hey everyone. as you all know i frequent this site a lot when i'm not buisy, all the time in other words. but anyways i was wondering if there's anybody out there who are aspiring filmmakers, or have aspirations for other filmmaking related positions, like cinematography, production designer, or make-up effects. and if there are what kind of films do you want to make? beside kickass B-movies like the ones on this awesome site.
I work at an independent documentary film studio called Appalshop. I'm a promotions person there but I'm apprenticing with some of the filmmakers, and I want to eventually make my own films. I'm not much into making documentaries; I made a movie called "Quaker College Massacre" when I was in college that was more along my lines of moviemaking.
Yup. I made two short films already; Tributes to the Jackass genre. I'm now making a new movie called Super Bastard Kung Fu. I've always wanted to make these and collected about 20 people ( including extras) to star in it. It's good stuff
Mugwump, actually thats how I became interested in B-movies from watching the 90's film starring Johnny Depp called ED WOOD. i quickly realized that perhaps I to could make films, especially when thinking about one of my favorites PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE. Anyway I haven't made any films, but I have taken a video production class and own some video editing equipment. I also have some ideas about building a local film studio and company for people (like me) to get some experience making movies on a small scale. I also have about 10 other things I would like to do in life, but there aren't enough hours in a day, but maybe when my daughter (13) grows up I can begin to do something with myself (37).
JD-Cashflow wrote:
>
> Yup. I made two short films already; Tributes to the
> Jackass genre. I'm now making a new movie called Super
> Bastard Kung Fu. I've always wanted to make these and
> collected about 20 people ( including extras) to star in it.
> It's good stuff
"Aww, I don't want to go over there. He's just gonna' want to put us in another one of his kung fu movies."
-John Candy, "Going Berserk"
I made a short 30 minute film called THE MURDER SECRET starring myself and two other people I know. Only three people, yet it plays well. It's a horror/thriller highly influnced by the Italian giallo's of Mario Bava, Dario Argento, and Lucio Fulci. Their is even a chain beating scene in my film that is heavily influnced by the scene in Fulci's DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING (1972), as well as using the same music, and a shock ending of the likes to DEEP RED (1975). These are my tributes to the masters.
At this time, I am trying to get this little short film on community television since I did film reviews for them. It's slow going, but when it's time it will be ready.
Yes Chris, I was interested in showing homemade movies on public access in my hometown, but the people running it seem to just want to run local bulliten boards and city concul meetings.
Wow, in regards to Scott, Will, JD, & Chris, it sounds like you are all very creative people i wish you all the best of luck. i myself have big dreams of getting involved in filmmaking, mostly on an artistic level, like directing and cinematography, and documentary work-the business side~Blah~but anyways i recently joined the Air Force and i might use my Gi Bill one day to go to film school. have any of you guys/or girls gone to film/school? i'm still debating about it. i hear so much pros and cons, both arguments seem to be almost equal, but i've heard it's still a good thing.
"You'll make it...that is if you want to." -an old teacher of mine
I forget what its called mugwump, but learning to edit images using the computer along with basic film knowledge would be good. On the TV news they showed clips from internet movies that looked real but were edited by computer, like this one scene were an airliner lands on a Volkswagon with just the front wheel of the aircraft and the car just keeps driving. Looked much better than some of the recent hollywood computer generated graphics. It just looked so real and hollywood was trying to get these internet movie people to sign contracts with them. The news also said anyone can do it now with the right software. I forget what the process is called but looks worth investing your time and money. Also another word of advice, stay single till you make your millions. Unless you have people around you who really believe in your cause.
On the topic of film making. Which do you prefer? Digital Cameras or Analog and why? I prefer Digital as opposed to Analog because it can be manipulated to look like anything. If you lower the frame rate on a digital film you can make digital films look just like high budget flicks. Right now I've been looking for a super high frame rate digi cam for my explosion clips and miniature effects. I would expect the cost of cameras like this to be significantly high price due to a high back up, memory and processor requirement. I haven't been able to find a digital camera that can do this. Does anyone know of any digital cameras like this or another way to do it?
Thanks,
Phantom 187
I don't know Phantom, but thanks for the info. Well all be making movies someday on our own homebased internet tv channel. Then it will be up to talent and idea's.
Me and a few friends recently started our own "production company," Collective Fedora Films. It's nothing major-- we get together on weekends and improvise short films on video-- But some of our stuff is actually pretty cool. It's mostly b-movie-influenced stuff; we've pretty much made a pact not to try any serious films, at least at present, because it would probably come off as a comedy anyway. No website yet, but we'll probably send a film or two to be reviewed here at some point (Of the films we've done, the forerunners are our horror comedy, "The Intoxication," and our as-of-yet unnamed attempt at a 60s freak-out film). So far I've mainly served as goremaster and scenery-chewing actor, but I'm planning on trying my hand at directing.
Your damn right I want to make movies! I want to do it for a living, but we will see. I'd film little short movies now, but i don't have a cast and crew to work with. Look for me at your local theatre sometime in the future.
If I was to make movies, how could I begin to get sponsors for $$$ and other necessities?
If I knew how to do that, I'd already be making movies. Instead, I'm getting my ass kicked by college. WOOHOO!
JD-Cashflow wrote:
>
> If I was to make movies, how could I begin to get
> sponsors for $$$ and other necessities?
You could always take the AMERICAN MOVIE approach and sponge off a rich crazy relative. That'll get you a movie AND a cameo in a Jet Li movie, not to mention a ready-to-go voice actor for your film.
Seriously, if you want to get money, find anybody with a lot to spare and sell 'em, sell 'em, sell 'em on your movie. If you have samples ready to show, show 'em. People want to know that they will make their money back, that's the main thing. It may be a low-budget horror movie, but if you can convince them you have the goods to make it in the video market, they may very well give you the money. And don't be afraid to get money from people who can only give a couple of hundred, you can thank them in the credits and they'll be part of "the movies". Also, you probably won't get big corporate sponsors, but check local businesses. They may have some bucks to spend on "advertising". In short, become a prostitute to anybody with money. Nobody's going to just give you all the money you need to shoot a film. You must become the master of guerilla filmmaking and fundraising. And don't expect to have a life.
Find actors to work for scale. Better find no-name actors to work for nothing. Sell them on the "love of film" angle. Be an utter ruthless bastard, but make everybody happy. Don't be afraid to be an a***ole, but for God's sake don't alienate the investors. Play them all for chumps and get the movie you want made. It ain't pretty, but there it is.
Or you could take THE PRODUCERS route and get investors for a film you will know will fail and then rake in the dough. Of course, that could backfire.
i'm not an expert on this topic, but recently film festivals seem to be the easiest way to get your foot in the door. if some producer likes your movie at say, Sundance, he might write you a check the same night it's screened. Steven Soderbergh said success is "Talent+Perseverence=Luck."
I loved Mofo's post, phew..... I also seen AMERICAN MOVIE and I loved it. So for me I've read Roger Cormans autobiography, watched THE PRODUCERS, AMERICAN MOVIE, ED WOOD and two or three documentaries on Ed Wood.
Everyone know they want their B-Movie TV. A 24 hour B-Movie Channel would be great. The channel would somehow get the rights to all films ever made. Now, how would this be done?