Sorry I Haven't Read Your Script

[Nektonic]

Very few people can pull this off, you'll never sign a name actor for a film like this unless you are a name yourself, and no one will ever finance this type of production within the Hollywood system. Plus it can turn into a steaming pile of dogshi* if you screw it up.

At least you won't need a script supervisor.

The project I am doing is a short film, meant to be done more for fun and learning a different style of directing and filmmaking. We won't be pursuing any stars or name actors for it. The budget is tiny, miniscule really.

About the steaming pile of dogshi* part, that is of course a worry, but I've always wanted to try this type of filmmaking and the story seems like a good fit to try it out on. I think it will also be best to try this improvisational style out on a short and not a feature.

Doing a film without name actors and as a feature may seem like a waste but I like the concept/story and am still learning the craft so I figure what the heck.

improv does not mean a free for all. it is guided by the same principles (objectives & intentions) as following scripted dialogue. the difference is I give the actor's the freedom to use their own language, to experiment with choices, to go deeper, all guided by the underlying intentions for the scene so that it concludes where it needs to.

I rediscover the film i'm making three times -- on the page, on camera and in the edit bay.

You're absolutely right. I don't intend to just go into this guns (or in this case cameras) blazin' without any type of script or outline and no preparation. I guess the thing we're going for is mostly improvisational dialogue and for a lot of scenes the characters and plot will be developed by improvisational exchanges based on a predetermined story structure. There will be other scenes that will require more specific planning because of technical elements and for safety so it will not be a 100% improvisational film. Plus, during filming, new ideas could arise that might be put off for the next day of shooting, and planned or storyboarded roughly the night before.

I completely agree with what you're saying about rediscovering a film at various stages. That's a healthy attitude I think, even with a film that is heavily storyboarded it is good to be open to other possibilities.

I think your list in the previous post will be great help to me and my collaborators. Thanks for sharing your techniques.

my production company, SABI PICTURES, takes its name from a passage in his book, Sculpting in Time.

I need to read Tarkovsky's book. Thanks for reminding me about it.