DSLR Feature to be shot, finished, and released in 23 days.

K

Kholi

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http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/01/...ore-details-on-experimental-dongala-mutha.php

Thought this might be interesting to DSLR enthusiasts.

I'm interested in seeing how it comes out--

Here's RGV's statement on the film:

The unique thing about this film of mine is that this 2 hour long feature film will be completed in just 5 days start to finish, with a crew of just 5 people including me.

No one in this film is going to be paid. It is being made only with those actors and technicians who are excited to be a part of this project.

All the people who are working for this project will only be paid after the release of the film that is, if and only if the film makes profits and those payments will be in accordance with their individual value additions.

My primary intention of doing this film is to establish a fact of how it is possible to use present day Digital Technology to make a Theatrical film in just 5 days and with just a 5 member crew and that too at zero cost.

The technology I am adapting for this film is going to once for all prove that it's not Crores of rupees that one needs to make a film but it's just a story which excites all concerned and a passionate desire in all concerned to see that the film gets made and gets released.

The film will be released on March 4th that is exactly in 23 days from the start date of the shooting which is February 9th.

The five member unit breakup is as follows:
1. Director
2. Associate Director
3. Three Canon 5D camera operators

There will be no generator, no lights, no equipments of any sort including Jibs, trolleys etc. as the entire film will be shot hand held and in natural light. The pilot track for the sound will be recorded by the cameras themselves.

So in this film "Dhongala Mutha" I have set out
(1) to push the digital technology to its peak limits.
(2) to make a film in a record time.
(3) to have a least number of crew.
(4) to make it at zero cost.

As soon as the film is out I will give the details of how I achieved this as only when you actually see the film you will understand what I am talking about. All in all, I can say now itself that the process I am employing in "Dhongala Mutha" will be and can be the only way which will bring in a true democratization to the process of film making and free aspiring Producers and Directors from the tyranny of lack of money.

For people who want to closely follow the work flow of "Dhongala Mutha" it is as follows:
■ Shoot starts - Feb 9th
■ Shoot ends - Feb 13th
■ Final Edit done - Feb 20th
■ Background Score, Sound EFX and Dubbing - Feb 25th
■ Final Mix and Censor Print done - March 1st
■ Theatrical release - March 4th
Total no of days from shoot start to release - 23 Days

Jai to Canon 5D and other assorted Digital Technologies!
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Pretty Risky stuff, but I guess they aren't risking anything other than time and face, regardless it should be a fun experience.
 
they're not really pushing the technology. It's probably going to end up being a really simple drama.

edit: read the article. it's a gangster film... well good luck to them, should be interesting to see if it's any good. I just think pushing the technology would be doing something totally new and different with it.
 
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i'm as enthusiastic about dslr's as the next guy (cuz i shoot with one). But i'm really tired of people saying zero budget cuz its not zero budget. Cost arent always monetary cuz if these people were paid and these cameras bought or rented...then it would be another story. time, equipment ect is cost to me. And what does this prove? i dont care if no lights were used or whatever cuz the fact remains if lights were used it would look better...if a sound man was used it would sound better as opposed to the onboard camera (as stated). should be interesting in anycase.
 
I think this is really interesting considering http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0890060/ - I guess hes not a muppet

Having worked with some 'schooled' directors they havent worked out that multicam is great for continuity and shooting fast

Small Budget crew can afford to find light not build it

Focus, If A drops it cut to B C or D cam

I think technically small film making is here

I would use a boom though !

S
 
They could attach shotgun mics to the camera and record to H4n recorders. If they're smart, they'll have the actors record the dialogue wild and clean after they finish the scene.
 
I've done breakdowns and scheduling. Eighteen pages a day is a very steep order, even for a production with a small cast, few locations, negligible lighting and grip and zero special effects or stunts. Good luck, be safe.
 
I thought I should say few words about RGV as not many people here know him .
RGV is an inspiration for many indie filmmakers in India. And also most of the present day indian technicians are associated with him at some point of their career. So he is no joke. Danny Boyle openly admitted that Satya ( one of his masterpieces) is his inspiration for depicting Mumbai rawness in Slumdog millionaire.

I'm from a south indian state where actually RGV is from. He revolutionized film making in India with his debut film which has its own place in indian cinema history. He is well known for filming in short time with good quality. So its not some thing a big surprise for me as I've been following him through out his career. But his recent films are all dumb attempts and he has to do some thing to gain some attention. I think he is trying some thing here, but as a well established filmmaker its not hard for him to market the film and gain money. But I don't know if this is going to help the DSLR community.
 
I don't think anyone is disparaging the filmmaker or his work. DSLRs have given the filmmaking community another powerful, yet inexpensive, tool with which to tell stories. Because everyone can [at least, technically-speaking] now make "Hollywood-quality" movies with very little infrastructure, it is becoming more and more difficult for filmmakers to be noticed.

To rise above the noise, some aspire to tell very good stories through great acting and solid technical craftsmanship from start to finish. Unfortunately, too many seem to be garnering attention through gimmicks and attention-grabbing stuntery.

I hope the talented filmmaker in question doesn't abandon his larger artistic legacy in pursuit of short-lived moments in the spotlight.
 
Ive scene a couple of his films ..enjoyed most of them. All gangsta movies.
He is known to work fast.
Would love to see it !
 
I can't even fathom shooting a feature film of any kind in just five days.. wow..

I will note however, that I don't think they should be touting "zero cost"...

many of us who are shooting 0 budget movies, couldn't afford 3 Canon 5D's. They aren't expensive per say, but they aren't exactly cheap either..
 
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I didn't think anybody belittled him. I just wanted to say few words as I know too much about RGV :). I'd like to add few more comments on actual project, particularly the 'No Budget concept'.
All the lead actors signed up for this film are very bankable bunch and they all have ability to pull the crowds on their own. The two assistant directors working for this film are very successful directors in telugu films ( it may be a surprise to you but there are about 200 mainstream films made in telugu every year just behind bollywood). And they will all get a share in the profit that means they will be paid even with one screening. So its a very safe game and everybody is sure there will be money as the hard core fans will fill the theatres minimum a week in at least 100 screens ( 4 shows per day on each screen across the state). That adds up to very decent amount of money.

PS: On a side note the unions in telugu film industry already planning for a protest as this kind of film making will minimize the jobs. Since there are about 4000 union members, it is very unlikely this film will ever see the light if that happens ;)
You can read a little more about the film here in his blog http://rgvzoomin.com/dhongala-mutha/. its fun to read his blog. Little arrogance will be seen every where, but he expresses his passion in that way.;)
 
Azmyth said:
I will note however, that I don't think they should be touting "zero cost"...

many of us who are shooting 0 budget movies, couldn't afford 3 Canon 5D's. They aren't expensive per say, but they aren't exactly cheap either..
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Agreed. And one other thing. Once the word gets out that all these movies are being put out shot for "zero dollars" or some higher, yet still ridiculously inexpensive number, will it be any wonder that people start assigning lower and lower value to films and videos in general?
 
+1.

Every business is looking for ways to do it for less. What we don't need anyone to do is contribute further toward the complete devaluation [sic "democratization"] of the filmmaking trades.

Technology has done a great deal to equalize the system for people who want to tell stories. Gone are the days when budding filmmakers had to beg for loaner equipment and scrape together money for short-ends and a one-light time just to see the fruit of their labor. The equipment is no longer the barrier to storytelling.

I don't think the mindset that pushes to "do it all for nothing" is far from the one that justifies stealing others work digitally when it's "...just for personal use". As artists, technicians and content creators, we have a vested interest in being paid for our work. We already know this work can be done for little or nothing if we beg, borrow and steal to make it happen. But the question we should be asking of ourselves is, "should we be willing to do it for nothing?"

I can't count the number of "how much should I be paid to...?" threads we've seen posted by the do-it-for-nothing-crowd - who consistently grow tired of working for free.
 
The tightest part of this, by my reckoning, is the five-day shoot. Everything after that is totally reasonable and not that unprecidented really (especially if you look at it in TV terms).

Considering he's writing the script with this shooting schedule in mind, it seems very possible to make it work if the locations are carefully consider and it's well rehursed ahead of time, especially shooting mulit-camera.
 
Erik Olson said:
+1.

Every business is looking for ways to do it for less. What we don't need anyone to do is contribute further toward the complete devaluation [sic "democratization"] of the filmmaking trades.

Technology has done a great deal to equalize the system for people who want to tell stories. Gone are the days when budding filmmakers had to beg for loaner equipment and scrape together money for short-ends and a one-light time just to see the fruit of their labor. The equipment is no longer the barrier to storytelling.

I don't think the mindset that pushes to "do it all for nothing" is far from the one that justifies stealing others work digitally when it's "...just for personal use". As artists, technicians and content creators, we have a vested interest in being paid for our work. We already know this work can be done for little or nothing if we beg, borrow and steal to make it happen. But the question we should be asking of ourselves is, "should we be willing to do it for nothing?"

I can't count the number of "how much should I be paid to...?" threads we've seen posted by the do-it-for-nothing-crowd - who consistently grow tired of working for free.
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I was in the music industry for years before moving to video. Its much the same. Technology made it so that anybody with a few bucks to spare and a computer could record a "record". Which in turn caused there to be an over population of artists and content, which was good for the consumer but bad because most of it was crap. Luckily for us, at the end of the day a "good film" is a "good film" whether it was shot for 10 bucks or 10 million.
 
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