So after talking to a few people in certain parts of the film industry here in Vancouver, I've come to learn about another KickStart production, a production granted a 2008 award, that is having a little trouble getting off the ground. Today is November 23rd, 2008. They've known about their award for over a year now and have not organized themselves enough to put any images on film/videotape/paper, whatever medium they are using. Did I mention that they now have a hard deadline of December 31 2008 to deliver a completed, ready to broadcast short film to the DGC? That's shoot, edit, post...everything in 38 days?!? I hear that this is a location intensive short, and they haven't locked any locations yet. They don't even have a Locations Manager! Are these people nuts? Who's producing this thing? Do they have any experience on how the film industry works? Did this production hit the ground running on January 1st 2008 and hit one roadblock after another? Or did they leave this to the last minute and finally remember that they have $20,000 sitting around to make a short film with? After a little internet sleuthing, I'm thinking it's more of the latter. I know it's a short film and people can churn out these things in 48 hours. But this is leaving things a little late in the game. This is supposed to be your calling-card film. Your masterpiece. This short film is your way of telling the people with the big bucks "this is what I can do if I have the resources at hand". You can't start something this important halfway to your deadline and expect to produce the best possible film you can. As I write this, I am now thinking that my release date of April 7 for my short film is a little ambitious.
Now I have to admit I don't know the exact details of the problems, if any, surrounding this short film. There may be many. They may have been unforeseeable. There may be none. Either way, how could you leave an opportunity like this, something that could change your career, your life, in such a drastic way for so long? Wouldn't you want to start earlier in the year to give you that cushion of time just in case nothing went according to plan? Just boggles my mind.
But enough about that. I'm done venting.
And maybe I shouldn't be so critical. After all, who am I to comment on another production and how it's being run. I haven't signed any contracts yet for my award, and my film could be a total disaster (knock on wood). I should be more supportive of my fellow filmmakers. You guys GO! Make your film the way you want to. Start PREP in the fall, with ONLY 38 DAYS TO COMPLETE! No pressure.
But I'm done writing about that. Time to focus on me.
I mean here I am, just waiting to get started. I almost can't wait. I've already been looking at locations, and have locked two out of the three, have started talking about casting, and have narrowed that down a little, and have half a crew already assembled. I'm meeting with someone who I hope will be my Production Designer tomorrow, meeting with my producer on Tuesday, signing contracts for this award on Thursday and I have a dentist appointment on Friday. I can't wait! Not for the dentist appointment. I can wait the rest on my life for that. But Starting production on Serum 1831? CAN NOT WAIT! I don't know how these guys could have waited this long to get their short off the ground. The thing isn't off the ground! HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE FILMED ANYTHING YET?
FINISHED! That's the last you'll hear about that! This blog is not called "How to NOT produce a film after being handed $20,000 to produce a film". This blog is entitled Serum 1831. It is about my short film. My experiences. My bitch-fest ends here.
So after locking down two of my locations this past week, and getting one for free I might add, narrowing down my choices for creative crew members and finally nailing down a date to meet with my producer goddess, I'm quite happy with the pace my film is on. Hopefully this week will allow my Locations Manager (I had one on the crew list before I handed in my Kickstart Application, not that I'm commenting on any other things previously mentioned in this blog) to take my Production Designer and myself to the locations I have chosen so he can start the design ideas. Not to mention my Tuesday meeting with my producer. After that. I'm sure I'll get some answers to some vital questions I have about casting and crewing from my producer. Experience... you can't beat it. And then there's the Thursday Contract signing at the DGC.
If everything falls into place, Serum 1831 should be firing on all cylinders by January 1st, 2009, and hopefully it'll be in the can on February 11th, 2009. That would give me about 323 days to the deadline.
38 Days? Boggles the mind.
Very interesting! Glad to be on the ride with you!
ReplyDeletea.
I have to agree, locations need to be locked early to allow time for the director to focus on the story and cast. Not to mention that in such a litigious society a Location Manager is an absolute neccesity to help navigate the legal issues around contract,insurance and permits.
ReplyDeleteSince the DGC is a sponsor I think this is an oversight on their part to not used Kickstart as part of their training program for upcoming DGC Location Managers and AD's. I know this is about finding new Director talent but wouldn't it help the Director to surround them with the right crew?
But lets give the DGC the benefit of the doubt because maybe previous KickStart film makers never dropped the ball so badly!
I would have to agree with you, Anonymous, but only on certain things.
ReplyDeleteIt is imperative that the easy things be thought of/selected as early in the process as possible. Locations being one of them. And a Locations Manager is indeed a necessity. Not having an experienced one is setting yourself up for disaster, (as is the case with the production now in such turmoil).
And yes, you are also 100% correct in stating that this grant is for the benefit of the Director, and that maybe it would be a good training ground for bright Assistant Locations Managers 2nd and 3rd Assistant Directors or Trainees in the department to take that next step into the head of the department position (Locations Manager or 1st Assistant Director). Maybe the DGC should look at this as a training position for these types. Now, having said that, This is my project. I'm looking to get the best people involved that I can. I want to work with people I know and am comfortable with. And with a position as important as the Locations Manager and 1st AD, I don't want to take the chance with someone not having the experience needed to pull off a locations intensive short film smoothly. With KickStart, the DGC plays the role of the financier of the film, and expects that if you are experienced enough to put in an application and win the award, then you should have the experience to know how the film industry works in this town. Frankly, I don't think these award winners know how things work around here.
And I also say let's give the DGC the benefit of the doubt by saying that if these people had called and asked for help in crewing, the DGC would have at least forwarded some names to these people.
Surrounding yourself with the right people, well, that depends on who wants to associate themselves with you.
Thanks for you comment, I Want More!