Hi guys,
I'm just looking for a little bit of advice from you knowledgable people on an area I know very little about!
My background is a screenwriter that has received a hell of a lot of no's (sound familiar?) who has decided to adapt a TV pilot I wrote into a micro-budget feature. I used to play poker for a living and intend to raise the budget at the poker table over the next year then shoot the damn thing myself! A little like the screenwriter version of Michael Douglas in Falling Down, except, ya know, minus the killings and stuff.
My question to all you wonderful filmmakers out there is this-what advice would you give to someone who has absolutely zero experience as a filmmaker to put them in the best position to make a film?
There is a four month intensive filmmaking course at a film school in London that I am looking at-waste of time/hard earned savings? I see so many people say there's no point going to film school but considering I have not once been behind a camera the idea of learning some practical skills to give me the ability/confidence when it comes time to shoot seems appealing. Then spend the rest of the year while I earn the budget shooting (probably terrible) little short films to improve my skills. To spend a year grinding at the tables then make a film that looks like sh*t would be soul destroying so I would be prepared to bite the bullet and shell out for the course if it would be better in the long run.
The other options are:
-Shoot it myself without any training. How do these wizards do that?! Are there other ways of learning that are just as good but won't cost me seven grand?
OR
-Write it and produce it but have somebody else direct it. It seems to me that the screenwriter gets forgotten a lot in these circumstances?
I appreciate there is no definitive answer to this, but I would love some advice as I am about to devote the next few years of my life to this.
Thanks for taking the time to read my waffle. This whole website is absolutely amazing and I only wish I'd found it sooner.
All the best,
Fraser
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As a screenwriter? Show the way. Then get out of the way. Let the other creatives shine.
As a producer? Get money. Spend money.
Director? All your early projects look like shit. But if the movie is completed then you get to be awesome.
Distribution? That is a mess right now. There are distribution agents post production. But pick a platform / agent right now.
Assemble your team of 3 believers and get started with the BTS.
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If I were you I'd skip school. Instead start with a short film shot on weekends for the experience. Then when you feel ready make your micro-budget feature with the best crew you can afford. Make sure you include a couple "names" in your cast, otherwise you'll have trouble getting distribution. Best of luck!
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Produce/write/shoot/edit a short (skit) yourself - that's called training.
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I would definitely suggest getting to know a crew or at least a DP who knows what they’re doing. Then you could direct the thing if you have the vision. If you have the money and the script, be the director! As James Cameron once said, all you have to do to be a director is get on set and say “I’m the director”.
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My advice would be just what Mike said above, connect with a great DP. However, because of all of the logistical aspects of producing, studio binder is a good way of learning a lot of those aspects for free (the last thing you want is to raise money, gather a crew, and then get shut down because of an insurance issue or something that puts the people you're working with in a bad situation. Also, youtube is a great way of learning technical aspects of filmmaking for free. Focus on indie filmmaking and cheats that can help you create great effects in a practical way.
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As a general rule, never learn a skill unless you really want to spend the time to learn that skill. For example, there are many writers who produce, but not direct. Try finding a partner who wants experience directing a film; they will likely have more experience than you directing already.
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I just wanted to say thank you for the comments and advice given. Definitely given me some things to think about. Going to give school a swerve as advised, you guys just saved me seven grand!
Cheers
Fraser
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PT anderson dropped out of NYU film school, bankrolled his first feature by $ gambling. If you got no big bills or family responsibility, go for it. It’s a privilege to make movies for a hobby or a living.
This is what I call filmmakers MMO...means, motive, opportunity :) As everyone else said - go for it. Looks like uve got some good source of funding so don't sweat how to yell directions to actors (for now)
Would gladly like to help on quid pro quo basis as unlike you I'm poker dumbass so it good old bank loans for me, but unfortunately I'm like 15000 miles away...
Good luck and push this through...uve got ignition many daydream of. Use it.
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Think of it as an overall skillset: do a skill sheet of everything you can do on your own, figure out what you can't and hire people to fill in the gaps.
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David Santo has given the best advice of all posters, IMO.
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@Fraser You don’t need hand over the reigns altogether if you want to direct yourself, instead find a co director to help in areas you aren’t familiar with. You’re passionate about this so thoughts and feelings of characters would likely show through but you’ll need assistance with physical blocking of actors and scenes directing audiences eyes where you want them to look irrespective of where actors stand/move and storyboard. Communication skills with actors to bring out the best in them is always a psychological plus. A good DOP a must, who understands your true vision and after thoroughly discussing executes your plan. Bad sound or lighting can turn a good script into a rubbish film. Rather than spend 7 grand on a film school it would be wiser to put toward DOP, gaffer, sound recordist and possibly a grip. (depends on equipment used.) Low budget can be own wardrobe/locations/set design obviously depending on script. If a scene is going to be expensive do same major beats in a different scenario as long as story is same. A DOP need not break the bank, years ago I used university students studying the subject but who had tremendous skill already and uniquely maverick portfolios. Have you thought of getting practice in with friends using an i phone? There’s tons of free directing info on u tube. One of my nemesis characters is a poker champion and I’m still researching the subject and looking for fresh insights.