FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget

[Deuceofspades]

Oooooo new "faces" on the thread - Thanks for stopping by and chimming in, it's nice to have company!! Here's my first attempt at multiquoting :thumbsup:

Me Too! I totally understand!

Yop, back at work again... but jumped on the computer yesterday as soon as I walked thorugh the door and basically was at it until I fell asleep at the keyboard (I hate sleep! what a waste of editing time LOL - but I do need a good 7 to 8 hours or I am good for nothing)

Moved to scene 2 and completed 50% of it. Should be done by tomorrow.:thumbup: then I'll leave it asied and come back to it in a few weeks, look at it with fresh eyes.

Glad to see that you have this coming together. I'm not a classic car fan per se, but I love the 50's period and your film looks like it is shot really well, so I would love to see this when you get it done. Looks like you have a solid film on your hands.

Are you going to hit the festivals or self-distribute on DVD?

It all depends on whether I am able to get any distributors interested. If not, then DVD self release and the sooner the better.

Awesome!

WOW!!!! I've been following this thread for a while, and I am SOOOO excited for you! I can't wait to see this film! You are definitely one of my she-ro's for this one!

Thank you !! Yes this is getting very exciting!

"Basically I will: Write the script, cast the actors, scout the location, secure the props, wardrobe, haul the gear, do the lighting, set-up the camera and shoot, pull my own focus, do all my shots myself, direct, monitor the sound, do the wardrobe hair and make up as well as special effect make up and FX, I will also edit and compose the soundtrack"

Wow that is really impressive! I watched the teasers and the footage looked awesome. The period stuff was super cool and really authentic. Good job and good luck with the rest of your film!

Thanks! I relly enjoyed being involved with every aspect of making the film, and if I make another one, I doubt I will change that recipe. Would like to have more help with some of the stuff, like hauling gear, driving trucks, hair and make up (for sure LOL) for ex. These are mindless but time consuming tasks that took away from my DP and director time.

I think most of us know that feeling...I'm at work but tonight I'll be spending all night on the set of BATTLE...day 1 of my new feature going into production (producer/writer).

have fun editing tonight, I know we'll have fun shooting.

-M

How exciting!! Best of luck with production! Is this your first full feature? You must be very happy. :beer:

 

[DigitalBard]

I searched your blog, but I couldn't find any kind of list of equipment you are using. More specifically, I'm interested in knowing which tripod that is in your "behind the scenes" photos.

 

[Ted Spencer]

Pretty sure it's a Sachtler. She did her research (here) and got a real nice one...

 

[Deuceofspades]

I searched your blog, but I couldn't find any kind of list of equipment you are using. More specifically, I'm interested in knowing which tripod that is in your "behind the scenes" photos.

The sticks are Bogen. Originally I bought the entire Bogen tripod set-up (meaning sticks and fluid heads). However, this higher end Bogen setup, did not live to my expectation in terms of perfect pans and tilts, without any recoil at the end. I did love the sticks though, so I kept them and then went and got a sachtler fluid head (about $1600 range) and shlapped in on that bowl. That was money I never regretted spending. Nothing worse than trying to create beautiful camera movements with a sub standard head...

I love those sticks because they have the ability to rise very high and get REAL LOW to the ground. And God knows I used both extremes quite often to get my shots!!

Here are some shots of that set-up in action:

NORMAL HEIGHT:

AND HIGHER:

AND RIDICULOUSLY HIGH FOR AN EXTREME ANGLE SHOT (note: I am standing on top of a table - good thing I am not too heavy LOL)

AND LOW LOW LOW

 

[Martay]

How exciting!! Best of luck with production! Is this your first full feature? You must be very happy. :beer:

Not my first (see below), and I'm "JUST" producing...but it's a load of work...this weekend went great though. Made the days on schedule and without dropping any scenes to pick up later.

3 down...16 more days to go.

-M

 

[Deuceofspades]

Not my first (see below), and I'm "JUST" producing...but it's a load of work...this weekend went great though. Made the days on schedule and without dropping any scenes to pick up later.

3 down...16 more days to go.

-M

<<Director, Behind the Nine (available now at Netflix!)>>

Cool, I'm gonna add it to my Netflix queue.

Filmed all day yesterday. Took a vacation day to finish the bookstore scene. Filming tonight and tomorrow night to wrap up the last scene of the film. Still left one scene to film on location at a car meet, small one and a few pick up and CGI shots. Can't believe production is almost over... Pinch me!

 

[Brooksy]

It's really inspiring to see someone take on this big of a task. I have to admit I am slightly jealous, but it also fuels me to try to create something of this caliber as well.

I just have a couple quick questions if you can answer when you get a moment. Did you ever feel like quitting, like maybe it is just to big of a task and wasn't going to turn out right? How did you keep yourself motivated, on task, and on budget for something like this?

Thanks. You can put me down for one copy when this is finished.

 

[Martay]

<<Director, Behind the Nine (available now at Netflix!)>>

Cool, I'm gonna add it to my Netflix queue.

Ha! Okay...that was several years ago...so don't hold it against me

I appreciate the Netflix love though.

Good luck as you near the finish line!

-M

 

[Deuceofspades]

It's really inspiring to see someone take on this big of a task. I have to admit I am slightly jealous, but it also fuels me to try to create something of this caliber as well.

I just have a couple quick questions if you can answer when you get a moment. Did you ever feel like quitting, like maybe it is just to big of a task and wasn't going to turn out right? How did you keep yourself motivated, on task, and on budget for something like this?

Thanks. You can put me down for one copy when this is finished.

You know, if you really want to find out how it all came down, how hard it was and how I felt along the way (this has been a three year journey for me), then read the blog http://deuceofspades.bravejournal.com/. sStaying on budget was not an issue, since there was NO budget, to begin with. So basically the challenge was to have enough monthly money to buy the food for actors, gas for the deuce and truck, pay for repairs, keep up with the gear, buy supplies, etc... Basically I lived day to day, and somehow, was able to always pay the bills. but I am seriously broke now and all my money is gone. Thank God I am done filming. Since i do everything myself, editing is at no cost. Sound mix and color correction are being donated, so hopefully I will be OK.

There are scenes in the film that terrified me, especially the big Saugus Dragstrip scene (for which I needed an airstrip, free of charge for an entire day), and the infamous night race scene / crash scene. I remember getting butterflies in my stomach every time i thought about the crash scene. How I was going to be able to film it, in pitch black night, where and how to light it, with nothing...

One day i found myself, there, in the middle of nowhere, miles from all civilization, all power outlets, lighting a crash scene with 5 X 1 K lights, and somehow pulling it off. It took 4 nights to film this scene. It was the most amazing experience of my life... And it all came together in the end... Once I dived into it, I no longer was afraid. I had a job to do and I was so focussed there was no time to fear anything. not even the scorpions running around on our set. Not even the old 1940's oversized forklift that lifted me up in a tiny unsecured cage a couple stories up in the air... everyoe was looking at me going: Oh my God she is going to fall and DIE... but I never worried. I was too busy getting my shots LOL

Going UP

Same forklift earlier that day, during a test "lift"

Screengrab:

me at work, during those four cold nights...

Chasing the cars from an old 1935 Ford truck bed IN STYLE!! LOL

Exhausted actors nap in the cars between takes

NO break for the filmmaker, though (of course)

Amazing how brightly lit it seems on this photo when it fact you can barely see anything in the film ... HVX + adapter sure suck up a lot of light, don't they?

 

[Matt Sconce]

It is official in my book. You rock. The hanging bungie rig was awesome! -Matt

 

[Brooksy]

Awesome. I just want to say thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I know you are busy with your project but I do appreciate you taking the time.

 

[Deuceofspades]

Awesome. I just want to say thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I know you are busy with your project but I do appreciate you taking the time.

You are welcome. I enjoy visiting this thread everyday and having some company along the way of making this film.

Yesterday I went back for the fourth time to the Camarillo Ranch to get the last shots missing from my final climax scene. there was a huge fire that erupted near by and the entire sky over the San Fernando valley was covered with a thin layer of smoke all day and it produced amazing soft light all teh while i was stuck at my day job GRRRRR! however by the time I got to my location, the sun being low in the sky, could not break through the layer of smoke, resulting in NO SUNLIGHT. Figures.


I tell you, it's always something!

I have no idea how my shots are going to match, lighting wise so I am downloading the HVX right now and I am going to edit them in to see...

I had to have my assistant walk next to the actress with a garage flood light, to duplicate some sunset light on her, as she walks down her driveway towards the camera... As crazy as this idea may have sounded at first, it provided very even (all the way down the driveway) lighting on her face and body, and seemed to look realistic. I'm curious to see how good it is going to look once I see it on my 27" monitor here.

 

[Deuceofspades]

GREAT MOMENT THIS MORNING AT 2AM !!

I edited the first 10 minutes of the film (all modern day scenes) and for the very first time, was able to link a first flashback scenes to my modern day scenes... It was like adding a big chunk of already made puzzle to my current little puzzle !

Kinda like bringing two kingdoms together!!

I was very excited, kinda like a little kid ...

I now officially have the first 15 minutes of my film done and moving to the "Letter finding" scene. Here I will bridge with yet another flashback that is already edited... Everything is coming together!!!

 

[ChrisHurn]

Everything is coming together!!!

:beer: keep it going!

 

[roblutz]

I love the puzzle piece part of assembling a film... especially with that kind of length, there's so much to work with you end up being able to change so much if you really wanted. Looking great! The acting seems pretty solid and the visuals are interesting, given the opportunity I would watch the full cut for sure.

I must commend you for tackling a period piece... that is seriously daunting, especially since you've gone beyond just costume to sell it - at no point do I fall out of that period when I watch the trailer, really awesome job.

No budget, no problem. ; )

 

[Ted Spencer]

Welcome to the forum, Rob!

 

[Deuceofspades]

I love the puzzle piece part of assembling a film... especially with that kind of length, there's so much to work with you end up being able to change so much if you really wanted. Looking great! The acting seems pretty solid and the visuals are interesting, given the opportunity I would watch the full cut for sure.

I must commend you for tackling a period piece... that is seriously daunting, especially since you've gone beyond just costume to sell it - at no point do I fall out of that period when I watch the trailer, really awesome job.

No budget, no problem. ; )

Where in Florida are you located? My film might be screened in Daytona Beach this fall, at least a director's cut of it... Maybe you will be able to see the film there?

 

[Deuceofspades]

Editing around the clock.

I edit in chunks of 4 to 6 hours straight, then sleep for 4 hours then wake up and go back at it. I find it hard after a few weeks of this to edit for loner than 6 hours straight because my neck is killing me, and worse, my ankles are swelling...

Ouch.

I keep telling myself I have to get up and get my circulation to move but I get so involved in the scenes that I simply forget... I have been experimenting with changing chairs, and positions. One position I use for 10 minutes every few hours is a "birth giving" position, with my legs up on the desk and my PC screen showing between my two legs LOL and keyboard on my lap. I found my mouse works well when I use my pillow (below my butt) as a support for it. Really weird position but it allows me to have my legs up for 15 minutes. I keep thinkings :"I am giving birth to a film" LOL

I must be, cause I am feeling all the birth pains LOL

The finding the letter scene kicked my ass big time. i find it challenging to edit "floating" type scenes, the kind of scenes that just have shots, without dialogues and when a few shots are supposed to suggest a lot of time has ellapsed. In this case I have about 10 shots that are supposed to show the girl working on her deuce in her garage and take you from day time to night time, including a significant weather change (storm arriving)...

I find that eventually my instincts guide me, and I am OK, for as long as I don't "freak out" or lose faith. Iin the end, the scene came out really nice, alluring, dreamy and has a real neat vibe to it.

Not sure anyone has ever created a "dreamy" scene involving air compressors, wrenches, brake parts etc... But now, it has been done for sure LOL. And the weird thing is: IT WORKS!

 

[Sumfun]

Could you please post a picture of the "birth giving" position? :beer:

Might be fun the try that one day.

If the film screens in Daytona, I'll definitely go see it. And bring some friends, too.

 

[roblutz]

Thanks Ted

I'm in Orlando, could make a Daytona screening as well. I'll be releasing my own zero budget 45 min for some screenings in October (although 45 minutes seems to be in that awkward phase of not quite a short and not quite a feature... so I'm editing down to 30 or close)

I'll be keeping my eye on the thread, look forward to seeing it.