Jason_Bortz
Active member
Nuke the site from orbit.
Nuke the site from orbit.
Just letting you know I voted to not only fire him, but to write your next movie about him.
Hey, so long as you have your 'All persons...purely coincidental' disclaimer in there, you can make his character do annnnythinnnng you want...
Nuke the site from orbit.
Just letting you know I voted to not only fire him, but to write your next movie about him.
Hey, so long as you have your 'All persons...purely coincidental' disclaimer in there, you can make his character do annnnythinnnng you want...
Wing
Member
Re: Problems with Main actor
Yep, it's not worth having a film that nobody's happy with, for the sake of finishing. For somebody who's been such a pain, the last thing he desrves is for his behaviour and attitude to ruin your film. I voted for letting him go.
I understand your co-director's frustration, but it really does make sense, especially when so much time and effort is invested in it. It's not worth ruining the return.
If he has a nice twin brother who can act, use him. If you have script control, write around him. Then you won't have to start over from scratch or find a substitute. Change the story dramatically if you have to, as long as it's a good story and it works, that's all that matters in the end.
Wing
Yep, it's not worth having a film that nobody's happy with, for the sake of finishing. For somebody who's been such a pain, the last thing he desrves is for his behaviour and attitude to ruin your film. I voted for letting him go.
I understand your co-director's frustration, but it really does make sense, especially when so much time and effort is invested in it. It's not worth ruining the return.
If he has a nice twin brother who can act, use him. If you have script control, write around him. Then you won't have to start over from scratch or find a substitute. Change the story dramatically if you have to, as long as it's a good story and it works, that's all that matters in the end.
Wing
givemefood
Well-known member
Re: Problems with Main actor
I would be patient... and somehow have him complete the project. Even though he had agreed to work for free... it does not give him the right to leave or screw the project mid-way. I would even consider legal action if u can prove that the cost of the delay is hurting the project... and he'll get back to completing the project.
Starting all over again is a bigger risk because the next actor could also follow the same pattern. Plus what about other actors? They wouldn't have the motivation to participate as well as they did the first time... That goes for the crew as well.
So patience.. smiles... some coaxing/coercion, get the project done. And then screw the guy by telling every1 u know to never work with him again.
I would be patient... and somehow have him complete the project. Even though he had agreed to work for free... it does not give him the right to leave or screw the project mid-way. I would even consider legal action if u can prove that the cost of the delay is hurting the project... and he'll get back to completing the project.
Starting all over again is a bigger risk because the next actor could also follow the same pattern. Plus what about other actors? They wouldn't have the motivation to participate as well as they did the first time... That goes for the crew as well.
So patience.. smiles... some coaxing/coercion, get the project done. And then screw the guy by telling every1 u know to never work with him again.
Voytek_Stitko
Well-known member
Re: Problems with Main actor
I had the same situation with my lead actreess. I did not fire her and keep shooting. I started loosing joy and energy every day. I started waking up (before shoot) and feeling I HATE THIS ****.
Than I decided to tell her what I feel. She said she doestn like the way I work and she said she is leaving the project.
I felt good. She is leaving. I had to say sorry to the rest of the crew. It was 3 months ago. It was 3 days to go when she left - i have 20 tapes ... but decided to recast the movie in the spring 2005 and shoot it this time 10 days straight (weekends dont work - people dont show up, come late etc) with the crew who will sign the contract.
In the mean time I just shot another movie and started editing. So, FIRE HIM BROTHER - YOU HAVE TO ENJOY THE PROCESS AND IF YOU DONT BECAUSE YOU BELEVE THAT FINIsHING THE MOVIE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT WHAT YOU FEEL _ YOU WILL REGRET.
We are doing it cos we LOVE IT.
Filmmaking is not a factory job you hate.
IS it?
I had the same situation with my lead actreess. I did not fire her and keep shooting. I started loosing joy and energy every day. I started waking up (before shoot) and feeling I HATE THIS ****.
Than I decided to tell her what I feel. She said she doestn like the way I work and she said she is leaving the project.
I felt good. She is leaving. I had to say sorry to the rest of the crew. It was 3 months ago. It was 3 days to go when she left - i have 20 tapes ... but decided to recast the movie in the spring 2005 and shoot it this time 10 days straight (weekends dont work - people dont show up, come late etc) with the crew who will sign the contract.
In the mean time I just shot another movie and started editing. So, FIRE HIM BROTHER - YOU HAVE TO ENJOY THE PROCESS AND IF YOU DONT BECAUSE YOU BELEVE THAT FINIsHING THE MOVIE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT WHAT YOU FEEL _ YOU WILL REGRET.
We are doing it cos we LOVE IT.
Filmmaking is not a factory job you hate.
IS it?
Voytek_Stitko
Well-known member
Re: Problems with Main actor
You see, I gave you this speech about LOVE and FILMMAKING and I BECAME GOLD MEMEBER !
So, I must be right. Right?
You see, I gave you this speech about LOVE and FILMMAKING and I BECAME GOLD MEMEBER !
So, I must be right. Right?
mrbret5
New member
Hey just took notice of how good everyone's advice has been to this gentleman. I think making low budget movies is one of the biggest joys in my life, but man is it a joint effort. Now I love collaborating, I love the idea that all these people work on these different little aspects to finally make one great whole, but like anything else, one kid can make the whole class suffer. Some just get the class yelled at, others get you detentions. Just from what I've been through, I've worked with so many great people, and I know alot of other great people making their own films with their own assorted set of great people, lots of greatness Is there to be mined in the indie community. Which means for tough actors and people so full of themselves that they can begin to ruin a film, that they can easily be replaced, and almost always, always to the the greater good of your picture. Thats just my 2 cents. Best of luck to everyone.
sugahsean469
Well-known member
Fire his flakey ass already!!! Filmaking is a TIME (and money) consuming hobby, and apparently, his time is obviously more important than your project or being a star. First no-show, shame on him; Second no-show, shame on YOU. Not sure if burying him in another movie is the way to go, since you're actually giving him more of your time again, just in a different way. I think word of mouth of his rep will bury himself. And for what your Co-Director thinks--IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT HE THINKS!!! No offense, but you can't have 2 captains on a ship. On top of that, you're both robbing each other of the learning experience of being in total command and getting one true vision across in the story.
Hope all goes well the 2nd time around!
Hope all goes well the 2nd time around!
emotepix
Well-known member
Okay, this is a story about my first feature film as a (paid) director. Yeah right. I was paid $2000 in total, but that's another story.
Anyway, this is your averge kung fu chop socky film, made in Hong Kong, right, and my producer tells me to shoot the entire thing in sequence. I mean first scene first, second scene second, etc.
And I go "are you sure? don't we have little enough money as it is?"
And he goes "trust me..."
And so he's the boss, we start shooting.
Halfway through the three week shoot our lead actor goes "righto, you've got half the film in the can, I want thus and such money right now or else."
Producer doesn't even wait for the "or else", he goes immediately:" you're fired. Get out of here. Now."
I am stunned. Floored would be a better word.
I know this isn't big megabucks we're talking about here, but it is a 35mm feature film and it is halfway in the can...
well the upshoot is this:
James Bong our intrepid hero meets the girl, gets her in bed, the bad guys some sneaking in on them in the middle of the night, there's a colossal fight (it's dark, it has to be colossal, right?) ...
.. and next morning our girl wakes up, sits up with a start, pulls the sheets up 'cause there's this new guy standing there looking cool and cocky.
"what's this?" asks our girl. "who are you?"
"Oh, James Bong was called out to another assignment. I'm James Wing. I'm taking over"
and he kisses her....
and carries on to tne end of the movie.
and did anybody in the audience notice?
sure they did!
they loved it!
just goes to show...
(exactly what, I still don't know)
Anyway, this is your averge kung fu chop socky film, made in Hong Kong, right, and my producer tells me to shoot the entire thing in sequence. I mean first scene first, second scene second, etc.
And I go "are you sure? don't we have little enough money as it is?"
And he goes "trust me..."
And so he's the boss, we start shooting.
Halfway through the three week shoot our lead actor goes "righto, you've got half the film in the can, I want thus and such money right now or else."
Producer doesn't even wait for the "or else", he goes immediately:" you're fired. Get out of here. Now."
I am stunned. Floored would be a better word.
I know this isn't big megabucks we're talking about here, but it is a 35mm feature film and it is halfway in the can...
well the upshoot is this:
James Bong our intrepid hero meets the girl, gets her in bed, the bad guys some sneaking in on them in the middle of the night, there's a colossal fight (it's dark, it has to be colossal, right?) ...
.. and next morning our girl wakes up, sits up with a start, pulls the sheets up 'cause there's this new guy standing there looking cool and cocky.
"what's this?" asks our girl. "who are you?"
"Oh, James Bong was called out to another assignment. I'm James Wing. I'm taking over"
and he kisses her....
and carries on to tne end of the movie.
and did anybody in the audience notice?
sure they did!
they loved it!
just goes to show...
(exactly what, I still don't know)
mroczkowski83
Member
You Should Have Paid Him $20 A Day And Made Him Sign A Contract. Once Money Is Exchanged It Makes Things More Serious. Then You Could Of Threatened To Sue The Bastard. Teach The Asshole A Lesson. Plus I Dont Believe In Shooting A Film Over Nights And Weekends. Pay People And Shoot It In A Few Days In A Row.
Voytek_Stitko
Well-known member
I had the same problem. The lead actress started behaving just like the guy from your project. I didnt fire him thinking that the most important is to finish the project. So, every day it was worse. Finally when I asked her to "behave" and focus for a few more days (we had actually3 days to go with our feature) she...said that "i crossed the line" and she cant work with like this. She quit. Afer two months she met me and wanted to finish the project. But this time I was actually ready to reshoot the movie. So I said: no thanks.
Fire her. And dont codirect. Two guys leading the team is one too many.
Voytek
Fire her. And dont codirect. Two guys leading the team is one too many.
Voytek
If he hasn't responded to a heart to heart then fire him.
Assuming everyone else involved is fine to work with, chances are if you get a replacement willing to be professional in their attitude, you'll be able to finish a reshoot in record time because everyone will be working to the best of their abilities and enjoying the experience, and SO relieved they are no longer working with a self-obsessed amateur.
I'm sure that this one slacker will be causing a poisonous atmosphere on set, and his replacement will lift a huge weight off everyone's shoulders.
Also if you mention to the replacement that you sacked his predecessor, it will concentrate their mind wonderfully!
There are very few successful co-directors out there - most of them only work because they are on exactly the same wavelength, or instead have complementary skills which don't conflict. Otherwise the best you can hope for is taking twice as long to make decisions because everything has to be discussed at length first.
If your co-director is still resistant, may be worth DISCREETLY canvassing opinion from the rest of the cast and crew. If they are all behind the decision to sack the actor, your co-director will have to agree.
Good luck.
Assuming everyone else involved is fine to work with, chances are if you get a replacement willing to be professional in their attitude, you'll be able to finish a reshoot in record time because everyone will be working to the best of their abilities and enjoying the experience, and SO relieved they are no longer working with a self-obsessed amateur.
I'm sure that this one slacker will be causing a poisonous atmosphere on set, and his replacement will lift a huge weight off everyone's shoulders.
Also if you mention to the replacement that you sacked his predecessor, it will concentrate their mind wonderfully!
There are very few successful co-directors out there - most of them only work because they are on exactly the same wavelength, or instead have complementary skills which don't conflict. Otherwise the best you can hope for is taking twice as long to make decisions because everything has to be discussed at length first.
If your co-director is still resistant, may be worth DISCREETLY canvassing opinion from the rest of the cast and crew. If they are all behind the decision to sack the actor, your co-director will have to agree.
Good luck.