That was a hell of a weekend.
My dream is to one day write an independent film, have Partner direct it and cast all my friends who can act. I mentioned this fantasy to Trainer during a session last week and he, ever the practical dreamer, said I could easily do that if I started with shorts.
A tangible dream? An actual practical way to see my writing come to life? It seems a little crazy.
I've never been one to sit on an idea for long. Except that French royalty script I keep researching when I'm bored. I've been on that one for like eleventy million years.
Friday afternoon Partner and I started batting around an idea for a comedy short. Today I have a finished 10-page draft and two actors signed on to be in it. I didn't even have time to put it on my progress bar before it was finished. It can be shot for almost zero dollars since all I need is an apartment, which I have, and a street, which I can get.
As the owner of my own unofficial broke-ass production company - We'll Talk Productions - I say this sucker is greenlighted.
I don't have crew or equipment or a director yet, but I have a few leads. I have awesome friends who know lots of talented people who might be interested if they like the script. And they're gonna like this script. It's fucking funny.
I always thought I couldn't write comedy. Silly me. I can write comedy, it just has to be rooted in sarcastic delusional people. I'm not a one-liner kind of gal.
On the one hand I should probably direct this. It's a short, the people in it are my friends, I'm the one with the vision. But I've never directed anything before. I've never even seen anything directed before. And I don't want my entire cast to have to carry the weight of my inexperience. My entire cast is four people, but still. I wish Partner could direct this since he has a big fancy film school education, but he's off in a cold land far away.
Several of you who read my blog for whatever reason have vast amounts of experience doing just this kind of thing. What do you think?
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I'm fairly certain that you were probably visualizing the scenes in your head while writing it? So who better to direct than yourself? You'd be conveying those thoughts to a director anyway, so why not cut out the middle man? Regardless of your experience you can guarantee it will have your vision.
ReplyDeleteThem's my 2 cents.
You don't really say if you don't have any interest in directing (which would be perfectly ok) or if you're simply worried about your lack of experience.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you try shooting some test footage? Write something really short, like two or three pages. Use just a few people, shoot it in a simple setting. Try it. See what happens.
Wow- you work so hard.
ReplyDeleteTalk to an editor first to learn what to avoid, storyboard it out knowing there will be changes), and direct it yourself. Pretend you know what you're doing, never apologize. It's easier than teaching a class. I've done both.
Um, can I just say that directing something yourself (as a writer) can turn into a nightmare. I directed a short that I wrote once, and it's really hard to know if you have the take you need. It may seem like it, but in post you can be sadly surprised.
ReplyDeleteBut I think a project like this is a good chance to see if you're any good and it, or if it's something you want to do more of. So go for it.
I agree with Mr. Peel, shoot a small scene and see what you get. And definitely storyboard it out!
And are you going to post this script for your blog-ience?
I probably won't post any scenes until it's finished.
ReplyDeletePartner suggested looking for excellent DP who can double as an AD. That way they can guide me through the process.
i'd have to disagree with claude. i love directing what i've written. it's the best. especially if you trust your cast and crew.
ReplyDeletemostly likely this is going to be a learning experience for you, and not the break-thru short that makes your career - so what do you have to lose directing it yourself? like others have said, it's definitely the best way to learn.
You can jump straight into directing without too much trouble, I think, as long as you have good crew to actually do the other jobs. You don't want to try to be a director-operator-art director-makeup artist-etc. That just kills you.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if you think you're going to be doing this often, why not just sit back on the first one and enjoy being the writer-producer, while paying careful attention to how the set is run and what the director does? No need to rush.
Off-topic: where did you get your super-swank little progress bars? I want some.
ReplyDeletego for it. but I would say surround yourself with people who know what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteIn order of importance: get a DP who knows what he/she is doing to help you avoid technical problems (crossing the line, matching eyelines, composing shots). Have an editor who knows what they are doing and even better have them on set with you. I would disagree with writing partner slightly and suggest getting a separate AD-type if you can (could be a smart working PA wanting to stretch).
oh, and storyboard the heck out of it, but don't be afraid to ditch the plan IF A BETTER IDEA ARISES.
I think honestly with your personality you would be a great director. It's my belief that sometimes writers who are more shy/introverted have trouble because a big part the director's job is communicating their vision. Out loud. To people.
Oh, you don't like rewrites? I love them. It's my favorite time. Not this past one, because it was more like a first again, but in ordinary circumstance: rewrites, yay!
ReplyDeleteEmily -
ReplyDeleteCongrats on taking the plunge. You're in for lots of headaches and lots of exhilaration. :-)
You've already conquered the most difficult thing in no-budget filmmaking: locations. If your story takes place inside and outside your apartment, that's fanfriggintastic.
Also, you've cast your friends in the movie - also fantastic. This conquers another problem: cast members who are mysteriously absent on shooting days. This way, you can call your friends and say "Hey! Get your butt over here!"
And yes: get a good DP, get a good DP, get a good DP. Your DP is going to be talking about lenses and filters and crap you know nothing about, but nonetheless IMPORTANT crap for your movie to look good.
I agree with Kellee about getting a separate person for your AD - get someone who can do all of your yelling for you, someone who isn't afraid to have cast and crew hate them. Your AD is extremely important as far as SCHEDULING is concerned - you should sit down and rap with your DP and AD and figure out how long it's actually going to take to shoot the darn thing ("How many set-ups? How long to light? How long to allow for makeup and wardrobe?" How long for lunch?" etc.)
Really, there aren't any books that can tell you about directing a short: you just hafta go out there and do it, and deal with all of the unforseen problems (Damn! It's raining so we can't shoot this exterior scene. Damn! Planes, trains and automobiles keep messing up the sound! Damn! My lead actor came down with Ebola Zaire! etc.)
I'd recommend going to sites such as ifilm.com or atomfilms.com and watching a TON of short films, both good and bad, to see what was done right and what could have been done better.
Also feel free to bop on over to www.socalfilm.com and ask stuff - lots of helpful people there who've already made a bunch of mistakes (and continue to do so ... :-))
Good luck!
Danny
Thanks so much for the advice, guys. I'm sure I'll be asking for more as this mission proceeds. When I'm done I'll invite everybody over for the premiere.
ReplyDelete