Ever make a movie? Options

[PuppyLove72]

Have you ever made a feature-length film?

Were your friends in it? Did you do auditions? Did you write the script? How long was it (pages/minutes)? Why did you make it? Did you enter it in a contest? What was the hardest part about filming? How many cameras did you use? Were you happy with the finished project? Did you both write and direct (and were you also IN the movie)? What were some big problems you dealt with?

[hypnotique]

No.
Ive made short movies involving me doing stupid shit drunk.But nothing to that extreme.

But then again ive always been an improv girl.

[NoSex]

Unfortunately, I have not. Although, this is sort of one of my dreams. I hope to have had at least one (short film) made by the end of this year, though.

I take it, you're considering such an endeavor?

[The-March-Hare]

Not an original, but we're currently producing a remake of the Buffy Musical, with Buffy cast as a very tall black man.

Good times

[Reidar]

To answer your questions:

Yes. It was a martial arts movie that I starred in called "Pow Pow Punishment" and was an assignment for Japanese class in high school. My teacher found it hilarious and submitted it to an Asian Film Festival. I never got to follow up on its success, but I would guess it to be the winner of the "Most Ethnically Offensive" category.

I wrote the script.

It was twelve sentences for an hour-long movie.

We used one camera.

The hardest part about filming was finding somebody to play the role of "Cyborg Hitler".

[PuppyLove72]

Unfortunately, I have not. Although, this is sort of one of my dreams. I hope to have had at least one (short film) made by the end of this year, though.

I take it, you're considering such an endeavor?

Not considering, seriously attempting. I'm working on an at least 90-page original screenplay (the first draft was 94 pages, I'm on the fifth draft) with a nine-character cast (most of them being starring roles), with only one camera to use, and, to make matters more complicated...it takes place in 1964 which means authentic costuming and locations.

So, I'm just poking around for some pointers.

[NoSex]

Not considering, seriously attempting. I'm working on an at least 90-page original screenplay (the first draft was 94 pages, I'm on the fifth draft) with a nine-character cast (most of them being starring roles), with only one camera to use, and, to make matters more complicated...it takes place in 1964 which means authentic costuming and locations.

So, I'm just poking around for some pointers.

I'm no expert, and since I've never really done it... but, I have, in my life, devoted a lot of thought to the idea.

Have you done any readings yet? Have you begun casting (who are looking for)? How many locations does the script call for (outline separate time frames and major indoor/outdoor scenes to put concerns into perspective: lighting, releases, procurement, etc. etc.)? What genre are we talking (if any)? Are shooting on film or digital? What kind of budget are you working with? What kind of crew are you looking for/needing?

Just, start asking yourself all these questions and start ensuring confidence in yourself by devising very clear and concise plans (for the entire process of production). Are you going to story-board? What would be the most efficient shooting schedule? How will post-production interpret the raw footage? etc. etc.

I take it this is a no-budget production working with pure gorilla filmmaking?

[PuppyLove72]

I'm no expert, and since I've never really done it... but, I have, in my life, devoted a lot of thought to the idea.

Have you done any readings yet? Have you begun casting (who are looking for)? How many locations does the script call for (outline separate time frames and major indoor/outdoor scenes to put concerns into perspective: lighting, releases, procurement, etc. etc.)? What genre are we talking (if any)? Are shooting on film or digital? What kind of budget are you working with? What kind of crew are you looking for/needing?

Just, start asking yourself all these questions and start ensuring confidence in yourself by devising very clear and concise plans (for the entire process of production). Are you going to story-board? What would be the most efficient shooting schedule? How will post-production interpret the raw footage? etc. etc.

I take it this is a no-budget production working with pure gorilla filmmaking?

Well, the primary "crew" is myself (writer/director), my older sister (asst. writer/director), and my cousin (costuming and consultant).

We have almost all the cast thought of, except for one character who we're just picky about.

Locationing shouldn't be too hard (a lot of it takes place outside), HOWEVER we do have two major problems that includes one or more restaurant sequences and an outside music festival.
The bad part about the outside locations (or any, really) is that almost anywhere will date the year as being definately recent, and not the early 60's (which it takes place in).

I really don't know if the camera I have is digital or video, it has tapes but you can still load it onto the computer.


The thing is, not much can be done right now. I feel like if I don't have a cast secured, it may turn out to be all work in vain if we can't get all the cast members and then not be able to do the film unless I heavily edit the screenplay, by which time at the end of that, the remaining cast members will have become further occupied with something else (work, vacation, or, even worse, school).

Several of the cast members are high school seniors and will be going to college after the summer, which would make filming past summer (which I hope won't happen) near impossible.

There are four MAIN characters and three are seniors, one is a junior.

Not to mention, I only have direct contact with three of the seven decided cast members, and a couple of them I've only met once/twice and don't have their IM/myspace/email, so I have to get in touch with them through my direct contacts, practically meet them, and see if they want to do the film.

Anyone ever ask a near-stranger to do a movie?

[NoSex]

Work out your kinks and plan each session of shooting (to the teeth), lest your cast and crew stomp your brains out of your head. You have to be a clear, helpful, and reliable anchor for your cast and crew (this means being on top of everything). Start scouting locations (asking owners of restaurants, homes, talking to some local bands, etc. etc. - maybe you can find a 60's diner, ah ha), start securing your communication with cast and crew, and start getting even more serious (if you want shit to happen).

P.S. Don't get hung up on the small stuff. It's a movie, we know it's not really the 60's. We'll be able to suspend our disbelief for the most part. So, just don't sweat the small stuff. If you really want the movie made, you'll find a way to deal.

[Relentless]

That is my dream job. =D

Anyway, I have a decade project (APUSH) coming up, where we film each other as a group in a certain era, 60's, 70's, and so on... And we would have to act like it was that decade and such. I can't wait for it. I just need a Video Camera. LOL.

[PuppyLove72]

What would you suggest would be a good schedule tactic to use when most of the cast lives 1 hr./1 hr. 10 min. away?

[NoSex]

What would you suggest would be a good schedule tactic to use when most of the cast lives 1 hr./1 hr. 10 min. away?

Compact shooting. Block any scenes that you can/have to. Then, fix all your shots around locations. Order them by convenience. What scenes call for what locations? Which locations are nearest one-another? Which actors do I need for these scenes? List and organize all this, then start seeing who is free when... then, you can organize around other people's schedules.

Ideally, you would probably want to shoot everything in as little time as possible - try to get everyone you need and clean up shop fast (but never at the expense of professionalism/quality). Take complete advantage of day-light hours and start early - work all day. See if you can house your cast and or crew somewhere, if need be.

[Elba]

Sex tape.

[PuppyLove72]

Compact shooting. Block any scenes that you can/have to. Then, fix all your shots around locations. Order them by convenience. What scenes call for what locations? Which locations are nearest one-another? Which actors do I need for these scenes? List and organize all this, then start seeing who is free when... then, you can organize around other people's schedules.

Ideally, you would probably want to shoot everything in as little time as possible - try to get everyone you need and clean up shop fast (but never at the expense of professionalism/quality). Take complete advantage of day-light hours and start early - work all day. See if you can house your cast and or crew somewhere, if need be.

What IS blocking exactly? I've heard the term used before, but I was never sure of what it really was.

[NoSex]

What IS blocking exactly? I've heard the term used before, but I was never sure of what it really was.

Blocking the process of going over a scene with the actors (marking placement, practicing movements, etc. etc.). It's used so that when you reach your locations, in order to shoot, you won't have to take anytime going over the actor's role in the scene. So, you can get to a location, ready to shoot, with everyone already aware of their role.

[PuppyLove72]

What would be a good thing to do for read-throughs using a cast with people that haven't met the others before?

[The-March-Hare]

^ Silly, fun games. Break down barriers. Also something physical, so that it makes people comfortable with one another. In my first drama session, we taped off a 7x7 ft square, and everyone got inside, and had to fight to be the last one remaining in the boundary. Beating each other up makes people comforable pretty fast.

[NoSex]

What would be a good thing to do for read-throughs using a cast with people that haven't met the others before?

Get detailed characters "histories" and profiles to your cast. Essentially, help your cast understand their characters. Then, before you begin shooting, have your cast hang out with one-another as those characters (informed by personal readings with you, and the profiles you created for them). Make sure they stay in character and interact appropriate with one-another. Maybe a day or two of such involvement could create the chemistry/familiarity you would need for a more successful and comfortable shoot.

The idea I was working on with a few friends was a road horror movie. We were going to do just as I described above to help with characterization. Know your characters above and beyond the script - it'll really help the movie, your cast, and yourself.

Also, the silly games thing isn't a bad idea either.

[PuppyLove72]

So, you would suggest just a couple of fun gatherings before anything production-related takes place?

Like a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament or Apples to Apples showdown? Haha.

[LoveToMySilas]

We've always attempted to film a movie amongst my friends and I. It didn't really work out as much as we had hoped. Maybe we should've done auditions...and had a better camera.

[NoSex]

Like a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament or Apples to Apples showdown? Haha.

Do it in character for maximum results!

(maximum is an intense word)