DVXuser.com Feature movie??

sfoster said:
Or we could do two films.

I think we should use the fact that we are in multiple locations to our advantage. We can get footage from all over the world because DVXuser is global! Lets take advantage of that. Everyone knows what is awesome about their own back yard, they also know what all the tourists come to see in their city. That is our biggest advantage. We're global. Lets write something that involves the whole world. Honestly, this would make for a great documentary as well. The whole world comes together to make a movie! Hollywood couldn't do something like this without a lot of money!
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BOTH films intend to use footage from all over in just the manner you describe.

My understanding of the difference between the two approaches is that one involves a central producer overseeing multiple production units, each of which works in its own little corner of the world shooting a segment of the story -- the other involves letting the multiple production units work completely autonomously, without any overseeing producer in control of the vision.

I've stated this more than once, and nobody has stepped up and corrected me to my knowledge, so I'm assuming this IS, in fact, the difference between the two 'group's (A & B). If that's correct, then the storyline isn't going to be different if one approach is chosen over another -- it will still be a set of four stories set in different parts of the world, interwoven into a single narrative.

Wasn't that the idea from the outset? If so, why are people walking away? What has changed?
 
My understanding of the differentiation between the two groups was that one group wanted to raise money and have central financing and hire crews to shoot. The other group was of the mindset that that basically isn't gonna happen, and therefore wanted to leverage the existing energy of the DVXFests to see if we can't extend what people are already doing and turn it into something bigger and better than a simple DVXFest entry. But that would be primarily groups making their own films and, if selected for inclusion in the feature, perhaps some money could be extended to buy those film segments off of the groups who produced them.
 
Barry_Green said:
My understanding of the differentiation between the two groups was that one group wanted to raise money and have central financing and hire crews to shoot. The other group was of the mindset that that basically isn't gonna happen, and therefore wanted to leverage the existing energy of the DVXFests to see if we can't extend what people are already doing and turn it into something bigger and better than a simple DVXFest entry. But that would be primarily groups making their own films and, if selected for inclusion in the feature, perhaps some money could be extended to buy those film segments off of the groups who produced them.
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I see. Well if that's the only difference, then why not do BOTH?

Would the 2nd group object if an investor were found and cast and crew could be paid? Probably not. So why not try to line up an investor or two. Then, if that doesn't work, go to Plan B.

Wouldn't that satisfy both groups?
 
Actually, I seem to be the main person pushing for centralization and the hope of a decent budget. Which makes me the one gumming up the works. I admit, I haven't even attempted a Fest entry, so I probably shouldn't even be putting my 2 cents worth in on this.

The best course of action is for ME to bow out. Then hopefully the rest of you can come to a consensus and get the ball rolling on this thing. I think it has a lot of potential, and I'd hate to be the one who kept it from taking off.

So best wishes to everyone on this project. I'll be following its progress with great interest!
 
Put me down on the list. HPX500 (Canon KJ13x6BKRS) and HD editing and compositing.

LA area
 
We tried this when the DVX first came out and had 9 teams from DVXuser get together from all over and try to create a script. The premise was if there were only 3 days left of earth what would we do. Our storyline was a mother and her daughter fighting on what had become important in those 3 days. They were native american and the mother never took the time to teach her daughter about her lineage and wanted to give her a crash course and the daughter just wanted to live in the moments they had left. It was really tough to keep it going but I think most of the crews shot there segments. Craig Kitchens headed the project and we had a secret area of the forum where we conversed. The trouble was trying to tie all the stories together to make it cohesive and trying in integrate a little from each story. One of the actors from LA I think was supposed to fly out here for a scene with our characters but it never happened.
 
Beat Takeshi said:
Craig Kitchens headed the project and we had a secret area of the forum where we conversed.
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Ooooo! A secret forum within the forum????? There's a movie right there! ;)

The trouble was trying to tie all the stories together to make it cohesive and trying in integrate a little from each story. One of the actors from LA I think was supposed to fly out here for a scene with our characters but it never happened.
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That's why I lobbied for a central producer and writing team -- in an effort to ensure cohesiveness to the story and a uniform quality among the various production teams. It seems that would make the final product much better.
 
After reading around here is something I came up with. It's just an idea and obviously not solid:
I introduce… DVXUSER Feature Film Fest. A 72 minute long feature created by us the users. Now this is how it works. We will have twelve “segments” that are connected by a story outline written by no other than (to be decided), winner of the DVXUser Feature Film Outline ScriptFest. Your team will choose one of the SIX “segments” and make a twelve minute short that will then be submitted and judged by your peers. The winners of each of the six “segments” will be edited together to create one 72 minute long feature. Choose your plotline wisely judging by your resources and abilities. We will limit each plotline to have only up to ten teams working on it. Why? Well, we can’t have sixty people working on one “segment” and no one working on the other ones now can we. So contact (a mod to be decided) and reserve your plotline if the “segment” is filled up choose your second favorite option.

Each “segment” must be formatted in 16:9 widescreen format and shot at 24p to ensure cohesion between segments.

Ok… so that’s an idea (taking bits and pieces from what you guys have talked about). I would add that it would be great if each segment/plotline had natural breaks so you could edit it up in between each of the other segments. Like plan to have a “cliffhanger” every two to three minutes so you can cut to another plotline. Now the reason you have ten groups working on one plotline is to A) Gives a better chance for a plotline to be completed insuring the feature get’s made B) to have competition for bragging rights insuring higher quality segments that can be voted on, hopefully ending up with the best one. With this way of doing it one selected entity would have to edit, most likely color correcting it all, and then have one person score it all (Herman?) to once again insure cohesion.

Now it’s not to say that “chapters” wouldn’t work. Each of the six segments are simply chapters 1 through 6 and they would play one after another. Also this above idea would need an outline at least. I would go as far to say that a full script would take some fun out of it. I think I rather see people following plot points but doing it with their own dialogue and locations. So that would leave it up to someone to create a great outline that involves six separate segments. I think the outline could also be voted on by our peers in a ScriptFest. So this would be a long process in these following steps:

1. Have DVXUser Feature Film Outline ScriptFest to decide on what outline we use.

2. Have DVXUser Feature Film Fest to have us make six segments.

3. Winners of the six segments are cut together by some master editor.

4. Film is color corrected/Film is scored by Herman?

5. Film is sold to distributor, film makers, editors, Herman and DVXUser make millions and millions are at approiate percentages... whatever they are (I don't do business)

Now… you could stretch this out longer by not having people choose between the segments and have six fests that each one is to make one segment of the movie following that part of the outline.
Like I said, just a mash of ideas and can't wait to hear more and keep this going. I love the idea and their should be no problem in making it happen if we can all pitch in and make it work.
Jeremy
 
jeremytuttle said:
After reading around here is something I came up with. It's just an idea and obviously not solid:

I introduce… DVXUSER Feature Film Fest. A 72 minute long feature created by us the users. Now this is how it works. We will have twelve “segments” that are connected by a story outline written by no other than (to be decided), winner of the DVXUser Feature Film Outline ScriptFest. Your team will choose one of the SIX “segments” and make a twelve minute short that will then be submitted and judged by your peers. The winners of each of the six “segments” will be edited together to create one 72 minute long feature. Choose your plotline wisely judging by your resources and abilities. We will limit each plotline to have only up to ten teams working on it. Why? Well, we can’t have sixty people working on one “segment” and no one working on the other ones now can we. So contact (a mod to be decided) and reserve your plotline if the “segment” is filled up choose your second favorite option.

Each “segment” must be formatted in 16:9 widescreen format and shot at 24p to ensure cohesion between segments.

Ok… so that’s an idea (taking bits and pieces from what you guys have talked about). I would add that it would be great if each segment/plotline had natural breaks so you could edit it up in between each of the other segments. Like plan to have a “cliffhanger” every two to three minutes so you can cut to another plotline. Now the reason you have ten groups working on one plotline is to A) Gives a better chance for a plotline to be completed insuring the feature get’s made B) to have competition for bragging rights insuring higher quality segments that can be voted on, hopefully ending up with the best one. With this way of doing it one selected entity would have to edit, most likely color correcting it all, and then have one person score it all (Herman?) to once again insure cohesion.

Now it’s not to say that “chapters” wouldn’t work. Each of the six segments are simply chapters 1 through 6 and they would play one after another. Also this above idea would need an outline at least. I would go as far to say that a full script would take some fun out of it. I think I rather see people following plot points but doing it with their own dialogue and locations. So that would leave it up to someone to create a great outline that involves six separate segments. I think the outline could also be voted on by our peers in a ScriptFest. So this would be a long process in these following steps:

1. Have DVXUser Feature Film Outline ScriptFest to decide on what outline we use.

2. Have DVXUser Feature Film Fest to have us make six segments.

3. Winners of the six segments are cut together by some master editor.

4. Film is color corrected/Film is scored by Herman?

5. Film is sold to distributor, film makers, editors, Herman and DVXUser make millions and millions are at approiate percentages... whatever they are (I don't do business)

Now… you could stretch this out longer by not having people choose between the segments and have six fests that each one is to make one segment of the movie following that part of the outline.
Like I said, just a mash of ideas and can't wait to hear more and keep this going. I love the idea and their should be no problem in making it happen if we can all pitch in and make it work.
Jeremy
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Love it! This sounds like a great way to do this!:engel017:
 
6 segments, each 12 minutes long. Is that long enough to let the audience get deeply emotionally connected to and invested in the characters? Particularly if they're only seeing each set of characters for a couple of minutes here, a couple of minutes there.

Just asking.
 
There has been plenty of six minute shorts that I care for the characters but it depends on the actor, dialogue, directing etc. I think 12 minutes is plenty, if not too long, especially if done in a "Fest" situation.

EDIT: But honestly, it really comes down to what ever you guys want to do. If everyone votes for twenty minutes segments fine. Or maybe it depends on how the outline is written if the part/segment with the underground bunker is only 15 minutes long (roughly) and the part in the abandoned mine is thirty minutes, maybe that will also help the users decide which segment they want to work on. Maybe they want to do the shorter one because they don't have the budget to do the longer one.

On a side note: Making a feature is a tough thing to do. But what I like about this idea is you have a large group of people helping make the feature. But not everyone that says they will help will finish (not excluding myself in the equation, you never know what can happen, family emergency, debt, what ever). Making this a Fest with multiple people working on the same "segment" insures that the feature will be made and the other film makers haven't wasted their time. Unless, ten of the groups making one segment all fail, but I doubt it. Now yes, I agree there is a problem with this idea... some people will make a movie for the Fest that won't be voted to continue on into the feature film (except hopefully in some great special features on the DVD) and with the great talent on here I wouldn't doubt my short would probably be voted out too. But, wow, just imagine if your segment did get voted in and you became a part of the first ever DVXUser feature film... that is worth the effort, at least for me. If it's not for you, then don't do it. And then imagine it got picked up and everyone is making a fair share (which should be figured out before the fest even begins, and if you enter you agree to the terms if you don't like the terms don't enter kind of thing.) on the profits that would be even sweetier.
 
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What Jeremy has outlined is pretty much exactly how I pictured this thing taking place when the idea was first proposed. I think having multiple groups "competing" to get their segment accepted as part of the feature is the only way to ensure it actually happens.

Having redundant crews (for lack of a better term) is the only way to prevent the inevitable dropouts from waylaying the whole film. And I think having segments that vary slightly in length is a good idea...it gives the potential crews a little flexibility to match their budget/time/locations etc.

Good thoughts Jeremy!

Daniel
 
Thanks Daniel but to give credit, a lot of these ideas have all ready been discussed I just added to it and listed it out.

What's going to make or break this is a good outline/treatment. Something that connects all the segments but keeps them separate at the same time. Now maybe making the Outline Fest a DVXUser Feature Film Script Fest would be a good thing for one reason: You could have phone calls, or e-mails that match across the segments and could "connect" the stories. Or perhaps the treatment details the dialogue only in the connected scenes. I do think it would be a lot more fun to be able to come up with your own dialogue and give people the ability to put their personal touch on each of the segments. Also, at some point there should be something that happens to all the segments at one time. Maybe something half way through the movie should come up on the news or something. And what's great about that, is each place would have different local news casters so the actors wouldn't have to match.

Anyway, just ideas.
 
jeremytuttle said:
There has been plenty of six minute shorts that I care for the characters but it depends on the actor, dialogue, directing etc. I think 12 minutes is plenty, if not too long, especially if done in a "Fest" situation.
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Yes, but that's when you got to spend six minutes straight with those characters. Can you get equally engaged when it's two minutes with these, then two minutes with those, then two minutes with the next group, then the next, then the next, then the next -- THEN back to another two minutes with the first group? Because unless you're going to do the stories as an anthology -- one story told at a time -- then that's what you're looking at.

It can be done, but it'll be a challenge. Good luck, though. Love to see how it turns out!
 
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