| Author | Message | ||
     Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4276 Registered: 12-2001  |
Can't wait for the film to be finished.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4281 Registered: 12-2001 |
Behind the scenes I'm totally ripping off buzzsaw with these   | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 614 Registered: 5-2001 |
Do producers of short films ever ask producers of full-length films or studios for support? Or are they like oil and water? Can you knock on the doors of major studios? Or do they demand some control. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4282 Registered: 12-2001 |
Its kind of complicated. As there is no real market for short films (don't get me started on how much this pisses me off) the studio's dont want anything to do with them. They are almost always self generated. Up to and including things like "Nobody's Perfect" which was Hank Azaria's short film this year. Someone like like him, making a good living in biz, can afford to make a big budget short by calling in favors and friends. For example, the fact that bringing in folks Harold Gould, Josh Molina, Richard Kind, Jeffrey Tambor and Hank himself makes it hard to compete with. Thats basically what you have to do with shorts. Hopefully, thanks to some hard lobbying on my part, SAG (The Screen Actors Guild) is about to change the low budget agreements and create a "short film" agreement, which will make it somewhat easier to make these films. The real killer is the manditory worker's comp insurance. Any film shot with a SAG actor has to carry workers comp even if its a 60 second short or a 3.5 hour epic. Thats what makes it so prohibitive. Unfortunately short films are relegated to festivals and use as calling cards for bigger projects. It was and is a thorn in my side that the public will not go out to a screening of shorts at their local movie house. Put it in a festival and people will come hoping to say, in five or ten years, "yea I saw a short film he directed at the Garden State Film Festival way back when". It's about buzz. Bad films with good buzz will go to tons of festivals that good films with no buzz will not. I have seen it first hand on both sides of the table, as a producer of the New York Comedy Film Festival and now as a submitter of films. I was in a film as an actor that cost close to 50K to make and was cute and went to a couple of festivals but it died cause it was 32 minutes long and that kept it out of some bigger fests as it is hard to program something that long that doesn't have a "name" talent. And that director has done nothing since. That is why I try to keep mine under 15 minutes, get someone with a "name" to agree and then shoot on film (it legitimizes the project, don't ask me why) and then post out to high end tape. But the short answer (which it is too late for) is no. The studio's in AMERICA do not get involved with shorts. In europe, they are recognized as a valid and necessary means of storytelling so there is more money there. Never mind fewer restrictions on filming, unlinke, say the restrictions against filming in MAPLEWOOD which were essentially double my shooting budget for an 8 second shot of a woman walking into a store in the village. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4284 Registered: 12-2001 |
Glad I have this photo to remind me when I film something that it is supposed to be, can be, and should be fun.  | ||
| Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 791 Registered: 2-2004 |
Duncan, A large market soon may emmerge for short films. I was reading an article somewhere (I want to say the economist.com) about putting short films on portable gaming devices and cell phones. Unfortunately, it ain’t gonna be art for art’s sake, because it’s part of the quest for new media to convey ads. The thinking is that advertisers will create short films on handheld games. The problem with this strategy is that people are rejecting ads on TV and won’t welcome them on their gaming devices unless the advertisers are footing at least a portion of bill for the device or the game. However, what occurred to me is that if you have the stomach for it (I don’t know how you feel about gaming—it’s certainly not my bag) you might want to have a pow-wow with some game designers. The idea I have is that together you can create a story line to a game. You could do a short film as lead in, but you could also create short films throughout the course of the game, basically dramatizing what transpires after a series of steps or actions have been taken. Short films which might work for cell phones could be quirky local color documentaries that would be something of a mini tour guide. What I’m thinking here is that as global positioning technology begins to merge with cellular technology, cellphones/blackberries etc. will be mechanisms for letting people know what sorts of products can be had just around the corner. In the case of a short film you could do something like a walking tour of Charleston, SC showing locations of famous ghost sightings, or a guide to the best cheesesteaks in Philly. I believe technology to host such a presentation already exists, and I’m fairly certain that it will be ubiquitous in the near future. The good news is that you’re already on the ground floor of the medium. Creating a film to merge with new technology could create the buzz you’re looking for anda willingness to make some films with unambiguously commercial goals at the outset could help you make a boatload of money to finance a purely artistic vision. Actually before the handhelds with GPS technology become ubiquitous you could make one of these walking tours and buy a bunch to rent out to folks who want to take the tour. Some folks will become so enamored of the devices that you (or one of your minions) could turn around and sell them one when they return from their tour. I’m not saying you’d make a ton doing this, but it’s another potential revenue stream as well as vehicle for getting your film and name out there. Sorry for injecting crass commercialism into the discussion. Perhaps because I started working at an advertising agency (in the tech department) I’m more amenable to merging art with commerce. Or maybe it’s just the first coffee of the day that has me feeling that the world may indeed be your (or anyone else’s) oyster. Regardless, good luck. Looking forward to actually making it to a showing of one of your films. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 1932 Registered: 5-2001  |
Duncan. I wonder who has the rights for that bringing down the house movie? I thought it was a talking heads bio. I just ordered it from amazon! I like the pictures. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4300 Registered: 12-2001 |
HOME  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4301 Registered: 12-2001 |
SWEET  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4302 Registered: 12-2001 |
HOME  | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 630 Registered: 5-2001 |
Duncan, Thanks for explaining. I happen to know two very successful director/producer types with Warner Brothers. These two are rolling in money....it seems that they have carte blanche with production costs etc. Along with the blockbuster hits, they have had some REAL stinkers in the last 10 years and yet the studio keeps writing the checks and letting them spend all they want. It is so hard being a struggling artist and trying not to sell your soul for success. Is there no apprenticeship or mentor-type relationships between those that HAVE made it and those that are trying to get their foot in the door? Even just a financial boost - like a scholarship into the industry. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4307 Registered: 12-2001 |
kmk. I'm not struggling so much as frustrated and yea, sure there are relationships/mentors to be had, I am working with Alec Baldwin on a feature and so things are happening, but what I enjoy most is making short films. I have always loved short form literature and always thought it underrated. There is something to be said for dropping in on a moment in time in some characters lives and just visiting for a few minutes. It always, if done well, leaves the reader/watcher wanting more. The best compliment I have gotten for The Reader was that the person was dying to know what happened next week when the girl came back. That made me feel as if I had done my job well. Features are somewhat easier to make because there is hope of financial gain. Shorts, there is NO HOPE OF MAKING A RED CENT. So very few people engage in making them unless 1)they make them so they can get to make a feature 2)the have buckets of money and just think it would be fun to make a movie...these are called "Trust fund films" or 3) have a story that only takes that amount of time to tell. As I say on my site, I will never make a long story short or a short story long, it is a disservice to the story to do either. Were I 23 I would go the apprenticeship route, but I am not and so cannot. I still have to make a living doing whatever work comes my way be it in plays or making my films. The feature project will get made no matter what. It is one of the strongest, timliest scripts around. So much so that I am really lucky the writer is holding out to let me direct it cause I know he could go to a literary agent and have this script in production in about 2 months. But he has faith in me and it will get made. Warner Bros. Oh Boy. I am surprised that they still write the checks cause as they say "you are only as good as your last film". But good for them! I just find it sort of mind numbing cause I have seen so many really REALLY BAD indie features and I wonder where on earth did they get the cash to shoot that? Cause you can check on budgets of films that are released or through SAG and it stuns me. These clunkers have 2-5 million dollar budgets and never see a distribution deal. Just boggles the mind. In the end, it is truly all in who you know. Its because I did a production of Taming of the Shrew in Mass. and met an actor named Ryan Shively who is perfect for the film who then got a show with Alec Baldwin on Bway to whom he passed on the script and my other films that I have the connections I do have. So I spend my time cultivating those connections in the hopes that, as my wife puts it, I will hit critical mass. That point at which I will have met enough people that someone, somewhere will fall in line and the thing will get done. I am mostly just venting my frustrations out here. Its good and cathartic. But I would love to be in your friends position where I could make the films I want to make with the people I want to make them with. And perhaps that day is coming...who knows. Each short I have done is better than the one before, so????? | ||
| kmk Supporter Username: Kmk Post Number: 631 Registered: 5-2001 |
I also know a "film maker" who made exactly what you described....a "trust fund film". Even though it played at that theater behind the Plaza hotel in NYC, where is that guy today? I am/was in the design industry also. I understand the crap you have to go through. I need to run..... but there is a great book that an old professor of mine wrote called The Mechanics of Fame. Although it was written about the field of Architecture, it puts forth a very interesting theory......those who work for "world famous" people learn to take the neccessary risks and how to stretch and stick your neck out. It can be traced - as clear as day - that almost without exception every famous architect today worked in the office of a famous architect at some time in his or her youth. Gotta run, but it's good stuff to think about. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4319 Registered: 12-2001 |
Well The Reader is turning into the little film that could. Just got into our third festival. Its in NYC so maybe some folks who can help me along can make it. Plus any MOL'ers who work in NYC and want to drop by.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4322 Registered: 12-2001 |
 Festival Web Site | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4339 Registered: 12-2001 |
This is the place the film will screen Looks like a cool room. | ||
| buzzsaw Citizen Username: Buzzsaw Post Number: 1948 Registered: 5-2001 |
I've been there. It's really nice. Swank with a capitol ank. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4376 Registered: 12-2001 |
 Two more "sessions" and this film will be FINISHED. Then I can have the trilogy screening somewhere in Maplewood so y'all can see these, if you are so inclined. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4398 Registered: 12-2001 |
 Wednesday May 25th. We are in competition at Sugar. Thursday night awards at Spider in the Avalon club. Cmon out y'all! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4418 Registered: 12-2001 |
IT IS FINISHED  Coming soon to a festival, uh, somewhere around here. | ||
| Pippi Supporter Username: Pippi Post Number: 959 Registered: 8-2003  |
congrats! "It's a wrap" must be the best words to say | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4420 Registered: 12-2001 |
They are Pippi, and we said them back in JULY!! Now that Post is over and the film is finished, I don't know exactly what one says. Other than THANK GOD ITS OVER. and come to see the other one in NYC on Wed. night  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4467 Registered: 12-2001 |
The NYC HOME FILM FESTIVAL. Well I have to say that while I was thrilled to be accepted into the festival it was horribly executed. I was this close to pulling the film, and likely would have were it not for the fact that I produced a film festival for 4 years and know what they were up against. All the same, the people at SUGAR should be ashamed of themselves. All that aside, it went extremely well. The reaction of the audience was incredibly gratifying. So many of my worlds collided in such a joyous way. Friends, family, colleagues, even a Maplewoodian!!! The overall quality of the films was pretty good. There was lots of buzz after The Reader and I took a fair number of questions during the Q&A that demonstrated that people had been engaged from the get go. Tonight is the second night and awards so we shall see what we shall see. But it was really nice to have a screening in the city. Now I can start planning the one out here in Maplewood for all three films. Of course, if there is any good news tonight regarding the film, I will brag about it here soon enough..LOL | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4471 Registered: 12-2001 |
I just liked the way this looked   | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1713 Registered: 7-2003 |
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4472 Registered: 12-2001 |
thanks Brett | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 1715 Registered: 7-2003 |
It’s funny, I was tempted to figure out where you lived so I could come over and shake your hand. For some reason a event like this is always punctuated by a handshake. | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 1763 Registered: 9-2002 |
Awesome Duncan! Your resume is getting more impressive by the minute! | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4530 Registered: 12-2001 |
Sent Bust out to its first festival this week. Soon I will have two films under consideration at the same festivals. Wonder if thats a good thing or a bad thing?  Also this is not the final poster, but the beginnings of one. Boy could I use a good graphics designer to work for free on this..HINT HINT | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4532 Registered: 12-2001 |
And some more good news on the film front. THE READER has just been accepted into another festival! The INDIEFEST 2005 in Chicago, 7/29-8/07. Details to follow. coool | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4541 Registered: 12-2001 |
Took a while but I grabbed the graphic.  | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6624 Registered: 4-1997  |
email me a plot synopsis and a screen grab of your title dave [at] davidrossdesign [dot] com | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 662 Registered: 10-2004 |
drift (sorry, Duncan) Dave, why do people avoid posting their e-mail address in the regular format (as you did above)? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6627 Registered: 4-1997 |
Spammers scan the web with robots looking for addresses to harvest. They will look for the @ site and the .com or .net to learn if it's an address. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4544 Registered: 12-2001 |
Went to see the Indigo Girls again this weekend on Cape Cod. My son got to shake hands with both of them. He has met his God and knows Nirvana now. Especially since they played his request. Never seen a kid so happy in my life. Really cute. Great show. Going again on Thursday to Roseland Ballroom. | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4573 Registered: 12-2001 |
I finally got the "hardware" as it were from the Garden State Film Fest. Whoo hoo.  | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4620 Registered: 12-2001 |
I am now in the delightfully difficult position of deciding which festival to attend. My film THE READER has just been accepted into another festival. This time the Woods Hole Film Festival on Cape Cod and it runs the same week as INDIEFEST in Chicago. I love having this kind of "tough" decision to make. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 1973 Registered: 6-2001  |
I would go to the Chicago festival. You already have deep roots on Cape Cod, and Chicago will be a brand new experience. (Course, I'd always go with the ocean location, myself, and am basing this opinion purely objectively on your focus in the film world.) | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4621 Registered: 12-2001 |
I might be able to do both. As there will be several showings of the film in Chicago and just one (I think) at Woods Hole. And I will definately go to the film market in Chicago cause how nice to be able to say, "oh I missed that screening because I was at another festival with the film"----nice problem to have | ||
| Duncan Supporter Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 4624 Registered: 12-2001 |
 SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2005 Time Redfield Auditorium Formosa (Comedy) with The Reader (Drama) If you have friends or family on the Cape or in the Boston area, please direct them to the woods hole ff site. I need all the help I can get. |
