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

@Tristram Anyiam Sent you an IM...

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Dan Selakovich

@Tristram Anyiam Wozy did. You just didn't take it that way. Seriously. He did try to help. You just took it as an insult.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Dan Selakovich SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran

Another route to progress is to make a factual documentary. There's no actors to direct, no sets to build because the locations and people are already existing and playing the roles required and much less to spend money on. A factual documentary can still benifit from dramatic licence, still needs creative and eloquent narrative and still needs to be well shot and produced. It's a good way to exercise ones skills and by picking the right subject, one that interests people beyond the level of a vanity project or a no hope drama club, one has an objective route to a useful and even viable outcome. For energy and enthusiasm to arise though it's best if one has the same level of interest in the subject, a subject that others share an interest in. Many a successful movie producer and director has come up through commercial. corporate and factual.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - John Lubran SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince

I think so people are missing the point as I just want to work with local people. I don't see a point to working by yourself, it's stupid and pointless.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Matthew Prince SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

I ask again then - how many films have you made with groups over the last 12 months? (sorry said 21 months before but that was fat finger syndrome)...

If none, then try it a different way. Stop following the same path of failure, if that's whats happening.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins

People are advertising for people to work on short films all the time on Shooting People. Why not just contact them and offer your services as a runner for expenses. People always appreciate an extra pair of hands and someone who is prepared to muck in.

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Mark Wiggins SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

A meeting of writers - people stand in a circle but facing outwards, each talking to the wall..,

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Darren Roberts

Hey Matthew

I'm in the same boat as you, can't work due to health problems and based around the outskirts of London (I'm in Dartford) so I know exactly where you're coming from.
It's taken me ages but I've finally managed to find a good producer for my short film who has plenty of contacts and can make my short for the money I have (a grand which is still considered very low budget) even so I'm probably gonna struggle traveling to and from the shoot and I know they can be long days but I'm going to try and be there as much as possible.

There have been some good suggestions here and some dumb ones that aren't taking your situation into consideration. You could save up and buy a camera kit but when it comes to filming you'll still need to pay people travel expenses and feed them during filming, some people have said just make it and do everything yourself but as it says on the front page of this website "you can't make a film by yourself" and you still need actors, but you can't make a film without reliable people and they're annoyingly hard to find, when people contact you about any of your projects do a bit of research about them, check their imdb or website if they have them or if they don't have any experience arrange to meet them near where you live or arrange a skype or phone call.

Here's what I'd suggest: (you've probably heard or thought of these before)

Write some very simple short scripts that require two or three actors and one location (your own house if you got the space and it's okay with your family) I don't know what your preferred genre is but avoid any special or practical effects. Have the fact that they're in the house and can't leave be part of the story.

Pitch your scripts on here and explain your situation in the about me section, if someone is in London they may well be willing to travel to meet you (a good sign they're interested in the project and they're reliable)

Save up as much money as you can then put job posts on here looking for people who have their own kit and make it clear where you're shooting. Also try filmandtvpro.com it's free and you tend to get a decent amount of responses, there are a lot of people looking for experience on there.

You said you've read about films that have been made in your area, try researching those and see if you can get in touch with the people who made them, explain your situation and pitch them your ideas (especially any that are in the same genre as the ones they made)

I hope these help and good luck.

All the best
Darren

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Darren Roberts SHOW

8 years, 5 months ago - Paul Campion

Hi Matthew, there is already a Croydon Filmmakers Meetup group that's been running since 2008, so that would be a good place to start:

https://www.meetup.com/filmind-351/

As people have suggested above, if you can help on other people's films, that's the best way to meet people who are actually making films - there's a huge difference between those who are actually making films, and those who just meet up in pubs to talk about making films.

If you're health is an issue in terms of traveling, you're going to have to accept that you're going to find the whole process harder, as almost all filmmaking requires the ability to travel to a shooting location or to meet with directors, producers, actors etc.

Again, as suggested above, start making your own films.
You say you have screenwriting concepts, outlines, short film ideas, so start there, either try writing your own scripts, or pitching your ideas on SP and find a script writer to work with. As Wozy says, it all starts with the script, and a great script will attract cast and crew to you, so start with that.

If you want to send me any ideas you have, I'm happy to take a look and give you some advice on which ones are worth spending time on.

Cheers,
Paul

Response from 8 years, 5 months ago - Paul Campion SHOW

8 years, 4 months ago - Allan (Mac) McKenna

I tried this a few years ago in the town of Mytchett in Surrey and it began well then seemed to implode when a 'rogue' guy joined and alienated everybody. But I'm sure that was just a weird one-off. i now live in Alton Surrey and Croydon's a bit of a traipse but could maybe give it a go and see what happens. If you could get a few we could maybe bring two/three of our scripts, swap, read and kick it around. Could be fun if nothing else.l

Response from 8 years, 4 months ago - Allan (Mac) McKenna SHOW

8 years, 4 months ago - Alice Charles

Sign up for the Blacklist - it's free. Regular networking events are held at the Stephen Street Kitchen on the first Wednesday of the month (https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-black-list-5994236983). Also, there are bimonthly networking events at the BFI (also free). There are lots of screenwriting groups on Reddit - and a number of Hollywood actors actively promote indie filmmaking (eg Zach Braff, James Franco, Matt Damon etc), so it's a good idea to follow them on Twitter, post on their websites. There are also the professional bodies - Writers Guild UK & US - you don't have to join, just sign up for newsletters, follow on Twitter etc. It's a good way of raising your profile, too.

Response from 8 years, 4 months ago - Alice Charles SHOW

8 years, 4 months ago - Patricia Hetherington

Hi Matthew
I run Action On The Side. It's a collaborative bespoke filmmaking project based in London where we make a short film in a month. It sounds like it would be a good opportunity for you to work with new people, get content made, develop your filmmaking skills, and join a ready-made community. We're running the project in June. Want to join us for that?

Response from 8 years, 4 months ago - Patricia Hetherington SHOW