Re: "At my wits end"...
..if you give up i will fly down there and personally kick you in the crotch....alot.
..hows that for motivation. lol..
seriously though just take it slower and put alot of thought into preproduction. i think one of the most important things for people getting into filmmaking to latch onto , is the idea that EVERYTHING takes ALOT of time and effort. always overestimate time, and underestimate results.
try not to rush things, and find a cast and crew that are worth working with. that are ready to work 12 hours and releived when it only 6. i beleive in you phil your always ready to learn and thats one of the greatest qualities a person could ask for going into this.. just take it easy and look forward to your next projects wiser , more skilled, and more prepared
:
BUT, not really for you phil but for people getting into movie making in general.. ive got a few things to offer in terms of advice.. i feel like ranting ..
one of the most helpful things when starting out is learning to just stay calm. just like learning to swim. at first we thrash around, and are able to stay above water by flailing about, but eventually we learn that if we stay calm and focused, we can acheive the same thing with minimal effort. its al in the head. i also think that a big weight on most beginners is the feeling that they have to take on a film or project of some great signifigance or proportion.. they want to make the next matrix or alien film with a crew of 3 - 2 desk lamp, and a dvx. they set expectations too high, and are constantly being let down. the single most important thing that i personally look at when taking on any project is not how cool it is or how good the story is or the location or WHATEVER.. the question i ask myself about every little aspect of the film is this..
" all things considered.. time -tools- people- knowledge- ect. can i do this and DO IT WELL "
i dont ask myslef "is it possible" ..becuase thats the wrong question. that leads to great expectations that filmmakers set on themsleves to thread needles from 6 feet away by throwing the thread at the needle. sure its possible. but it cannot be done with certainty and with any amount of assured quality.
most independets need to save themselves from themselves. they have these big ideas that are probably great ideas, but they have to realize that they simply do not have the rescources to make thos ideas happen(often time including knowledge and or skill as well as time). sure they can DYI alot of things.. im a big proponent of that.. if i can build a dolly that will do the job well and with certianty.. then i will. but if i look at it and think.. "it should work.. or i hope it works.. or maybe it will work" then its just not going to be used. everything has to be within reason. sure sometimes i dont care if the project isnt serious. but the reason i ask myslef "all things considerd, can i do this well.." is because i would rather make a film with a simple plot that has simple locations and simple props and yada yada that turns out to be a very well made simple film that people applaud and think is a triumph (even if small) of storytelling... than making a laughable D minus rated film that i thought if all the stars aligned correctly could shoot through a rip in space in time that happens once every millenium to become the next indiana jones series.
WHY? because good work gets noticed.. bad work gets laughed at. the more good work you do.. the bigger and better opportunities you get. the more bad work you do.. the more you get laughed at.
now im no saying that nobody should try to make a cool film and everyone should try to shoot the next "blair witch" cause its ewasy and certainly doable. but im saying that people have to look at and think about their ideas realistically. and not through star covered and dream filled eyes. and again im not saying "dont dream" im saying look at your dream.. and then figure out a realistic way to get there.. dont just try to jump there in one nearly impossible move.. figure out where the steps are so that you can assuredly walk there one foot after steady foot at a time.. knowing that each step can be accomplished. ..if you come to a step thats too high.. find another way around it.. make an inbetween step if you can (DYI) or climb it very very cautiosly ...theres always room for some risks in life. this is the way that hoipeful independents should go abut making their films. if you cant reach you BIG dream at first, then dream a smaller dream,, and see if when you reach it,, you can get to your larger one from there.. if not.. rinse and repeat. if you cant see a clear and attainable path to the end goal, then change the plan to something that can be achieved with certainty and done well. .. cut out a scene. put a scene in.. change a prop. change a location. plan in advance. check the weather. backup. have reliable people. change a characther. change the setting in time. change anything you have to that is going to make your film look lees than what you would want to see in a quality film. anything and everything if you have to.
i know that alot of people just say .. just get out there and do it.. do it!.. but if your going to do it.. do it right. people shouldnt feel pressured just to take their camera out and shoot to make something.. as long as they are making and doing just something (unless its just practise).. they should fell pressure to get a real idea, and then figure out a way to make the idea happen.. pre production.. every thing must be considered. time-weather - location- angles- equipment- the planning and staging and managing of filmmaking needs to be practised just as much as shooting or youll get a horrible film with nice shots blah blah blah...
when i write something, or think of something,, first i just run the film through in my head or read it and see what i think of the idea and story flow in general .. is it good. is it bad.. is it a little boring her.. a little too confusing there. story comes first .. the foundation is layed. without a good story then who cares if a have a good looking film called "gigli". then i give it to someone i trust and see what they think.. usually my wife.. and other family. they are pretty harsh critics so im sure to get honest reviews. then i go back and look at each thing and fix problems with the story in general .. THEN.... i go back and read it or think it over again and ask myself about each and every thing..
"all things considerd.. can this be done WELL?" . and anything that doesnt measure up gets nixed or changed or made within my certain grasp . then what i go back and plan the best way to achieve each individual thing happening.. IE storyboarding.. scheduling scenes and shots... and so on. quality comes second.. without quality i have a great story that fails to be told as effectively as it could be and does not carry the impact that intended it to.(yes there are asthetic choices which differ..id you want you film to look like a documentary or something.. but they better have rhyme and reason.. cause its never a good copout) then what i have is this:
a good film that CAN with as much certainty as i can have.. be completed and be quality when its done.. no dissapointment or uncertainty to worry about.. all i have to do is connect the dots. ive drawn up a map.. and i just have to follow the path ..and stay on track.. if anything should go wrong..and it will- the same process is given to the problem.. i find a way around by charting a sure path. IE: reschedule something.. or change the script a little.. whatever.. just making sure that it still fits in and makes sense storywise, and will get me to my goal.
so anyway .. back to the swimming analogy.. you can thrash around and swim and try to swim straight to your goal.. or you can stay clam and focused.. with small goals to lead you to accomplishing the big one. the difference is that when everything is doable you know you can make it, and its not only easier to do and will give you the better film. but you also have more peice of mind which helps keep others involved in order when they can see you know what youare doing and are confident and clear headed.. and you and they are less apt to be burned out or feel that what your trying to do is impossible.. if you just say" wooohooo!! were going to make this film come hell or high water..and jump in the water and start thrashing around trying to get a film made.. you will likely burn out and tire before reaching the goal.. and experience alot of waves (problems..cast crew.. yourself) on the way cause your all thrashing around making it more difficult. ..slow and steady wins the race.. if youve got to hurry then hurry. but dont take on more than you know you can do.. ever. we are not superhuman.. no matter how bad we want to make a film, and either physically or emotionally or both we will tire and begin to sink. and the project will suffer.. and so will we and everyone else involved. .. as well as the small audience if any that sees the thing.
so... uh.. yeah.. i guess i ranted there a little. but i just wanted to offer some advice to aspiring filmmakers that passion is not enough. desire is not enough. equipment and big budget is not enough.. unless YOU make it enough.. before you even take your first step make sure that you can clearly see the path to reaching your goal. because unless the lucky charm leperachaun happens to shoot a rainbow at your butt that bounces you up to the cloud your staring at.. your going to have a miserable time trying to get there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volume 2 of : " how to make an independent film without going feeling like your at the mercy of satan himslef the whole time" is availabe on 8track audio casset with special host " leonard nemoy" narrating. much purchase before dec 25th or we will send you a small piece of or dead christmas tree instead.
and if you order the volume 2 special edition, it contains some gaurded industry secrets like :
- wrapping yourself up in tinfoil does NOT make you look like an astonaut.
- superimpsing a picture of your dogs teeth over yours doe NOT make you look like a vampire
- shaking the camera alot does NOT make bad composition excusable
..and my personal favorite..
-simply using/owning a filmmaking oriented camera does NOT make your footage, composition, framing, lighting, ..or anything else in your movie any good.
..good luck all. sometimes, all we have is eachother.
..if you give up i will fly down there and personally kick you in the crotch....alot.
..hows that for motivation. lol..
seriously though just take it slower and put alot of thought into preproduction. i think one of the most important things for people getting into filmmaking to latch onto , is the idea that EVERYTHING takes ALOT of time and effort. always overestimate time, and underestimate results.
try not to rush things, and find a cast and crew that are worth working with. that are ready to work 12 hours and releived when it only 6. i beleive in you phil your always ready to learn and thats one of the greatest qualities a person could ask for going into this.. just take it easy and look forward to your next projects wiser , more skilled, and more prepared
:BUT, not really for you phil but for people getting into movie making in general.. ive got a few things to offer in terms of advice.. i feel like ranting ..
one of the most helpful things when starting out is learning to just stay calm. just like learning to swim. at first we thrash around, and are able to stay above water by flailing about, but eventually we learn that if we stay calm and focused, we can acheive the same thing with minimal effort. its al in the head. i also think that a big weight on most beginners is the feeling that they have to take on a film or project of some great signifigance or proportion.. they want to make the next matrix or alien film with a crew of 3 - 2 desk lamp, and a dvx. they set expectations too high, and are constantly being let down. the single most important thing that i personally look at when taking on any project is not how cool it is or how good the story is or the location or WHATEVER.. the question i ask myself about every little aspect of the film is this..
" all things considered.. time -tools- people- knowledge- ect. can i do this and DO IT WELL "
i dont ask myslef "is it possible" ..becuase thats the wrong question. that leads to great expectations that filmmakers set on themsleves to thread needles from 6 feet away by throwing the thread at the needle. sure its possible. but it cannot be done with certainty and with any amount of assured quality.
most independets need to save themselves from themselves. they have these big ideas that are probably great ideas, but they have to realize that they simply do not have the rescources to make thos ideas happen(often time including knowledge and or skill as well as time). sure they can DYI alot of things.. im a big proponent of that.. if i can build a dolly that will do the job well and with certianty.. then i will. but if i look at it and think.. "it should work.. or i hope it works.. or maybe it will work" then its just not going to be used. everything has to be within reason. sure sometimes i dont care if the project isnt serious. but the reason i ask myslef "all things considerd, can i do this well.." is because i would rather make a film with a simple plot that has simple locations and simple props and yada yada that turns out to be a very well made simple film that people applaud and think is a triumph (even if small) of storytelling... than making a laughable D minus rated film that i thought if all the stars aligned correctly could shoot through a rip in space in time that happens once every millenium to become the next indiana jones series.
WHY? because good work gets noticed.. bad work gets laughed at. the more good work you do.. the bigger and better opportunities you get. the more bad work you do.. the more you get laughed at.
now im no saying that nobody should try to make a cool film and everyone should try to shoot the next "blair witch" cause its ewasy and certainly doable. but im saying that people have to look at and think about their ideas realistically. and not through star covered and dream filled eyes. and again im not saying "dont dream" im saying look at your dream.. and then figure out a realistic way to get there.. dont just try to jump there in one nearly impossible move.. figure out where the steps are so that you can assuredly walk there one foot after steady foot at a time.. knowing that each step can be accomplished. ..if you come to a step thats too high.. find another way around it.. make an inbetween step if you can (DYI) or climb it very very cautiosly ...theres always room for some risks in life. this is the way that hoipeful independents should go abut making their films. if you cant reach you BIG dream at first, then dream a smaller dream,, and see if when you reach it,, you can get to your larger one from there.. if not.. rinse and repeat. if you cant see a clear and attainable path to the end goal, then change the plan to something that can be achieved with certainty and done well. .. cut out a scene. put a scene in.. change a prop. change a location. plan in advance. check the weather. backup. have reliable people. change a characther. change the setting in time. change anything you have to that is going to make your film look lees than what you would want to see in a quality film. anything and everything if you have to.
i know that alot of people just say .. just get out there and do it.. do it!.. but if your going to do it.. do it right. people shouldnt feel pressured just to take their camera out and shoot to make something.. as long as they are making and doing just something (unless its just practise).. they should fell pressure to get a real idea, and then figure out a way to make the idea happen.. pre production.. every thing must be considered. time-weather - location- angles- equipment- the planning and staging and managing of filmmaking needs to be practised just as much as shooting or youll get a horrible film with nice shots blah blah blah...
when i write something, or think of something,, first i just run the film through in my head or read it and see what i think of the idea and story flow in general .. is it good. is it bad.. is it a little boring her.. a little too confusing there. story comes first .. the foundation is layed. without a good story then who cares if a have a good looking film called "gigli". then i give it to someone i trust and see what they think.. usually my wife.. and other family. they are pretty harsh critics so im sure to get honest reviews. then i go back and look at each thing and fix problems with the story in general .. THEN.... i go back and read it or think it over again and ask myself about each and every thing..
"all things considerd.. can this be done WELL?" . and anything that doesnt measure up gets nixed or changed or made within my certain grasp . then what i go back and plan the best way to achieve each individual thing happening.. IE storyboarding.. scheduling scenes and shots... and so on. quality comes second.. without quality i have a great story that fails to be told as effectively as it could be and does not carry the impact that intended it to.(yes there are asthetic choices which differ..id you want you film to look like a documentary or something.. but they better have rhyme and reason.. cause its never a good copout) then what i have is this:
a good film that CAN with as much certainty as i can have.. be completed and be quality when its done.. no dissapointment or uncertainty to worry about.. all i have to do is connect the dots. ive drawn up a map.. and i just have to follow the path ..and stay on track.. if anything should go wrong..and it will- the same process is given to the problem.. i find a way around by charting a sure path. IE: reschedule something.. or change the script a little.. whatever.. just making sure that it still fits in and makes sense storywise, and will get me to my goal.
so anyway .. back to the swimming analogy.. you can thrash around and swim and try to swim straight to your goal.. or you can stay clam and focused.. with small goals to lead you to accomplishing the big one. the difference is that when everything is doable you know you can make it, and its not only easier to do and will give you the better film. but you also have more peice of mind which helps keep others involved in order when they can see you know what youare doing and are confident and clear headed.. and you and they are less apt to be burned out or feel that what your trying to do is impossible.. if you just say" wooohooo!! were going to make this film come hell or high water..and jump in the water and start thrashing around trying to get a film made.. you will likely burn out and tire before reaching the goal.. and experience alot of waves (problems..cast crew.. yourself) on the way cause your all thrashing around making it more difficult. ..slow and steady wins the race.. if youve got to hurry then hurry. but dont take on more than you know you can do.. ever. we are not superhuman.. no matter how bad we want to make a film, and either physically or emotionally or both we will tire and begin to sink. and the project will suffer.. and so will we and everyone else involved. .. as well as the small audience if any that sees the thing.
so... uh.. yeah.. i guess i ranted there a little. but i just wanted to offer some advice to aspiring filmmakers that passion is not enough. desire is not enough. equipment and big budget is not enough.. unless YOU make it enough.. before you even take your first step make sure that you can clearly see the path to reaching your goal. because unless the lucky charm leperachaun happens to shoot a rainbow at your butt that bounces you up to the cloud your staring at.. your going to have a miserable time trying to get there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volume 2 of : " how to make an independent film without going feeling like your at the mercy of satan himslef the whole time" is availabe on 8track audio casset with special host " leonard nemoy" narrating. much purchase before dec 25th or we will send you a small piece of or dead christmas tree instead.
and if you order the volume 2 special edition, it contains some gaurded industry secrets like :
- wrapping yourself up in tinfoil does NOT make you look like an astonaut.
- superimpsing a picture of your dogs teeth over yours doe NOT make you look like a vampire
- shaking the camera alot does NOT make bad composition excusable
..and my personal favorite..
-simply using/owning a filmmaking oriented camera does NOT make your footage, composition, framing, lighting, ..or anything else in your movie any good.
..good luck all. sometimes, all we have is eachother.
