M D Productions presents: 'Violet'

Good eye Brandon,

Nathanael was a last minute casting change on "Thou Shalt Not" when Kimko couldn't play the role of the older demon. David took over Kimko's role, leaving the role of the cook "Travis" uncast. Nathanael saved our rear by coming on-board at the last moment. He was excellent in "Numb3rs" and "The O.C." and is one of the most versital actors that I have ever meet.

Thanks for the comments on Courtney, she will be really happy to read your post.

Christa is so cute and bubbly and is becoming a really pretty young woman. I loved her in "13 going on 30" where she played the younger version of Jennifer Garner's character "Jenna Rink". Her current series "Cake" is running Saturday mornings on CBS. She is such a solid actress and so mature for her age. I feel really lucky to have her working on Violet.

More cast postings soon.
 
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khmuse said:
Yes, if I can afford her! Seriously, I am using all guild actors and I am doing this under a SAG contract so everyone will be properly paid and all the guild rules will be followed (she wouldn't work on it if it wasn't done right, she is very protective of her status and meter in the industry). They don't give you any room for allowances, even for family members.


Yeah, its a lot of setups and a lot of locations. This may seem absurd given the running time, but once everyone sees the final result it should all make sense as to why we did it the way that we did.
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Wow. What is your projected budget?
 
Not to hijack this thread, but that's a gorgeous banner, Gregory.

Kevin, you've certainly got everybody's attention with how you're putting this together. Forgive me, because it's probably in the early part of your thread, but what camera are you going to shoot this with?
 
Thanks Mark!

khmuse - I'm thinking about going SAG. Are you using the SAG Short Film Contract? Where are you getting your Worker's Comp insurance? How much is that running?
 
StormFactory said:
Wow. What is your projected budget?
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I have only provided SAG with my initial budget so far which was $5500, but I know that things always run over so I am anticipating $7500 plus a number of deferrals.

Mark Johnson said:
Not to hijack this thread, but that's a gorgeous banner, Gregory.

Kevin, you've certainly got everybody's attention with how you're putting this together. Forgive me, because it's probably in the early part of your thread, but what camera are you going to shoot this with?
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I gotta agree with Mark, that is a really beautiful banner.

I will almost certainly be shooting this with the SDX900, but haven't actually decided yet. I have several weeks to wait for the SAG contracts to come back so I have plenty of time to decide.

StormFactory said:
khmuse - I'm thinking about going SAG. Are you using the SAG Short Film Contract? Where are you getting your Worker's Comp insurance? How much is that running?
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Yes, I am shooting under the Short Film Contract (which will force me to be in the non comp category for this fest as I can't allow my project to end up on the DVD or it would accelerate my deferrals and add considerably to the costs as I would be bumped into one of the contracts that allow for DVD sales).

Worker's comp isn't a big expense as my payroll is being handled by an outside firm and they just charge the appropriate percentages based upon the category that everyone falls into. What is a bigger expense is the short term production insurance, this I typically get through a reseller like Film Emporium. I am budgeting $975 for that as this is what I paid for my last policy (15 days).
 
khmuse said:
I have only provided SAG with my initial budget so far which was $5500, but I know that things always run over so I am anticipating $7500 plus a number of deferrals.

I gotta agree with Mark, that is a really beautiful banner.

Yes, I am shooting under the Short Film Contract (which will force me to be in the non comp category for this fest as I can't allow my project to end up on the DVD or it would accelerate my deferrals and add considerably to the costs as I would be bumped into one of the contracts that allow for DVD sales).

Worker's comp isn't a big expense as my payroll is being handled by an outside firm and they just charge the appropriate percentages based upon the category that everyone falls into. What is a bigger expense is the short term production insurance, this I typically get through a reseller like Film Emporium. I am budgeting $975 for that as this is what I paid for my last policy (15 days).
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I called a few payroll companies for a short web series I wanted to do SAG. It was only going to be a two day shoot and I had two actors that I wanted to pay $100 a day under the contract right above Short Film. Me and a friend or two were going to crew for no money, so only the two actors were going to get paid a total of $400. Trying to find a place that would do the payroll was impossible. I was surprised how much a pain in the ass it would have been. It was easier to just hand out c-notes, but of course that won't satisfy SAG, so I ended up moving on.

If I could get some deal where I could afford the Worker's Comp I would go SAG for my entry. I have a lot of working actors that will do it either way, but it would be cool to do it. But since I only want to spend $250 to $1000 on the whole thing, SAG looks doubtful. Especially since most of my budget will go to food.

I've produced a few projects under the SAG Experimental Contract, which is now the Short Film Contract. You don't have to pay your actors under that contract. If you are paying them you should go to the next contract up. It will give you a few more benefits. I went to the SAG Indie seminar a few years ago and they talked about a way to get around the DVD problem you're talking about. If I remember correctly, going straight to DVD made your contract fall under the television contract, which has no deferments. Thus you would have to pay your actors retroactively the full day rate of six something. However, if you four-wall your film for a weekend, it will meet the "exhibition" requirement of the contract keeping it a "film" not TV. You will not owe your actors any extra money for their work during production. You would only have to pay very small DVD residuals.

For production insurance, in the past have used a place called Slickforce Entertainment. They were really good on price.
 
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Hello StormFactory,

Trying to pull off a SAG Short Film Agreement project for a $1000 isn't really possible. The old Experimental Contract had some interesting things about it like the $75,000 budget cap and the ability to shoot a much longer TRT, but it also had other things that were not so pleasant for the producer (did have an experience with a really low budget feature 4 years ago under that contract, but its was too ambitious for a $73,000 project and ended up being basically unsellable). I do like the new Short Film contract as it really does seem to be perfect for smaller (but not too small) projects.

I too have heard of some of the "work around's" for DVD release, but if it was the "intent" up front to go with a DVD release, it is hard to argue that you shouldn't be shooting under a television contract. In the case of these "fest" projects, I don't know that I can get a verifiable accounting of the DVD sales and not knowing what they might be leaves me a bit uncomfortable. I would rather just aim for the 'non compete' category.

I expect that my worker's comp will run about $750 for this entry (again based upon past experiences). I too would love a lower cost solution but considering the potential exposure that you have as a producer, I do feel that its a reasonable investment.

I haven't had Slickforce Entertainment quote production insurance before, but I will certainly consider them for future projects.
 
Kevin,

I know that there's a place that offers workman's comp for closer to $350, but I don't have the link right now. They gave us that little tip when I went to the SagIndie workshop...
 
Hey Tom,

Would love to find more. If you can find the link, please let me know!

By the way, congratulations on landing a role in "Thread the Needle"! Between it and "Violet", I am going to be pretty busy over next two months. It will be great to work with you again, though its gonna be a little strange looking "at you" through the view finder and not looking "for you" at the monitor.

I think that is great for directors to work as talent, it can only lead to making them better directors in the end. I for one, know that I will never be either, but thats OK, I have plenty to do in my little area.

By the way, who is it you will be having on screen sex with in TTN? Just want to know if I need to bring my beer goggles!
 
Kevin,

I'll look for the info as soon as I get home this evening.

And thanks! :) I'm definitely looking forward to acting in the piece. It gives me a chance to really focus on one character and work on the story arc from a more focused perspective...

And you're very good at what you do. I love the motivated lighting approach...

As far as who my love will be in the film, rumor has it it's this fine lady:

nerble_-_kate_beckinsale_031.jpg
 
She might be OK, but I really think, that as DP on the film, I should have a bit of input on 'lighting choices' and how it might be effected by wardrobe chioces...

I mean after all, she is SO overdressed in your image. Perhaps I can make a personal visit to discuss how she would like to be photographed?:)
 
Good point... I think you should pay her a visit... I just can't, for the life of me, remember where I wrote down her address. If you're looking to get the best shots, I hear she likes to be wooed. You can get her a bottle of 37 year old single malt scotch. I hear she has a weakness for that... or if you'd like, I can just PM you some pictures with more of the skin tone color for you to work with... :beer:
 
Blaine was the recipient of my very last bottle of 37 year old single malt, so that's kinda out for me.

It really sucks when you discover that you can't afford (or for that matter even find) a bottle of Scotch that equals your chronological age!

Yeah, now about those "special" pictures...
 
khmuse said:
Blaine was the recipient of my very last bottle of 37 year old single malt, so that's kinda out for me.
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Hmmm...there's still some left. I was planning on saving that for our next meeting, but there may be hotter priorities...:beer:
 
khmuse said:
Blaine was the recipient of my very last bottle of 37 year old single malt, so that's kinda out for me.

It really sucks when you discover that you can't afford (or for that matter even find) a bottle of Scotch that equals your chronological age!

Yeah, now about those "special" pictures...
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You should have a PM waiting for you Kevin... :beer:
 
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