How do you make a feature film?

Re: How do you make a feature film?

Thanks for clarifying my point, Stationhouse...

I am in no way suggesting that you blow off spontaneity.  But, from my perspective, it is the planning that allows you to be spontaneous (this goes for any endeavor artistic or otherwise).  It's hard to think creatively in the moment (right-brained) if you are preoccupied with logistics (left-brained).  Now if you are lucky enough to have a dedicated Production Manager and/or Assistant Director, great, let them deal with the logistics.  But if you are wearing all the hats, then proper planning will actually give you more freedom, not less.   If your shooting on location in NYC and your lamps to all your lights get busted, it will be a pain in the ass, but you'll be ok.  If you're filming Blair Witch out in the middle of the woods in Maine, you're screwed.  If you've carefully planned out all your shots and can execute them with minimal effort, you can then focus on the performance of your cast, or trying new shots inspired by the location.  If, on the other hand, you are struggling just to get the shots done that you need for planned coverage you may find you don't have time to experiment.  For any creative endeavor there is a ton of drudge work.  Planning reduces the drudge work so that you can be more creative - that's all I was saying.

Also when starting out, we are learning the process of movie making.  I didn't do all that work on these quick little shorts because the shorts demanded it.  I did it because I'm learning a process that I can then transfer to any project I decide to work on.

Also there is the respect issue (not fear, but true respect).  Being a director is essentially being a CEO and while I haven't been a director, I have been a CEO (albeit a small one) for twelve years.  People working for you, look to you for guidance and leadership and they expect those things, which are demonstrated by you in not only your vision but your ability to realize it (organizational skills, communication skills, your ability to make intelligent decisions based on a solid understanding of your needs and resources, etc.).  Just as in business, everyone understands that creative endeavors, are fluid and that problems will arise.  No one will fault you for that.  But if you are unable to deal with them both intelligently and expeditiously, or if you bring them about due to poor preparation, they will be reticent to follow.  Now in business the weak leader has the added carrot of financial incentives (how many times have you worked for an idiot yet stayed in the job because you needed the money or it payed well?).   But the low budget filmmaker does not have this arrow in his quiver, he or she must constantly motivate their crew to perform under less than ideal circumstances.  Like a field commander, you have to convince your troops to follow you into battle and stay in the fight.  Believe me, they're not doing it for the extra $150 a month combat pay.

Matt
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

right on, matt. you sound like you'd be good to work with. It was nice to shoot a first feature where everyone was a novice. We all got our feet wet together. Good luck.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

this post is awesome, thanks for the awesome replies stationhouse...just wanted to say that before I read your knowledge in depth...stay tuned
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

I was not saying you shouldn't plan. I said I agree with prep. Just somethimes you can get bogged down with the details. Maybe prep gives you that freedom and helps with the directing. I was only pointing out from experience - people not showing up - conditions - equipment - Actors going strange - things happen and always will. The sign of a good Director is not to flap because if you do everybody else will.
I too have done everything myself, work can suffer but I try and get everything right on set, so I don't have to spend ages trying to cover mistakes in edit.
J.P.  :-X
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

As mentioned earlier, if you haven't done even a short do a couple of those before you even think about a feature.

I am a firm believer in "Do it right or don't do it at all." I see a lot of features shot for $5 or $10k (even $200k!) that have no chance of going anywhere. Feature films are expensive propositions, even "low budget" films. Feature filmmaking is a business, and like any business you need the right amount of capital and the right personnel to make it happen. I will not do a feature film until I am ready to raise the money to use a union crew, hire a skilled director and attach recognizeable talent. Until then I will wait.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

no offense, you could wait forever. And if you haven't made a feature, who is going to give you all of that money? I have known too many people who have sat around for 10 years or more waiting for their 500k and never got it. Would you do your first painting with 500k worth of paints and canvas? How do you know if oyu can paint? I would do mine with poster paints first, get really good and go from tehre. Practice, practice, practice. the money will come and you will improve.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

[quote author=stationhouse link=board=Directing;num=1107467000;start=15#26 date=02/11/05 at 05:08:32]no offense, you could wait forever. And if you haven't made a feature, who is going to give you all of that money?  I have known too many people who have sat around for 10 years or more waiting for their 500k and never got it.  Would you do your first painting with 500k worth of paints and canvas? How do you know if oyu can paint?  I would do mine with poster paints first, get really good and go from tehre.  Practice, practice, practice.  the money will come and you will improve. [/quote]

Believe me, there is more credibility in raising money then whether or not you have a feature under your belt. I have known people who have waited 10 years and their features were done well and done right. Just like I wouldnt start a restaurant without the right capital, without the right chef, I wouldn't produce a movie without the right things in place.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

At the same time, the person asking the intial question sounded like they were starting out. I think it's essential for them to get rolling instead of turning it into a pipe dream.

You could buy the best DP, equipment, gaffers, actors, etc. But if you don't know how to string a narrative together, guide large groups of people, stay on task and on budget (regardless of its size), think on your feet, etc, you will never make a quality end product.

To me, it seems like we're looking at it different ways: an artistic venture vs. a business one. You can make crap shine with $, but if you can learn to make quality without it you will really take off when you get connected to a larger budget.

I think too many filmmakers think - my first film has to make me or break me and it's just not the case. Someone told me once that 'you're building a body of work, not a demo reel." I would agree with that.

I saw a film a few years back. I think it was called the 'wedding party' very similar title to another film. Anyway, it was made by two ex lawyers who got a ton of money together, hired a good dp, some second rate name actors, and made this film. It was the most boring thing i ever watched and they had spent a TON. But they didn't know how to make it all work together and there's not shame in learning that in the trenches.

Case in point, there are a few local guys just out of school who have somehow raised 200k (supposedly). However, they insist they need 1.5 million to make their film. They've been showing some scenes they shot as a trailer and they have potential, but not at that level yet. They could certainly get there eventually, but we all have things to learn.

So I would say, if you want to make a feature, don't make excuses, make a movie. Just do it. You have nothing to lose but time and energy. It is a guarantee that if you make a low budget feature now and raise money later that other film will turn out better. It's a given. So if you want to sit around and wait for the money train i think that's just an excuse. I don't say that to you personally, but i've known a ton of people who ended up doing nothing because they want to wait to 'do it right.'

Maybe i feel this way because i wasn't happy with how my first film turned out. By the time i bought the gear and all it cost be about 20k. It was an amazing learning experience, and for the level we were at, i feel good about it. But it is not a releasable film. If i had a huge budget it would certainly look better, it may sound better, but the watchability would be about the same. The story and direction had problems and no amount of money will fix that. I had to learn to work better with actors, i had to learn better time management, coverage skills, etc. I don't regret it at all. the new film i am working out is 100 times stronger because of it, and my third film will be even more so. All along, I'm making contacts and meeting people. So, ideally, the two will collide - the experience and the contacts will ripen together, and I will be able to make a much stronger film at that point becasue of it.

A final example in this long winded, poorly organized post. Some local guys made a film called 'the last broadcast.' It cost 900 bucks and garnished a lot of attention, in pary because it was billed as one of the first desktop films. The production value was not all that hot, but they made it work for them. The film did well internationally.

Last year I worked with one of the filmmakers on his new film. He now has a much llarger, budget, crew, etc. due to the success of that first 900 dollar movie. If he had waited around for funding, that would NEVER have happened. So take the leap.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

stationhouse- I think you're looking at this topic as a director whereas I'm looking at it as a producer

Still, I think one should leave most the learning to shorts...and leave features to a business endeavor. A friend of mine started by doing a number of Super 8 shorts, he learned a lot, then raised $200k to do his first feature. His feature was picked up at Cannes (where he was screening a short film he did) by Lions Gate and now is in distribution. There is no doubt in my mind this is the way to go.

The reality of it is if you get together enough startup capital, create a business plan, get some credible people involved and have enough gumption you can get the money you need to do your film right. I think diving into something as monumental as a feature without the right money and personnel in place just because you want to get it done is a bad idea. Leave that attitude for the shorts.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

..hard to say, if you have what it takes to make a feature.. which is not simply the desire to do so.. then i dont think money available should be a deciding factor. theres been too many fims made for piles of beans that have made it. but as nathan says, if all you have is that desire . then just make a short. although if you want to make a feature with no expectations.. i think thats great as well. you might as well learn the hard way as long as you know its going to be a learning experience and not the greatest film ever. its good to see what it takes to make a good feature before you try even if youve done succesful shorts before. so i say practise with shorts, and practise with features. and when your ready to make somthing real .. short or feature. dont let money hold you back. if you didnt have money when you practised and you got to the point of making good stuff, then you shouldnt need money when your going to make a really serious attempt either. but again it all coes down to your talent, knowledge and experience and commitment to excellence and completion. ..and of course your ability to simply come up with a great film that doesnt require a huge budget.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

hey natob2 -

funny, i nearly said the exact same thing in terms of director/producer.

I wish i had done more short films. I think we both have valid points. I would agree that too many people do 'quick and sloppy' because of the somewhat instant gratification. And I think others use the lack of money as an excuse. The chances of making your first feature, even with the $$, and getting into a cannes/lions gate buy up is extremely rare and will never happen to most of us. For a lot of people that would just be 200k worth of debt and they would never make a second film. but your friend sounds extremely talented. congrats to him and best of luck!
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

If someone is trying to make a feature to launch their career, then I think Natob2 is absolutely right. I remember being a young bassist and wanting to play in some top level clubs but my teachers (who played those clubs) would not let me. Why, I would ask, a lot of the guys I hear around town don't play better than me? Because, the would tell me, that once you hit the scene you will be judged and if they don't like what they hear, they'll never give you a second listen, take your time, develop right and then go out there. So instead of "debuting" at sixteen (even though I continued to work other gigs), I waited until I was nineteen before I tackled the important ones. Same would apply here I guess.

However, and this is a big one, Natob, I think a lot of us here just want to learn. I'm shooting shorts now, plan to do a whole bunch of them. Would I shoot a lousey no budget feature? Sure!! Because I thought it would get me somewhere? Hell no. I would do it because doing so would essentially be filmschool for me. So I think it really depends on what you intend your feature to be. If like me, you are trying to learn and want to make a movie just so you can experiment and become more proficient, then sure make a $200 feature. If however you are hoping to become the next Spielberg, then wait and do it right (or as right as you can).

My $0.02

Matt
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

[quote author=MattC link=board=Directing;num=1107467000;start=30#32 date=02/11/05 at 13:03:05]If someone is trying to make a feature to launch their career, then I think Natob2 is absolutely right. [/quote]

I am saying this as someone trying to make a living in this business. I am also saying this as someone who has done the short films and done the learning...so maybe this difference is due to the fact that we are simply at different places in our careers.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

[quote author=MattC link=board=Directing;num=1107467000;start=30#32 date=02/11/05 at 13:03:05] once you hit the scene you will be judged and if they don't like what they hear, they'll never give you a second listen, take your time, develop right and then go out there. [/quote]

i agree with this. i would never try to release my first feature on a large scale. But you were still playing bass, just not at those clubs. You were playing the same type of songs, etc to hone your craft so you'd be ready for prime time. So i think i'm just saying, you can still make a feature for no $$, just don't expect it to be gold.
 
Re: How do you make a feature film?

I worked with a local Producer who had shot his last film for 2m (I won't mention the title ;D) but believe me it's the best example of how not to shoot, light, act, just about everything! that I have ever seen. The Director just wanted to get something under his belt and for me It did him more harm than good (last I heard he was back in corporate)
I have a low budget feature 800k I am producing at the moment. I have potential investors but will not approach till I have everything in place (plus a few unique marketing ideas) I know that the investors are investing in me (written and directing it) so I want to present myself in the best light. Meanwhile I'm doing my first project that breaks the 1hr barrier - pilot. Just to get me in the rhythm of the larger project. I have working on big projects/large crews before
but not in film. My work tends to lean towards film but I know I have to make that commitment and jump off into the void.
J.P.
 
I agree that making shorts is a great way to learn the craft, I have done tons of them. The only thing about them, is they stand a very little chance of making any money whatsoever. Why not jump into the arena of feature film making. I started out as a PA, than started doing more shorts. I than produced a couple of feature length films, and graduated to my first feature as a director. If you are going to spend all of the time and energy to produce somthing you might as well jump into features. Allthough a small chance, at least you have a chance to sell a feature.
Also some good reading material I would recommend is Loyd Kaufman's MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE and Bruce Cambell's IF CHIN'S COULD KILL. Great stuff for the low to no budget director.
 
I started off as an actor about 5yrs ago and picked up a dv camera about 4 two 5 years ago shot about 5-6 shorts about 4-5 music videos 1 commerical and now I'm getting ready to direct my first feature starting this saturday running for 10 days. You can't do everything by yourself you need a right hand man (producer) you have equipment so your at advantage get a strong cast post adds everywhere 1 month before casting hold it at a hotel ask for a conference room it'll cost about $200 find a crew film students pa's (also make sure they have reels it's the first step at finding dedicated and professional people). I'll let you know how the shoot goes. Also have at least one rehearsal or more depending on you.
 
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