Filmmaking / Directing : Global filmmaking idea by Jaap Ruurd Feitsma

Like your idea. Check my profile page. I lived in The Netherlands in 1974. First in Nijmegen, had an affair with a Dutch nurse at Cannius Ziekenhaus. Worked at a houthandel in nearby Wychen. Then after we broke up, Went to Amsterdam where I got a job with the NBBS on the Kerkstraat flag bij de leidsplein. My written Dutch sucks. But I can still speak some. Anyway. Communicate with me AFTER you have read my script "Hope Saves Manhattan" it is on my profile page under Loglines. Not BEFORE. That way we will have something to talk about. FYI I am working on a script with another gentleman in the Netherlands called "Amsterdam 1974 " about my experiences there. Anyway Tot Ziens Meneer Dag!

I love this idea. What steps can we pursue to make this happen?

Am in. Title: One Script - One Thousand Films =)

Haven't thought that much through. It is just an idea :D Maybe we can start by picking a genre and theme?

Or we can create some log-lines and share them with each other. Eventually one will get picked or whatever. Oh man... we'll need a jury if we're doing this :P

Sounds like a good time! I'm in Jaap!

Been done but nothing to stop the way of another - Check out 'London Screenwriters Festival - Create 50' project & check out last years project '50 KISSES' - amazing & THATS your competition :)

I wouldn't fix a genre because one idea could inspire us to completely different ideas. A logline has to be very open into all directions. One reads it as a comedy, another one uses the idea to make a thriller or horror film, the next a space story or a romance. Hence, we should think about the length of our screenplay, the number of characters and a very wide outline. Something like Peter, Paul and Mary from somewhere in Iowa are on vacation in Europe. They bought an old van or VW bus and want to explore some countries of the European Union (or through India, Africa, Australia, the U.S. or South America.) They lose all their money, passports and papers (by what ever you want to happen to them) and plan a bank robbery of all things in the poorest country. Lines of people waiting in front of the banks to get their money and they want to steal it. What will happen to them? Will they take it and flee, will they give it away to the poorest, will they bring it back, will they get arrested or fly back home and donate it? This surely isn't the greatest idea because it will be expensive to film, has too many locations, too many extra people etc, but this is what I think could work. Maybe we can start from there with making suggestions like this? Any other idea about how it could work?

I am really interested...Lets keep connected...!! Please let me know how to go about it!

I think it could work. I think it has a lot of of twists and turns. And there is always stock video for the locations. The story arc and the character arc sound great. I would want to collaborate on something like that. Here's an idea. what if the Bank robbery goes south. They succeed But the bank is secretly owned by an African War lord who now chases them. Wow Elisabeth you really have endless ideas. Although I still like that spy in the pew in the church idea better or even the typo in the bible with Eva in space. Maybe because I like sci fi, comedy, and animation best. We as writers should be more flexible and not be locked into a particular genre. I mean it could be sci fi but play like a western. It could be sci fi but be a comedy. Examples: "OUTLAND" with Sean Connery where he plays a sheriff on a Jupiter mining colony and some bad guys are coming in on the next space shuttle from earth. Or the classic Mel Brooks Sci fi comedy "SPACEBALLS". So I think the lesson here is still write what you know and have a good story and interesting characters but not be locked into a particular genre. Thank you Elisabeth for sharing. I am very grateful to be part of this Stage 32 fellowship. I still feel it is the greatest fellowship created since The Bard invited the gang over for mutton and ale to talk shop.

I am just going to let you know that I have been attempting something like this for a while. The issues I have run into are typically everyone is excited until you have to put money and effort into actual shooting. Casting, set creation (even if you are using your own space), and time on set takes time and money. Even if it is just depreciation of gear. Issues that have to be addressed. Frame rate, resolution, who has final edit? Who will decide what final submissions meet a minimum standard of quality? What format will final product be delivered in? How will credit be given. What countries laws will be followed (copyright, fair use, appearance releases, etc...)? What type of distribution will be acceptable? It is quite possible to have something like this happen, but I have learned the hard way that you will want all of the legal aspects covered and people that will actually create to be covered and fairly credited. You will want a dedicated organizer. And a dedicated script supervisor. I found writers were thrilled to contribute, but not so much film makers. My suggestion would be that anyone that wants to write, has to commit to production. That can include finding someone to produce for them. And you will want to make sure everyone signs an agreement. Anyone that has actually made a short film will understand that this requires a LOT more than one might expect. I would suggest, for ease of continuity that you have a story line that starts with someone that has a large number of international friends via social media. They reach out to friends to help with something, and then each friend goes about it in their own manner. I see some great ideas in this post, but how realistic is it to shoot some of these ideas without some major fund raising? That said, I am in if I find a final script to be worth it to me to make.

Wow!! I envision how a few people(or families) dealt with that day. how it affected their lives. But we have to find out later in the film that they got connected. It could be a first responders family,. A family of a Muslim diplomat. A family from Harlem. I think (3) is the workable #. Actors Denis Quaid is the Fireman that survived the tragedy. Tony Shaloub is the muslim diplomat that is affected by it. Samuel Jackson is the head of the family from Harlem. Yet for it to work and have meaning and a message of experience strength and hope they have to come together some how. I can start writing it. But Nicholas I have to be up front I can't afford to write it for free. If you can come up with an amount to do this up front. I am willing to sign papers and have my production company and staff work on it. You give me one month time to get it to a 120 page script and it will be done.. Your call. Ball is in your court now. But before you do anything I would look at my profile page on Stage 32 to see if I am the right one to work on your incredible vision. I would rather you pick someone perfect for it and get it done right.

Well, I think that this idea is cool, but a number too great for a first time project. We should go with Jaap when he wrote it shall be a short script idea developed or written by all of us which can be interpreted by ourselves as filmmakers in different ways. I think this idea can work, but it really must be very to the point on the one hand and very open for all interpretations on the other hand. Only then, we can develop different movies from the same screenplay which is the basic idea of Jaap's post.

OK Elisabeth lets follow Jaap's lead and see where it takes us.

Hey guys :D These are all great ideas that are worth exploring! Very creative, which is exactly what we need! Really happy this is being picked up! However, I think it is be imperative to keep things really simple - especially for the first time we’re doing this (but if it works, why not do it again? :)) And I think anyone should be able to join. So the least experienced and the most experienced alike. It shouldn’t matter. Maybe the same goes for the budget: if filmmakers want to get funding for it, to make it, they can do so (on their own?). But others might want to - or have to - do it without an actual budget, and shoot it with friends during a weekend, for example. That should also be possible. It is up to the participants to decide. That way it could become a high-end production for some, and a student like film for others, yet substantively, that won’t matter. What do you guys think? I guess the idea is to surprise each other with the end results on filming the same script. It doesn’t have to be a competition with a jury (we can always do that later as well). Personally I think keeping things simple is the key, especially for the first time. For instance: 1 location, 2 or 3 actors, and between 1 and 3 minutes in duration. It needs a simple story with a beginning, a middle and an ending. We might even choose NOT to write the ending right away, so filmmakers need to finish the third act on their own. However, I’m just shouting out loud right now. These are just ideas and we’re just getting started :) I wonder, would it be useful and interesting in getting some people from the Stage 32 staff involved in one way or the other?

Jaap, I think you are on the right track. But to clarify, this is several filmmakers making the same script, not several filmmakers contributing to a bigger project.

Hey guys! just a quick heads-up from my side: it's crazy busy for me with work to finish, before the actual holidays, but I will get back to this topic as soon as I can! :)

Excellent and intriguing idea...I believe the Finnish team that created Iron Skies is doing something similar with the sequel...QD

Well guys, this is 4 weeks ago now. Is the project still alive or already gone with a snow storm?

Elisabeth- Yeah I forgot about these guys too. Touche Elisabeth

Happy New Year everyone! And sorry guys, I was abroad for a shoot. It's been busy! Anyway... as far as I am concerned, we are still up with this project! Would it be an idea that I come up with the first story concept, and share it here with you guys? And that, from that point on, we continue working on it? Other ideas on how to move forward are welcome, of course. Should we keep it small and simple, or should we contact admins from Stage 32 to work on this with us? :) Hope hearing from you guys! P.s. tomorrow I'm meeting with a freelance colleague of mine, to do a little brainstorming for some new short film ideas. Maybe we can use what comes out of that as well.

Jaap-- I am an American born& raised in New York. But I did learn Dutch from my 1974 year in Amsterdam working for the NBBS. My opinion-- K.I. S. S. (keep it simple stupid). Just have a compelling story, with great characters and an interesting plot. People go to the movies to feel. Not to think. That's all I got. Live from New Amsterdam, It's a cold Tuesday Morning.

K.I.S.S, indeed! ;) Doesn't mean that, at some point, Stage 32 can't be involved. But you're right, Steven, keeping things simple is key. It's all about the story. Tomorrow I will have my brainstorm session and get back to you guys asap with what we come up with. By the way.. I live in the North of the Netherlands, in the province of Friesland. People are iceskating on the ROADS today!! not kidding! :) Take look by copy-pasting this url: https://www.facebook.com/onsleeuwarden/videos/532322476931083/?pnref=story

Tot Ziens!! Dag!!

I agree, keep it simple is the best. It's our project, our initiative. Let it be our project with our rules. By the way... I live not far from the German part of Friesland and know what you are talking about, Jaap. The worst is the ice-cold wind.