DVXuser.com Feature movie??

[Dustin R. Rogan]

The Un-Official Official list
As of May 28th 2008

South Sector (Dallas or Austin most likely)
Dustin Rogan - Texas
pia12254 - Texas
Jeff Anderson - Oklahoma
jasonthewho - Texas
Gary French - Texas

Canada Sector (TBA)
Traviscool - Canada (writing team)
Michael Anthony Horrigan - Canada *

West Coast Sector (LA most likely)
ConspiracyPenguin - California (Writing team)
sfoster - California
Flmmkr - California *
Edgen - California
msconce - California
Mark Aro - California
Geoff R - California

New England Sector (NYC most likely)
ninjaturtle414 - Maryland
Kwan - New York
Mattykins - New York (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/%20)
Romane19 - New York
Northern US Sector (TBA)
Zim - Illinois

South Eastern Sector (TBA)
Jim Montgomery - Flordia (anywhere)
Erik Olson - N. Carolina

Other Countries
spa_edwards - London, England

*since I've releived myself of the head guy...someone else needs to compile the list...or whatevers*

[traviscool]

That would be amazing! I would love to help out on something like that. I think the main problem would be getting a crew together- are there enough people in one central location? Where is that location? I would love to do something like that.

[Kyle Stebbins]

Rogan I like where this idea is going. Unfortunately, I think we might have a few too many members to assemble ONE team. -- Keep the thought going, though. I know that this weekend was PHENOMENAL and everyone on the team was professional and good at their jobs. DVXuser is a tremendously talented, respectful, and professional squad of people and this weekend was proof that we work well together.

Just got your facebook message, Dustin. I'm about to go read it. I'm sitting in a 2-hour layover in New Mexico, then it's off to Kansas City.

Peace

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Thats me, thinking big! Cuz if you think small you're going to be small! But you do have a point, not that I know from experience, but a feature does seem like it'd need more ppl. But...if we take the filmmaker, and their crew (which we all know most aren't members of dvxuser) just maybe enough...but like I said origninally, wishful thinking. I think it'd be awesome none the less...

[traviscool]

Thats me, thinking big! Cuz if you think small you're going to be small! But you do have a point, not that I know from experience, but a feature does seem like it'd need more ppl. But...if we take the filmmaker, and their crew (which we all know most aren't members of dvxuser) just maybe enough...but like I said origninally, wishful thinking. I think it'd be awesome none the less...

You should start by posting something in News, or Cafe DVX- like a poll or something casual just to see if you can generate some interest.

[Mike@AF]

Could be something along the lines of Four Rooms, except it could be Four Cities. 4 crews in 4 cities making 1/4 of a feature. All 4 stories are connected tho. If an/some actors are willing to travel to the 4 cities you can even have the same character(s) throughout. The events in each city could effect the events in the others. Could be very interesting. I would be willing to volunteer my time and equipment for such an endeavor given the right script. I would even help develop the story.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Could be something along the lines of Four Rooms, except it could be Four Cities. 4 crews in 4 cities making 1/4 of a feature. All 4 stories are connected tho. If an/some actors are willing to travel to the 4 cities you can even have the same character(s) throughout. The events in each city could effect the events in the others. Could be very interesting. I would be willing to volunteer my time and equipment for such an endeavor given the right script. I would even help develop the story.

Love it! Though I have a feeling this should be in another thread...but we'll keep it here until they move us.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Could be something along the lines of Four Rooms, except it could be Four Cities. 4 crews in 4 cities making 1/4 of a feature. All 4 stories are connected tho. If an/some actors are willing to travel to the 4 cities you can even have the same character(s) throughout. The events in each city could effect the events in the others. Could be very interesting. I would be willing to volunteer my time and equipment for such an endeavor given the right script. I would even help develop the story.I would be game for that!

That way each group is only responsible for >20 minutes or so.

[Ki-Ki]

Been talked about many times in the past.

[traviscool]

That's great it opens it up for a lot more users, we'll have a lot more talent to pull from working out of 4 or 5 cities.

I am intrigued by complex stories that feature 3 or 4 main story lines that interconnect at odd intervals.

[clarkage]

I think it would be really cool! Another issue with it though would be budget.

[Romane19]

I'm psyched lets do it!!!!!!!!!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I think it would be really cool! Another issue with it though would be budget.I think if the script was written with a low budget in mind then we would be fine.

:beer:

Bottom Line: We would need a great script to even get started.

[traviscool]

I think if the script was written with a low budget in mind then we would be fine.

:beer:

Bottom Line: We would need a great script to even get started.

YES- it has to be perfect, does not matter how long it takes we just have to get it as perfect as posable.

Budget wise- I think if the script is economical. And we can get people to pitch in as far as food and transport goes I don't think we will have much of a problem.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Bottom Line: We would need a great script to even get started.

Did somebody say script? I am a notoriously over achiever in the fact that I never stop taking writing work on. I am stoaked for this idea, Dustin! This is such a generous and talented community who works so well together already, I think it would be great.

I want to go on record as saying I am willing to help with writing, acting and any other odd job you can throw me for that matter. I think with a bunch of us together making one super kick-arse film, no one could stop us! We could rule the world! :evil:

...Sorry, sometimes I get a bit carried away. :grin: Anywho, I am game for this! I think if we did it in one city it would probably be L.A. Alternatively we could pick a central location that most people could get to (although the good think about California is you can have essentially any location within an hour or two away). But if we did multiple cities, that would be cool, as long as each part went together seemlessly.

Further, I think since there are so many talented people with the same job we could work in teams. We would have a writing team, for example, who would collaborate with each other for the script (and everyone for the story). And as far as the budget, I think with so many people, it wouldn't be an issue. We could all chip in and do our share with whatever that may be.

Give me a hollar if you start putting this together!

[Zim]

Maybe a doc. A video day in the life of DVXusers. All DVXusers would video tape something on a certain day. It would require someone to edit it all.

Maybe make a DVD and give the money to some Charity

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Script should be first priority. Then I'm guessing cast the locations, we'll say 4 is a good round number and think of 4 centrally located cities in the North America (though maybe a 5th should be implemented for the users overseas....not to leave them out) God knows our fellows over there have talent!

*suggestions*
West Coast - Cali
Central - Texas
East - I have no clue honestly...
North - our Canadian brothers somewhere up there....thats what its aboot

but script should be economical fo' sho'.

I like the fact that each crew would be responsible for 10-15 mins of film maybe even 20. though even cooler if actors could go to different crews...

this would be a huge project but like it was said a script should be priority one, then see if its feasible.

Rogan

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Maybe a doc. A video day in the life of DVXusers. All DVXusers would video tape something on a certain day. It would require someone to edit it all.

Maybe make a DVD and give the money to some Charity

interesting. I'll have to think on this one for abit

[Romane19]

East Coast - NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!!!

[Dustin R. Rogan]

there ya go lol

[Romane19]

Just thought I'd help you out there Dustin.

[Loki]

This project now leaving... destination.. failure..


The saying too many chefs in the kitchen comes to mind.


In theory it sounds good... but so does communism..

[Dustin R. Rogan]

LOL..I thought that too...but I saw Indians...to many chiefs in one tee pee...but I think toes wouldnt be stepped on too much

but thanks for dashing a guys dream, and with such suddlety :D

[Barry_Green]

It's been tried before, I think it first attempted to get off the ground in like 2004? I don't know, it's been a long, long time.

That said, let me say that maybe you guys could do something this time. The forum is incredibly bigger, more talented, deeper, and better connected than it was four years ago. Hanging with the fat monster crew, seeing what Luis pulled together with his Austin crew, seeing what the NY DVXUser crew can do, knowing what the NC ModSquad can pull off... well, with a decent script, the production and acting talent should be plenty good.

The biggest question is how do you make a 90-minute story that can be so unrelated in chunks? A 2008 version of Kentucky Fried Movie? Creepshow? Or something entirely new and different? Look at the LoveFest films, and just watch what happens with TimeFest; it's obvious that there are crews on this forum that could pull off the production value. The bigger question is whether you could make a comprehensive cohesive story out of staging crews in four different locations (or however many you go with).

And, of course, the legal nightmare of ownership/authorship hell that's certain to arise. Lick that problem from the get-go though, and ... well, who knows... you might have something here.

[ninjaturtle414]

I'd love to work on something like this.

There are so many great filmmakers on this site and it would be awesome to actually meet a few of them. It's obvious that we have the potential to make this, all we need is the commitment.

Barry, you made some important points.
Dustin, can you work out the legal issues lol? :grin:

[Dustin R. Rogan]

That means alot coming from you Barry. I'm way to green to be put in charge of an entire crew but I do realize the magnitude of this project. And I just thought I'd throw it out there. I figured it had been tried before...but there is a first time for everything. I think if it were to come to a head there'd need to be some sort of system that a director would be cast for each location, then he'd appoint from the willing users his crew and so on. as far as ownership...hmmm...i say its ours we all share in it alittle, some maybe more than others. No prizes involved, maybe lending of equipment if some locations are lacking (but i'm sure that each one would pool together from the various users) I don't know. I'm tired and going to bed now. I just thought I'd get everyones noodle a-goin'.

but again thank you Barry, I have this respect for you, that words can't describe and I've not even met you lol :D

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Dustin, can you work out the legal issues lol? :grin:

yeah sure i'll take all the credit lol jk :D

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Maybe a doc. A video day in the life of DVXusers. All DVXusers would video tape something on a certain day. It would require someone to edit it all.

Maybe make a DVD and give the money to some Charity

Interesting. I vote Isara if this is what we do.

As far as the currently in discussion option (of 4 cities/regions) I like it. I think if we got a writing team together first we could work out the kinks of the story (or whatever we decide to go with) and then we figure out which crew needs to film what. I agree with the above sentiments, a director in each region who gets a crew (all from here, of course, as that is the premise).

The credit would simply go to everyone depending on what they did. I.E. Writing, directing, acting, etc... Dustin would get credit for the idea along with whatever else he does to help.

And where distribution is concerned, we could either sell DVDs or try to get it picked up, whatever we decide to do. We need to first get the details chisled out, then get the teams formed and start the writing process. Dustin, if you don't want to be in charge, we will need to find someone who can keep everyone organized. I am not sure if I am volunteering, but we will see what happens.

I, too, am off to bed now. This is a great idea, lets see if we can flesh it out. We already know that we do great work individually and even as small groups, but imagine what we could all do together. I mean I understand that not every single member will be involved, but those of us who want to be should create a big enough group. We will talk more tomorrow.*




*I like how I sign off as if the conversation will be put on hold until I return. I know that is obviously not the case, but whatever.

[sfoster]

I'm in!

I figure each location would get it's own credit. Just like 4 rooms. Each director got credit as if it were a separate film.

Write a script where the character(s) has(ve) to travel from one location to another. The character(s) could even go back again. We all know how to film out of order right? We'll send continuity photos out on the internet. The only big expense would be if we needed the same actors everywhere(keep the cast small), especially if we have to pay them (really small)!!! Maybe have one person who meets people in different cities that affect his life in some way, making him want to get back to his roots and quit running from his past. I'm game for fleshing out a premise, as you can see! If it gets picked up, I say we all get a percentage broken up based on the position you fill, or the money you invest up front! We'll all be associate producers! :)

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I'm in!

I figure each location would get it's own credit. Just like 4 rooms. Each director got credit as if it were a separate film.

Write a script where the character(s) has(ve) to travel from one location to another. Now there lies the problem. I think it has to be 4 stories that relate to each other but not necessarily with the same character. If it were the same person we would be looking at some serious budget due to travel.

The only way we could probably do that successfully is to show the main character at different stages/ages of his/her life. That way different people could play the same character.

Mike

[Erik Olson]

This was talked about during the original ZombieFest set-up. The world is under one common threat, and we visit three to five disparate stories that take place within it.

NY - Urban Segment
CA - Destroy LA... again.
TX - Zombies shall not mess with...
NC - Deep South Segment
Mid-West - Whatever happens down there in those places I'm always flying over. J/K!!!

e

[Dustin R. Rogan]

This was talked about during the original ZombieFest set-up. The world is under one common threat, and we visit three to five disparate stories that take place within it.

NY - Urban Segment
CA - Destroy LA... again.
TX - Zombies shall not mess with...
NC - Deep South Segment
Mid-West - Whatever happens down there in those places I'm always flying over. J/K!!!

e

Love this idea! :thumbsup:

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Love this idea! :thumbsup:I don't mind doing an end of the world type picture, but everyone and their grandmother are doing Zombie flicks theses days.

The end of the world from 4 different perspectives could be very cool!

Mike

[Erik Olson]

You would. You're from Texas!

For someone who doesn't live there, I've spent an unbelievable amount of time there between Brownsville and San Antonio and Dallas (Richardson, specifically) and Houston and learned one thing: Texans are serious about barbecue and all things Texas.

e

[Dustin R. Rogan]

You would. You're from Texas!

For someone who doesn't live there, I've spent an unbelievable amount of time there between Brownsville and San Antonio and Dallas (Richardson, specifically) and Houston and learned one thing: Texans are serious about barbecue and all things Texas.

e
Damn skippy...and believe it or not we all don't wear shiney big belt buckles and ride horses everywhere
:grin:

[Mike@AF]

I like the zombie idea, but... a zombie flick would be expensive because of the cost of makeup and the extra time involved with having the actors in makeup for so much of their day on set.

[Kwan]

Great Idea Erik.

[Ki-Ki]

Personally think it's a bad idea that's going to piss alot of people off.

There's going to be people who won't be able to get involved, and there's going to be places that can / can't get involved. I can just see alot of con's compared to the pro's. So I'm against it. Mainly because so many people have tried it in the past. It's like the HALO movie.

Finally.. what the heck's this doing in the Timefest forum?

:)

[Mattykins]

Oh poor Halo movie...that is a royal disaster.

I think if this was to happen, it would turn into a disaster pretty quick. If it gets done and picked up...who gets what? Since there would be five directors, numerous producers...people who couldn't get involved would be upset.

I have no idea, I mean - if it happens, great. I am in.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Personally think it's a bad idea that's going to piss alot of people off.

There's going to be people who won't be able to get involved, and there's going to be places that can / can't get involved. I can just see alot of con's compared to the pro's. So I'm against it. Mainly because so many people have tried it in the past. It's like the HALO movie.

Finally.. what the heck's this doing in the Timefest forum?

:)I don't see why it would piss people off? I would love to be a part of it but because I live in Ottawa I can see why I might get bumped. No hard feelings though. I would still love to see the community pull this off and I would be routing for them.

Breaking it up into 4 parts/different cities would allow more people to get involved though. I would like to be a part of it if possible for sure.

Either way... good luck!

Cheers,

Mike

[Edgen]

Count me in! I'm game for this idea. :)

I'm sure i can figure out how to push a button for a fog machine or perhaps hold a boom pole and turns some knobs to the right level.

go team!
/j

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Oh I know its a long shot, since I've only been here about a year now, haven't seen anyone talk about it. I merely threw up the question to see what kind of response I'd get. Like most people, if it does happen I'm so there. And if it doesn't, we can still get together in small groups for festivals.

Rogan

ps i think the part that worries me the most, is the whole "ownership" if'ing it did get "picked up" contracts, all that legal mombo that I tend to let other people read and then tell me where to sign type stuff....anyhoos

[Edgen]

I think the biggest thing with a project like this is ole' saying.. "Too many cooks in the Kitchen".. Then, the final say so comes down to who gets to be the iron chef.

/j

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I think the biggest thing with a project like this is ole' saying.. "Too many cooks in the Kitchen".. Then, the final say so comes down to who gets to be the iron chef.

/jI agree but why can't we just have 4 chefs/Directors each controlling their own piece that was decided on by all before shooting.
i.e. Based on the script.

If it actually takes off then everyone involved gets the same percentage.

I would just like to see the community come together to make something like this.
15 or 20 minutes each really isn't that much.

Mike

[Dustin R. Rogan]

so does this mean a director is elected from each location? or appointed? nominated....etc...

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

so does this mean a director is elected from each location? or appointed? nominated....etc...I think it should be based on interest and a willingness to commit to the project.

In order to see this succeed you have to hand over the reigns to someone. We can't just throw it out there and expect it to happen. This is why I think splitting the story up into 4 or more parts may help this become a reality.

If there are a couple of interested Directors in the same area I'm sure that they could share the chair. If they can't agree with that... we'll have to come up with something.

First thing's first. Agree on a synopsis and then get a good script together. :)


Mike

[Dustin R. Rogan]

yeah prolly should have a story to tell before we rally the troops.

Any Writers? theme? And where should I move this (or mods wanna do it for me)

[Matt Sconce]

Woo Woo! Mark and I Volunteer for Fresno when this happens! It sounds cool!

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I would eventually start a new thread in the user films area.
Maybe run a poll discussing a possible theme. Come up with some theme ideas here and then start a poll over there with multiple choices.

I vote for a movie based on the End of the World.
The script would have to keep budget in mind. It would be cool to see people from different areas of the world reacting to a doomed fate.

Any other themes/ideas?

[Ki-Ki]

I think it would piss alot of people off, if the film was restricted to 4 America groups only. There's alot of European, Asian, African, Australian etc members on this board who would probably be really interested.

So yeah an End of the World type film would be better for them if that came to that, because It would give a better sense of reality - showing various points and landmarks from around the world where everyone could get involved with.

Not forgetting the fact i think people would get pissed off if there idea, script, music, etc was rejected for consideration. But that's how filmmaking is anyway, that's how life is full stop.

Just my 2 cents, & i dont even want to get involved with it.

[pia12254]

Sounds interesting...I think several of you are on the right track.

- Story first! If the story is not intriguing/unique etc. then it will be hard to get people excited/involved. I think the "End of the world as seen from multiple locations..." idea has some promise...
- Find a director (or two) in each location who are willing to get involved and whose work has been proven to be of a certain quality. (I think the only way to get talented people to spend time on this is if they know the other elements of the film will be quality as well)
- Each location is responsible for finding funding/locations/cast/crew etc. as well as the legal aspect (points/pay etc.).

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I think it would piss alot of people off, if the film was restricted to 4 America groups only. There's alot of European, Asian, African, Australian etc members on this board who would probably be really interested.

So yeah an End of the World type film would be better for them if that came to that, because It would give a better sense of reality - showing various points and landmarks from around the world where everyone could get involved with.

Not forgetting the fact i think people would get pissed off if there idea, script, music, etc was rejected for consideration. But that's how filmmaking is anyway, that's how life is full stop.

Just my 2 cents, & i dont even want to get involved with it.I never said it had to be American. I'm Canadian btw. :D

I would love to see different cultures responding to a common disaster.
As for people getting rejected, that's life. I am not one of the best filmmakers on this board. My chances would be slim to begin with but I would love to contribute in any fashion that would be welcomed.

Cheers,

Mike

[USLatin]

What I want to see is a DVXuser.com movie as in ABOUT the forum... not a docu but a drama-comedy about say, one of the admins and one of the users who don't know they talk to each other all the time and end up working together for Spielberg... but they HATE each other because they are the best in the crew and they know that Spielberg is looking for a new guy for Dreamworks. Eventually they end up finding out just as Spielberg tells then that he will not pick then cause he found someone else, Barry Green! heheh

[Edgen]

I say we make "Jared" do the whole thing and call it, "A DVXUser Film" :)

ooh, that's right, he's probably off and hanging out in the "REDuser Land"

/j

[Ki-Ki]

I never said it had to be American. I'm Canadian btw. :D

I would love to see different cultures responding to a common disaster.
As for people getting rejected, that's life. I am not one of the best filmmakers on this board. My chances would be slim to begin with but I would love to contribute in any fashion that would be welcomed.

Cheers,

Mike


I know man :)

A couple of others did, I agree with the different cultures respondin- i agree with your whole post actually. Except your filmmaking comment.. no idea how good you are until we see 'The Watchman' :evil:


Good luck to all whose involved.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I know man :)

A couple of others did, I agree with the different cultures respondin- i agree with your whole post actually. Except your filmmaking comment.. no idea how good you are until we see 'The Watchman' :evil:


Good luck to all whose involved.
Really? You could judge my ability based on my previous shorts located in my Signature. :happy:

[traviscool]

Wow, lots of positive feed back since last night! I think 4 or 5 cities would be best. As far as licensing goes and who gets what in the end, which has been brought up, I think that before we begin all those involved should sign something just saying that the proceeds go to some kind of charity so we don't quibble over all that.

I think we need to flesh out a story first- get a team of a few writers to put together a script of sorts then come back to the forums and get things rolling.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

just for the record...i'm the guy that just had the idea...anyone wanna take charge on this (ala someone with more experience) please do so, I'll assist if wanted. And would of course be involved.

ps. I think the charity thing is the way to go therefore no one gets upset over the percentage they deserve. I don't know maybe I should have kept dreaming. lol but if it can happen count me in! I just don't want to be the man in charge...

[traviscool]

Just to see if we have any intrested writers I posted this (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1288882#post1288882) up in the cafe.

[Ki-Ki]

Really? You could judge my ability based on my previous shorts located in my Signature. :happy:


I enjoyed The Music Box, had some nice shots in there. Cleverly written & the ending was sad. I like sad.. :)

Going to watch the other one now, but It's made me realise how i miss watching DVX User Fest entrys.. got me all hyped up to get back working on mine now.

:thumbsup:

[ConspiracyPenguin]

I actually tried to post here this morning but my comp screwed up and I just realized it didn't go through. Basically what I was gong to say has been said by now. I like the multiple cities idea, it would give more people a chance to get involved. I, too, am game from the Fresno area!

As far as proceeds we could either do charity or plan it out ahead of time where we split the money equally between everyone. That is if it got picked up. The end of the world idea would be possible, as long as we avoid over used cliches.

The first step is to get a team of writers together (hopefully I'll be included in that team :grin:) and start to collect ideas from the group about themes then narrow it down until we have a plot line that will work and go from there.

As to what Dustin said just above, it is funny because in my missing post I said the same thing! This was your idea, man, but if you don't want to be in charge of keeping it organized then we should find someone who would like to. (Did I just volunteer?)

I'm heading to the cafe to add to the thread over there, maybe even paste this whole post. Later!

[Geoff_R]

Cool idea...one thing though comes to mind. Somebody has to spearhead the project. There has to be a director with his sole vision otherwise things get all muddy. It isn't by coincidence that the best projects I've been involved in had a director whom was very specific in what he wanted to get. The idea of a bunch of people making different parts or segments and stringing it together doesn't seem like it'd result in something good. Perhaps a better way to describe this would to have a director with a story come about and essentially hire nothing but DVXusers to put the whole thing together. That is something I could see happening and at least then the product is built from one sole directors vision.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Cool idea...one thing though comes to mind. Somebody has to spearhead the project. There has to be a director with his sole vision otherwise things get all muddy. It isn't by coincidence that the best projects I've been involved in had a director whom was very specific in what he wanted to get. The idea of a bunch of people making different parts or segments and stringing it together doesn't seem like it'd result in something good. Perhaps a better way to describe this would to have a director with a story come about and essentially hire nothing but DVXusers to put the whole thing together. That is something I could see happening and at least then the product is built from one sole directors vision.

I see where this could cause problems, but as long as the story is written in a way that it could be filmed by different groups, it would allow more folks from different areas to get involved. If no one steps on any toes and minds their own business, things could work out.

[Kyle Stebbins]

Cool idea...one thing though comes to mind. Somebody has to spearhead the project. There has to be a director with his sole vision otherwise things get all muddy. It isn't by coincidence that the best projects I've been involved in had a director whom was very specific in what he wanted to get. The idea of a bunch of people making different parts or segments and stringing it together doesn't seem like it'd result in something good. Perhaps a better way to describe this would to have a director with a story come about and essentially hire nothing but DVXusers to put the whole thing together. That is something I could see happening and at least then the product is built from one sole directors vision.

Dustin seems like a likely candidate.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Dustin seems like a likely candidate.

GULP!!
:nads:

[Jeff Anderson]

I second the nomination! And would love to be involved in some form or fashion in the region nearest to me. Am way open to travelling.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

well Jeff looks like we'd work on our location together! Texas here, what park of OK? I got family all over OK

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Can I lead the Canadian crew? If there is one.

:Drogar-Smoke(DBG):

[Jeff Anderson]

Tulsa! What part of TX is Waco in? (I'm not good at the geography) I've got family in Lubbock and Dallas.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Can I lead the Canadian crew? If there is one.

:Drogar-Smoke(DBG):
Done and done, you've been a favorite of mine since I signed up for the board! we're asymboling a team of writers...more like wrangling :kali:

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Tulsa! What part of TX is Waco in? (I'm not good at the geography) I've got family in Lubbock and Dallas.

Waco is in the heart of Texas, South of Dallas (about hour and a half)

my family is in Cement (near Lawton) and Ardmore

[Jeff Anderson]

Ok, I knew I've seen the signs for Waco somewhere. Just havent gone that far south of Dallas yet. I'm game for heading down that direction when production begins. I know there are a plethora of Austinites and apparently a decent sized Waco crew as well. A few other Oklahomans around too. We could have a hefty midwest crew.

[jasonthewho]

I think an overseeing director is a good idea. Someone should be in charge of the big picture, unifying all of the pieces and making sure a cohesive product is made. However, I think each city/region needs its own director as well, since I can't imagine the big director having to travel all around the country.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Good Morning Jason...looks like my little idea has blossomed alot since you went to sleep this morning LOL

[traviscool]

Cool idea...one thing though comes to mind. Somebody has to spearhead the project. There has to be a director with his sole vision otherwise things get all muddy. It isn't by coincidence that the best projects I've been involved in had a director whom was very specific in what he wanted to get. The idea of a bunch of people making different parts or segments and stringing it together doesn't seem like it'd result in something good. Perhaps a better way to describe this would to have a director with a story come about and essentially hire nothing but DVXusers to put the whole thing together. That is something I could see happening and at least then the product is built from one sole directors vision.

I agree we need a head- looks like Dustin, but I also think the 4 cities thing can work out as well. The cast and crew will just have to be clear on how this film is going to look before shooting, then we will be able to edit together and get something that flows.

[Jeff Anderson]

I think Jason's right, a decent management structure will be necessary to keep the vision going and on the same track across the world.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Done and done, you've been a favorite of mine since I signed up for the board! we're asymboling a team of writers...more like wrangling :kali:Thanks! I would love to help out over here as much as I can. :thumbup:

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Ok, heres what I'm thinking....

Locations like said before in the US (not set in stone either, just suggestions)
West - Cali
Central - Texas
East - NY
Canada
Rest of world
*obviously people in Germany wouldn't necessarily have to travel to china or Africa*

each location has a director who'd be in charge like hes shooting his own movie, funding it, casting/crewing (preferable with as many willing DVXers as possible) etc

I'd pretty much just be the final yes no guy. for instance the director doesn't feel he/she doesn't know for the sake of the project then they'd come to me and I'd descide...as well as be in the Central crew.

Rogan

[Jeff Anderson]

Central Crew represent yo! My only though is what about those in the northern midwest? Nebraska, the Dakotas etc? Not sure how many people are really in that area...

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Central Crew represent yo! My only though is what about those in the northern midwest? Nebraska, the Dakotas etc? Not sure how many people are really in that area...

I know Mr. Kyle Stebbins is in Neb. all the locations that are written will vary to the response we get to people, maybe we should have an official in list or something. anyone wanna do that?

[ConspiracyPenguin]

I wouldn't know where to put it. Whoever makes it, though, should be sure that they have it separated into location and maybe even possible job (if a big part like writing or directing). I am off to collect writers.

[traviscool]

A list of people should also include distances people are willing to travel, some may be willing to go quite far to be involved.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

TO MAKE IT CLEAR ALL MONIES MADE FROM THIS ARE GOING TO A CHARITY!


I'm thinking Isara

Rogan

[Jim Montgomery]

Hell I'll go anywhere, doing anything, just count me in.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Thats the attitude! Welcome aboard Jim!

any ideas for story direct to either myself, Penguin or traviscool

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Dustin, check for a PM on my story idea.

See if it floats your boat. :)

[chapelgrovefilms]

Okay, I confess that I haven't read the whole thread, so maybe this has been covered.

I think what kills most collective projects like this is that everybody has their own ideas, but they also have equal say in the production. So it becomes a huge boondoggle.

For something like this to work, I think one person -- maybe two -- needs to be put in charge overall. A producer, naturally. Someone who can assess all the various ideas and come up with a viable project. And someone who has the final say in disputes. Someone who can be responsible for getting the film made on-time and under budget. A good team leader, but someone who can also make the hard decisions when needed.

With someone like that at the helm channeling and guiding the talents of the rest, this could really work and work well. It's the only way I know to avoid chaos.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Could be something along the lines of Four Rooms, except it could be Four Cities. 4 crews in 4 cities making 1/4 of a feature. All 4 stories are connected tho. If an/some actors are willing to travel to the 4 cities you can even have the same character(s) throughout. The events in each city could effect the events in the others. Could be very interesting. I would be willing to volunteer my time and equipment for such an endeavor given the right script. I would even help develop the story.

This thought intrigues me. Can we get one actor or actress who would be willing to travel to the various cities we're shooting in? If so, then what about a story where people in four different cities, hundreds or thousands of miles apart, come to realize that the SAME person is in all four places at the SAME time??? That could be interesting....

[Mike@AF]

TO MAKE IT CLEAR ALL MONIES MADE FROM THIS ARE GOING TO A CHARITY!


I'm thinking Isara

Rogan

I'm down with the charity thing, but.... How about all monies made after costs are recouped go to charity?

[Mike@AF]

If this is really going to get off the ground I'm interested in helping with the writing as well as directing for the California part if no one else objects.

[spa_edwards]

Just stumbled across this thread and loving the idea. I think London should definately be one of the cities involved, but Im obviously biased to that idea :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG).

Just to throw a few ideas into the thread about how these stories could link to each other, not all end of the world related.

1. The main charactor could be a drug smuggling pilot.
or
2. FBI/MI5 are hunting down Al Qieda terrorists
or
3. Four men playing online poker, dare each other to do an online ouija board... lol
or
4. smuggled drugs could contain the ebola virus.

Well anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what the story will be like.


As regards to money, I feel that people would be more inclined to help if they were going to recoup that back if the film got picked up. Each city could have a line producer dealing with all budget issues for his/her area, including keeping a log of what came from where. Also. I don't think the money should be released to charity. A company name should be created with a bank to hold all profits that will be invested into future DVXUSER productions, creating a rolling ball into bigger and better films.

I'm looking forward to helping out on this project in any which way and hope it doesn't get sidelined - With effort and commitment there is no reason it should fail.

[traviscool]

I agree we should have at least one international city.

chapelgrovefilms- we are currently working on an organization structure Dustin is in charge- we have a writing team (working on one) and we will be putting together crews. I don't think that will be a big problem.

[USLatin]

I want to shoot it in Prague

[Jim Montgomery]

Just some thoughts

Producer - would have to be mobile enough to meet with Head Writer and Director
Marketing

Head writer - Would work with the Director to lock down vision
Collaborator 1
Collaborator 2
Collaborator 3 ad infinitum

Director - Would convey the vision to his unit directors.
Director City 1
Crew
Director City 2
Crew
Director City 3 and so on.
Crew

Sound Design

Editor

Composer

The driving forces Producer, Head Writer, Director would have to be able to coordinate and effectively communicate the vision and then be able to let go and let the second unit people do their thing.

[karapetkov]

Hi again,


I think we should focus 110 % of our efforts on the script first, and then worry about later stages.

Locking a doable script is priority, IMHO.

So, yeah, a Head writer [an experienced one] + a team of 3-4 more writers sounds good...

... and an unlimited source of script editors, here on DVXUser :). I'd gladly be one of them.

Some deadlines for... everything, would also be a good thing.


My 2c.

[Erik Olson]

Locking a workable script should be first and foremost. Each market should be unique enough (theme and locations) to justify breaking it up regionally. I wholly agree that we need a European or Asian segment.

I think we have the assets on the ground in NC to make a segment happen and I'd be more than happy to coordinate / help coordinate the team here.

We can rope Ordan, Green, Jimerson and maybe Hiro into this one. I've been looking for a project that could bring us all together for a couple of years now.

e

[Ki-Ki]

I think either a major co-ordinated International Terrorism threat..
SIS co-ordination with the NSA, CIA, FBI, NATO, Ice Cream Men, everything.

..or

End of the World, Alien, Armageddon, style flick.



Naturally, I'm more towards seeing every city in the world being blown up with special effects in a epic race against time with terrorists fingers on buttons.
But money would drive you all crazy.



Also I think the original idea for a DVX User film, was to actually film people.. behind there screenames, as film characters or actors / actress's. Because thats what would make it a DVX User film. Compared to members from DVX User filming it.

Maybe someone can write to Richard Branson?

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I sent this idea to Dustin last night and he posted it in the screenplay/writing forum.

Hey guys looking good here thought I'd pass along an idea that Mike Horrigan sent me in PM





"Here's my take on one idea.

A meteorite (not quite a global killer) strikes an unpopulated area of the world. It releases something into the air and it results in a new form of plague never seen before.

It quickly spreads across the world untraced. The unsuspecting plague has an extremely long incubation period. It sits dormant for approximately one year before becoming active. Once it does all hell breaks loose.

90% of the population becomes infected 1 year later to the day of the meteor strike.

The following things happen to the infected.

1. Paranoia sets in immediately and they arm themselves. Guns, knives, whatever they can get their hands on.

2. They kill all those closest to them immediately.

3. They go out searching for anyone else who may pose a threat to their survival. i.e. Normals.
It's survival of the fittest.

4. They kill in a well thought out practical manner and have all their wits about them. They need to eat and drink just like the rest of us but do not sleep. Some of them work in groups but never say a word. Almost communicating telepathically.

One month following infection they kill themselves.

The movie can show how the normals struggle for survival. They are heavily outnumbered and facing more than slow moving mindless zombies.

I would end it with the infected killing themselves...

Followed by the surviving normals looking towards the skyline to see it littered with alien pods entering our atmosphere. Their alien plague has done most of the work for them.

The End."





We would only need two cool effects shots. One at the beginning and one at the end. The rest can just be pure survival horror.



Just a quick outline but it would allow each director to create a story of their own within strict guidelines. What do you think?

Mike

[sfoster]

I film behind the scenes at all locations if you can pay for the flights, hotel, and my rent while I'm away. I'll do the acting in all locations instead, but I might not be the best actor for the job, however I'd love the experience! I only need about $1600 a month! :)

[sfoster]

I think we need to nail down which cities before we can write a decent script involving those cities. I think promoting this thing will get us the money we need from distribution. We can market it as the first movie made around the world from different teams all assembled through DVXUSER. I think even Panasonic would sponsor something like that!

SO Nail down the cities, nail down the directors in each city by Poll so no one gets too upset.

English subtitles? I guess that would depend on the script.

I would call Dustin the Executive Producer. The Producer that handles the marketing would just be a regular producer.

I also think that a fund should be set up where people can buy shares. The two with the most shares would be the Associate producer. This will get the money rolling in (hopefully) Profits should go back into this fund for future projects. (part 2's or 3's make more money because all the marketing has been done) Hopefully the money that comes back will make it so we can afford to pay everyone the second time around, just like a normal film. Once we start making a profit, we should send the profit to charity, and not just one charity, but several. I vote for something to do with cancer or leukemia. I've seen too many kids that are dying and would love to put an end to this disease!

So the first film is by volunteer and donation. If it makes a profit, use it to fund the second film. If that one makes a profit, make a third film. If that makes a profit, send the money to charity. Different directors, DP's etc. each time so we maximize the chance at launching more careers.

Any thoughts on what I said???

[sfoster]

It appears I'm volunteering to do some of the marketing. I do know how the news works.

Once we get the script together, can we get a few of the DVXfest films to show on local news. Also we need to pick our directors and film some behind the scenes of what they are working on now. Dustin, the ball is in your court. We need to decide on a premise and get the script moving along!

OK deadlines, Well lets have the premise decided upon by June 15th. Then the first draft of the script August 30th. I'll host the first draft on my website once it is registered with the WGA so our script editors can go through and critique it, also this will determine who directs it. We'll pick our directors in September. October we will finalize the shooting script and begin the hunt for funding.

By the way, in September once we decide on the directors, we will be filming all the BTS stuff for a press kit to send out to all the major news stations, as well as the news stations in the specific areas that the film will be shot. We need to plan a red carpet event in the cities it is shot in and all watch the finished film at the same time!

Sound good?

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Rockin'. Not going to decide anything today. I didn't sleep last night and about to claw my eyes out. I'll do a read of the thread tonight after my nap.

Rogan

[Dustin R. Rogan]

I think we need to nail down which cities before we can write a decent script involving those cities. I think promoting this thing will get us the money we need from distribution. We can market it as the first movie made around the world from different teams all assembled through DVXUSER. I think even Panasonic would sponsor something like that!

SO Nail down the cities, nail down the directors in each city by Poll so no one gets too upset.

English subtitles? I guess that would depend on the script.

I would call Dustin the Executive Producer. The Producer that handles the marketing would just be a regular producer.

I also think that a fund should be set up where people can buy shares. The two with the most shares would be the Associate producer. This will get the money rolling in (hopefully) Profits should go back into this fund for future projects. (part 2's or 3's make more money because all the marketing has been done) Hopefully the money that comes back will make it so we can afford to pay everyone the second time around, just like a normal film. Once we start making a profit, we should send the profit to charity, and not just one charity, but several. I vote for something to do with cancer or leukemia. I've seen too many kids that are dying and would love to put an end to this disease!

So the first film is by volunteer and donation. If it makes a profit, use it to fund the second film. If that one makes a profit, make a third film. If that makes a profit, send the money to charity. Different directors, DP's etc. each time so we maximize the chance at launching more careers.

Any thoughts on what I said???

Any profits would go to Isara, I don't want to deal with the politics of "I deserve this much" or "that guy didn't work as hard as I did" So nip it in the bud and any profits go towards Isara.

I agree that Cities should be nailed down before a script if formed, now an idea can be before that. I'll go through tonight and put a post at the top of the thread with people who have shown interest and split them into regions/teams

Until tonight
Rogan

[Zoidoid]

I'm a little behind in this thread, so forgive me if this idea has already been tossed out. Recently, I saw the movie The Signal. It was a fun little indie horror flick with three directors. The film came about out of a little experiment they were playing -- one director would start the film, then hand it off to the next director who would write and direct the next bit, and so on. Eventually, they hit on enough ideas that they decided to consolidate some of them into a three-part film.

So how about this? What if one city started the process by writing up a 15-20 minute script. If deemed solid enough, it could then be passed onto city #2 for the next part of the story. Of course, it doesn't necessarily have to use the same characters. Say, for instance, Story 1 in New York ends with Sarah wondering how her brother is doing in LA during the crisis. Then Story 2 begins with Sarah's brother. As this process goes along, the earlier chapters in the script could be revised to add plot points and smooth out continuity issues and give a sense of an overall story arc.

Part of the reason that I like this idea is because I really think that the script should be written by the people living in the location that they will shoot. If you live in New York, you're going to know the coolest potential spots to shoot, what resources are available, and what's practical to accomplish. Plus, each segment will be all the more interesting, culturally.

Just my two cents!

[pia12254]

If you are going to do that tonight Dustin then put me on for the "Texas" contingent! :)

[spa_edwards]

I'm in for London

[Mattykins]

I can jump in as an assistant director and schedule this puppy when we need to. Been looking for a feature to break down. And a person in our developing production services division loves the concept. So, that can be handled easily. :)

I think the one thing we do need to do with money is first get the production paid for before we even consider the donation. I mean, if we drop a nice some on this shoot, and donate any money we make, we are still in the red. See what I mean?

The production has to be paid for first, then we can consider donating anything after we go into the black.

-Watkajtys

[Dustin R. Rogan]

put up a list of people I know are in, PM'd those that I wasn't for sure about. its in the first post of the thread....

Rogan

[Zim]

It is more central Illinois,,,Champaign-Urbana area.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Alright guys, just got home. I am going to try and respond to what I remember reading above (I'll do my best).

As far as organization goes, I have been talking with Dustin and I think this is a good plan (similar to one above):

MAIN MAN: DUSTIN

WRITING TEAM: (I don't think there should be a "head" writer per say. Right now I am in charge of the writing team but I don't think I should have any higher priority as far as the script goes. Maybe if there is a plot dispute between members, I will be the one who says yay or nay. Dustin is the final yes/no guy, though.)

DIRECTOR: (ONE PER LOCATION)

CAST/CREW: (ONE PER LOCATION)

EDITING TEAM: (Small group similar to writing team who does this, unless one person wants to do the whole thing and there are no objections.)

COMPOSITION TEAM: (Obviously again like the other teams, small, that will do the score.)

MARKETING TEAM: (You get the picture where the teams are concerned.)

------------

I think if we follow that system things should stay organized. Also, I think we all need to remember that Dustin is in charge, so we can't just start spewing out orders unless he has appointed us to do so :grin:.

The first step (I think) needs to be to develop a story and a writing team. As I said above I am currently in charge of that group and am working to get some members, if you are interested PM me or visit the thread in the Screenplay Forum. Once we have a team and a plot line, we (the writers) can work out a system amongst ourselves to get the script done. While we write, the location groups will be formed so that once the final script is approved it can be sent out to the correct places and filmed. Then it goes to the writing team, composition team, etc, and it's done!

I am thinking I forgot to cover something...the profits go to Isara (although I think we should consider a log of who spends what so that they may be reinbursed, but then again that could lead to a whole bunch of crap if it flops and there is not enough, etc...)...Dustin will tell us how to system will be (if it is like mine above, or something different)...I don't think we should have people put money in a pool, each person can pay for what they do (or donate more if they want) but no one has any higher rank in that respect. Directors may decide with their group how to organize the money situation, but as a whole (like the federal government) we should not be involved...yup, I think that's it!

:beer: Cheers,

[Dustin R. Rogan]

I think editing should be one person or a team thats in vicinity of each other... so the other knows whats going on and we don't have "different" styles of editing going on

[chapelgrovefilms]

Okay, I'm going to come off as a Grinch here, but what the heck...

This is a HECK of a lot of work to expect from people. To then give them no chance at all of making even a tiny amount of money from it -- that seems harsh. It's all noble and everything to want to support charities, but I just don't know if I have the time or energy to participate in something this involved where all I'm going to get out of it in the end is a screen credit and a warm fuzzy.

Don't get me wrong, I support my favorite charities all the time, and I think everyone should. But I don't see any reason why the profits from this project should all go to charity. If people are willing to work hard, pony up, and do what it takes to make this thing GREAT, then they deserve to be rewarded for their efforts. Then they can take that reward and give it to the charity of their choice, if that's what they want to do.

I also don't see why I should have to come out of pocket to make this project happen. I'm perfectly willing to take a deferred-pay deal and hope for the best. But expecting people to PAY for the privilege AND give away any possible profit -- that just seems like too much. Or maybe it's just the arbitrary approach to this that bothers me -- some people will cough up more than others. If you were going to set a standard 'donation' amount, and each person contributed the same, that would at least be relatively fair.

Even more fair would be to line up a good producer who could get the budget money. If you develop a great script and get together great teams, there is no reason why a solid producer couldn't pitch this project to investors and come up with decent budget money.

It's not that I'm not a team player, and it's not that I don't want to support my fellow filmmakers. I just don't think I can in good conscience stay on-board.

I DO wish everyone the very best on this project, and I hope it goes like gangbusters. But I don't have a year or two of my life to devote to working for 'free'. I wish I did.

Best of luck, everyone!

[Ted Arabian]

Hey Dustin, just seeing this thread....

I don't get it. Is there a page/thread or something that describes what you are intending to do?

i look at the first post and I see names, cities and sectors. But no info.

Am I missing something?

-Ted

[Mattykins]

David,

I'm right with you there. I made a post regarding that a little while ago. I like charity. I think we all do - but this entire production needs to be paid for before we even consider giving giving money to charity. I mean, it seems trivial at this point without a word written or a concept designed...however, it is a legitimate concern. Sure we can do this using stuff we already have. But if we want a name actor - that's a good deal of money. If we want to call this a SAG ultra-low we will need to pay actors 100 dollars a day. And worry about the contractual stuff. We have that locked until we go a cent over 200,000 dollars.

I mean, that is just one little thing to look at regarding monetary concerns. Also, since no one will be getting paid for this, that rules out working on a day to day basis. So, we go from shooting 2 to 4 weeks on a standard shoot rate. That is 6 days a week running a standard 12 hour day. To shooting weekends which will end up taking exponentially longer.

Looking at this thing, if there is no payment for us, at least a stipend - I don't think this thing can happen.

My little note.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Hey guys, I am not going to lie, I totally agree with you. In fact, I am pretty sure I said something about this a yesterday (although that may have been a PM) but I am too lazy to find the quote.

I, too, don't see how it will be feesable to put all this out of pocket expense up and not AT LEAST get that back. I do understand that things get complicated fast, like who gets paid how much, etc...

I propose this: we all agree beforehand to donate a certain amount of our money to chaity (maybe even a predecided one) and what we do is any and all profits we split equally. I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to be the one who has to say who should get more or less than someone else.

This is a legitimate concern that we need to discuss, so don't give up on it now. We need to put some thought into this before going any further.

[chapelgrovefilms]

This is nothing new. A producer's job on any shoot is determining who gets paid what -- who gets more, who gets less. How is this any different?

I think the first flaw is in just opening it up to anyone who wants to participate. That sounds very democratic, but what you wind up with is too many people -- and too many in one job title, too few in another.

If you were going to open a burger joint, would you say "Okay, we're going to hire every qualified applicant who wants to work here"? No. You'd wind up with 60 people trying to run 3 cash registers. You're going to figure out how many people you'll need in each job, then hire those people.

Same here. A producer needs to be at the head of this thing. He/she needs to take ideas for the story, then find capable, qualified writer(s) to draft a great script. Then he/she needs to break the script down and figure out what people will be needed and where. Then put out the call and find those people -- all of whom, ideally, should come from DVXUser.com.

That producer should also determine how much money is needed to make the movie, including paying cast and crew. Then we can all brainstorm ideas on how to raise that money. Shoot a short or trailer to entice investors? Hold a bake sale or a film festival? You get the idea.

Raise the money, then move into pre-pro. Pay everyone who works a fair wage. Then give the profits, if there are any, to a charity that EVERYONE agrees on. I don't know a thing about Isara, but I have charities I'd like to see supported.

That's just my opinion. You guys can do whatever you think will work.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

David, I like it. You cleared up a lot in my mind. I think the only reason no one has done this is because they don't want it to get too complicated. Run it by Dustin as he would be the one to do all of that and see what he thinks. In fact, I will do it myself to make it easier on you. I am starting to realize that this probably won't work unless we get some organization like that. Thanks.

[Erik Olson]

Really, the legacy DVXUser fests all accomplish what you're trying to do to some extent.

It either has to be run like a real show (with everything that goes into one) or left in a very organic state with a few guidelines and everyone on-own for creative, expenses and ownership (DVXUser fests are non-exclusive in nature).

This isn't a deal-killer, but the pay-to-play nature of the current vision is going to keep a good deal of participants from getting involved.

There are a fair amount of people on the board with regular jobs. In my case, if I get called for a series or feature, I'd have to take it - unless I was being compensated otherwise.

The Isara idea is a noble one, but it really would be best relegated to the net side of any revenue allocations. First recoupment should go to the investors after any residual hard costs are paid back.

My knee-jerk reaction is that if you want to do a real feature based on the shared resource premise, it should be set-up as a commercial enterprise.

e

[SonicStates]

Know we're trying to get the some of the administrative details straightened out with this but just wanted to let you know that I would love to be apart of this project.
Like the End of the World idea and would be keen to be involved with shooting here in Japan even if there were a couple of seconds used to establish the entire world was in fact coming to an end. I don't know how many DVXUsers reside here though.
Will be following this thread carefully!

[Dustin R. Rogan]

and fizzles...and fades away...

guys I'll be honest with you for a second. I was the guy that just thought it'd be cool to work together on a feature...no where did I want to take charge, I am way to inexperienced to try and even fathom trying to take something of this magnitude on and such responsibility...

I kinda got cornered b/c i was the guy that spoke up about an idea i had...call it a misstepped move on my part. I still think its a hell of an idea (that i don't want to be in charge of!!) But if this thing can go somewhere under the guidance of someone who knows what the hell to do, by all means please do so... but I can't not sleep another night...i too have a job that requires me to be up at 330am and put on a newscast every morning....I need my sleep.

I am so down for this just as the guy that helps out not makes things run...not yet anyways let me get some more films under my belt!

Rogan

[Mattykins]

Yeah, I agree with almost everything that was said above.

This bugger needs a producer to make this happen. Someone to helm the entire thing. I can most certainly help to schedule and budget as necessary. A feature of this magnitude with four to five units is going to be insanely hard to organize.

I like the concept of having everyone who wants to participate, participate. I mean, when we are on location, we need a director, DOP, sound op, boom op, continuity, PAs, AD, UPM, Set Designer, Visual Effects coordinator, the list is extensive. So we can get people to help in places. Do I recommend inexperienced people working as an AD? Not in the least.

People will need to work in the areas they know. We have a ton of people on DVX user all the time. That is potentially a lot of people. 25 people writing this thing would kill the script. Same with 27 directors.

But we need someone to produce this who has experience producing. Or if not a lot of experience, someone who is well connected with this board, or someone who doesn't mind making a lot of phone calls.

I too wouldn't mind sending money towards charity, but Isara isn't something I have heard about. And I am not too keen on sending money to an internet 'charity'. I'd much rather see money going to Halo Trust, Water for Sudan, some organization that would actually use the money we give them immediately.

But, I digress.

I think personally this has to be done with crew getting paid. So we can shoot each location on a semi-normal schedule. I mean, break it down, 5 units maybe with an A and B on each independent unit. Shooting 12 hour days, as allowed per contracts, that gives us a good 60 hours to shoot this thing using a 6 day work day. So, that makes the entire production run at maybe 5 weeks. Which is a good number - though dependent on locations. Such ground zero might run longer as we would have some nice effect shots. So every unit could ideally run at the same time in different locations shooting what they need to. Basically this thing can be wrapped in two weeks when each unit works. Though we would still need to budget for 5 weeks since 5 units are running, thats if the units need a week to shoot.

Haha, if that makes any sense what so ever. I mean, this thing, at this stage, works like communism. Works on paper, but not in reality.

So, what does all that mean? We need to plan this thing like crazy. If you ask me, the best way to shoot this is on a normal 6 day 12 hour schedule. If permissible. Since shooting weekends would kill the production especially if we put in any A or B list talent.

(We need to think marketing here too. An A lister or B lister will increase our marketability exponentially -- which also means, weekend shoots might be hard.)

-Matt

[chapelgrovefilms]

and fizzles...and fades away...

guys i'll be honest with you for a second. I was the guy that just thought it'd be cool to work together on a feature...no where did I want to take charge, Iam way to inexperienced to try and even phathom trying to take something of this magnitude on and such responsiblilty...

I kinda got cornered b/c i was the guy that spoke up about an idea i had...call it a misteppen move on my part. I still think its a hell of an idea (that i don't want to be incharge of!!) But if this thing can go somewhere under the guidence of someone who knows what the hell to do, by all means please do so... but I can't not sleep another night...i too have a job that requires me to be up at 330am and put on a newscast everymorning....I need my sleep.

I am so down for this just as the guy that helps out not makes things run...not yet anyways let me get some more films under my belt!

Rogan

It's a good idea, Rogan. It just needs honing and some solid organization, I think. It needs to be approached like any other feature film project would be. But it's a great nugget of a plan! I'd like to see it done, and done well.

As a producer as well as a writer, I'd offer to helm this thing. But I'd have to warn you -- I tend to think my ideas are the BEST ideas. Most successful producers probably do. And as I've said before, I'm 'old school' when it comes to story. I like a strong, solid, chronological narrative that gets the audience solidly involved with the main characters. I may not be the best 'team leader'.

But I'm sure there are good team leaders out there. Anybody?

[chapelgrovefilms]

What about this.....?

One main producer to oversee everything.

A producer for each shooting location (city). Each producer is responsible for his/her own crew, locations, scheduling, etc. They report to the main producer.

That way, each unit can operate independently of the others, shooting on their own schedules. And delegating responsibilities this way basically gives you 4 producers who are each producing what is essentially a short film -- approx 20 minutes long.

That might simplify things and reduce headaches.

[Mattykins]

David,

I wouldn't mind at all to make this thing happen. I consider myself more a director...but since I'm at film school...and everyone hates producing...I produce a lot of shorts. A full division of my company is going into production services.

I would love to take it on...haha, I was an eagle scout back in the day if that counts for anything. But it's fully dependent on others. I've been here a while, but I don't want to seem like I am stepping on toes to get in there and do it. But I will raise my hand and say I would love to take this on, and (as I am semi-unemployed at the moment) I have free time, as well as methods of scheduling and budgeting.

I am just putting ideas out there for the concept, and am not attached to any of the ideas out there personally. So, there's the objective end of it.

Regardless, my hands up...Wether you want me to do it, that's up to everyone. If not, I can do something else. :)

Matt

[Mattykins]

Addendum to above:

Actually I think David's idea of Unit Producers as well as one Producer to oversee everything would be ideal.

Dunno how exactly that would work yet.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I think most of us are used to producing/directing our own work. Maybe a dual role for most of us, with one lead producer to report to and keep us on schedule.

That could work.

[chapelgrovefilms]

When I produce, I try to follow one Prime Rule:

"Always hire the best, most talented, most experienced person you can afford for every job."

With that in mind, if it were ME -- and I know it's not -- I would take great care in choosing the right main producer and unit producers. I want the people with the track record to prove they can get the job done on-time and under budget. Not to demean anyone who has been brave enough to volunteer. I would just suggest taking the time to find the best people for the job.

Yet another 2 cents worth from me. :-)

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

When I produce, I try to follow one Prime Rule:

"Always hire the best, most talented, most experienced person you can afford for every job."

With that in mind, if it were ME -- and I know it's not -- I would take great care in choosing the right main producer and unit producers. I want the people with the track record to prove they can get the job done on-time and under budget. Not to demean anyone who has been brave enough to volunteer. I would just suggest taking the time to find the best people for the job.

Yet another 2 cents worth from me. :-)I think we have to keep in mind that this would mostly be volunteer work. Unless someone is keeping something from me. :)

Everyones body of work speaks for itself. Take a look at it and see if they can be useful. If not, move on. There are plenty of talented fish in the DVX pond.

You just have to find some who will commit to the project.

Cheers,

Mike

[chapelgrovefilms]

Actually, I thought we said earlier that cast and crew need to be paid, and therefore investors (or some other source of budget money) need to be brought on board.

Even so, the important thing is finding the RIGHT people, whether they're volunteers or not.

[chapelgrovefilms]

The other thing is.....who's going to OWN the finished movie?

Who's going to own any props, supplies, wardrobe, equipment purchased out of the budget and remaining once the project is finished?

[pia12254]

I suppose I can throw in my quick opinion as well, eh? :)

When the idea was originally proposed I pictured it happening perhaps more like Mike (just above me) did. For example, if each location were only doing a 20-minute short film it would basically be like doing an extended DVXUser fest entry. People volunteer, get their crew and cast locally.

I mean, for our short we shot for two days (a Saturday and Sunday) and really shot a 10-minute film. I had to cut it down to 6-minutes to fit the time requirement but for all intents and purposes it was a 10-minute short.

So, if everyone collaborated in their specific locale to shoot for two weekends why could it not be done? I mean...look at what some of the DVXUser Timefest entries are accomplishing!!! Fat Monster and their work..."Aetas" being shot on the Red in beautiful locations...there are numerous examples of what could be accomplished if it is kept simple and people do it because they are passionate about filmmaking...not because this is their "project to end all projects".

I agree...if something can be arranged so participants see a profit great. Should there be good organization and planning? Absolutely! Does it need to have a good script before shooting? It better or no one will get on board. Should Producers/Directors/etc. be "screened" so that we attain a high level of quality...I think so.

But I think when this gets "too big for its britches" (as we say in Texas), that's when these types of projects don't get off the ground.

That's just my opinion anyway. :)

[chapelgrovefilms]

I suppose I can throw in my quick opinion as well, eh? :)

When the idea was originally proposed I pictured it happening perhaps more like Mike (just above me) did. For example, if each location were only doing a 20-minute short film it would basically be like doing an extended DVXUser fest entry. People volunteer, get their crew and cast locally.

I mean, for our short we shot for two days (a Saturday and Sunday) and really shot a 10-minute film. I had to cut it down to 6-minutes to fit the time requirement but for all intents and purposes it was a 10-minute short.

So, if everyone collaborated in their specific locale to shoot for two weekends why could it not be done? I mean...look at what some of the DVXUser Timefest entries are accomplishing!!! Fat Monster and their work..."Aetas" being shot on the Red in beautiful locations...there are numerous examples of what could be accomplished if it is kept simple and people do it because they are passionate about filmmaking...not because this is their "project to end all projects".

I agree...if something can be arranged so participants see a profit great. Should there be good organization and planning? Absolutely! Does it need to have a good script before shooting? It better or no one will get on board. Should Producers/Directors/etc. be "screened" so that we attain a high level of quality...I think so.

But I think when this gets "too big for its britches" (as we say in Texas), that's when these types of projects don't get off the ground.

That's just my opinion anyway. :)

That's fine if you want this movie to look like it was made in 2-3 days.

When you see a film for one of those fest entries, you say "Wow....that was GREAT.....for a movie made in just two days!" But we want a movie that looks and sounds like a REAL movie, don't we? Quality takes time. Getting a great lighting setup takes time. Great camera work takes time.

Yes, if you want to do something in the fest fashion, then that's fine. I wasn't thinking in that direction, but it's a way to go.

[pia12254]

I think it depends on the crew...

Some of the films I have seen from past DVXUser fests (not most but some) have been comparable to or better than a LOT of indie films...even a fair amount of the ones that get "distribution"!

[chapelgrovefilms]

Then people.....is that more what you had in mind? Should we take a vote?

I, for one, don't know how you'd do an end-of-the-world disaster movie in such a short time, but maybe I'm not looking at it right.

Opinions?

[ConspiracyPenguin]

What about this.....?

One main producer to oversee everything.

A producer for each shooting location (city). Each producer is responsible for his/her own crew, locations, scheduling, etc. They report to the main producer.

That way, each unit can operate independently of the others, shooting on their own schedules. And delegating responsibilities this way basically gives you 4 producers who are each producing what is essentially a short film -- approx 20 minutes long.

That might simplify things and reduce headaches.

I have said this before and I think it's the way to go. We need one person to be the main man (since Dustin doesn't want to be. Matykins offered, so if no one else would like the job, I certainly can't. I am a writer and an actor and I don't have time to be the head honcho of this thing.)

Each location should have it's own Producer and Director and once the story is configured the writing team (lead by me as of now) will get a script out. We will need money and then scripts will be sent to each location to do their work and then one editor or a small group of editors finishes it up.

As far as the money, I say each producer will be responsible for their groups share in working out who gets what. I figure the main guy will do that for the writing and editing and teams that are basically in all four groups. Maybe we could also donate to charity. (Isara is actually a really good organization. Created by a member of this board, all donated money goes to create charity projects in less fortunate countries around the world. Check out the site by clicking the button in my sig.)

This is the only way I see it working because we will have everyone working separately as if on short films, but then put together to create one bad-arse project. If I don't hear any objections, let's get to work. First order of business, electing a President, if you will. Then it's just formality stuff after that, making sure it's all set in stone. This is a pretty good honest group, so things should be pretty fair.

With the props and such I figure each group should deal with that separately, you know? The producer from each sector can decide how that works. This thing is kinda likethe US Government. We have the Federal Sector which consists of the main guy, thwe writing team, the editing team, the musical team, the marketing team, and the team of sub producers. The sub producers are like Governors who run their "states" or locations. What I am trying to say is, somethings need to be left to states to decide and some to the federal government.

I am way too tired to try this, I am probably making crap sense right now so I am going to hit the hay. I have to get up early. Wade through my mess of a post and see if you disagree with anything. It's all been said before, I guess, just trying to put it all together.

My hands hurt from typing all day...

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Then people.....is that more what you had in mind? Should we take a vote?

I, for one, don't know how you'd do an end-of-the-world disaster movie in such a short time, but maybe I'm not looking at it right.

Opinions?

The way I see it is that it is a full feature basically, quality and all...

Damn, I am supposed to be in bed! Stop giving me crap to talk about! :grin:

[chapelgrovefilms]

Maybe we're thinking too big. What about a smaller story?

Let's see........

A girl who is an agoraphobe (fear of open places) is basically a prisoner in her own home. To earn a living, she's wired webcams all over her house and has a pay site where people can see her 24/7 doing anything and, yes, EVERYTHING.

She has a group of friends she only knows online. They send emails, text messages, and do video chats. They're a very close knit group.

But suddenly her friends start disappearing one by one. She eventually realizes they are being targeted by a serial killer -- one who stalks his victims online -- and SHE is his next target!

This could be turned into a more ensemble cast by developing the stories of several of her online friends -- showing them in their daily activities, etc. And then showing how they react when they figure out a killer is after them. Or showing them being killed by the killer. I don't know, just spitballing here.

Any other ideas?

[chapelgrovefilms]

Okay, I mean no disrespect at ALL to Matykins. But if I read an earlier post right, he's a student in film school. What is his relevant experience that qualifies him to helm a project of this size and scope?

What I tried to say before is we shouldn't give the most important job on the project to someone just because they're willing to take it. We need practical experience. And the main producer needs a strong vision of the story and its execution. If we choose the wrong main producer, the results will suffer.

Again, not intending insult or disrespect to anyone. Just voicing my opinion.

[chapelgrovefilms]

What if everyone interested in this project just takes a moment to list their credits?

I'll start....

Producer:
Three Wishes (Short)
Night Watch (Short)
A Matter of Life (Short)
GM Lektro Training Video (Industrial)
"As Long As It Aint' Here" (Music Video)
Afterlife (feature)
Tangled Web (feature)

Writer:
Three Wishes (Short)
Night Watch (Short)
A Matter of Life (Short)
GM Lektro Training Video (Industrial)
Blood Bath (Story) (feature)
Afterlife (feature)
Tangled Web (feature)
Hallows (Story) (feature)

Director:
Night Watch (short)
Tangled Web (feature)
"As Long As It Ain't Here" (music video)

Editor:
Night Watch (short)
A Matter of Life (short)
"As Long As It Ain't Here" (music video)
GM Lektro Video (Industrial)
Uncovered Fear (short)
Afterlife (feature)
Tangled Web (feature)

Who's next?

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

What if everyone interested in this project just takes a moment to list their credits?

I'll start....

Producer: Three Wishes (Short)
Night Watch (Short)
A Matter of Life (Short)
GM Lektro Training Video (Industrial)
"As Long As It Aint' Here" (Music Video)
Afterlife (feature)
Tangled Web (feature)

Writer: Three Wishes (Short)
Night Watch (Short)
A Matter of Life (Short)
GM Lektro Training Video (Industrial)

Afterlife (feature)
Tangled Web (feature)

Honestly, proof is in the pudding. Post some links of some previous work so we can see what you have accomplished.

Most of us here have entered a DVXuser Fest or two so our work is around.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I suppose I can throw in my quick opinion as well, eh? :)

When the idea was originally proposed I pictured it happening perhaps more like Mike (just above me) did. For example, if each location were only doing a 20-minute short film it would basically be like doing an extended DVXUser fest entry. People volunteer, get their crew and cast locally.

I mean, for our short we shot for two days (a Saturday and Sunday) and really shot a 10-minute film. I had to cut it down to 6-minutes to fit the time requirement but for all intents and purposes it was a 10-minute short.

So, if everyone collaborated in their specific locale to shoot for two weekends why could it not be done? I mean...look at what some of the DVXUser Timefest entries are accomplishing!!! Fat Monster and their work..."Aetas" being shot on the Red in beautiful locations...there are numerous examples of what could be accomplished if it is kept simple and people do it because they are passionate about filmmaking...not because this is their "project to end all projects".

I agree...if something can be arranged so participants see a profit great. Should there be good organization and planning? Absolutely! Does it need to have a good script before shooting? It better or no one will get on board. Should Producers/Directors/etc. be "screened" so that we attain a high level of quality...I think so.

But I think when this gets "too big for its britches" (as we say in Texas), that's when these types of projects don't get off the ground.

That's just my opinion anyway. :)I agree completely.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I think it depends on the crew...

Some of the films I have seen from past DVXUser fests (not most but some) have been comparable to or better than a LOT of indie films...even a fair amount of the ones that get "distribution"!
Once again, I agree. I just watched two shorts on the movie network here that were abysmal.

I've seen much better work here on this board many times.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Honestly, proof is in the pudding. Post some links of some previous work so we can see what you have accomplished.

Most of us here have entered a DVXuser Fest or two so our work is around.

Fair enough. I don't actually have anything representative online, except for the music video. But I can get some stuff up on YouTube. Give me a couple of days.

Meanwhile, let's see the links for the work of others.

And just to be fair, the proof isn't always in the pudding. I've seen demo reels of work that people claimed was theirs, only to later find they had exaggerated the extent of their input on the film. (Once burned, twice shy.) But it's a start.

[chapelgrovefilms]

I think you can see the music video here....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JG-Un6AYc0w

And the trailer for 'Afterlife' can be seen here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A92ZurHvyRQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A92ZurHvyRQ)

[chapelgrovefilms]

Listen, I'm not trying to dictate anything here. You folks are free to take this project in any direction you want. I'm just presenting options and suggestions. Take 'em or leave 'em.

Good luck!

[Mike@AF]

After reading the any posts I've got some thoughts....

For this to work the story and production needs to be more simple. Otherwise you risk the whole thing falling apart because one group/city fails to follow through and deliver their part. Start as simple as possible and then graduate to a more complex and more expensive film the second time around. This "end of the world" and zombie ideas is too much work for an experiment like this to work the first time. It needs to have minimal special effects and be driven purely by the story and the acting. This also means that the cities that are used should have a good selection of actors to choose from, which also means they need to be areas of the world with a lot of production. Los Angeles and New York instantly come to mind. Sydney, Australia is another.

Each production team should have a producer and production manager. The producer and production manager from each city communicate with each other. Each director also needs to communicate with each other so the entire film still looks and feels like one large film, even though it's made up from separate stories. The same camera should be used for all parts.

Initially I liked the idea of profits going to charity, and I still do. I think it's great idea. However, like everyone else I need to make a living and can't really afford to devote so much time to a project that I won't reap any financial rewards from, especially when I now rely on production and post work for income. As much as I'd like to provide something to a charity, it's not in the cards for me at the present time. So if charity is the only way then I'll need to respectfully dismiss myself from the project. If this is going to be a commercial endeavor, then I'm in 100%.

I'm sure I have a lot of other thoughts about this project but it's really late right now and I need to get some sleep.

[Barry_Green]

Lobbing in a few from the sidelines:

A big budget ain't gonna happen. The original idea about doing it as basically a bunch of top-quality DVX Fest entries could work. And ownership fights is what will kill this deal deader and faster than anything else. Except for flakes, people who say they're going to do it and then, for whatever reason, don't.

If I was gonna get involved with something like this, I'd probably want to see it handled like this: every team is an independent unit, and each produces their own segment out of their own pocket. If they finish, and their work is good, and they have all contracts and all releases and all rights to everything they produced, then the master producer buys the completed segment off of them, outright, for a small cash fee. The master producer then compiles the segments into a finished 90 minute film.

A structure like that could happen. The bigger ideas being tossed around, well, we've seen this before and it never gets off the ground. Maybe you guys could make it happen this time, but historically it never seems to work out. But if people want to do their segments "on spec" with the idea that they'd sell the finished mini-film to the master producer, that is a practical idea that would mean it'd probably actually get done.

[spa_edwards]

I don't think giving any money made from this project to charity is a good idea. I, myself already give money to charity as it is and am in pre-production to make an awarness video for another charity out of my own good will, spare time and weekends. Those who wish to help out charities can do the same on their own accord without asking other people to follow suit. Investors do exactly that - invest. They want to see a profit, and any mention of charity could make em run a mile.
This project needs total commitment from the start by all who volunteer, and to keep that commitment from fading is to pay them....... whether from initial investments or by defferred payment. Even if their are no profits made, at least all crew would have made their own choice to take that chance. Whoever is spearheading this can set up a company name, which everyone who works on this has a share in. All props, costumes, etc etc can be held as stock under that name. If the company is sold, everyone gets a share of the money accordingly. All company descisions can be made on a chinese government style vote. If people put in their own money, their money no matter how small would be treated as an investment and will recoup their money plus a percentage of profits. The percentage would need to be worked out by someone more knowledged in this.

Love the idea of having one overall producer looking over the whole project, watching over four seprate crews. It is a good idea to treat the four cities as four individual shoots when it comes to crewing up. The only thing i would say to make it look like one whole film and not been shafted together with four different styles is to have the director and producer from each city travel to one destination and have a series of meetings (planned and constructive) in the space of a week to determine an overall style that each director must stay true to - autuers need not apply.


Anyway, just throwing some ideas out there. Hope some are useful.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Fair enough. I don't actually have anything representative online, except for the music video. But I can get some stuff up on YouTube. Give me a couple of days.

Meanwhile, let's see the links for the work of others.

And just to be fair, the proof isn't always in the pudding. I've seen demo reels of work that people claimed was theirs, only to later find they had exaggerated the extent of their input on the film. (Once burned, twice shy.) But it's a start.
Mine are in my signature and on my website www.morecowbellpictures.com

All shot by a one man crew most of the time, myself. Started making movies about 2 or so years ago.

When you enter into public festivals as many of us have... it's a little hard to fake it.

I'll look at your work.

Mike

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Lobbing in a few from the sidelines:

A big budget ain't gonna happen. The original idea about doing it as basically a bunch of top-quality DVX Fest entries could work. And ownership fights is what will kill this deal deader and faster than anything else. Except for flakes, people who say they're going to do it and then, for whatever reason, don't.

If I was gonna get involved with something like this, I'd probably want to see it handled like this: every team is an independent unit, and each produces their own segment out of their own pocket. If they finish, and their work is good, and they have all contracts and all releases and all rights to everything they produced, then the master producer buys the completed segment off of them, outright, for a small cash fee. The master producer then compiles the segments into a finished 90 minute film.

A structure like that could happen. The bigger ideas being tossed around, well, we've seen this before and it never gets off the ground. Maybe you guys could make it happen this time, but historically it never seems to work out. But if people want to do their segments "on spec" with the idea that they'd sell the finished mini-film to the master producer, that is a practical idea that would mean it'd probably actually get done.

Great post, Barry. That's exactly how I picture this coming together.
:beer:

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Listen, I'm not trying to dictate anything here. You folks are free to take this project in any direction you want. I'm just presenting options and suggestions. Take 'em or leave 'em.

Good luck!No problem. You just have to look at this from my point of view. This discussion started in the TimeFest forum. I pretty much know what most people here are capable of. Most of us have entered at least one DVXuser Fest.

I just wanted to see who I was talking to and what their abilities were, as you hinted at when someone mentioned that they were a student.

I'll take talent at any stage. IMHO
I've seen some really talented young people on this forum. I wouldn't think of discounting them based on that. I'll judge them on their level of work first.

Keep the comments coming though. I have no problem with them.

Mike

[Jim Montgomery]

I will first start out by saying being new to this board and film production in general I probably have no business expressing myself and thoughly expect to be dismissed out of hand. But you know what I chose to come here and learn.

Do I expect this to get off the ground ... maybe. Will it be a monetary success, probably not, so if you are looking to make money off this production, time to take your leave. Can it be a lot of fun and a great learning experience, absolutely.

So enough talk. A few ground rules. Everyone involved will be on deferred payment. If you are not willing to take a risk then don't expect reward.

Penguin is heading up the writing team. Pull your group together and get started. Everyone else leave them alone to get their job done. A treatment in three weeks seems about right.

Once they are finished the script is up for bids. Winning bid will be the Executive Producer. It is your job to distribute your phantom shares as you see fit. Hire your director, editor, marketing guy, whatever you need to get your job done.

Barrys point on Unit Producers/Directors is really workable. We will go with that.

Now everybody is at risk and has a stake in the making of a DVX movie. There is going to be monies spent at every level be prepared to spend it or raise it if you want to be involved. A committment to time, if you don't have it don't volunteer.

And last but not least, and this will really ruffle some feathers, if you will not invest your time and your money in this project shut up and let the rest of us get on with the business at hand.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I will first start out by saying being new to this board and film production in general I probably have no business expressing myself and thoughly expect to be dismissed out of hand. But you know what I chose to come here and learn.

Do I expect this to get off the ground ... maybe. Will it be a monetary success, probably not, so if you are looking to make money off this production, time to take your leave. Can it be a lot of fun and a great learning experience, absolutely.

So enough talk. A few ground rules. Everyone involved will be on deferred payment. If you are not willing to take a risk then don't expect reward.

Penguin is heading up the writing team. Pull your group together and get started. Everyone else leave them alone to get their job done. A treatment in three weeks seems about right.

Once they are finished the script is up for bids. Winning bid will be the Executive Producer. It is your job to distribute your phantom shares as you see fit. Hire your director, editor, marketing guy, whatever you need to get your job done.

Barrys point on Unit Producers/Directors is really workable. We will go with that.

Now everybody is at risk and has a stake in the making of a DVX movie. There is going to be monies spent at every level be prepared to spend it or raise it if you want to be involved. A committment to time, if you don't have it don't volunteer.

And last but not least, and this will really ruffle some feathers, if you will not invest your time and your money in this project shut up and let the rest of us get on with the business at hand.


I agree with this. The only thing I think we should decide on first is an outline for the movie. Why not have everyone PM the writers involved with a synopsis for any story ideas that they have. The writers can then discuss what is feasible.

When that is done maybe run a quick poll on the top 3 ideas chosen by the writing team. Once we get that settled the writers can run with it.

How does that sound?

Mike

[Jim Montgomery]

Accomplishing anything by committee never works. Penquin has a lot of input as it is, if he wants more he will ask. It is now up to them to produce a viable, sellable script. Let them do their job.

Its all about responsibility and having the authority to execute his responsibilities. If you make it a project by committe then the authority lies with the committee and not with the person that needs have it to get his responsibilities completed.

Penguin has accepted the responsibility of the script, and I commend him for that, give him the authority to make it happen. He's a smart guy if he needs help he will ask. It is our job as a community to provide him with whatever he needs to get the job done.

Penguin and all the other soon to be players, as a side note, hope you got broad shoulders cause a lot can fall on them.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Accomplishing anything by committee never works. Penquin has a lot of input as it is, if he wants more he will ask. It is now up to them to produce a viable, sellable script. Let them do their job.
I think when you have this many people involved you want to make sure that they will be at the very least... interested in the premise before going ahead with writing a Feature. No small task.

Otherwise it will never leave the paper that it was written on and we'll be wasting their time.
Like it or not this is a group effort.

Just my 2 cents.

Mike

[Erik Olson]

Barry has good points. In my case, I will always take a paid gig over a volunteer "sweat-equity, meal, copy and credits provided" one. This is my own reason for dropping out of no less than two fests.

The fests have no backend potential for the filmmakers - at least not in the DVXUser non-exclusive distribution model. That might be fine for a student or someone who draws from a trust-fund. A weekend of free work - certainly. Setting up and producing a four to five unit feature through all phases (at least through principal in each market) is another game that few here are ready to tackle. Not for free.

I would offer that Barry's concept of a Twilight Zone model would be better for this group with its limited money. In a TW model, you would have something much more akin to the festivals, but there would be a more cohesive narrative bond between each featurette.

What really needs to happen is a hybridization of the ScriptFest and short Fest campaigns.


Launch the next ScriptFest with more narrative parameters. Effectively, we would be writing for a feature, but in ten to twenty page increments from disparate users. Each story is close-ended, but does tie through a central element or device to the next.
Users vote for scripts to be included in the feature film. Five or six twelve to fifteen minute segments net you one nineteen minute feature.
Pre-vis and breakdowns is accomplished through one (or based on the number of featurettes) central thread to allow a more cohesive visual continuity.
An VFX group forms to manage all required shots - though each market's production unit is responsible for bringing the necessary elements to the VFX group.
Nominated Unit Producers / UPMs work with a (virtual?) central EP / Producer through DVXUser threads. Each producer is responsible for coordinating assets, scheduling and so on in their market - just like a six-minute fest entry.
Casting, crewing, principal photography and edit is accomplished by each individual group to an aesthetic standard set forth by the group.
Composition and score could be managed by another unit like the VFX unit.
Each unit shares in financing their segment. Each unit is effectively a partnership that shares in expenses and revenues. Each unit shares in an equal first-recoupment agreement. Disbursements go equally to each unit for hard costs - likely upon distribution.
How do you handle a completion bond / guaranty? If this is a community effort, there needs to be some assurance that no one individual unit will wreak havoc on the larger collective project. Again, think Twilight Zone.
Who decides the distribution method(s) or models? This is a nuanced and complicated process that usually falls on a marketing and publicity chief - someone at the VP level that can really shop the product properly.Just a few thoughts on this. A big nut to crack.

e

[Mattykins]

Well, then consider myself out from the producer end. Yes, I am a film student. But I've worked in Independent Film since 2005. I've worked for A&E as well as the CW. I just thought I'd toss my name in there.

I'll help in anything else really as long as I am available (and as long as film students can help).

[Mark Harris]

I have been staying out of this so far because I thought it would be pretty much impossible to pull off.

but I think Barry and Erik are on to something.

I saw a guy's film a while back called "Robot Stories" which were a few shorts put together and tied only by theme. I think something like that would be necessary here, like they are saying.

OR, you know JJ Abrams said if they made another cloverfield, he would want to do the same event with another group of people. Maybe someone has tossed that out there.

but to a degree, I think it's necessary to put this togethet in the editing room. Meaning, you get all of these teams working, say Zombies take over the Earth. We have the NYC crew doing NYC, we have NC doing there, etc. Different characters in the same overall situation.

But not really put together the film until we see how many we have at the end.

So in this case, the "Script" would be more like a Bible for the film, detailing the common things about the "world." And no matter what the theme, all of the individual scripts would have to live in that world and pull certain details from it, like what year it is, who the president is, that kind of stuff.

But honestly I don't see this getting anywhere near off the ground otherwise.

In short, I agree with Barry and Erik's approach. :)

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I have been staying out of this so far because I thought it would be pretty much impossible to pull off.

but I think Barry and Erik are on to something.

I saw a guy's film a while back called "Robot Stories" which were a few shorts put together and tied only by theme. I think something like that would be necessary here, like they are saying.

OR, you know JJ Abrams said if they made another cloverfield, he would want to do the same event with another group of people. Maybe someone has tossed that out there.

but to a degree, I think it's necessary to put this togethet in the editing room. Meaning, you get all of these teams working, say Zombies take over the Earth. We have the NYC crew doing NYC, we have NC doing there, etc. Different characters in the same overall situation.

But not really put together the film until we see how many we have at the end.

So in this case, the "Script" would be more like a Bible for the film, detailing the common things about the "world." And no matter what the theme, all of the individual scripts would have to live in that world and pull certain details from it, like what year it is, who the president is, that kind of stuff.

But honestly I don't see this getting anywhere near off the ground otherwise.

In short, I agree with Barry and Erik's approach. :)Once again, I agree.

Except I do think this is doable. :D

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Well, then consider myself out from the producer end. Yes, I am a film student. But I've worked in Independent Film since 2005. I've worked for A&E as well as the CW. I just thought I'd toss my name in there.

I'll help in anything else really as long as I am available (and as long as film students can help).
Like I said earlier, I base things more on talent. :thumbup:

Students are very welcome as far as I'm concerned.

[Mark Harris]

Once again, I agree.

Except I do think this is doable. :D

[PERSONAL ATTACK]

You suck!

[/PERSONAL ATTACK]

:)

Yeah, I would not go anywhere near it if it was going to try to be a normal feature made this way. It would be an exercise in frustration.

But an episodic thing I think is quite doable, because many of us have done it already producing shorts over and over and getting them done pretty well with little or no money. All it would take is some loose organizing story-wise.

[Kwan]

Yeah, I would not go anywhere near it if it was going to try to be a normal feature made this way. It would be an exercise in frustration.

But an episodic thing I think is quite doable, because many of us have done it already producing shorts over and over and getting them done pretty well with little or no money. All it would take is some loose organizing story-wise.

I sorta and grudgingly agree

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Yeah, I would not go anywhere near it if it was going to try to be a normal feature made this way. It would be an exercise in frustration.

But an episodic thing I think is quite doable, because many of us have done it already producing shorts over and over and getting them done pretty well with little or no money. All it would take is some loose organizing story-wise.

Damn! We agree again. :evil:

I really think that's how we should approach this. Episodic sounds like a much easier idea to pull off.

As long as they revolve around the same back-story this could really work.

Cheers,

Mike

[Mark Harris]

Exactly. I think maybe assign the "Bible" to one person or one group of people. That should be centralized and every group should agree to adhere to the world in the Bible. To me, that is what can keep it from being just a random collection of shorts.

Although, you know, if they ever do another DVD for a fest(ha ha), why not get those distributed and share the money with filmmakers? I know shorts don't sell and all, but why not get them out there on Netflix, etc.?

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Exactly. I think maybe assign the "Bible" to one person or one group of people. That should be centralized and every group should agree to adhere to the world in the Bible. To me, that is what can keep it from being just a random collection of shorts.
Along this same vein... could we have more people create their own part based on the "Bible"?

Kind of like how the DVX Fest works based off of a simple theme. Except this would be based on a more detailed set of strict guidelines.
i.e. the Bible.

Even if we get too many entries/parts it would allow us to pick through them and only the best would make it into the Feature. That way we could ensure a quality project. This is sounding a lot like the typical Festivals held here but the end result would be very different.

Just a thought.

How the "best" are chosen would also have to be figured out but it's too early to even think that far down the road. Just a thought. Take it or leave it.

[Zim]

To make this easier and cheaper to do, it would help to have a story that would use more crews and people. A Coffee and Cigarettes type movie.

Maybe a cause and effect plot. Something happens somewhere in the world and what it does to different people in different parts of the world. It should be simple . No special effects and zombie makeup.

Something like Babel even. All persons life's are connected by something or a event. They don't know each other. People don't have to travel to other cities. More cities could be involved. Some with bigger stories than others, but not so many as to confuse the people watching.

[sfoster]

I think the hard part about writing a script for something like this is we have to link the stories somehow. I would say a phone call would be easiest. Greenscreening people and picking a location for them to meet in would be another option, and it's not hard or expensive to do.

The script is the key to getting this thing off the ground. I think we need this edited carefully with characters interacting with each other from different locations. It needs a solid beginning, middle, and end. The beginning needs to introduce all/most characters from each location and then carry on with their story in whatever fashion with some ties to each other. If an actor is willing to travel to tie a scene together then awesome. If not, a phone call, or webcam deal is suitable. Even a radio conversation would work. It all depends on the theme and genre.

OK now this turns into a nextfest thread. What theme/genre is doable. AND what would you want to work on, for free!

[Jim Montgomery]

Forgive me if I am wrong but a "group effort" it is not. 20 some odd contributors to this thread out of thousands that belong to this board. And if you notice even these 20 can't come to grips with theme, script, organizational structure or anything else for that matter.

As Barry said "It has been tried before and never succeeded" there is a good reason for that.

Ok I have over stepped my boundries and will go back to gleaming information and admiring the work of so many creative people here.

[Mark Harris]

Forgive me if I am wrong but a "group effort" it is not. 20 some odd contributors to this thread out of thousands that belong to this board. And if you notice even these 20 can't come to grips with theme, script, organizational structure or anything else for that matter.

As Barry said "It has been tried before and never succeeded" there is a good reason for that.

Ok I have over stepped my boundries and will go back to gleaming information and admiring the work of so many creative people here.

Dude, this thread has been around for like two days. I think that hardly qualifies as:

"And if you notice even these 20 can't come to grips with theme, script, organizational structure or anything else for that matter"

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Forgive me if I am wrong but a "group effort" it is not. 20 some odd contributors to this thread out of thousands that belong to this board. And if you notice even these 20 can't come to grips with theme, script, organizational structure or anything else for that matter.

As Barry said "It has been tried before and never succeeded" there is a good reason for that.

Ok I have over stepped my boundries and will go back to gleaming information and admiring the work of so many creative people here.LOL! Thanks for that.

It may never happen. I agree.
Still, you can't expect everyone to not discuss what would be best before jumping into it can you? We need to iron out some of the wrinkles beforehand or it will never happen.

If it does happen not everyone will agree in the direction it has taken and a few people will bow out. That's a definite.

Mike

[Dustin R. Rogan]

and to think I almost didn't post the original post to this thread...

[Zim]

Look what you started!!!

[USLatin]

hehe... I still want to see how the Directors work with each-other because it could be a discombobulated monster still... so let's get these guys to work as a team or don't apply.

Also, I still think it should be about DVXuser or any forum since it is going to be people colaborating in different places. And call it "Evil Twin".

[spa_edwards]

As Barry said "It has been tried before and never succeeded" there is a good reason for that.

Hi Jim,

Just out of curiuosity i wonder if you could explain to us what happened before, like why it never took off? how far did they get? how many people were involved etc.... We might be able to avoid any pitfuls and learn from other peoples experiences.

Cheers

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Look what you started!!!

Think of me as the annoying little boy that hit the bees nest...and all the bees can't settle down...

:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

nah in all seriousness if this bad boy gets going I know my crew here in Waco will be up for shooting with our fellow bad ass Texans!

[David Jimerson]

The biggest problem was that not everyone did what they were supposed to do, and in at least one case, it was the glue which was to tie the whole thing together.

Maybe you guys could have better luck, but it's gonna be an uphill climb.

[chapelgrovefilms]

I don't think giving any money made from this project to charity is a good idea. I, myself already give money to charity as it is and am in pre-production to make an awarness video for another charity out of my own good will, spare time and weekends. Those who wish to help out charities can do the same on their own accord without asking other people to follow suit. Investors do exactly that - invest. They want to see a profit, and any mention of charity could make em run a mile.
This project needs total commitment from the start by all who volunteer, and to keep that commitment from fading is to pay them....... whether from initial investments or by defferred payment. Even if their are no profits made, at least all crew would have made their own choice to take that chance. Whoever is spearheading this can set up a company name, which everyone who works on this has a share in. All props, costumes, etc etc can be held as stock under that name. If the company is sold, everyone gets a share of the money accordingly. All company descisions can be made on a chinese government style vote. If people put in their own money, their money no matter how small would be treated as an investment and will recoup their money plus a percentage of profits. The percentage would need to be worked out by someone more knowledged in this.

Love the idea of having one overall producer looking over the whole project, watching over four seprate crews. It is a good idea to treat the four cities as four individual shoots when it comes to crewing up. The only thing i would say to make it look like one whole film and not been shafted together with four different styles is to have the director and producer from each city travel to one destination and have a series of meetings (planned and constructive) in the space of a week to determine an overall style that each director must stay true to - autuers need not apply.


Anyway, just throwing some ideas out there. Hope some are useful.

I agree with everything said here, except I don't see the need for people to travel to get face-to-face for meetings -- not when there are webcams and teleconferencing. Save the money! Use the technology we already have.

And Barry, I agree with your comments, except for the one about all the individual units being independent. I mean, they should work their schedules independently of each other. But for there to be a uniformity of product, there needs to be some overall governance -- that main producer who makes sure everyone is on the same page and the quality of everyone's efforts is going to be similar. One unit using inferior equipment or less than stellar actors is going to ruin the show for everyone.

And I also thing the budget issue needs to be centralized. The main producer should be in charge of the budget money and dispense it to the individual units, which each operates on its own budget. The units pay their people from that.

When it comes time to sell, first priority is repaying the investors. After that, the main producer takes his/her cut, then divides the remaining profits equally among the units. The unit producers are responsible for doling out their portion of the profits to their people.

In my opinion, that would work.

And Matykins, I didn't mean to offend you, if I did. You may be the most talented and experienced of all of us. I'm just pressing to get the best person in every role in this thing, that's all. Sorry if I stepped on your toes a bit.

[ZazaCast]

Can you say "CLUSTER"....my head is about to explode just reading this thread. LMAO.

But, best of luck on this one....I'll be watching & can't wait to see what happens. I'm even thinking of making a movie about making this movie!

(this is why I got out of the corporate world)
Cheers!

[USLatin]

I am not even reading it... it is scary.
I am VERY eager to see some crew lists and camera tests with the dressed and cast with make-up. I am afraid of two things:
1. The directors won't work well enough together that it might not match properly.
2. It might not have all positions filled right. (i.e.: Wardrobe, Makeup, Art Direction)

oh! and here is an other:
3. The sound isn't on par with the picture.

Aghh! I can't stop, one more:
4. The Cast won't be completely right or un-rehearsed!

[ZazaCast]

It's like watching a meat grinder run and having the irresistible urge to stick your finger in just to see what happens....

[traviscool]

Lobbing in a few from the sidelines:

A big budget ain't gonna happen. The original idea about doing it as basically a bunch of top-quality DVX Fest entries could work. And ownership fights is what will kill this deal deader and faster than anything else. Except for flakes, people who say they're going to do it and then, for whatever reason, don't.

If I was gonna get involved with something like this, I'd probably want to see it handled like this: every team is an independent unit, and each produces their own segment out of their own pocket. If they finish, and their work is good, and they have all contracts and all releases and all rights to everything they produced, then the master producer buys the completed segment off of them, outright, for a small cash fee. The master producer then compiles the segments into a finished 90 minute film.


That's pretty much what I was thinking- just it would be revolving around the same theme or idea. So one group would work on New York's version of- such and such an event. And another group could work on London's version of an event. So the story would be helmed by two or three writers (no more), then the actual production would go out to directors volunteering around the world and there crews which they assembled. Of corse it's not that simple- easier said then done- that's just the logistics.

[David Jimerson]

If you do go about this, make sure that no one segment (or even two segments) is crucial to the whole. Everyone starts with the best of intentions, but someone's not going to follow through, for whatever reason. Count on it, and make sure the whole project doesn't depend on anyone specific.

[Erik Olson]

Forgive me if I am wrong but a "group effort" it is not. 20 some odd contributors to this thread out of thousands that belong to this board. And if you notice even these 20 can't come to grips with theme, script, organizational structure or anything else for that matter.

As Barry said "It has been tried before and never succeeded" there is a good reason for that.

Ok I have over stepped my boundaries and will go back to gleaming information and admiring the work of so many creative people here.

Discussing a business plan and subsequently making binding agreements based on that dialogue in advance of undertaking the venture is the norm. We're doing the discussion part now. I would be concerned if this conversation wasn't happening.

Please stay involved to whatever extent you are comfortable. By the way, this is how most commercially-viable films get made - by committee.

This thing will talk forward to one of two conclusions:


We reach an agreement on the business model, nail down a script, raise money and do the set-up, produce the thing and then market and distribute it. Or...
We come to an impasse and lose whatever equity we have tied up in it so far.Each is a realistic outcome. As it is in all film ventures - those who invest themselves diligently and with persistence are the most likely to get something in the can and sold.

e

[chapelgrovefilms]

Discussing a business plan and subsequently making binding agreements based on that dialogue in advance of undertaking the venture is the norm. We're doing the discussion part now. I would be concerned if this conversation wasn't happening.

Please stay involved to whatever extent you are comfortable. By the way, this is how most commercially-viable films get made - by committee.

This thing will talk forward to one of two conclusions:

We reach an agreement on the business model, nail down a script, raise money and do the set-up, produce the thing and then market and distribute it. Or...
We come to an impasse and lose whatever equity we have tied up in it so far.Each is a realistic outcome. As it is in all film ventures - those who invest themselves diligently and with persistence are the most likely to get something in the can and sold.

e

Exactly right. And this is critical to the success of this venture.

I'm guessing that past attempts have failed for several reasons. First is simply accepting anybody willing to be a part of the project, rather than seeking out and securing the best, most qualified people for the jobs at hand. This is especially crucial in the selection of the main producer, unit producers, and unit directors. If you pick the RIGHT people, they aren't going to flake out on you.

Second is having everyone contractually obligated, not just relying on verbal agreements but actually drawing up legally binding contracts and getting everyone to sign on the dotted line.

And lastly, pulling together enough of a budget to pay people for their time and efforts. People tend to not flake out on you if paychecks are involved.

This can work, but it has to be conducted like any other professionally-run project.

[Jim Montgomery]

Erik

I am still here and well be involved if the opportunity presents itself. I just feel a little out of place amongst all the Senior Members here.

My background is business and being a Type A personality I have the patience of a flea. I was watching a lot of very talented creative people trying to reach a goal and struggling to do so.

Nothing more nothing less.

[Barry_Green]

But for there to be a uniformity of product, there needs to be some overall governance -- that main producer who makes sure everyone is on the same page and the quality of everyone's efforts is going to be similar. One unit using inferior equipment or less than stellar actors is going to ruin the show for everyone.
Well, yeah, but -- if their segment sucked, I wouldn't buy it, and it therefore wouldn't ruin the show for anyone other than for those who overpromised and under-delivered. That's the whole point of having the projects be produced independently. And frankly I've seen enough quality work come from this board to know that there are plenty of people capable of delivering fantastic work. Maybe there needs to be a criteria placed on who's allowed to head up a unit; if they've entered DVX Fests before and we've seen their work and know that it's "Where The Heart Lies" or "Unawakening" or "Texas Fortune" or "Winter Lilacs" Caffesse's LoveFest entry or in that caliber, well, that's about as good as anyone could ask for.

And I also thing the budget issue needs to be centralized. The main producer should be in charge of the budget money and dispense it to the individual units, which each operates on its own budget. The units pay their people from that.
Okay, again, from the sidelines and not from the front lines... if someone thinks they can raise a couple hundred thousand dollars for this and do it right, go right ahead. Set it up that way, that's fine.

But, I don't expect that to happen. And I can't and wouldn't write that check. But I do kind of like this community-made-film idea, and I really like the idea that was put forth about tying ScriptFest into this and having the film's segments drawn from there. And I might consider putting aside a little (and I do mean a little, guys, let's not get crazy) bit of money aside, with the understanding that people do these DVXFest films on $2,000 or $3,000 apiece, and that's about the size of production we'd be asking from each team, and the caliber of work. So if I went and beat Jarred until money started falling out of his pockets, then maybe we (as DVXUser's owner/operators) would step forth as VERY MODEST financiers. Microbudget. And, of course, I haven't even told Jarred about this, so he may scream profanities at me for even thinking about it. Then again, he usually screams profanities at me, so -- nothing new there. :thumbsup:

Anyway, what I'm saying is: if we turned it into a true site idea, and tied it through ScriptFest, and tied it back towards the DVX Fest, maybe inviting winning crews to participate or something... then maybe we as DVXUser could step forward -- but understand, this would be our spending money, we aren't exactly rich, and we're talking about a few thousand dollars per segment probably.

But again, if we do that, we're not gonna take a bath on this thing, we're not gonna go writing checks to all sorts of teams and then not get what was promised. In any business venture, you get hired, you produce the work, and then you turn over the work and get paid. And if the work's abysmal, you don't get paid and the client goes elsewhere. So if we were gonna get involved, I'm thinking it'd have to be along those lines.

So, that's a way that it could work. Everybody leaps in for a big ol' risk. Teams work to produce the footage to the agreed-upon quality standard, as their own DVXFest entry maybe? And those entries that are selected would be bought and then weaved into a 90-minute production? I don't know, this is just spitballin' here. Maybe it's nuts, maybe it's too small-time of an idea, but it's what I could do. The original idea, remember, was that people are ALREADY spending their own money to make DVXFest entries of this caliber. So while they're already out there doing that for their own purposes anyway, why not try to direct their energies towards something that could be even bigger? Maybe this becomes a new DVXFest anyway -- ScriptFest scripts, and then DVXFest prizes; you either win a prize package from DVXFest as normal, or we buy your short off you so you get all your money back and you get credits on a produced feature film, etc. Well, it's an idea, anyway. I'm not saying it's a GOOD idea, but it's an idea.

But if anyone wants to go raise a few hundred thousand dollars and spearhead it as a bigger production, go right ahead. That would be the ideal outcome.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Alright, skipped a few pages, but I am back home again. I am starting to realize that what this has become is a bunch of folks yakking about what COULD happen while not getting anything done. This is what needs to happen:

Dustin, if you don't want to be the main man, pick someone to do it, or guide everyone else to do so. Make sure they have the talent, willingness and personality that is right for the job (regardless of whether they are a film student or a 50 year veteren of the business).

Then that person needs to TAKE CHARGE. My problem is, I have ideas that could work, but not the time to be the main leader. I am a leader by nature, though, so it is hard for me to work under someone, but as I writer and an actor I have gotten used to it.

That person needs to decide on a theme (or small selection to have voted on) and tell me what to have the writing team do (once it is compiled. Interested? PM me.) Then we will do it. While we work on it the leader can discuss with the group how to go about the details while compiling each group in an organized manner. Once everything is agreed upon (eventually the leader will just have to say "this is how it is.") then we can start filming.

That's the only way I see this getting off the ground is if someone takes the reigns. Who wants to be considered? Throw your name out and Dustin needs to choose (or help us choose). This should be done before the weenend is over. All of this discussion is just piling up yet not accomplishing anything without a leader (IMO) so before everyone looses interested, we need to do this!

Pick a leader. Leader decides how to go about it. Get theme. Leader says what to do. Film is done. That's all.

[pia12254]

I am 100% on board with what Barry proposed as a possible option!!!

Tie the idea into the ScriptFest. From those winning entries tie it into the next DVXFest. Then the winners have the option of having their segment "purchased" and woven into a larger film.

I see this as the only realistic way of this happening...as Barry said, groups are already spending a few thousand dollars on some of these shorts. Why not have the opportunity to have them mean something more and be a part of something bigger? Also, allowing the investors (Barry, Jarred, etc.) to choose segments after they have been produced solves the problem of quality and following through...if they are not quality or are not finished on time they will not be selected.

Personally I think this idea is genius. It is decentralized enough to make it manageable but it has the organization inherent in DVXFests already taking place...

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Alright, skipped a few pages, but I am back home again. I am starting to realize that what this has become is a bunch of folks yakking about what COULD happen while not getting anything done. This is what needs to happen:

Dustin, if you don't want to be the main man, pick someone to do it, or guide everyone else to do so. Make sure they have the talent, willingness and personality that is right for the job (regardless of whether they are a film student or a 50 year veteren of the business).

Then that person needs to TAKE CHARGE. My problem is, I have ideas that could work, but not the time to be the main leader. I am a leader by nature, though, so it is hard for me to work under someone, but as I writer and an actor I have gotten used to it.

That person needs to decide on a theme (or small selection to have voted on) and tell me what to have the writing team do (once it is compiled. Interested? PM me.) Then we will do it. While we work on it the leader can discuss with the group how to go about the details while compiling each group in an organized manner. Once everything is agreed upon (eventually the leader will just have to say "this is how it is.") then we can start filming.

That's the only way I see this getting off the ground is if someone takes the reigns. Who wants to be considered? Throw your name out and Dustin needs to choose (or help us choose). This should be done before the weenend is over. All of this discussion is just piling up yet not accomplishing anything without a leader (IMO) so before everyone looses interested, we need to do this!

Pick a leader. Leader decides how to go about it. Get theme. Leader says what to do. Film is done. That's all.


After talking with my partner in film, Gary French (fellow DVXer) at great length on this subject matter. I told him that I wasn't going to be the head guy anymore on this project, but still wanted to be involved and he asked if he could do it, and I told him if he was up to the job that I'd nominate him for the "dude". So. with that said, I now turn the "reigns" over to him. If you'll have him :D , his DVXuser name is Gary French. He'll be on later. We're finishing my Timefest entry atm.

Good Luck and can't wait to work with the fellow Southerners!

Rogan

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I am 100% on board with what Barry proposed as a possible option!!!

Tie the idea into the ScriptFest. From those winning entries tie it into the next DVXFest. Then the winners have the option of having their segment "purchased" and woven into a larger film.

I see this as the only realistic way of this happening...as Barry said, groups are already spending a few thousand dollars on some of these shorts. Why not have the opportunity to have them mean something more and be a part of something bigger? Also, allowing the investors (Barry, Jarred, etc.) to choose segments after they have been produced solves the problem of quality and following through...if they are not quality or are not finished on time they will not be selected.

Personally I think this idea is genius. It is decentralized enough to make it manageable but it has the organization inherent in DVXFests already taking place...I hinted at this idea earlier myself. If DVXuser incorporates this idea into ScriptFest followed by a special DVXFest... I'm in.

I'm sure many others would be as well.
As I said previously... we would then just have to pick out the best of the bunch and voila!

Like Mark said as well, the "theme" would have to be very different. Specific rules would have to be laid out and we would have to stick to them otherwise it won't work. That is if we want the stories to connect in some way or at least revolve around the same event.

Mike

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Dusting, great! He better be good! Haha. I hope he will be able to sort thorugh this collection of ideas and get a jewel out of it.

To those of you who want this to be integrated with the ScriptFest and DVXFest, I think the idea is good, but the only problem I have with it personally is that I actually wanted to write for this thing. And since as of now I am head of the writing team (if there will be one) it concerns me that I may be out of a job before actually having one. :grin:

I guess my issue is that I might not be able to write for it if it goes like that. Further, I think that (if I am not mistaken) the idea was for the scripts to go from ScriptFest to the DVXFest, but that would mean the same theme would be required and it would be hard to guarentee that enough made the transition. I don't know, it seems like too much of a drawn out process to work, but hey, I'm in so I have to go with the masses.

To use a cliche that is used soooo much here...that's just my 2 cents!

[pia12254]

Why could you not write for it? Couldn't you write a submission for the ScriptFest and get in that way?

I am admitting my ignorance here since I did not participate in the ScriptFest and don't really know how it worked... :)

And I didn't quite grasp what you meant about "it would be hard to guarantee that enough made the transition." Were you talking about Scripts being made into Films?

In that sense I could see a potential challenge of getting enough "different" films made (i.e. if there are 5 different/related segments everyone might want to do the one or two segments that are more exciting/interesting).

I never said I have any good ideas of my own to contribute...I just like to agree with and/or shoot down other peoples ideas! :D

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Sorry, dinner was ready. Typing becomes hasty when I'm hungry, let me clarify. What I meant about not being able to write is, as I understood, we would hold a ScriptFest and then those would be entered as films to the FilmFest and then those could be compiled for this project.

My personal issue is, I could write for ScriptFest, but the chances of it becoming a film that is viable for this project would be low. Plus, there is no way to guarentee that ScriptFest films will be made for the DVXFest. Unless you told all the entrants to make it for the fest, it wouldn't work.

Further I see a conflict involving the fact that these films would be so different in story line, they couldn't possibly go together. Perhaps I am totally misunderstanding the point being made here. If so, I am sorry, please try to explain it to me again.

[pia12254]

No, I think you are correct if the Fests continue the same way they have been.

I think there would have to be a Fest set up where it was specifically set up to accommodate this. But I think if Barry and Jarred were behind the idea we could accommodate it!

They have tried different approaches for other Fests and I think it would be at the very least a cool experiment to see what comes of it!

I assume they would have to set up the parameters of the setting for the Script fest (a meteor has struck the earth, a plague is spreading and a small group of people is fighting to find a solution)...or whatever the outline is. Then the writers take that loose parameter and come up with a really creative story within that "world".

Then the filmmakers are required to take one of the scripts and turn it into a film for the DVXFest.

Just a rough idea...but I suppose I pictured it looking something like that when Dustin first mentioned the idea of a collaborative feature in the context of a DVXFest... :)

As said before, "What were you thinking Dustin!?!?!" :D

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Well first thought....

Colab with everyone on the board (that were willing)

2nd thought...
We have thousands of members all around the world....

3rd thought
what could everyone around the world contribute on the same story line as everyone else...

4th thought
I need to sleep

5th thought
post idea up on the forums...

6th thought (days later)
what the hell did i get myself into... :D

that pretty much how my brain works...sometimes not even that...

Rogan

[Erik Olson]

Well, yeah, but -- if their segment sucked, I wouldn't buy it, and it therefore wouldn't ruin the show for anyone other than for those who overpromised and under-delivered. That's the whole point of having the projects be produced independently. And frankly I've seen enough quality work come from this board to know that there are plenty of people capable of delivering fantastic work. Maybe there needs to be a criteria placed on who's allowed to head up a unit; if they've entered DVX Fests before and we've seen their work and know that it's "Where The Heart Lies" or "Unawakening" or "Texas Fortune" or "Winter Lilacs" Caffesse's LoveFest entry or in that caliber, well, that's about as good as anyone could ask for.


Okay, again, from the sidelines and not from the front lines... if someone thinks they can raise a couple hundred thousand dollars for this and do it right, go right ahead. Set it up that way, that's fine.

But, I don't expect that to happen. And I can't and wouldn't write that check. But I do kind of like this community-made-film idea, and I really like the idea that was put forth about tying ScriptFest into this and having the film's segments drawn from there. And I might consider putting aside a little (and I do mean a little, guys, let's not get crazy) bit of money aside, with the understanding that people do these DVXFest films on $2,000 or $3,000 apiece, and that's about the size of production we'd be asking from each team, and the caliber of work. So if I went and beat Jarred until money started falling out of his pockets, then maybe we (as DVXUser's owner/operators) would step forth as VERY MODEST financiers. Microbudget. And, of course, I haven't even told Jarred about this, so he may scream profanities at me for even thinking about it. Then again, he usually screams profanities at me, so -- nothing new there. :thumbsup:

Anyway, what I'm saying is: if we turned it into a true site idea, and tied it through ScriptFest, and tied it back towards the DVX Fest, maybe inviting winning crews to participate or something... then maybe we as DVXUser could step forward -- but understand, this would be our spending money, we aren't exactly rich, and we're talking about a few thousand dollars per segment probably.

But again, if we do that, we're not gonna take a bath on this thing, we're not gonna go writing checks to all sorts of teams and then not get what was promised. In any business venture, you get hired, you produce the work, and then you turn over the work and get paid. And if the work's abysmal, you don't get paid and the client goes elsewhere. So if we were gonna get involved, I'm thinking it'd have to be along those lines.

So, that's a way that it could work. Everybody leaps in for a big ol' risk. Teams work to produce the footage to the agreed-upon quality standard, as their own DVXFest entry maybe? And those entries that are selected would be bought and then weaved into a 90-minute production? I don't know, this is just spitballin' here. Maybe it's nuts, maybe it's too small-time of an idea, but it's what I could do. The original idea, remember, was that people are ALREADY spending their own money to make DVXFest entries of this caliber. So while they're already out there doing that for their own purposes anyway, why not try to direct their energies towards something that could be even bigger? Maybe this becomes a new DVXFest anyway -- ScriptFest scripts, and then DVXFest prizes; you either win a prize package from DVXFest as normal, or we buy your short off you so you get all your money back and you get credits on a produced feature film, etc. Well, it's an idea, anyway. I'm not saying it's a GOOD idea, but it's an idea.

But if anyone wants to go raise a few hundred thousand dollars and spearhead it as a bigger production, go right ahead. That would be the ideal outcome.

The thread has led to this milestone post. In it, if you read it, there are large bits of valuable information for how this can work. Barry is interested, but there needs to be concensus on the mechanics of the project.

Everyone should take a breath and consider what was presented here. When I suggested the recent ScriptFest, it was conceived to work within the parameters of what was already working in the filmed entertainment Fests - I went to pains on this because those are already proven to work. It was a matter of adapting one to the other. The concept of having users or the mods produce the winning entry is an organic step toward what we're wanting to do on the feature side.

At any rate, I feel strongly that the appointing and delegating activity is a bit premature to the process. I certainly haven't taken part in electing anyone yet - this is the discovery phase and the slipshod nomination process is a big distraction.

e

[chapelgrovefilms]

I agree that the process for selecting a producer, etc. seems haphazard at best. And I'm rubbed the wrong way by people 'declaring' themselves to be in charge of the overall production without any real consensus. It should be generally agreed upon by a simple majority of those participating.

I also think we're limiting ourselves just a bit here. As has been mentioned, there's TONS of talent on DVXUser. But it just may be that not everyone is even aware of this project -- the subject line "DVXUser.com Feature Film??" might not be accurate enough to grab the attention of some folks who'd be great assets to us.

Should we post in the 'Jobs' section -- something like "Collaborative feature seeks qualified producer" -- and include links to this thread and the thread in Screenwriting?

I feel it's important at this point to get someone at the helm -- someone we all (or most of us) can agree on and support. It's too early to be thinking about assigning unit producers and directors, though. But the main producer is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the project. Whoever we choose needs to be in the driver's seat during the script development phase.

That's my humble opinion. (And we all know how humble I can be.) :)

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Sometimes too humble, IMO. :grin: If you are volunteering, please just say it. As I said before right now we are getting crap done (or something done at a really slow pace) because we just have a bunch of people saying what they think would work. We need someone in charge who will be a leader and start moving us along. Kind of like cattle. Maybe this will inspire you guys:

http://local.homeranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/catlle.jpg

EDIT: Then again...maybe not.

When someone is in charge, then we can start moving. And I agree there should be a consensus, but if we don't get someone (anyone) nothing will happen. We need to focus our energies on that before we focus them on story, set up or anything else for that matter. Hop to it!

[chapelgrovefilms]

I'm humble, but not that humble. :)

The only reason I don't volunteer is it seems that my vision of this project is different from the majority. I may be too old-fashioned, or maybe too ambitious. I suspect most of the folks here would feel more comfortable with someone at the helm who more closely shares their collective vision.

[chapelgrovefilms]

"Heard of Cattle Productions"???

:)

[Dustin R. Rogan]

I never declared myself "leader" people called me that. I can't blame them...but I was just the guy w/ the idea...and not ready for this big of a project. I was asked for a suggestion on who I thought and I gave my 2 cents, cant help it the exchange rate is different, that some people think my 2 cents is worth more (lol totally jk)


I never wwanted it...people said since i started this whole thing that I should do it....ummmm not!!

Dustin Rogan

[spa_edwards]

I think this ship is free sailing at the moment and in desperate need of a leader to get things done. Chapel - As an idea, i know you said you didnt want to take charge of the overall project, but maybe take over at the beggining, take this to the places where it needs to go, etc, etc. Untill someone is appointed by vote.

Just a thought

[chapelgrovefilms]

I think this ship is free sailing at the moment and in desperate need of a leader to get things done. Chapel - As an idea, i know you said you didnt want to take charge of the overall project, but maybe take over at the beggining, take this to the places where it needs to go, etc, etc. Untill someone is appointed by vote.

Just a thought

How would everyone feel about this?

Probably the job of any 'leader' at this point is to do a few simple things. First, lay out some organization as to what needs to be done, and in what order.

Second, help the group come up with a solid storyline, so the writing team can begin working on it.

Then, help find the best possible candidate to take over the reins as the main producer, and let that person take it from there.

What do you guys think?

[chapelgrovefilms]

Also, just to clarify -- I didn't say I didn't want to take over the project. I just said I thought the majority of folks here might be more comfortable with a leader whose vision of the project more closely matches their own. :)

One more thing -- I meant to say 'Heard of Cows Productions' before. It comes from an old joke I heard as a child.

BUCK: Clem! Clem! I just seen a bunch of cows headin' this way!

CLEM: Herd.

BUCK: What???

CLEM: HERD of cows.

BUCK: Well of COURSE I've heard of cows! I just SEEN a bunch of 'em headin' this way!!!

:)

[Jim Montgomery]

David et al

From an outsider looking in. The role of any leader is to have a clear understanding of what the goal is, a mission statement, From that develop a organizational structure and plan that can satisfy that mission. Clearly and concisely communicate that mission. Provide the people, who come on board, with whatever they need from you to complete their tasks in the pursuit of that goal.

From my understanding the original intent of this thread was for the members of this forum to make a movie. If we can agree on that it is a start.

Unfortunately the discussions have evolved on how to accomplish the goal without having a true understanding of what the goal is. The original thought did not have any mention of "to profit by" making a movie, or to get MY story made into a movie .. ad infinitum.

A leader leads, it is not done by consensus, but by vision. The easy way to think of it is (and we would literaly do this on a blackboad)

What is the goal?
What barriers are stopping us from reaching that goal?
What do we have to do to remove those barriers?

Perform each task that removes a barrier, the barrier is gone, the goal is reached.

David I commend you and Penquin for stepping forward and showing us that there are people here willing to commit.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Guys, If Barry et al are interested in getting this done by having a ScriptFest and a following DVXFest to tie all of this together then nothing further needs to be decided at this point. It will happen.

The scripts will be written based on a VERY specific criteria and the parts needed will be shot. The best of the best will be chosen and hopefully one kick ass editor will make it seamless.

Now, if they are not looking to take this idea to the next level then we definitely need to move in a new direction here.

I personally am going to PM Barry and wait for a decision since it seems like there has been some interest in making this happen.

Cheers,

Mike

[Erik Olson]

Absolutely. I wasn't pointing fingers when I stated that we need to work first to discover what type of project this is going to be.

One person stating that the DVXUser feature is going to be "this" or have a particular style or attribute does not best honor the collaborative concept. If you want to monopolize and dictate, I feel very strongly that DVXUser isn't the proper outlet for your perceived project. Mainstream Hollywood and independent film already exist for this model.

:)

I'm more resistant to the "shut up and go do it" line than anything else. Go do what exactly? Write what? A multi-city feature to be produced by several teams? A collection of speculative, individually-penned stories that might be selected by whom? Who is going to produce this? What are their qualifications? Where is the business plan?

The concept of an "organic process" works well during the writing process - especially if there is a positive, symbiotic relationship - but will not likely lend itself to the business and physical production side of the equation.

I'm not completely sold on the idea of a central writing team at this point. I think the project could benefit extensively from a bespoke Feature ScriptFest leading to production. Why? Well, it encourages organized group participation. If you want to collaborate, or work best with a writing partner (as I do), then do so. Then submit your work for the community to recommend or pass on. This is more in keeping with a "studio" model of filmmaking anyway.

Launch FeatureFest with a specific mandate based on a premise voted on by users.
FeatureFest scripts must not be longer than 12 - 15 pages each. The scripts selected by the members of the community will go on to be produced by a regional team.
FeatureFest scripts must be self-contained, close-ended in nature. However, a transitional device or scene can be included in each one.
People who wish to act as a Unit Producer should submit their names and qualifications to the community for review. Members or the mods should select the Unit Producers.
Begin a fundraising campaign from members. It is a donation, but everyone who donates becomes an "investor" in the project. They may choose to be silent in the overall process, but it encourages involvement. The budget, as Barry suggested, shouldn't exceed $3k - $5k per unit. Keeping a cap on each unit encourages volunteerism, but covers hard costs. The Unit Producer is charged with keeping the books.A production is going to keep me from moving this forward any further right now, but it is a start for anyone who would like to continue a discussion for how this can be a community without anarchy project.

If there is one person on the boards who might best head the preliminary organization, it would be the mods. We could easily get past these early format / infrastructure questions and onto the creative.

My input.

e

[Geoff_R]

"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

Nuke it with creativity that is!

[Jared Meyer]

Guys, If Barry et al are interested in getting this done by having a ScriptFest and a following DVXFest to tie all of this together then nothing further needs to be decided at this point. It will happen.

The scripts will be written based on a VERY specific criteria and the parts needed will be shot. The best of the best will be chosen and hopefully one kick ass editor will make it seamless.

Now, if they are not looking to take this idea to the next level then we definitely need to move in a new direction here.

I personally am going to PM Barry and wait for a decision since it seems like there has been some interest in making this happen.

Cheers,

Mike

Well said. I was wondering why more people weren't talking about Barry's post. If it does go in the direction he hinted at, a lot of the other discussion is moot. Direct support from the site and the mods would be huge and would really give this a chance to work.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

Well said. I was wondering why more people weren't talking about Barry's post. If it does go in the direction he hinted at, a lot of the other discussion is moot. Direct support from the site and the mods would be huge and would really give this a chance to work.

this is true, I will be pleased if what started off as an idea for me then put into thread form would come to life! I love the idea of script/film fest combo!

[Blaine]

Barry said that this had been tried before. The project was called Two More Tomorrows. Here (http://www.roachfilm.com/Movie%20page%20-%20Two%20more%20Tomorrows.htm) is a link to at least one group's output. It might be worth looking at so you can avoid the same pitfalls.

And this (http://twomoretomorrows.org/) is still up.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Alright. I am okay with the fest idea, my only problem was a misunderstanding. If we submit scripts to be voted on that would be cool. My understanding is we would shoot our own too, and that brought up all kinds of issues in my mind.

What we need is someone to take the lead (even temporarily) like a mod or even someone who is determined. This person needs to understand it is a DVXUSER.COM project. That means everyone's input counts. We would go with the majority, I think. GO DEMOCRAZY!* Then we can decide what way we want to go about this.






*Meant to put DEMOCRACY but it was waaaaay too cool with the mistake to change it.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

Barry said that this had been tried before. The project was called Two More Tomorrows. Here (http://www.roachfilm.com/Movie%20page%20-%20Two%20more%20Tomorrows.htm) is a link to at least one group's output. It might be worth looking at so you can avoid the same pitfalls.

And this (http://twomoretomorrows.org/) is still up.

Woah, just got around to reading those links. They had the same basic idea we did. Something crashes on earth emmiting a vapor which causes a virus. CRAZY!

[Barry_Green]

Okay, again, from the peanut gallery:

Perhaps there are two projects here? If there are people set and determined to make a conventional feature, that would be Group One. If there are people who want to do a collaborative fest-based independent production-unit-based picture, they could be Group Two.

Those two groups don't have anything to do with each other, really -- they're pretty much mutually exclusive. Seems like Group One wants to try do do a conventional independent film and all that that entails, but hire DVXUser crew. That's a fantastic and commendable goal. I'd love to support it, but I'm already currently producing two such features for DVXUsers and am considering launching a third, so my plate for that is rather full. I do strongly encourage folks to go after that goal though, that would be the ultimate thing that this site could do.

As for Group Two, I think that's where the party's at. Something that could only be done by a site like this. A film that stretches across the country and around the globe. One that's brought together by a common thread and a common group, the DVXUser group. That's one that I would be interested in jumping on board with. I keep thinking about this idea, and how it could be made, and maybe made affordably (because, frankly, if it's me and Jarred writing the checks, it's gonna HAVE to be done mega-affordably!) :thumbsup: What if we get one of our DVXUser actors, maybe Kimko, and send him on the road or around the globe, with individual units in each city crewing his story. That way all the segments could be totally integrated, it could appear as a completely "conventional" narrative feature (instead of an anthology) and with just one lead actor who would hint, hint, be willing to live on the road and drive town to town etc. for the glory of being the star of a much-talked-about hopefully-great little indie film, well... just maybe we could do it.

Okay, so here's another left-field idea: instead of doing shorts and scripts, how about PitchFest or PremiseFest? The subject is: pitch an idea that can be shot super-cheap, with one main character who travels to various locations and could be produced by crews around the world. Any genre, any theme, main thing is to explore your creativity to come up with an idea suitable for production based on this general idea: one actor, multiple towns or even countries.

Once we get that pitch, and the site decides that yeah, we could afford to do this and want to do it etc., then we put together a writing team. By the time the script is done, hopefully my slate will have opened up and I can take a much more active role in shepherding the production.

I'm not saying this is THE way to go, but I can see a heck of a project coming from this and it'd be something to talk about for years to come. Not to dissuade Group A, you guys go right ahead and please succeed. But for those who want to play in a different sandbox, the Group B folks, what do you think of this type of idea?

[Zim]

It might work but I think there will have to be something that holds it all together. I reason why this guy is going to all these places.

[Dustin R. Rogan]

put me down for group B!! Liking this idea!!!

[chapelgrovefilms]

I like the idea of a PitchFest. It makes more sense to me to settle on a basic storyline for each script, rather than having a lot of people writing and submitting stuff, most of which won't be used.

I feel like a writing team should write the scripts themselves so the we ensure a good, solid overall movie, with different storylines appealing to different emotions in the audience, but with a smooth flow between and among them. I think it would be hard to get this kind of smooth, cohesive structure from scripts written by completely different people who have no knowledge of the other scripts/characters/themes/etc. that their script will need to be blended with.

I could be wrong about that, it's just my opinion.

The PitchFest would need a basic theme, though. I'm not sure we've settled on one.

End of the world, with no hope of survival?

End of the world, but a struggle to prevent it?

Or something not quite so globally catastrophic?

Can we get a vote?

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

The PitchFest would need a basic theme, though. I'm not sure we've settled on one.

I think the idea being PitchFest is to come up with your own theme.



Okay, so here's another left-field idea: instead of doing shorts and scripts, how about PitchFest or PremiseFest? The subject is: pitch an idea that can be shot super-cheap, with one main character who travels to various locations and could be produced by crews around the world. Any genre, any theme, main thing is to explore your creativity to come up with an idea suitable for production based on this general idea: one actor, multiple towns or even countries.

Once we get that pitch, and the site decides that yeah, we could afford to do this and want to do it etc., then we put together a writing team.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Then I must not be understanding the PitchFest. That's my fault. I thought it was pitching script ideas.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Why "one actor, multiple towns"? I know that was suggested at one point, but I didn't know it had been locked in. That would certainly increase the cost, especially if the towns are international.

[ConspiracyPenguin]

I think Barry has me convinced! I am more than willing to go the Group B route after hearing him (or rather reading him) explain it like that, as long as I am guaranteed to be on the writing team :grin:. I wish I could be the actor that travels around, but that is not possible at this point in time.

Barry, would you want folks to pitch ideas for the entire film or just small segments? Would we even do the segment/location idea still? I say I like this idea and I say go for it. Further, to those who are dead set on Group A, I still support that and would be more than willing to come on board with you as well, it just seems to me that the consensus is in Group B.

Let's do this...

[Mark Harris]

I'm not saying this is THE way to go, but I can see a heck of a project coming from this and it'd be something to talk about for years to come. Not to dissuade Group A, you guys go right ahead and please succeed. But for those who want to play in a different sandbox, the Group B folks, what do you think of this type of idea?

I think group B is where I would want to be.

Though I would strongly disagree on the one actor spanning the globe idea. Nothing against Kimko, because I have never seen him perform, but that kind of idea would need one BAD-ASSED actor to carry the whole thing. I mean, like Kurt Russell good :). That is the flaw I see in this approach. You are basically putting the weight of the enterprise on one actor. He/she would have to be brilliant. So you could not just throw anyone in there without writing the script and finding the best person for it.

Maybe I am just hooked on the multi-story idea, but honestly, it's the only way I see this working. Another thing is having one actor seems to push it back into Group A territory. I mean, you are back to having one script to get together very much like a conventional indie. Besides which, this kind of forces it into one kind of movie: Road Movie. Maybe that's okay, but not without someone who can tear it up acting-wise.

I dunno, again, I see the strength in this as an overall theme, like: Zombie attack, and letting various crews putting their spin on that. maybe unify it with one scene in a "TV STUDIO" or central location. Maybe they communicate at some point though short wave, or TV transmission, or maybe we get them all together for one week of grand finale shooting.

Anyway just 2 cents. But I am a little lit and spent the evening at a lecture on Quantum Mechanics, so my head might not be exactly right...

[chapelgrovefilms]

I don't see any need for two different groups -- A and B. It would be great to focus everyone on a single project, rather than splitting the talent. While I, personally, prefer the 'Group A' approach, I have no qualms at all about enthusiastically joining into the 'Group B' project if that's the way the majority wants to go. We can always try a 'Group A' project another time, somewhere down the road.

Mark, you make a great argument against the 'one actor' approach. Although my response to that would be, "Well, we just have to make sure we find the RIGHT actor." I think there's definitely Kurt Russell-level talent out there waiting to be used. My biggest argument would involve the cost of sending this one actor all over the globe. If we're truly looking for a microbudget project, then we need to avoid expensive airfares.

I'd said something before about a storyline where people from all over the globe are seeing the same PERSON in multiple places at the same time. But that could be accomplished with clever camerawork, without the need for a traveling actor. There are lots of creative ways to pull that off.

Back to the PitchFest idea for a moment -- why don't we just make the criteria to be that we're searching for a storyline that involves people from four different places on Earth, all facing and dealing with a common event that has a dramatic and life-changing impact on their lives? Let's see what the creative minds come up with. They may be way ahead of us. :)

[kimko]

Okay, again, from the peanut gallery:

Perhaps there are two projects here? If there are people set and determined to make a conventional feature, that would be Group One. If there are people who want to do a collaborative fest-based independent production-unit-based picture, they could be Group Two.

Those two groups don't have anything to do with each other, really -- they're pretty much mutually exclusive. Seems like Group One wants to try do do a conventional independent film and all that that entails, but hire DVXUser crew. That's a fantastic and commendable goal. I'd love to support it, but I'm already currently producing two such features for DVXUsers and am considering launching a third, so my plate for that is rather full. I do strongly encourage folks to go after that goal though, that would be the ultimate thing that this site could do.

As for Group Two, I think that's where the party's at. Something that could only be done by a site like this. A film that stretches across the country and around the globe. One that's brought together by a common thread and a common group, the DVXUser group. That's one that I would be interested in jumping on board with. I keep thinking about this idea, and how it could be made, and maybe made affordably (because, frankly, if it's me and Jarred writing the checks, it's gonna HAVE to be done mega-affordably!) :thumbsup: What if we get one of our DVXUser actors, maybe Kimko, and send him on the road or around the globe, with individual units in each city crewing his story. That way all the segments could be totally integrated, it could appear as a completely "conventional" narrative feature (instead of an anthology) and with just one lead actor who would hint, hint, be willing to live on the road and drive town to town etc. for the glory of being the star of a much-talked-about hopefully-great little indie film, well... just maybe we could do it.

Okay, so here's another left-field idea: instead of doing shorts and scripts, how about PitchFest or PremiseFest? The subject is: pitch an idea that can be shot super-cheap, with one main character who travels to various locations and could be produced by crews around the world. Any genre, any theme, main thing is to explore your creativity to come up with an idea suitable for production based on this general idea: one actor, multiple towns or even countries.

Once we get that pitch, and the site decides that yeah, we could afford to do this and want to do it etc., then we put together a writing team. By the time the script is done, hopefully my slate will have opened up and I can take a much more active role in shepherding the production.

I'm not saying this is THE way to go, but I can see a heck of a project coming from this and it'd be something to talk about for years to come. Not to dissuade Group A, you guys go right ahead and please succeed. But for those who want to play in a different sandbox, the Group B folks, what do you think of this type of idea?
well i got word my name was mentioned....and i thought maybe i was in trouble...maybe banned....but i haven't been on lately....thank you B.G. for mentioning me in an awesome collaboration possiblity. but i think he was bringing up a point of using DVXUSER actors (who were many) that were good over the years...or maybe he wants to do a comedy with an actor who is a buffoon trying hard to act!!!! WELL THAT'D BE ME!!! but really i don't know what's going on, so i'll just say: maybe a common theme we as a people around the world all agree with is; peace, love and understanding(elvis costello) and the last word is the key;UNDERSTANDING ,how do we find this but thru communication, people around the world tell us your story? now there is many characters with many stories asked by one person who is representing us all (the writers)who will come up with the questions to be asked and....... the audience will be heard and there will be peace on earth and big orgies....and love will be all around us and bambi doesn't get crushed by godzilla's foot.........

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Back to the PitchFest idea for a moment -- why don't we just make the criteria to be that we're searching for a storyline that involves people from four different places on Earth, all facing and dealing with a common event that has a dramatic and life-changing impact on their lives? Let's see what the creative minds come up with. They may be way ahead of us. :)I agree.

I feel that this will guarantee success. Otherwise we're hinging the entire thing on one main actor and the budget will soar due to travel/lodging costs.

Cheers,

Mike

[kimko]

Then Came Bronson...........

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Then Came Bronson...........If we have the budget I think it would be awesome to have one main actor like most Features. I'm just doubting that we'll have that kind of budget I guess.

Can I see some stuff that you have acted in? Can you post some links?

Mike

[Barry_Green]

Why "one actor, multiple towns"? I know that was suggested at one point, but I didn't know it had been locked in.
Nothing whatsoever has been locked in to anything. I was just trying to find a perhaps slightly-affordable way of making the film something other than a series of disconnected shorts, something other than an anthology.

I mean, maybe there's a way to make it a sort of "conventional" film but made in a highly unconventional way, you know, something like a Bourne Identity. One group does the headquarters segment, other groups handle the various towns, and our actor goes from town to town and ultimately confronts the headquarters guys. This is an idea that could be done by multiple crews in multiple locations, yet could be totally integrated because the headquarters stuff could be sprinkled throughout. It does sort of cross the line between group A and group B though (if not totally crossing the line back into group A territory).

I'm just trying to poke at the creative centers out there. Let's not settle for the first idea that crops up, let's push it until we come up with something totally new. Something that could only have been made in this multi-crew style. If it ends up being an anthology of similarly-timed stories, then that's what it ends up being -- but there's nothing particularly creative about that... as has been pointed out, that same basic concept was tried here back in 2004.

So, what else could we do? What about the idea of a common central character, but played by different actors? Like Denzel Washington's Fallen, a spirit that possesses human bodies (not that THAT hasn't been done before!) but in that respect, you could have the same central character and an overall controlling character arc, but with little to no cost of having to transport the same actor to multiple places. And you could even tie the segments together with some crafty greenscreen for the transition scenes where the "spirit" or "alien" or whatever transitions from one actor to another.

Or, you could have all the interaction you want between segments by using videoconferencing. Each segment could have its own lead character and subquest, and the videoconferencing segments would be a cheap and easy way to tie them all together into one big continuous movie instead of a series of disconnected anthology segments.

I'm just trying to reach higher than the low-hanging fruit. Plucking the low-hanging fruit might be fine and it might be what we go with, but I don't see any reason to commit to that until we at least explore all sorts of other ideas.

Okay, so, how about we try to package it all together, like this: we have a PitchFest for the overall general theme/idea. And the overall theme/idea is bound by some sort of production-related restrictions such as that it needs to be a film that can take place in multiple locations, without any real restriction as to what those locations are. Then, once we get some amazing compelling awesome overall premise pitched, we then hold a DVXFest to develop the segments. And the idea behind this DVXFest would be that you can choose one of four major segments (either Act I, Act IIa, Act IIb, or Act III) at 25 minutes each, or divide that up even further to 1st half of Act I, 2nd half of Act 1, etc... and there would be restrictions placed on those acts: for example, the master plan of the film would be like this:
1st half Act 1: overall theme: introduction
2nd half Act 1: overall theme: betrayal
1st half Act 2: overall theme: revenge

You know, we have the overall underlying theme evaluated in what a story of that premise would be, and then we open it up where anyone can develop a segment based on the overall idea and the particular segment's necessary theme points. Like Garanimals, all the Giraffe items would go together, and all the Act 1 2nd Half bits would go together, right? And, there would be some hooks to tie the pieces together, like Legos: the end of all 2nd Half Act 1 films would naturally tie to the beginning of all 1st Half Act 2 films.

I think I explained that poorly, but if you read it six or seven times I think you'll get the idea.

I guess the larger question is: should we settle for (and even embrace and revel in) an anthology idea, or should we try to expend some brainpower to find a way to tie it all together so that it plays more like a conventional narrative, even though it's made unconventionally and will obviously feel very different than a conventional narrative.

[Mark Harris]

well I know I am playing devil's advocate here, but honestly I don't see how an anthology is any lower hanging fruit than an alien or spirit inhabiting someone's body :) :evil:

The videoconferencing is close to what I suggested to tie them together.

But I guess I am also thinking about contingency plans. I mean, if this goes off and say for example I get on the NYC team. So it's still low budget. So I am still going to have to cash in my favors with people, work my connections to make it happen.

But what if I get my part done and it doesn't happen, for any of 1000 reasons, and what I wind up with is half of a first act of some bigger thing? That is pretty much useless to me and I feel like I just put in all this time and energy for nothing. But if I wound up with a fairly self-contained 25 minute short, then all my time and energy were not wasted. I can still take that and try it in fests, etc. I guess it's cynical, but it's just that sooooo much effort goes into these things, as we all know, even a 6 min short, that I feel compelled to protect my time and input in case something outside of my control makes the thing go ka-boom.

Anyway, like I said, just playing devil's advocate and putting in some more stuff to think about.

[Barry_Green]

It's "low hanging fruit" because it's the first idea that was thought of, and that fruit's already been plucked and was plucked at least 4 years ago (on this site, at least -- who knows if the same idea hasn't been tried on other sites even earlier?) All I'm saying is: is there another (even better) idea out there? If so, what is it?

That is pretty much useless to me and I feel like I just put in all this time and energy for nothing
Yep, that's the drawback, and it's a big one. The idea was to leverage off the energy DVXers are already spending on their fest entries, so potentially coming up with something useless is a big drawback. Might be a dealkiller.

So, yeah, we might end up with an anthology. It just seems like we should be able to do something different and, hopefully, bigger/better/more entertaining than a series of disconnected (or mildly connected) shorts. If we can't, we can't -- but why not keep lookin'?

C'mon peeps, hit us with some wildly inventive awesome 2008 idea for the first film produced entirely through internet collaboration...

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

C'mon peeps, hit us with some wildly inventive awesome 2008 idea for the first film produced entirely through internet collaboration...Do you want ideas posted here or wait for PitchFest?

Just curious.

[Mark Harris]

One more thing to throw out. Is this idea kind of adding some artificial complication?

Producing it all over the country seems like it might be adding more hassle than it's worth, when it might be cheaper and easier just to transport all the DVXUsers who get involved to LA for a month. I dunno how big that fat monster couch is, but it seems the DVXUsers who want to be involved will put up with less glorious accomodations to work on it. Same thing if we decided to do it in NC, or wherever.

So if we leaned toward the conventional feature, maybe it's just developed over the web, but ultimately just spend the money getting everyone to the shoot(which would be cheap compared to other costs)

Again, just throwing another idea out. Maybe the idea of producing all over is just adding unnecessary complications when the story should dictate it all.

[Drew Ott]

We could have there be one central prop that connects everything.

An example may be 2001: Space Odyssey. The monolith connects a few related stories but that still makes one central narrative.

Here's an awful example just as an idea: There is a pair of basketball shoes that make the person wearing them very good at basketball (just like in Like Mike). The film covers 4 different groups of people finding the basketball shoes at different times, and the film cuts between the 4 groups.

Now, that idea is terrible, but I think the prop aspect would work well.

[pia12254]

At risk of sounding redundant I will mention this again as it kind of applies to what Barry is saying...

Just watched the "Andromeda Strain" mini-series a couple of nights ago. It is a conventional narrative in the sense that it has one overarching story, the characters all interact with each other etc.

However, I think it holds some good parallels for this project because it had multiple/ongoing storylines (which I think makes any film more interesting). For example, they have the scientists in an underground bunker trying to figure out what the virus is. They have the reporter trying to uncover the government conspiracy surrounding the virus. You have the military gurus both trying to solve the problem and also compounding the problem.

BUT...the interesting thing is, if you look at it from a production perspective, there is really only one or two scenes in the ENTIRE FILM where the three or four groups of people are actually on screen together. 99% of the "interaction" between the groups takes place via videoconference, telephone, web chats etc. But the cool thing is it doesn't feel disjointed...in fact, as a viewer if you didn't analyze it you would think it felt like any other film...characters interacting and experiencing something together.

So, all that to say that I think what Barry suggested as far as a true narrative rather than a disjointed anthology is possible...even between productions in various locations. The script just has to be written accordingly and then the productions would have to shoot their film accordingly (video conference monitors with green screen and motion trackers for footage to be added later, etc.).

Just trying to present a "positive" since I tend to just point out what "won't work". :D

:)

[Drew Ott]

Another idea:

I think PitchFest should be video submissions. It'd be something like 1-2 minutes of a "pitch" similar to what they did on that show "On the Lot" on the first episode.

Somebody would just sit and speak for the camera, but this way we could get a feel for the energy and approach more than text. Plus, I imagine it would give us more practice speaking about ideas instead of typing them.

[Drew Ott]

Here's another pitch idea I just thought of.

Similar to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, we could have a first-person based film where the audience isn't shown the protagonist for quite a while. This way they could go to different places and all that would be shot is the reactions and their point of view. The idea of a "first person film" sounds too limited at first, but The Diving Bell and the Butterfly did it beautifully.

Just a possibility.

[chapelgrovefilms]

At risk of sounding redundant I will mention this again as it kind of applies to what Barry is saying...

Just watched the "Andromeda Strain" mini-series a couple of nights ago. It is a conventional narrative in the sense that it has one overarching story, the characters all interact with each other etc.

However, I think it holds some good parallels for this project because it had multiple/ongoing storylines (which I think makes any film more interesting). For example, they have the scientists in an underground bunker trying to figure out what the virus is. They have the reporter trying to uncover the government conspiracy surrounding the virus. You have the military gurus both trying to solve the problem and also compounding the problem.

BUT...the interesting thing is, if you look at it from a production perspective, there is really only one or two scenes in the ENTIRE FILM where the three or four groups of people are actually on screen together. 99% of the "interaction" between the groups takes place via videoconference, telephone, web chats etc. But the cool thing is it doesn't feel disjointed...in fact, as a viewer if you didn't analyze it you would think it felt like any other film...characters interacting and experiencing something together.

So, all that to say that I think what Barry suggested as far as a true narrative rather than a disjointed anthology is possible...even between productions in various locations. The script just has to be written accordingly and then the productions would have to shoot their film accordingly (video conference monitors with green screen and motion trackers for footage to be added later, etc.).

Just trying to present a "positive" since I tend to just point out what "won't work". :D

:)

I really like what you're saying here! I'm going to have to go rent 'Andromeda Strain' and check it out.

And I think Barry's right -- we should aim higher than the lowest common denominator. Push the envelope if we can. Try for something that's going to intrigue people.

I don't agree with the poster who suggested transporting everyone to one location and doing this as a more traditional film. I really like the idea of teams in different places doing their segments and pulling the whole thing together into a single story -- rather than an anthology. Using the 'Andromeda Strain' as an example, I can see how it could work well.

As I said before, the trick of seeing the same guy in all four places could be handled with creative camerawork. Maybe greenscreening, even. So the actor doesn't actually have to BE in all four places. So that could still be a viable element.

I really like the idea of people communicating via teleconferencing! Of course, Barry already knows my penchant for that particular scenario. People could also secretly text message each other, send pics via cell phones, etc. It's the 21st century! Let's feature the latest technology!

I'm excited about this! It's got SO much potential! And with all the talent here, I KNOW we can make it work.

[Zim]

C'mon peeps, hit us with some wildly inventive awesome 2008 idea for the first film produced entirely through internet collaboration...


Something not done before and like you point out Barry "entirely through internet collaboration"

To many people are thinking how films are made now.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Something not done before and like you point out Barry "entirely through internet collaboration"

To many people are thinking how films are made now.

I agree that we need to think outside the box with regards to how the production is conducted. Here's an opportunity to do something unique that will grab the imagination of filmmakers and fans all over the world. Let's run with it!

[Mark Harris]

Or we could just try to make the best film we can make, use what works and discard what doesn't.

I guess we're thinking along two different lines. I have no desire to push the technology envelope unless it produces results. I've worked over the internet for the past ten years with clients all over the world. It's neither new nor novel to me. It's good for certain things, bad for others. If a production can be made more efficient, better, etc through internet collaboration, multiple crews, etc. great. But if say the production got half way through and it just was not working, the participants would have to be willing to ditch it.

I'm all for trying different ways of working, but not for their own sake.

All I'm saying is, my goal would be to make the best movie possible. Use what works, but don't be afraid to toss what doesn't. That's the bottom line.

All the other stuff about grabbing imaginations, and whatnot, just doesn't really matter if the movie sucks. That should all be by-product, not primary goal.

We've seen too much of that in recent times, I think - lots of hype and excitement, and no decent end result.

[Barry_Green]

You can't make the best movie possible on a micro budget though. When people break through from the indie ranks, it's because they make something different, whether it's a totally-shot-at-sea type of thing like Open Water, or a "found footage" film like Blair Witch, etc.

I'm thinking that if you're going to try to take on Hollywood at their game, you don't want to go into a gun fight carrying a spork, y'know? Whereas if you can do something compellingly creatively different, now you have a whole new angle and people will be much more willing to look at it.

It's the same reason that every time any indie attempts to do a romantic comedy, they fail miserably. Hollywood does romantic comedy, and they do it better than anyone, and they have Hugh Grant and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts... You can't compete with that on a microbudget level and you never will be able to. You have to do something different -- hence "My Date With Drew".

That's why I'm looking to see if we can put success on our side by doing something different.

If we end up doing the same ol' thing, well, that's not the worst outcome, but it does put us at a massive disadvantage when it comes time to see if commercial success can come from this. Unless, of course, someone comes forward with half a million dollars and we can do like Adam Cultraro did, and put Tom Sizemore and Johnny Messner in there. But without guys like that... there's little to no chance for commercial success.

So, again, back to Group A or Group B. Group A wants to make a conventional indie film the best that they can. With Group B, I think that group is aimed at doing something different, something unique, something that could only be done through a site like this. I don't know what that is yet.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Well I don't think there's anybody here who wants to make a sucky movie just to be able to brag it was an Internet collaboration. We all want to make the best movie we can. That's why there's so much discussion and debate going on about it in this forum.

But what will be UNIQUE about our great movie -- separating it from all the other great movies that get made in the next year or two -- will be this new collaborative approach. That will generate a buzz all its own, which will only add to the buzz generated from the movie itself. It will get attention from that. And then people will be WOWED by the fact that it really IS a great movie, and not just a gimmicky piece of crap.

At least, that's my take on it. I'm with you -- I don't want to make a movie just for the sake of being able to say I did it. If it's not going to be done well, I'm not going to want to commit my time and energy to it.

The solution to that -- for me -- is to make sure it IS done well. :)

[chapelgrovefilms]

You can't make the best movie possible on a micro budget though. When people break through from the indie ranks, it's because they make something different, whether it's a totally-shot-at-sea type of thing like Open Water, or a "found footage" film like Blair Witch, etc.

I'm thinking that if you're going to try to take on Hollywood at their game, you don't want to go into a gun fight carrying a spork, y'know? Whereas if you can do something compellingly creatively different, now you have a whole new angle and people will be much more willing to look at it.

It's the same reason that every time any indie attempts to do a romantic comedy, they fail miserably. Hollywood does romantic comedy, and they do it better than anyone, and they have Hugh Grant and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts... You can't compete with that on a microbudget level and you never will be able to. You have to do something different -- hence "My Date With Drew".

That's why I'm looking to see if we can put success on our side by doing something different.

If we end up doing the same ol' thing, well, that's not the worst outcome, but it does put us at a massive disadvantage when it comes time to see if commercial success can come from this. Unless, of course, someone comes forward with half a million dollars and we can do like Adam Cultraro did, and put Tom Sizemore and Johnny Messner in there. But without guys like that... there's little to no chance for commercial success.


ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! I agree 100%!


So, again, back to Group A or Group B. Group A wants to make a conventional indie film the best that they can. With Group B, I think that group is aimed at doing something different, something unique, something that could only be done through a site like this. I don't know what that is yet.

My impression is that Group A still wants to make an unconventional indie film. They just wanted a different structure to the production process. But they still wanted a unique and interesting approach, and a real grabber of a story.

The way I see it, Group A wants a centralized production team that manages the financial end and coordinates the separate units doing the actual shooting. They want a writing team to do the scripts, and they want to try to secure investors for budget money.

Whereas Group B wants to decentralize things. Let people come up with scripts and submit them, then choose 4 that will work together. Then farm it out to completely autonomous production units in the field, who will each be responsible for paying for and producing their segments. The segments will then be put together by a master editing team.

Do I have that right? Or am I misstating it somewhere?

[Mark Harris]

You can't make the best movie possible on a micro budget though. When people break through from the indie ranks, it's because they make something different, whether it's a totally-shot-at-sea type of thing like Open Water, or a "found footage" film like Blair Witch, etc.

I'm thinking that if you're going to try to take on Hollywood at their game, you don't want to go into a gun fight carrying a spork, y'know? Whereas if you can do something compellingly creatively different, now you have a whole new angle and people will be much more willing to look at it.

It's the same reason that every time any indie attempts to do a romantic comedy, they fail miserably. Hollywood does romantic comedy, and they do it better than anyone, and they have Hugh Grant and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts... You can't compete with that on a microbudget level and you never will be able to. You have to do something different -- hence "My Date With Drew".

That's why I'm looking to see if we can put success on our side by doing something different.

If we end up doing the same ol' thing, well, that's not the worst outcome, but it does put us at a massive disadvantage when it comes time to see if commercial success can come from this. Unless, of course, someone comes forward with half a million dollars and we can do like Adam Cultraro did, and put Tom Sizemore and Johnny Messner in there. But without guys like that... there's little to no chance for commercial success.

So, again, back to Group A or Group B. Group A wants to make a conventional indie film the best that they can. With Group B, I think that group is aimed at doing something different, something unique, something that could only be done through a site like this. I don't know what that is yet.

I think you are crossing points. I am not talking about making "the same old thing." Primer is one of my favorite movies of all time, easily the best time-travel movie ever made. Definitely unique. But they didn't do anything new production-wise. They made it for nothing, the same way we all do, scrimping and saving and cutting corners and begging and getting their friends to help. The content was unique, but there was nothing new about their approach to filmmaking. Besides, My Date with Drew, Open Water, these movies are awful. I think they validate my point more than disprove it.

I think you crossing unique approach with unique content. The examples you cite have unique content, but the way they were made was nothing new. Open water was made the only way they could make it with their jobs. Blair Witch has the unique idea behind it, but it was made like any other low budget film. the director did some cool stuff to scare them, but noting radically new. The newness was in the content. These films were made the way they were out of necessity. I think that is my main point. Just make the best film you can. If the way you do it turns out to be some big phenomenon, great, but if you set out as that being your goal, I think you are doomed from the start.

Anyway, I am not trying to argue, I just think the bottom line is that a good movie is a good movie, and that should be the focus. And it's hard enough to get a good movie made, so why throw more roadblocks in your own way? That's all I'm saying.

I won't argue anymore. Carry on. :)

[ConspiracyPenguin]

I like where this is going. If we have people pitch ideas for the whole deal under strict guidelines and then vote on the best one and have people write small segments of it, as long as we can weave them together then we are good. I agree totally with Barry that if this is going to work on a low budget, it needs to be something outrageously original. If it's not, it will just me another crum to brush under the rug.

That being said, I agree 100% with Mark as well. Our focus should be to make a GOOD movie. Because we could do something totally unique and still end up with a piece of crap that won't go anywhere. We need to integrate these two parts.

We are getting closer...I can taste it!

[Barry_Green]

I think you are crossing points.
I don't think I am. I know that everybody wants to make a million-dollar movie on $10,000, and I know that (like it or not) that doesn't happen. Maybe one in a thousand, and those are pretty low odds.

And I totally agree with the idea that if you're going to try to do that, adding more roadblocks just guarantees a tougher time of getting it done.

Which is why I think that that approach has little chance of success, unless someone wants to step forward with a few hundred thousand dollars. I have no doubt if we all converged on the BPress Krew or Fat Monster house with a great script and some money, we could do something awesome. And I hope that happens. That's a worthy and lofty goal and should be pursued -- but it's going to take money. Somebody will have to step forward and raise that.

But I think there's something else possible here. I don't know what it is yet, but there's something out here that can be done with this wide range of talent, range of locations, energy and vitality. Something that lends itself to a different approach and therefore getting different results.

I think you crossing unique approach with unique content. The examples you cite have unique content, but the way they were made was nothing new.
But that's exactly the point. It's not crossed, it's amplified. We have a unique approach. That's the one thing we do have here, is a unique approach. So what does that mean? What can we do with that? How does this approach lend itself to making unique content? What film could we make with this approach, that could never have been made before? THAT's what I find interesting.

Like Time Code. That film could never have been made on film, because it relied on something the new digital video format offered: 90-minute runtimes. So it's one continuous take, actually four one-continuous-take films split across one screen.

My Date With Drew was a wildly different approach to the concept of a romantic comedy type of thing. They never would have had a chance of making a Hollywood-looking film, so they wisely didn't try. They worked with what they had, which was a guy with a crush, a romantic premise, 30 days, and no money. They used what they had to come up with unique content. So I argue that yes, it was made differently from other films. It was made much differently, and because of how different their circumstances were, that dictated a different outcome.

Blair Witch was made VERY differently from other films -- they had no script, they had the actors improvise, and they even had the actors doing the camerawork. It was about as unconventional a production as one could get. And it made for very unique (if lousy) content. I think Blair Witch was probably the most unconventional film production I can think of, other than maybe a stop-motion film or something.

So, again, we have a unique production tool at our disposal. We can do things that others can't. So let's do something nobody else has done, specifically BECAUSE of how we can do it.

The uniqueness of the film is what could propel it to a new level. The unique way it gets made, sure, that's some talking points for marketing and buzz, but if it's just a simple conventional narrative film, what's new in that? If we make the same thing, but in a different way, then what have we accomplished? Might as well have made the same thing in the same/conventional way... but if this new way offers us an opportunity to take advantage of new creative opportunities, new avenues in storytelling, a new approach that yields a new result -- isn't that the exciting prospect here?

Or am I overthinking this?

[Mark Harris]

Or am I overthinking this?

No I don't think so. But I do think it's good if there is a LOT of rigorous debate about it like this, to really shake it out.

More tomorrow, time to go cuddle with my baby(not Jack Stanley, BTW)

[Zim]

I'm with group B. I want to do something different.

[chapelgrovefilms]

Both groups want to do something different.

[Zim]

B is more different!!