So -- in the name of doing something I don't hate, I've decided to work on getting one of my screenplays made into a movie which I'll direct myself. We're starting out by doing just one short scene, as a sort of 'pilot' to not only test if I have the patience for this all and get a sense of what we need to look out for, but eke we can use the strength of this little scene to raise money for the full feature. The short is done on a general budget of $0, though I might be able to supplement that mildly with whatever's left in my bank account after buying this computer.
I think I found a good location though I have yet to hear back from the hall about renting the place. Costumes are a problem -- the story is set in 1775 and about middle and upperclass types in general. Even at the time a good outfit would have cost the equivalent of $1,000-$2,000 at least (just as designer suits and and gowns can cost similar amounts today.) So this is a bit tricky -- I'm hoping the opera will take pity on me and lend me some outfits. I think my odds are good, since the short is so short I'd only need the stuff out for about a day. If not I will probably have to figure out a way to sew them all myself, because otherwise the only borrowing option in the city would be this crummy costume shop I used to work at and got fired from for complaining about how historically inaccurate the outfits were, thus suggesting right off they probably have nothing I can use. Their stuff is fine for a fantasy costume ball but is not reenactment quality by any means. If I have to make the clothes myself, I will have to scrape up about $80 for roundtrip bus tickets to LA to buy cloth in the fashion district and then the cost of the actual materials -- but I know I can get materials cheaper in the Los Angeles fashion district than I can anyplace here in New Mexico, with savings that most certainly would compensate for the cost of the ticket.
Then there is the problem of actors. The scene needs about 6 people -- two male/female background couples and a man and woman who are the leads of the scene. The man especially needs to be a very good comic actor in physical comedy and pantomime. Not sure where I can find one of those here in town. Finding actors at all can be a problem around here.
After that I think all we need is a camera and maybe a light or two (possibly not even the lights.) There's not much dialogue in the scene so I think we could get away with doing the old film-it-silent-and-dub-the-sound-later that's commonly done on cheap productions where you can't afford a sound crew.
I hope it'll go smoothly so I can actually enjoy it, before it turns into the same old shopping it around, trying to get folks to give me money thing. God I wish I could just have a salaried job...
I think I found a good location though I have yet to hear back from the hall about renting the place. Costumes are a problem -- the story is set in 1775 and about middle and upperclass types in general. Even at the time a good outfit would have cost the equivalent of $1,000-$2,000 at least (just as designer suits and and gowns can cost similar amounts today.) So this is a bit tricky -- I'm hoping the opera will take pity on me and lend me some outfits. I think my odds are good, since the short is so short I'd only need the stuff out for about a day. If not I will probably have to figure out a way to sew them all myself, because otherwise the only borrowing option in the city would be this crummy costume shop I used to work at and got fired from for complaining about how historically inaccurate the outfits were, thus suggesting right off they probably have nothing I can use. Their stuff is fine for a fantasy costume ball but is not reenactment quality by any means. If I have to make the clothes myself, I will have to scrape up about $80 for roundtrip bus tickets to LA to buy cloth in the fashion district and then the cost of the actual materials -- but I know I can get materials cheaper in the Los Angeles fashion district than I can anyplace here in New Mexico, with savings that most certainly would compensate for the cost of the ticket.
Then there is the problem of actors. The scene needs about 6 people -- two male/female background couples and a man and woman who are the leads of the scene. The man especially needs to be a very good comic actor in physical comedy and pantomime. Not sure where I can find one of those here in town. Finding actors at all can be a problem around here.
After that I think all we need is a camera and maybe a light or two (possibly not even the lights.) There's not much dialogue in the scene so I think we could get away with doing the old film-it-silent-and-dub-the-sound-later that's commonly done on cheap productions where you can't afford a sound crew.
I hope it'll go smoothly so I can actually enjoy it, before it turns into the same old shopping it around, trying to get folks to give me money thing. God I wish I could just have a salaried job...
Also get a bunch of credit cards and use them to finance the project. Shoot in HDV 1080i 50i so that it will look good. If you need any editing advice or post production advice, don't hesitate to ask. its what I do