An Actual Feature?

El Director

El Director

Veteran
I'm not sure if this is the spot for this post, but I was thinking the other day about how many people say they're gonna make a feature to how many write one to how many shoot it compared to how many actually finish. If you've actually attempted or completed a FEATURE, not a short, let us know about it.
 
There are many who've finished features. I'm one of them. The film is 'Drawing With Chalk' and I just recently finished the final cut. The entire process from conception to completion was 2 years 9 months. This includes writing, shooting, editing, and all post production including recording original songs (I did all of the post/music as well).

Todd
www.drawingchalkpictures.com
 
This place is filled with folks who've actually completed features. As for myself the ones I'm MOST responsible for are writing and directing Behind the Nine (see below) and producing Beat Makers (see below) but I've had a hand in a few other features as well.

I've got one in Post right now and one in Pre-production as well.

They take time, but I'm hoping the lessons I learned before will help me get them completed a lot more efficiently, quickly, and above all make each one a better film.

I really dig reading about everyone else's stuff here as well.

Good luck on your film LEAP.

-M
 
DCP said:
There are many who've finished features. I'm one of them. The film is 'Drawing With Chalk' and I just recently finished the final cut. The entire process from conception to completion was 2 years 9 months. This includes writing, shooting, editing, and all post production including recording original songs (I did all of the post/music as well).

Todd
[URL="http://www.drawingchalkpictures.com"]www.drawingchalkpictures.com[/URL]
Click to expand...



I watch your trailer and thought it was great.
 
Corine said:
[/COLOR]


I watch your trailer and thought it was great.
Click to expand...

Thank you Corine. :dankk2:

It seems making the film is definitely the easy part. I've had a heck of a time getting any festivals to accept it (18 rejections so far). Not really sure if the film is a 'festival film' (if there is such a thing). But I'll push forward regardless.

Everyone, keep your heads up! As many times as I get knocked down I only get up stronger.

Todd
 
El Director said:
I'm not sure if this is the spot for this post, but I was thinking the other day about how many people say they're gonna make a feature to how many write one to how many shoot it compared to how many actually finish. If you've actually attempted or completed a FEATURE, not a short, let us know about it.
Click to expand...

I've found it very important to be involved with as many people of the "finishing a project" kind. In everyday life I run into idea people all the time, and invariably I have to let them know that I'm the guy behind the lens, and not a writer, director, or producer...I do encourage them to take writing classes, or just write it, and let them know that once they have a project ready, that I'd be happy to consider joining their team.

I think this forum in particular is FULL of people that have finished projects, and this may be the wrong place to expect that no one has....as for excluding people who make short films...I don't think this is fair, as a short can, at times, be even more powerful then a feature length piece.

My point is that features aren't the only thing out there. I've taken part in a number of projects across the board. There's industrials, commercials, TV show, features, shorts, promotionals, etc. etc. etc.
 
Gary Sconce said:
We are halfway through our feature shoot STRICKEN, directed by Matt Sconce. We will finish our shoot on time and in budget by July and then go to post. You can go to the DVXUser link here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=161662

or can go to: http://www.strickenthemovie.com/ to download and watch the teaser trailer in HD.
Click to expand...

I've watched the trailer, and I must say...well done! Keep up the good work, and keep the dream alive Yo!

Here's some of the features I've taken part in(I'm not sure if you count Docs):
Small Town Boy, Real American Hero : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqoyuBBDdnA http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1417298/

Circus Kids : http://circuskids.tv/images/trailers/trailers.html

My Dad : http://www.nickbrianwalters.com/MyDadFullRes.mp4 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1274590/

(Following is for mature audiences only...not work safe)

I call the following a "short" feature(Credited as Nick Head):
Dead Shi* : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU7bRbl97YY http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278228/

I'll be posting a trailer for a film that picture wrapped just a few days ago, which was done with the same guys I did "Dead Shi*" with in a week or less...It's titled "CockHammer"(credited as Nick Head), and is the sequel to Stiff Jobs.
Stiff Jobs : http://vimeo.com/4596701 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312244/
CockHammer : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1436347/
 
Last edited:
I've finished one too and am working on the next. Like I said, I was just curious. Outside of this forum, I rarely hear of anyone actually completing one. I think it's great so many of us here have. And no, I'm not knocking shorts (I've done my share of those), I was just interested in what the numbers where like so I can encourage some other filmmakers I know to take the leap and do it. (They want to, but don't think they're "good enough". I've seen their shorts and they're amazing!)
 
El Director said:
I've finished one too and am working on the next. Like I said, I was just curious. Outside of this forum, I rarely hear of anyone actually completing one. I think it's great so many of us here have. And no, I'm not knocking shorts (I've done my share of those), I was just interested in what the numbers where like so I can encourage some other filmmakers I know to take the leap and do it. (They want to, but don't think they're "good enough". I've seen their shorts and they're amazing!)
Click to expand...

That's better then some people I talk to....I see too many people never even do shorts. They'll just talk about their huge project, never doing anything.

I think the most important thing is to leap in and do it...even if it's at a no-budget level, cause the things you learn along the way are SO worthwhile. I've done a few projects that I no longer show to anyone, and that's cause I was learning...and there's no reason why one can't do a film twice, or even three or four times...if they really are adamant about their "dream" project. It's all about improving ones art, and one can never improve if they never fail.

Thomas Edison is known to have said of his 1000 attempts on making a light bulb: "I know 999 ways to NOT make a light bulb"
 
I made what is perhaps the worst feature ever produced (and I've seen Pearl Harbor). I had messed around with making realy bad shorts for years before, and a friend and I decided that we would do it just to see if we could. We were going to shoot it on cheap camcorders and use friends, etc. Things snowballed, we bought a DVX, found some talented actors who had a lapse in judgement at just the right time, and the next thing you know we had the most technically inept piece of cinematic crap that you can imagine.

Also, I was diagnosed with cancer half way through the thing. Made for a fun time.

Still, it was the most fun I've ever had, and taught me more about filmmaking than I think anything else could have (mostly from finding out what didn't work and then researching and asking questions and finding out how it should have been done). It also brought me to a new level in filmmaking -- what I once took for a weekend hobby is now a weekend hobby with delusions that I might someday produce something worth watching.

I know -- I went on a little more than a simple, "Yeah, I made a feature, too." But I guess is the point that even an idiot can produce a feature from start to finish if he's motivated enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top