Collaboration

A

Andrew McCarrick

Carbonite Member
Alright, I've gotten to the point where I'm in need of help... I just want to get a project done at this point, but I don't have the energy to write a script or the money to pay somebody to do it. So I'm looking to get together a team... need producers, dp, writers, crew, ect. I have an idea, but I really can't focus on developing the idea out to any degree.
 
No... 100% serious. Don't tell me to pay a writer... I literally have $0.00 money. And a maxed out $750 credit card. I have absolutely no money to pay anyone as of right this second. So it's either I find people that are willing to help me out for once or I'm out of the industry for good; after 10 years of trying, and I'll work at fricking wawa/7-11 for the rest of my life.
 
Hey Andrew, I've put together teams before in my area to get stuff done. I think first off you have to establish what you do have..as far as gear, experience, money that you are bringing to the table. Then from there see what/who you can attract to the project. So what are you bringing to the table?

The problem is if people have all that other stuff, what the hell do they need you for? That's the honest reality of it.
 
No I didn't think it was a joke because of lack of payment to the writer.

I'm just baffled at the amount of times I see a thread where people say they want help with no real reason. Who are you? What is your project? What do you bring? If I'm a writer will my work get shown at a festival, is there a high chance, maybe you are an experienced director, or somebody with a great vision? Where is your passion? Why even bother looking for a DP etc before you have a great script? That's your calling card. A great script. If you're not a writer, then you need a writer but this kind of post isn't going to motivate anybody with half the talent required to want to work with you.

Where is the passion? People work for free all the time when there is vision, passion, and talent. But 99.99% of the time people asking others to work for free show none of it. This whole thing of 'yo whats up I need help' and then listing crew positions is never going to get anyone worth your time remotely interested.

At the end of the day if you're a talented filmmaker, you'll make something work. You'll make a short film that really shines and makes people go Wow. This is why people should stick to their cheap handycams 'til they're ready. No point shooting flashy stuff if the story is lame and nobody likes the film.
 
Are you a director? Cinematographer? More of a producer? You said you've been trying for ten years, that's a long time, somebody could develop serious chops if they made a 5min short film once every 3 months, in ten years that's 40 films. Even if it was just you, and the camera, nobody else. There are people out there willing to work for free but they need a reason. Rodriguez made films with his siblings. Speilberg's amblin shows a lot of skill in a film with what, basically two characters and no dialogue -- even something like that, a little piece that shows off what you can do, combined with a good idea would be enough to interest somebody. Start small. Local writers, local theatre groups, local film groups...plenty of screenwriting forums, message somebody who shows potential. Pitch your idea like you would pitch it to a studio. Then you use your script to attract actors and a good crew. Without the script it is pointless.
 
That's one of my issues... when ever I try to write a short, it turns into a feature length script. I apparently don't have the ability to write short films. Nor do I really have access to any location to even base a short around. And everytime I try to find a writer, the first thing they ask is, "how much $$$$ do you have set aside for a writer?".
 
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"how much $$$$ do you have set aside for a writer?".
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Well I suppose it depends on what your project is all about. You'll get the same question with anything. Actors, DP's, editors, whatever. That's probably why it's great if you can write yourself. But if it's not working out, then you need to find someone, and you just have to start small. Obviously one cannot expect a talented, experienced, qualified writer to take 3-6 months or more off and just write your project, that's not going to happen. So you need to get lucky. Find a really talented student or somebody who's just looking for some credits while they build up their 'reel'. They are out there. You just have to...seduce them into your project.

What do you mean you don't have access to a location? There's always a location. You can make it work. A street corner, a park, a house, a friend of a friend knows a guy who knows a guy who has a free apartment, cafe, restraunts, room, if you don't know many people you just have to network to make it happen.

So you've only for an HV30 and a tripod? So what? make a mind blowing short film with it. I've seen a bunch of really simple HV30 or similar clips on youtube get thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of views based on small simple ideas, one guy with a camera who has a good eye for what he wants. If you can't write shorts, that's where the writer will come in, and you can always find somebody as I said earlier. Plenty of writers online - but you have to actually show an interest in their work. Read all their scripts. Say what you liked about them. Make them aware of your situation. Be realistic - obviously you don't email writers who have great credits and are already pretty well established. But what I see a lot of the time is this mass quantity email where you send one or two lines or just a copy/paste thing to a bunch of writers and hope for the best...that's not gonna work out.

At the end of the day if this is what you want, you will make it happen. You might have to take baby steps but you'll get there if you really really want it bad enough. You will find people who know people who can help you. And if you're having some downtime, it doesn't hurt to read a few books or learn something new...

No point making excuses about why you can't do this and that. Just go out and do it. There have been some great threads of zero budget projects here on DVXuser. Most of the time it just comes down to having a good idea and being a good networker. Lot of people out there trying to make it, so you have to help each other. You can't just take.

If you are feeling a little disheartened then maybe it's time to take a break, learn some more craft, get passionate again, get a new mindset, recharge. But one thing is for sure, you're not going to get any help with this kind of attitude. You're just not.
 
Andrew McCarrick said:
Alright, I've gotten to the point where I'm in need of help... I just want to get a project done at this point, but I don't have the energy to write a script or the money to pay somebody to do it. So I'm looking to get together a team... need producers, dp, writers, crew, ect. I have an idea, but I really can't focus on developing the idea out to any degree.
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you have no script, money, crew, energy, or focus to develop your idea.

why would anyone sign up for this?
 
As a writer I've learned to stay clear from people who tag me, get me to write something for "free" for them, and then bail on the project. Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice, shame on me. I now have learned to not "give" my scripts away for free unless they are my friends. I say what you need to do is build friendships, make connections, introduce yourself to people.

There are lots of people who want to help out, if you reach out. But that first step must be you and it has to be a whole lot better than - "I don't have money. I don't have an idea. I need help."

I'd rather read, "Man, I'm stoked about doing a project. I don't really have an idea but I would love to work with a writer or someone who has something. I would love, LOVE to put something on film. Who has some time?"

That would have come off a lot better. Network, network, network.
 
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