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

[Deuceofspades]

If you're planning on four-walling, where you go town to town and arrange screenings and make a deal with the theater to split the ticket revenues, then you should probably just plan on bringing your own projector with you. Buy a great HD projector for maybe $2,000 and take it to the theaters. We did this a decade ago, screened a movie digitally in a theater that only had a 35mm projector, we set up our video projector and ran the audio to their sound board. Only real problem with a scenario like this is that video projectors will usually never have the reach to fill the screen at an appropriate size from the projection booth, so you have to set the projector up in the 10th row of seats (or somewhere thereabouts).

Also, don't forget that many theaters do have an "advertising" projector, even if it's not a digital cinema projector. You don't need something that complies with DCI to show your own picture, you just need an NTSC-capable video projector, and any of those projectors that shows slides or "The Twenty" or whatever before the screening starts, would do just fine.

Barry, I am honored to have you post on my thread. I am a great fan and own your HVX200 book and bootcamp video. Was very helpful when I got started THANK YOU

I like above suggestions. Being that I am a rookie, I must ask what will seem like a stupid question, bare with me, it's my first time hehe - what is DCI? And what complying with DCI mean / entail?

As for distribution plans, just like everything else with this film, seems things will fall into place just in time and when the time comes. When I am happy with the film, I will start contacting distributors, if they don't get to me first, that is, as some of them are starting to knock at my door already.

I have mixed emotions about getting distribution and it will have to be the right deal or I might prefer to stay free and do it on my own terms / myself. Same as when I walked away from 500K offered by investors two years ago. Most small filmmakers would have gladly taken the money, but I didn't. And SOOOO glad I didn't! Now I have a feature film with cult film potential and own 100% of it, free and clear.

 

[Tanem]

Nice Job! Robert Rodriguez did a film called "Road Racers", one of my favorites. I love Greaser movies! Can't wait to see this one.
-T

 

[Deuceofspades]

Nice Job! Robert Rodriguez did a film called "Road Racers", one of my favorites. I love Greaser movies! Can't wait to see this one.
-T

Weird, none of my greaser friends ever mentionned it to me. Must not have hit a chord with the hotrodders, for whatever reason (maybe not technically accurate... that seems to be the kiss of death for hotrod films made by Hollywood). What era does it take place in? I'll have to check it out!

 

[Deuceofspades]

I NEED YORU FEEDBACK... SEARCH FOR A MOVIE POSTER...

Made a marquis poster for the Test Screening Premiere yesterday and was wondering whether this could actually become my final film poster / DVD cover.

Please give me feedback, if you like it let me know why and if you don't, let me know what is not working for you with this lay out / concept.

A poster is the ambassador to a film, and mine needs to say: Hotrods, racing, period film, drama, and reminiscing.

I think the poster below does say all above, but I'm too close to the whole thing, so fresh eyes needed. Let me know how your guts reacted to the poster and what it evoqued for you (as in, if you didn't know anything about the film, would you get a feel for it form this poster, would you want to watch the film or not)

Note: Do keep in mind that this poster is not 100% final, not all credits are there, just main credits, which is that was needed for screening. I did insert the tag line, although unsure what the best spot on this poster would be for it .. Maybe give me your feedback on this as well?

PS: I have a real good graphic artist working on other concepts as we speak, so we will have more than one to pick from.

 

[ChipG]

Faith,

If you self dist start gathering an email list of people who want to see your movie, get car clubs email list from all around the world, I know a guy who made a niche documantary, he just got a dist deal, after taking the deal he asked the distributor if he could sell some dvd's to people on his email list, they said sure just keep it to your email list. Get this, it is 177,000 people strong and he is pressing 100,000 dvd's as I type this. Not sure of the price but at $15 (probably more because its niche) each that's some nice coin from an email list. Anyway, keep it in mind, your dvd presales could fund your film prints and 4 wall marketing campaign. Try to start with overseas dvd sales first.

 

[Postmaster]

Here is my opinion:

1. I really love that leather jacket logo., but you may give the guy and the car a hand painted look - like old school movie posters.
Below is a quick and dirty sample - to rough but you get the idea.
You need to enlarge it all the way by clicking on the popup window to see the effect in full glory

2. You must have the gal on the poster, if you not only want to attract the Hotrodders but also their girlfriends.


Frank

 

[ChipG]

Yes, I agree with Frank. The girl needs to be on the poster.

 

[DCP]

Hey Faith,

Just my opinion but I've never been a fan of the 'look into the camera' poster (same goes for the 'floating head' shots). I think an action shot or something that is 'saying something' would be more suitable. Again, just my opinion but I do like the leather jacket texture. Good luck with the screening!

 

[Deuceofspades]

Which girl are you referring to? His girtl Bettie or the hotrod girl that is trying to find him in the modern day and now own his car? there are two girls, and putting one of them is confusing, putting both makes it look like a menage a trois HAHA!! that's why I opted to have only him, the movie is HIS life story afterall.

 

[Deuceofspades]

Here is my opinion:

1. I really love that leather jacket logo., but you may give the guy and the car a hand painted look - like old school movie posters.

I had made a decision right from the start to steer away from a 50's looking poster (old school fifties hotrod poster look). For several reasons:

1- Audience may become confused and think this is an old hot rod film (cause face it there has not been a true hotrod film made for decades).

2- Old school hot rod posters spell B FLICK. Cause all the old hot rod films were basically just that, B flicks with little to no story line. I own and have seen just about all of them LOL.

3- We can make the poster look more like a painting (more texture and grain), yes but not litterally like a painting painting...

 

[Deuceofspades]

Hey Faith,

Just my opinion but I've never been a fan of the 'look into the camera' poster (same goes for the 'floating head' shots). I think an action shot or something that is 'saying something' would be more suitable. Again, just my opinion but I do like the leather jacket texture. Good luck with the screening!

is it the fact that he is just standing there by his deuce that bothers you or the fact he is looking in the camera (eye line).. In other words, does the shot below look Ok to you (cause he is looking down) NOTE: below is not a movie poster - it is my website current home page...

 

[Deuceofspades]

Faith,

If you self dist start gathering an email list of people who want to see your movie, get car clubs email list from all around the world, I know a guy who made a niche documantary, he just got a dist deal, after taking the deal he asked the distributor if he could sell some dvd's to people on his email list, they said sure just keep it to your email list. Get this, it is 177,000 people strong and he is pressing 100,000 dvd's as I type this. Not sure of the price but at $15 (probably more because its niche) each that's some nice coin from an email list. Anyway, keep it in mind, your dvd presales could fund your film prints and 4 wall marketing campaign. Try to start with overseas dvd sales first.

yes I started a mailing list 2 years ago. I get about 5 new people a day. Not bad but it's growing exponentially.

 

[Deuceofspades]

Yes, I agree with Frank. The girl needs to be on the poster.

HAHA, I laughed when you guys said the girl needs to be on the poster to attact the female audience... WRONG !! The only thing I need on that poster to attract every girl and woman on this planet is.... JOHNNY.

I recently gave my business card to this lady. She's a pilot. She later was asking about my car and I told her, it's the car on the card. She went:

"there was a car on the card?"

I go: 'Yes, the black car... remember?'

She goes: 'Oh, I never noticed it, I was too busy looking at the guy.' :happy:

I think the letter will also draw women to the poster. Letter means, feelings, confiding, sharing, and probably: Love. Us girls like all of above.

 

[DCP]

is it the fact that he is just standing there by his deuce that bothers you or the fact he is looking in the camera (eye line).. In other words, does the shot below look Ok to you (cause he is looking down) NOTE: below is not a movie poster - it is my website current home page...

Faith,

I like that new shot better. I need to feel that the character is feeling something. The other shot just seemed stagnant to me (almost lifeless). I like him standing next to the deuce and the new shot seems deeper. Even though he is only looking down there is a mood that is created which draws my attention making me ask 'what is going on inside?.

 

[Deuceofspades]

Faith,

I like that new shot better. I need to feel that the character is feeling something. The other shot just seemed stagnant to me (almost lifeless). I like him standing next to the deuce and the new shot seems deeper. Even though he is only looking down there is a mood that is created which draws my attention making me ask 'what is going on inside?.

Actually this is not a new shot, it is a previous shot. Initially I had Johnny look at the audience. then I tried the look down, cause I liked, just as you, the fact it told a story. however, I found that my audience (the hotrodders) didn't like, because Johnny looks "Beat" in that shot, and hotrodders like Johnny to be tough, even if he does get beat up by life real badly in the film, he goes down with a fight. So new shot is back to square one, Johnny stands tall, strong, he is the alpha male, the guy who kicks ass behind the wheel. You can tell from his expression he has some turmoil going though, look at the frown...

I wish I coud have him with his face down, without him looking like a loser LOL.

Rats.

Now, I must show two exemples of posters depicting "hero/legends" types, and both are facing the audience, in a "I am strong, so bring it on even if I die in the process" statement. they are not looking directly into the eyes of audience (and neither is Johnny on my shot - hard to tell from small pic though)

These to me say : I AM.

 

[Deuceofspades]

By the way here is a new varation of current poster design, new tag line typeset / location, and slight elements alignment improvements.

 

[DCP]

Hey Faith,

Yeah, it was hard to tell in that smaller shot. I thought he was looking directly into the 'camera'. I see your point. Have you thought about having him hold his leather jacket in his left hand (same pose, just add the jacket). Like to the two examples both are holding their 'weapons'. Granted, the deuce is his weapon, but his jacket is his sheld. Just a thought. I do like the poster though!

 

[puredrifting]

Faith:

FWIW, my opinion is that you should play up Johnny with a much larger in the frame shot of him with the Deuce in the BG, it would get the same message across and you would have more visual connection with the audience. He is your star and in this shot, it looks like he is playing second fiddle to a car. Granted the car is important to the story but still...

Look how large Mel and Russel are in the frame. Seeing a large face with experessive eyes trumps a full body shot with a car in my book. But what do I know, I am a terrible graphic designer.

Good luck,

Dan

 

[lhmaloney]

I tell u one thing, it looks vastly better then deuces wild. Lol. But seriously great job

 

[Deuceofspades]

Faith:

FWIW, my opinion is that you should play up Johnny with a much larger in the frame shot of him with the Deuce in the BG, it would get the same message across and you would have more visual connection with the audience. He is your star and in this shot, it looks like he is playing second fiddle to a car. Granted the car is important to the story but still...

Look how large Mel and Russel are in the frame. Seeing a large face with experessive eyes trumps a full body shot with a car in my book. But what do I know, I am a terrible graphic designer.

Good luck,

Dan

Yes, I was thinking along the same line and planning to experiment with getting him more prominent. This craetes a few problems though:

1. In the Russel and Gibson posters, the title is a simple text at bottom, leaving head room for hero to expand upwards... My logo is the trademark of Johnny so it must stay. that eats up a lot of room at top and will prevent me from having Johnny gorw into the poster fully. He will also start to fight with logo. the Russel posters is pretty bare in the backgound, lots of room for russell. Gibson is a bit more busy but not with single, larger elements. I have a large tree, large letter, large car and large dude.

Hmmmmmm... (scratching head)

Also Russel and Gibson posters warrant heros being so large becuase heros are... Russel and Gibson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not so sure the buyer wants to see an unknown actor dominate a poster, because his face does not sell (yet) but the car will ...

That said, I will play with this idea some more and opst more shots. I coudl also do a nwe shoot, shooting him more camera up, to give him more of a hero towering over adversity look...

Addendum: Also I just realized that for the heros to GROW into the posters, they have to lose their legs... That means losing the cuffed levis jeans, which are a 50's trademark... Might become harder to tell this is period film... then again there is of course the deuce ... Worth exploring I guess ..