"Corrado" - A production blog

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Adam, this is an amazing thread!

It is informative, inspiring and extremely well written. Seriously. Once you finish you film, you should take the pages of this thread and put them in a book!

I am totally your fan, man!

And someone.... STICKY THIS PUPPY! If I have ever seen a thread that deserves it, it is this one!

Just awesome!

-Ted
 
Great thread, but for me there is one giant question that as far as I noticed is unanswered.

You talk a lot about going on and following your dreams, and I totally agree with this. However, where did you get 300K? It seemed you started with only about 75K in the bank from what I could deduct. Then you miraculously doubled it to 150K, and finally you are now at 300K.

Do you have any advice about raising money. Obviously you are a successful business man, so did you exploit connections at work?

You also mentioned you had financing of 1 million for your next film. Am I missing something you wrote? I did not notice the how you got this money being explained. For me and I am sure an infinite number of aspiring filmmakers this is the hardest part of the whole process. Money makes you legit. I am sure there are a lot of great scripts out there sitting around because the filmmakers could not call an actor and offer 10K a day.

I wish you would discuss the financing a bit more if you are willing. For me, it is an endlessly frustrating aspect of my life. I am in huge college and equipment debt and I struggle to save enough money for a short production despite a fairly successful business of my own. Nearly all my money goes to my debt bills and my life expenses. I would not even know where to begin to get financing.

And you are right, Dov Simens' tactings are a complete joke. Yeah, let me call a bunch of dentitst cold, that works. It's like he was writing a comedy in that chapter.

However, if you think he is misinforming us there. What do you think is the right way to obtain financing?

Thanks for all this wonderful info by the way.
 
Well, Walterson,

As I explained in numerous posts, I will reveal how I got the money in due time. Probably tell you guys right before I start filming.

But let me tell you this - when I tell you how I got the money you guys will be underwhelmed. It is very anticlimactic. You will say to yourself - that's it?

You know why? because if you think there is some miracle easy way to get money for a movie you're dead wrong. (this is going to sound harsh) - If you have trouble making money in your life to pay your bills or live your life, it won't be any easier to get it to make a movie.

The reason I haven't spoken about it is that it's just not that big of a deal. There is no special secret or formula. And the biggest reason not to talk about it?

Most of what I said applies no matter how much money you can raise. Got a good enough script? Big actors will work for scale. My script apparently isn't that good, hence I had to pay.

 And hey, man, I'm not singling you out here, but let me give you a piece of advice since I know others are probably thinking the same thing:

If you think the money gives you the legitimacy, quit now. Because that statement is absolutely false. You will never have enough money to convince people in Hollywood you are legit. It's all in the way you carry yourself, all in the way you negotiate, conduct your business, and most of all make people believe in you. I've seen lots of people who came into some money make total crap films in Hollywood and get nowhere. The phrase "A fool and his money are soon parted" comes to mind.

Let me ask you this. You've seen people's replies on this very thread. People are following it. People are congratulatory. People believe in me. What money did I spend to earn their support? Whom have I paid to build up such a following?

Just before you ask yourself if this has all gone to my head, remember, my purpose for posting this thread isn't adulation, which I can get anywhere, it's to help people do this from the bottom of my heart.

The point I'm trying to make is that you will receive support be it financially or whatever by the way you present and carry yourself. You must instill confidence in others.

It's no secret. It's called being a salesman. As I said at the beginning of this thread, it's the single most important thing you need to be an independent filmmaker. Sales. The ability to create a following or viral movement. The ability to make people believe in you. After people believe in you they'll give you whatever you want.

It's never about the money.
 
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taormina said:
Well, Walterson,

As I explained in numerous posts, I will reveal how I got the money in due time. Probably tell you guys right before I start filming.

But let me tell you this - when I tell you how I got the money you guys will be underwhelmed. It is very anticlimactic. You will say to yourself - that's it?

You know why? because if you think there is some miracle easy way to get money for a movie you're dead wrong. (this is going to sound harsh) - If you have trouble making money in your life to pay your bills or live your life, it won't be any easier to get it to make a movie.

The reason I haven't spoken about it is that it's just not that big of a deal. There is no special secret or formula. And the biggest reason not to talk about it?

Most of what I said applies no matter how much money you can raise. Got a good enough script? Big actors will work for scale. My script apparently isn't that good, hence I had to pay.

 And hey, man, I'm not singling you out here, but let me give you a piece of advice since I know others are probably thinking the same thing:

If you think the money gives you the legitimacy, quit now. Because that statement is absolutely false. You will never have enough money to convince people in Hollywood you are legit. It's all in the way you carry yourself, all in the way you negotiate, conduct your business, and most of all make people believe in you. I've seen lots of people who came into some money make total crap films in Hollywood and get nowhere. The phrase "A fool and his money are soon parted" comes to mind.

Let me ask you this. You've seen people's replies on this very thread. People are following it. People are congratulatory. People believe in me. What money did I spend to earn their support? Whom have I paid to build up such a following?

Just before you ask yourself if this has all gone to my head, remember, my purpose for posting this thread isn't adulation, which I can get anywhere, it's to help people do this from the bottom of my heart.

The point I'm trying to make is that you will receive support be it financially or whatever by the way you present and carry yourself. You must instill confidence in others.

It's no secret. It's called being a salesman. As I said at the beginning of this thread, it's the single most important thing you need to be an independent filmmaker. Sales. The ability to create a following or viral movement. The ability to make people believe in you. After people believe in you they'll give you whatever you want.

It's never about the money.
Click to expand...

It seems you were somewhat offended by my post but that was not my intent because I am greatful for the time you have spent to write this stuff up like everyone else. I am just speaking from my experience, raising funds just seems like a foreign thing to me and I am curious how you did it.

I never said I have a hard time paying my bills, but I certainly don't have 300K sitting around at the end of the month/year and that is my point.

I am not taking away from all you have achieved and saying it is due to the budget. However, if you really think that two guys with the same script and personality walk into a room, and one has 300K and the other doesn't, who has a better chance of making the movie? Maybe you just don't like the word legit?

Now of course it takes a certain type of personality to get 300K and one could assume the man without the money, since he shares the same personality as the man with the money, will eventually dig up a budget. But perhaps he didn't know where to go for that money. So he turns to Mr. 300K budget and kindly asks him, "hey where did you get the money?" And the guy with the money says, "It's never about the money." Sure it isn't.

So please, refrain from giving me a lesson in filmmaking/life. When people give me the "harsh reality" as if they are some all-knowing bitter uncle, it makes me laugh. I am sure you are a great salesman, and perhaps I am too, but I was just asking who's door did you knock on? That was the question.

Your right money doesn't help you make a great film, look at some of the 50 million dollar Hollywood shi* houses. But to say it doesn't make you legit is a bunch of high horse crap. Easy to say when you have enough to hire and pay people. Are all those people calling your production office calling because they heard through the grape vine you are a really confident guy, and not because they sense here is a production where there is a big enough budget for them to get paid? Sure maybe you hire them and your movie falls apart because you suck. I get that point, but at least you had a shot.

And in response to people being congratulatory and interested, do you honestly think it has nothing to do with having a budget, which in turn opens the door to name actors and talent agencies? Sure we think you are the man for many reasons, one of which you have the money to buy toys and actors and locations and crew. We think you are savvy because you obtained this money and can deduce you are a great salesman and "instill confidence" in those that meet you for how far you have taken this money (Tom Sizemore gave you his phone number, we get the idea). But a main reason of what makes this thread so cool is that you have enough money to make your project's journey that much more compelling and more informative than so many other indie film production journey threads out there. You are dealing with things that I would not be dealing with my 5K budget. If you can't acknowledge that fact you are in a state of denial. I can tell you it's why I am very interested, and it has nothing to do with some misguided skewed perception of the world that I feel money is everything with filmmaking. But I recognize how expensive this art form is and I know it sure helps.

I am sure a ton of people will come to your side and defend you and rip me apart but I stick to my reaction. I was looking for a factual answer not some guy who is going to tell me to quit if I have a certain mindset. For me it is all about the art and the story. I hate the money aspect, but I recognize it's important. I have shot many films and on one particular production I needed a gym as a location. I could only get one to the tune of $500 for the day which I paid and it worked great, the owners were really cooperative and shut the gym down for the day for me and my crew. Now if there is a harsh reality to the world, it would be that money makes it spin. Preaching otherwise to make your persona seem like some power house magical force is just self-pleasure.

What I find so mind boggling is how many times you discuss how money has allowed you to get this location, or that actor, or a grip truck. That is the REALITY of making films. Yet I ask you a simple question, where did you get it? And all the supporting evidence goes out the window.

In one of your early posts you said it yourself, name actors will really help get your movie out there, and without them this would just be another HD feature like all the rest. Funny how you can recognize that concept then and not now.

If how you got the money is no big deal then just let it out. Why waste time giving me a lesson on filmmaking morality? If it is so simple let us know. Otherwise this blog is useless and you are not here to help. Rather to keep the process mystical and distant from others. To be honest, just because you have 300k doesn't give you the right to tell people the harsh reality of things. That's called talking down. It's not useful. I know who I am and what I stand for and don't need anymore "adult" advice at this point in my life.

Now, if you want to share facts, that is something I am interested in. Go ahead and enlighten me. If you really cared from the "bottom of your heart" you would be open about the whole process and not avoid the question of someone seeking knowledge rather than advice.
 
Stick to your guns...

Stick to your guns...

The other day I went to the Armory to pick out the movie guns. A little background: Gibbons, LTD is in Burbank and easily one of the largest movie gun warehouses around.

Their arsenal is impressive....they probably have thousands of pistols, rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenade launchers - you name it. And these are all real, blank firing weapons. They also custom build weapons if your show needs it.

They've got oddball items like gold plated pistols for that drug lord, Ivory handles, diamond encrusted, you name it.

The militaria is amazing - mini guns, vulcan cannons, full on machine guns...it's a gun guy heaven.

Besides all the garden variety pistols I needed for Corrado, I needed a pair of large machine pistols for Brooklyn to wield in the apartment hallway firefight. They had to be large, impressive, and full auto.

I finally settled on the rifles below. With the stocks folded and a 30 round mag, they look pretty impressive, especially when they will be fired full auto by a giant like Michael Bailey Smith.

The first shot is of that rifle. We'll rent two. How much? like 250 per week each. Cheap as dirt.

The second shot is of my makeup guy holding a silenced Shotgun. Alex is big into gunshot effects and wanted to be there to have a look see. He asked Mike Gibbons, the owner - "

Alex: Hey Mike, you know that movie No Country for Old Men?

Mike: Yeah.

Alex: How'd they do that silenced shotgun thing?

Mike: We did that. Here's the gun they used right over here.

And he proceeded to open a gun case, and pulled out the exact gun that Javier Bardem used in the movie. The one he actually held. And then went on to win an Oscar.

I was floored, man. Floored. How cool was that? I held the gun down towards the floor and did my best Anton Chiguhr impression "Call it......"

Hilarious. Hopefully some of Bardem's Oscar will rub off on me!
 

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Hey Walterson,

Sorry if you thought I was cutting you up or something. That wasn't the plan, and I apologize if I somehow offended you. I really don't have the time to debate you - this is a free service.

Don't like it? Vote with your feet.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on the money thing, and I'll leave it at that.

I told everyone I would tell them all about the money when I am ready, on my schedule. But you will be underwhelmed, I promise.

Just as I won't release the script until after I shoot for my own reasons, I will not tell how I got the money until a couple days before we film. But I will tell all, down to the gory details. Just like I said I would.

No amount of cajoling will make me reveal anything a millisecond sooner than I planned to, since in the end, as much as I am trying to help by spending hours on my keyboard every other day, I don't owe you or anyone else here a single thing.

Can we get back to the movie now?
 
Oh and one more thing - I hate mentioning the 300K budget to people in Hollywood because in the best case, it creates a slight pause, and in the worst case, I've had people actually laugh at the budget.

May seem like a lot of money, but it's nothing in Hollywood. Nothing. The budget gets no respect whatsoever. Or legitimacy.

Now 3 million....maybe. Yes, I'm pretty sure 3 million would make me legit without having to open my mouth.
 
taormina said:
Oh and one more thing - I hate mentioning the 300K budget to people in Hollywood because in the best case, it creates a slight pause, and in the worst case, I've had people actually laugh at the budget.

May seem like a lot of money, but it's nothing in Hollywood. Nothing. The budget gets no respect whatsoever. Or legitimacy.

Now 3 million....maybe. Yes, I'm pretty sure 3 million would make me legit without having to open my mouth.
Click to expand...

Yes I understand this and I don't need to debate, I will respect that this is your forum and I don't want to become a nuisance.

But even 300K means you can pay for people which gives you legitimacy. You hired Tom Sizemore and other actors without having to show them your past directing work (as far as it seems from what I have read). They haven't even asked what camera you are shooting on. 300K is not 3 million, I don't have to live in LA to know that 300K is nothing in the film industry, but it is a pie that people will take pieces of. You have a pie, it might be small but you have one.

I respect that. I am excited to find out how you got it. To you it might seem simple, but to me I have no clue what the steps would be. I have no connection to anyone with a substantial amount of money to invest.

I wish you luck on your journey.
 
Dude, you aren't a nuisance at all and this is not my forum. To even call it my thread is stretching it.

I applaud you for asking the hard questions - which I will answer soon.

Actually the way you phrased your last response, I can see the point you are trying to make. It makes more sense to me now.

Peace, man.
 
Thanks so much for your incredible generosity in taking the time to share all of this with us. What a gift. I'll be tuning back in regularly. Stuff like this is what makes DVXuser so great.

You seem like quite the gentleman too, which will undoubtedly serve you well in a very tough business. I've been in the music business for a very long time, quite arguably an even tougher one. Same rule applies there...
 
Adam,

Thanks for taking the time to share your journey with us. It has been a pleasure reading your blog. I will be waiting for future news.

Best of Luck with the film.

Paul
 
Thanks you guys, your moral support really means a lot to me. I know I mentioned free DVDs to any DVXUser who wants one, but man, I'm holding out for a theatrical run, if not a tiny one. If I can I'd love to provide free tix for a premiere night to any DVXUser who can get to LA.

Maybe I'm dreaming a little big now on thatrical, but I'll at least keep praying for it.
 
Adam, best of luck to you and your project and thanks for this highly informative thread. This one beats my daily morning newspaper any time.
 
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