Feature Films

I write features. I have two full features I've done so far. And working on my third. This summer my production team and I are filming a feature film. I mean, I think most people here do shorts due to the money constraints and such, but I am sure there are a great many of us who would love to do a feature if we could pull it off.

But yes, I write and direct for feature films. Done a number of shorts too.

-Matt
 
Mattykins is correct is that for the most part, it is a budgetary issue as well as scheduling, and everything that goes along with that. Many people here have day jobs and still manage to create shorts and features in their spare time.

Depending on the feature, producing a feature involves a lot of work in getting the budget, schedule, talent (cast and crew) together to present as a business plan to investors. Depending on genre, a star name has more importance in landing a distribution deal. Depending on final budget, self distribution "may" may allow for a profit, but that business model is still pretty young. Some topics do well, but the majority don't.

I have worked on hundreds of features as a consultant, a dozen or so as editor, post super, and produced two features. The first one as a "hire" the second one is just finishing up now via my own production company to which I have rights.

There are many different models to work from depending on budget and all - none of them are easy and I applaud anyone who has completed features at any level. Now selling them merits an even bigger applause...

Alex - I looked at some of the samples you have on your website, and the drama script from what I can read so far is a higher budget independent production because of local etc.

I like to work in reverse and really target the distribution channel, the technology for acquisition and mastering, budget and local talent and have a script that can use those limitation to the best of their abilities maintaining a very high production value. Of course the story has to work to start with, but as a producer, the overall story, production value, and appeal to the market are all equal.

Michael
 
I've written 10 features so far and plan on completing 2 more this year (i only started writing in late '04) and am trying to raise money to shoot a couple of them myself, but if you don't know people, it's almost impossible
 
MichaelP said:
Alex - I looked at some of the samples you have on your website, and the drama script from what I can read so far is a higher budget independent production because of local etc.
Click to expand...

One of several, most of which are written with the low budget in mind.

I don't know much about the film festivals, which seem to be the number-one target for nearly all the Indy filmmakers here. Are there limits on length, such as five minute films and say, ten and twenty minute films?

Are feature films more difficult to get into contests/festivals?

Alex


www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
 
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I've only ever filmed shorts. My special effects resume includes 25th Hour and Hustle & Flow. My acting resume includes features you've never heard of, and probably never will.
 
I write features but have been pretty bad at it so I went back to shorts to try to "hone". It's a lot easier to re-write 20 pages as opposed to 140 pages when practicing.

Although I hope to get back to features relatively soon; getting too old.

Another problem, as it's been said, is budget for feature films. Scheduling, etc. It's hard to do with like no money.
 
There are film festivals for all lengths and genres... check out www.filmfetivals.com to get an idea of how many. Getting accepted is another issue - well known festivals are harder than the smaller ones. Film festivals aren't so much a target, but a key way to get press and possible distribution based on audience reaction, awards etc.

Film Festivals are certainly a strategy to add to the plan, but in the end, they are all means to getting a distribution deal or to use as marketing material for self distribution if you go that route.


Michael
 
The general cutoff for a feature may be around 75 minutes. When you browse the requirements for festival entries, this minimum running time seems to be the most prevalent.
 
Indeed, 75 seems to be the minimum length for a feature. It is this length that should be played to by the majority of first time/low budget filmmakers. Much more, and it would require:
1.) A masterpiece of a script.
2.) Perfection on every technical level.

Usually it just tends to be the pretentious art-phag types who play to the 140-150min time levels, and those films tend to suck without end or reason.

Shorter is better, almost always.
 
In my experience with local, first time-produced films (although, that would be in Nebraska and Cleveland, so certainly not LA).

I'm certainly not saying lengthy films are poor. Quite the contrary really, myself being a die-hard Tarkovsky and Fassbinder fan. I'm just saying huge scripts/ massive runtimes tend to epically fail when there are few resources to be had and enourmas first-time directorial demands. Best to start small, then work your way up. Of course, I would be honored if you'd prove me wrong.
 
I'm struggling to write a feature. I have this idea and it can't be made as a short movie. The problem with making a feature for me is that I'm not a very good writer. I don't have money to pay someone to write it either, and writing something lenghty takes a lot of time and effort. That's why I keep doing shorts.
 
StefanHaynes said:
In my experience with local, first time-produced films (although, that would be in Nebraska and Cleveland, so certainly not LA).

I'm certainly not saying lengthy films are poor. Quite the contrary really, myself being a die-hard Tarkovsky and Fassbinder fan. I'm just saying huge scripts/ massive runtimes tend to epically fail when there are few resources to be had and enourmas first-time directorial demands. Best to start small, then work your way up. Of course, I would be honored if you'd prove me wrong.
Click to expand...
yeah, cool. i see what you're saying. was just curious what your personal definition of a pretentious art-phag type of film was. as for proving you wrong, :) won't happen anytime soon since I subscribe to the same philosophy. as much as i admire the works of Tarkovsky (he inspired the "sabi" in Sabi Pictures), and yes even Bela Tarr, I've personally never made a feature over two hours. I would love Heart of Now to move like a threshing machine on a fuel tank full of ether, while lasting no longer than 90 minutes. i prefer to keep my stories small, some might say minimalist, while letting the emotional terrain remain "epic".
 
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