Actors -- make your OWN film

D

David W. Richardson

Chapelgrove Films
Actors and actresses -- you should at least CONSIDER the idea of producing your own film, as a vehicle to get yourself out there and show what you can do. It's challenging, but is it any harder than going to audition after audition after audition?

And it's cheaper than you think. Believe me, I know. I can help. Just shoot me a PM and let's talk.
 
CB_Radio said:
Yes
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Maybe. But it's also more productive. You get a credit for your resume. You get a film out there with YOU in a leading role. Good clips for your demo reel. Tons of networking. And a solid knowledge of what a producer and director have to think about when considering casting you.
 
I'm doing this right now chapelgrovefilms..

and you are right, when this is done. I will have an IMDB credit, and a LEAD role credit on my resume, and I didn't even have to audition. On top of that, I'm building my writing, editing, makeup, directing, and general set knowledge at the same time.

Instead of having a resume full of extra work like alot of actors have, because they are struggling to get work.

I've learned that the biggest thing to help you as an actor, is to get your name out there.. any way that you can. In my situation, and location its "easier" for me to make films myself.. than it is to travel constantly to auditions. I'll do some other "big" projects here and there. but my plan right now is to continue to make my own films, and act in them as a vehicle to get mine, and actors that I am networking with careers rolling as actors, and even myself as a film maker.
 
I've been DPing a feature project since last August on weekends mostly funded by an actor to do exactly that. He approached my company after we had hired him a few years ago on one of our commercial shoots. It was also an introduction for him to digital cinema shooting with our first Red One camera package.

Since he works at a full time job during the week we could only shoot principle on weekends. That project is on hold this month as himself and one of the other leads in his project were both cast in the network pilot I'm DPing at the moment for an LA based writer/director who snagged a place recently here in the Okanagan.
 
Azmyth said:
I'm doing this right now chapelgrovefilms..

and you are right, when this is done. I will have an IMDB credit, and a LEAD role credit on my resume, and I didn't even have to audition. On top of that, I'm building my writing, editing, makeup, directing, and general set knowledge at the same time.

Instead of having a resume full of extra work like alot of actors have, because they are struggling to get work.

I've learned that the biggest thing to help you as an actor, is to get your name out there.. any way that you can. In my situation, and location its "easier" for me to make films myself.. than it is to travel constantly to auditions. I'll do some other "big" projects here and there. but my plan right now is to continue to make my own films, and act in them as a vehicle to get mine, and actors that I am networking with careers rolling as actors, and even myself as a film maker.
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Good job! Congrats on tackling this. I hope it works out well for you.

But I'm not even suggesting actors should do as much as you're doing. You don't have to write, shoot and edit the thing yourself. There are plenty of people out there who are probably far better at those jobs than you are. If you get a great script -- either find one or have one tailor-written -- and can find the resources to get the movie made, you'll have no trouble finding talented, skilled people ready and willing to help you. Believe me -- been there.
 
craigbowman said:
I've been DPing a feature project since last August on weekends mostly funded by an actor to do exactly that. He approached my company after we had hired him a few years ago on one of our commercial shoots. It was also an introduction for him to digital cinema shooting with our first Red One camera package.

Since he works at a full time job during the week we could only shoot principle on weekends. That project is on hold this month as himself and one of the other leads in his project were both cast in the network pilot I'm DPing at the moment for an LA based writer/director who snagged a place recently here in the Okanagan.
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That's great Craig! Best of luck to all of you. Keep us posted.
 
chapelgrovefilms said:
Good job! Congrats on tackling this. I hope it works out well for you.

But I'm not even suggesting actors should do as much as you're doing. You don't have to write, shoot and edit the thing yourself. There are plenty of people out there who are probably far better at those jobs than you are. If you get a great script -- either find one or have one tailor-written -- and can find the resources to get the movie made, you'll have no trouble finding talented, skilled people ready and willing to help you. Believe me -- been there.
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I know, this is more of a case of having the time, and wanting to do those things.
 
I've made 10x the amount of connections I would have made had I just been going to auditions. Simply because at auditions, everyone in the room with you is your competition.. some of them are friendly and don't mind making friends.. but with the way I'm doing it.. its helping all of us.. I've made tons of connections and plan to go even further with it. Heck thats how Danny Mcbride got discovered by Will Ferrell, from a indie film he did called "The Foot Fist Way".
 
I have a 15YO actor son that is taking production courses and may major in film in college. I told him that if he wants to be an actor he has to know as much about what happens behind the camera or stage as he does in front. He enjoys production and is learning a lot. It helps that he observes on set and engages the crew. (He finished his first principal role in a feature this spring)
He has also grown up around major studios and gotten a taste of both sides of feature production. It is good to know the business inside and out. He has access to my equipment when he is ready.
Good luck to all you actors learning to work behind the scenes.
 
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chap

we are not crawling with experienced crew right now because 90% of them are out of town on projects because nothing is going on here. I went to some indies who are new and they wanted to charge me what people with full resumes get. I am not that dumb.

i could call out favors if people were in town but most of my fav's who owe me one...are out of town through the summer. and i don't have enough behind camera background to stop the newbies from doing things all wrong! I am learning...but i still can't make a bad camera man understand my framing is what i want and what he wants won't matter to me. ditto other crew folks jobs. i know if i had the folks who have done it a lot i would leave a lot of choices up to them because i trust their skills and view point...but with newbies...too much micro managing that I don't feel up to doing well.

i did that music video with no budget and actor buddies who worked for free and that went viral on youtube. but if i want to shop a short film to festivals, it needs to have a higher quality.
 
Michele Seidman said:
So...in other words, come up with a lot of money to fly you here to work for free? You do get the fact I would not have a budget left to feed a crew...right?
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Can't really get better than free labor. Unless your a school you could charge tuition. lol. :happy:
 
Hey Michele, you can always sit the camera on a tripod and use the remote. All your shots will be locked down but, hey it's better than nothing. :)

-Nate
 
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