For me, I use to think it was money.  I’m not so sure anymore.

Money doesn’t scare me as much as failure.  I have to get passed that nervousness about showing my work to others.  I always get sick to my stomach everytime I even show a short.  I can’t imagine how I would be showing a feature.

The Strike.

Hurricane Katrina threw a great big monkey wrench into our feature—it took four months after the hurricane to be able to finish shooting—then we did a quick 5 day shoot and had to do some major revisions to the script due to continuity issues with locations, props, and costumes being destroyed. We’ve been in post for almost two years trying to salvage it and we’re pretty close. Looks like we’re gonna’ have to do a bit more in re-shoots, but we’re finally getting close!!!!

I think you have to be persistent—or maybe just be stubborn --- and see it through to the end. We had financing in, financing out—lost one of our actors and then had to tell Pat Morita (academy award winner!!!) that the financing didn’t think he was bankable. We ended up shooting with an unknown local cast and crew. It won’t be as marketable but we do have one almost complete and I have to tell you we learned more than most folks that I know learned in film school.

You can pick up a good camera, cheap light kit, and boom for under $10K - that’s cheaper than 1 year at film school. Adobe Premiere and a computer with enough hard drive space shouldn’t cost you anymore than $4k more—finally try to find cast and crew who are willing to work for free or deferred to get the experience. As long as you feed these guys, they tend to be pretty happy.

First features are usually not magnificent works of art. I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive for that but you need to realize that the process of learning how to do it for the writer, director, and/or producer will probably be much more valuable than the finished product. And of course the hope is that even if you don’t see big bucks or a big distribution deal for your film, you can now distribute yourself via the internet—but more importantly, you will hopefully have a good calling card to use to get funding for your next project.

While I’ve heard many stories of people breaking in because they knew someone, I’ve heard even more stories about people breaking in because they wouldn’t give up trying. And as much you need to learn your craft, never forget that you need to learn about the BUSINESS. Read the trades. It really does help!

Keep on working!
Hawk

I can tell you for sure, based on my last years experience, what the biggest obstacle for me has been… the connections. If you have tons of money available, you might be able to buy connections, but that is not a guarantee you can put together an effective crew. I began this past year trying to film a series of shorts, I had a good budget and owned 80% of the equipment needed, the problem was that I had recently relocated to Nashville and hardly knew anyone. I joined film groups, was actively looking for local filmmakers and trolled craigslist looking for local films that needed crew just to meet people. I tried to crack the indie film circle here in Nashville and after several failed attempts I abandoned my projects.

I have spent the last year spending nearly all my free time networking. I’ve worked on 9 local films, 4 of which were features, I joined a 48 Hour Film Project team and talked to just about everyone about filmmaking. It took nearly 9 months of solid networking to meet a good core of people and build relationships. Now after a year of filmmaking networking full-time, I finally have enough connections to get my films into production. So, I firmly believe that making indie films is not about “what you have,” but “who you know.”

If there is anything that I have learned in the last year is that making a feature film without a truckload of money is 70% favors and 30% actual filmmaking. I am sure that the connections you need are directly proportional to size of your project. I worked on a feature-length film this summer that was filmed on Super 16, and the budget was $7,000! This movie was done nearly entirely on favors. All the budget went to film, catering and one SAG actress, almost everything else was borrowed or donated. Everyone but the SAG actress was working deferred--this was proof that almost anything can be done with the right connections.

Best of luck getting your first feature of the ground,

PJ

Mutiny. I’m not very expirenced and I need to spend a lot more time refining my skills, I know this. My biggest fear would be the crew realizing how ill-suited to the job I am and staging a coup, possibly ending with them cannibalizing me.

I’m pretty resloved that I need to work on a few non-student shoots before I can even think about making my own feature, I know not everyone needs that, but I do.

abbeyrd728 - 07 November 2007 12:14 AM

Money doesn’t scare me as much as failure.  I have to get passed that nervousness about showing my work to others.  I always get sick to my stomach everytime I even show a short.  I can’t imagine how I would be showing a feature.

I know how that feels.  Lucky for us we can grow confidence with each project.  Back when I was in film school, my biggest fear was… what if I get a big name actor attached to my film.  How the hell was I going to direct them?  What would I say to them?  They would eat me alive!!!  I use to think that there was something magical I had to say to them, something mystified that only hollywood directors knew about.  How stupid I was.

Calebapplegate - 07 November 2007 12:58 AM

The Strike.

How does the strike effect you?  Wow, that’s gotta suck.

I’m in Ireland, the film business is dead here. Yes, I’ve heard of ONCE. Song won an Oscar, but it wasn’t a great song.

I’ve written a script that’s important, deep, funny, moving. But I can’t get finance here. I want to direct it myself too and it shouldn’t cost more than 1 million euro, which is probably $1.6m.

Help!

Brad Hansen

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

I have plenty of filmmaking ability, and I’m not afraid of directing anyone.  I’ve finished film school even won a few awards for a couple of shorts.  Right now I’m writing.  It is my strong suite and I direct pretty good too.  What my problem is is not having the funding.  I’ve already completed the script for a period action piece sure to set ‘Hollywood’ ablaze (in a good way).  I am in touch with my creativity.  I can ‘dream’ big but even those dreams needs the resources to hire the talent.  I am bankable because I’ve had great training.  I’m an Independent.  And independents have to find their own money.  If I can get someone on my team that raises the money, I’m sure I’ll be a huge success!  So again, it’s MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

well the dept of Treasury has very strict laws on what constitutes legal tender and they frown on xeroxing money

My biggest fear would be failure ... I have a script , some money , some equipment but no talent ...

I have worked on afew features, and had talking parts in about six other films. I am starting another one in June with a friend of mine who has already made one feature, and I just auditioned for another role in another movie been shot here in my home town..

I have now seen both sides of the camera, and I do like in front. So if 2009 is not my year to make my feature then I think I will give that idea up and just stay in front of the camera.

The and see it through to the end. We had financing in, financing out—lost one of our actors and then had to tell Pat Morita (academy award winner!!!) that the financing didn’t think he was bankable. We ended up shooting with an unknown local cast and crew. It won’t be as marketable but we do have one almost complete and I have to tell you we learned more than most folks that I know learned in film school.