How do I get people to want to work on a controversial film?

I

ironpony

Carbonite Member
I shot a movie and am in post production. But no one wants to touch the movie and I have not been able to get it finished. There have been several delays, and it's passed it's original release date I had a goal on. Now it's not like I set it out to create an offensive movie or anything but I am surprised at how making just a simply controversial film, would drive a lot of post people away. During production I had trouble making it and finding actor's and crew for it as well. It got delayed by a year, and now it looks like it will be delayed by another year, if I cannot make any festivals in time. I can't even finish it, now that it's shot, cause everyone who has viewed it, is turning it down, saying they feel they cannot get involved because of the film's subject matter, even though I am paying them just the same.

But lots of controversial movies are made, finished and released all the time, so how do other filmmakers do it?
 
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Also if it's about Human Centipedes, then shame on you. :happy::Drogar-Kriz(DBG):
 
P13 said:
Also if it's about Human Centipedes, then shame on you. :happy::Drogar-Kriz(DBG):
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The first one was actually good. The second one was....well.....I maintain at a bare minimum that sandpaper masturbation/barbed wire fetish is unnecessary. Apparently he wants to make a third, I almost have to see it just to see if it's possible for such a ridiculous idea to sustain three movies.


Whatever the movie is about someone out there has to be sick enough to help you finish it. On the other hand if it's a snuff movie I don't want to know you! :Drogar-Shock(DBG):
 
Just my 2 cents..

Don't label the film as controversial - it may not be. Or it may be too on the nose, people don't bother talking about it.

Also, consider the reason for aiming to make it controversial. If it's just to offend a religion or group of people, then you'll have a hard time finding people to be your target-buddies when the mass shoots back

If there's a certain reaction you want, you can do it by being as subtle as possible. The world in general is getting more sensitive so cater to that reality.
 
if you work in the USA, yes people are easily shy about participating to something that could be as a source of trouble. (just look at what happens to all the guys
participating to this movie about some muslim stuff).
If you work in europe, i am pretty sure you would find easily somebody to do that.
 
So far, I've passed on projects it's because the person gives they impression they don't have it together or I feel like the project is very poor in quality at a script level. I've never had to pass because of subject matter.
 
Gary Huff said:
So far, I've passed on projects it's because the person gives they impression they don't have it together or I feel like the project is very poor in quality at a script level. I've never had to pass because of subject matter.
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MrSeth said:
Just my 2 cents..

Don't label the film as controversial - it may not be. Or it may be too on the nose, people don't bother talking about it.

Also, consider the reason for aiming to make it controversial. If it's just to offend a religion or group of people, then you'll have a hard time finding people to be your target-buddies when the mass shoots back

If there's a certain reaction you want, you can do it by being as subtle as possible. The world in general is getting more sensitive so cater to that reality.
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I don't label the film as controversial when I post adds to hire people to work on it. They are usually enthusiastic to take the job, but then when they watch it, they turn it down, saying they don't want to work with my material. Basically the movie does involve a rape/murder, and that's what's causing it. But I am surprised since dozens of movies have those, especially in the indie market, so you think people wouldn't act so alienated to the point where they would turn it down, even though they are being hired and it's a payed gig.

Are there any websites I could try that post production people subscribe to, that would increase my chances? I've tried facebook, craiglists, kijiji, etc. But they all won't do it. Any websites that could increase my chances? I am willing to hire in another country as long as I can send the recordings, they work on them, and send them back in good quality.
 
ironpony said:
There is no religion and politics in the story at all. No references.
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That's not Jimerson was referring to.

Just saying there's a murder/rape in your film is not helpful at all. And if people don't work to work on a "controversial" film, then they don't want to work on it. I don't understand how you think you can change that.
 
Well maybe I can look on certain sites, with certain people who may be more use to do shocking films and won't be so uncomfortable. I really don't know, but I feel I need to ask someone on what to do, since I cannot find anyone to do it so far.
 
well , possibly the movie is so shocking that people think there is no chance you can present it to public audience, so they do not want take the negative side of it if they think there is no chances to get some positives ones.
frankly if your shots are mainly based to violence, there is better to have a darn good scenario too, because else it looks like another crap.
Gore is a genre by itself and few poeple like it.
 
ironpony said:
I don't label the film as controversial when I post adds to hire people to work on it. They are usually enthusiastic to take the job, but then when they watch it, they turn it down, saying they don't want to work with my material. Basically the movie does involve a rape/murder, and that's what's causing it. But I am surprised since dozens of movies have those, especially in the indie market, so you think people wouldn't act so alienated to the point where they would turn it down, even though they are being hired and it's a payed gig.

Are there any websites I could try that post production people subscribe to, that would increase my chances? I've tried facebook, craiglists, kijiji, etc. But they all won't do it. Any websites that could increase my chances? I am willing to hire in another country as long as I can send the recordings, they work on them, and send them back in good quality.
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If I might inquire, what type of work do you need to have done? What stage are you at with this film? Has final edit been completed? Is it audio post, video post, or both that need to be done? Do you need a score completed?

If you don't feel comfortable posting this here, send me a message with your needs and budget.

All the best!

Dave
 
ironpony said:
Well maybe I can look on certain sites, with certain people who may be more use to do shocking films and won't be so uncomfortable. I really don't know, but I feel I need to ask someone on what to do, since I cannot find anyone to do it so far.
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I don't know what would cause others to refrain from participating... other than no money or the like... but one first thing for me would be:

Have you maintained the information required by US Code relative to explicit sexual acts, including simulated explicit sexual acts of those performers in your film.

Here are the pertinent code references.

United Stat Code Title 18 Part 1 Chapter 110 Sections 2256, 2257, and 2258
Code of Federal Regulation Title 28, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Part 75

Section 2256 is a list of definitions that the law uses.
Section 2257 lists the reporting requirements.
Section 2258 addresses reporting or failure to report.

Title 28... part 75 indicates what type of Identification may be used by a performer to verify their age.

I bring this up because you indicate the film includes portions involving a 'rape' scene, and hence may be covered US statute as 'simulated explicit sexual acts'.
 
You are walking a tightrope, IMO. Yes controversy sells. But if it is too controversial, then many people may not want to have their name associated with it. I was writing/creating something that involved a rapist. The act was never shown, and used Hitchcock's method of showing violence. And I inquired to a writer to help me script this. The second I mentioned the antagonist was a rapist....they said "no thanks".

Take the porn industry for example. At least here in So Cal, I know several individuals that work in that industry as crew. But they are very careful not to list it on their resumes. The pay is really good, but if word gets out they are working porn regularly, the chances of them work on anything outside that would become considerably less. It's a stigma that is attached to the industry. Is it fair? No. Does it occur? Yes.

People might be afraid of that with your production. Just something to consider.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
I don't know what would cause others to refrain from participating... other than no money or the like... but one first thing for me would be:

Have you maintained the information required by US Code relative to explicit sexual acts, including simulated explicit sexual acts of those performers in your film.

Here are the pertinent code references.

United Stat Code Title 18 Part 1 Chapter 110 Sections 2256, 2257, and 2258
Code of Federal Regulation Title 28, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Part 75

Section 2256 is a list of definitions that the law uses.
Section 2257 lists the reporting requirements.
Section 2258 addresses reporting or failure to report.

Title 28... part 75 indicates what type of Identification may be used by a performer to verify their age.

I bring this up because you indicate the film includes portions involving a 'rape' scene, and hence may be covered US statute as 'simulated explicit sexual acts'.
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Well I asked my friends and according to them, my rape scene is not quite as explicit as The Last House on the Left remake. They mentioned that one, cause that was the worst they have seen to compare it too.
 
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