Hey guys, I need some creative help here.

Mattykins

Mattykins

Cute Member
AS some of you know, I decided to make it my mission to pull off a full feature production this summer. Sounded like a good idea at the time. So I have a script that has been revised a few times, I think it's pretty solid. But here comes the interesting part. For the first time I tossed the project to a producer. Well, a friend of mine who likes working the business end of things. And all seemed well. Till an email appeared in my inbox today.

Our primary shoot location, a huge farmhouse that was local, had everything we needed to shoot in. It was wonderful. And the best part was it was locked down. We had the location. So I thought. Apparently as of 12:11 today we no longer have that location to use for filming. Big problem. So here is the thing, we bought costumes, props, everything that we needed to have a film. We had done casting, we have most of the cast, we were re auditioning people tomorrow to go over parts and be sure everyone was a good match and knew what we were doing. I had scenes blocked and ready to go with a full shoot schedual.

Evidently the costumes we own are not our costumes, the money has to go back to a sponsor we picked up. Too bad I used some of it for test shooting. And half of the money I put in has been transfered to buy airsoft guns. So I have an army of them, and my producer wants me to personally buy the costumes, guns, and everything. I am going to college in the fall. I don't have this kind of money. And I don't want to see a project that has been in the works for months to go down the drain in literally an hour. We still have people waiting to audition for this tomorrow. I have nearly a full cast, the equipment, the crew, but no locations, no nothing.

I have no idea where to turn now. I am four days away from entering production and I got royally screwed over. Does anyone have any idea whatsoever? Anyone I can get in touch with fast, pitch the project and see if we can get the money temporarily? Anyone live in central new york?

-Matt Watkajtys
 
This may be a bit of a knee jerk reaction - but shouldn't your producer be trying to fix the problem instead of asking you to pay for stuff out of pocket? Seems like he should be out there getting a new location lined up - not just looking to you to 'fix' things.

I edited a film once in which the director wanted me on set during production - in an attempt to help with coverage, etc. The biggest scene in the movie was a big wedding scene - we scoped the location, storyboarded the whole thing with the DP, etc etc. We were ready to go... then literally the day before we're going to shoot that scene we find out that the location was never secured (long story - isn't it always) and we had lost it.

Keep in mind we're in the middle of production...so we find this out while on set, shooting at another location.
But...the show must go on.

So the producer went out with our locations manager and got another place within 6 hours locked down. We had to show up blind the next day and figure out the scene as we went - but it sure as hell beat not shooting at all.

You might not have your 'perfect' location - but there are definitely other places you can shoot. Don't concentrate on the money issue - the only reason you are saying you need money is because you lost your location.

You don't need money - you need a new location.
Concentrate on that.
:thumbsup:
 
evaluate the resources you have at hand. for example, you have substantial cache of realistic looking guns. perhaps you can mastermind a plan to take the farmhouse by force.
 
I think you have a few options; it just depends on which one will work better for you.

As stated above, you could look for a different location. Possibly someone from the cast or crew can think of a new place, or a place they know that you may not have thought of.

Or, you can try looking for a sponsor. See if any local businesses or schools will give you some money for the project, or donate some money for product placement:) Possibly take it to the local papers and get the word out, you never know what may happen.

I hope some of this helps you, good luck!
 
I'm not sure about your area, but my wife is from the NW section of New York, and there are tons of Amish folk there. If you can't talk them into letting you use their barn, maybe you could throw a "Barn raising" party. Them Amish can build a barn in like a day!
 
if all thats missing is a location...you guys should be scouting new locations, pronto.

Your producer should be focusing on that right now.
 
well guys, here is the thing.

The film is dead. But good news is I had a short lying around that we can use. So basically I am rewriting. I meet with my producer tonight. So far he is wanting to shut down production fully. And evidently he was doing a lot of work behind my back spending a ton of money that wasn't in the budget. And we do have a sponsor on board. That wants their money back. I mean I can pitch a new project and hope for the best.

Essentially this was my first attempt at a big production. I failed horribly. But I mean, I have a script for a full feature, I'll just get it shot later this year/next year in Ithaca. So I mean we can shoot a smaller film and get a short wrapped easy. I don't know if my producer will let it slide. I should only call him a friend though. He isn't entirely a producer.

Oh well, thanks for the help guys, it feels good to have some backing anyways. :)
 
I'd be out there begging every farmer, promising free farm labor, whatever to get a barn- or rewrite it. Maybe even build a digital barn and do it that way. Why let it die because of one location?
 
I got a call an hour ago by this individual and he backed out on me totally. Like no contact, no nothing from this point forth. That is why I am downscaling to another project. And move The Day the World Ended (the feature) to a professional production staff in Ithaca. We can still enter the film competition I was shooting for.

Hey, look at the bright side, no barn needed, and I can sucessfully put "A Film by Matt Watkajtys" since I am directing, producing, and writing it. I guess the film wasn't meant to be now, but this little bugger. Secret Agent Men, which was a film I did a while ago for class, reshooting in HD, is going to be hitting the Utica Film Fest.
 
sounds like biting off a little smaller chunk to begin with will make for a better experience. hope this go around didn't set you back too much.
 
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